Who Will Go?

2010 Free Will Baptist National Convention | July 18-21 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The 2010 conference theme, “Who Will Go?” seemed appropriate as Free Will Baptists from every corner of the globe poured into Oklahoma City July 18-21, for the 74th annual meeting of the National Association of Free Will Baptists.
At 6,545, the number of attendees was unusually high, nearing record marks set by conventions in Nashville (TN) in 1985, and Little Rock (AR) in 1994. And Free Will Baptists had good reason to gather in the Sooner State.

They Came to Celebrate
Convention attendees joined Free Will Baptist International Missions in celebrating the 75th year of the department’s rich history. This year marks the anniversary of Laura Belle Barnard’s intrepid journey to India as a 27-year-old single woman, a journey that began months before the denomination even organized.
Seventy-five years later, 250 career missionaries have followed her lead, planting more than 1,000 churches across the globe. National pastors and representatives from many of these churches joined their American counterparts in Oklahoma City to honor God’s faithfulness. The celebration included several landmark events.
On Monday, a meeting called simply, “Seventy-Five Years of Faithfulness,” recalled the rich missionary heritage of the denomination and highlighted the personal sacrifice, accomplishments, and faithfulness of men and women who gave their lives for the gospel. “We now call them international missionaries,” said longtime Contact magazine editor Jack Williams, during an address to spellbound listeners, “but they were more than that. They were our heroes, our teachers, our friends—the spiritual conscience of a denomination.”
On Tuesday, “World Celebration 2010” honored more than 50 international guests who, in turn, shared greetings and congratulations from congregations worldwide. Executive Secretary Keith Burden, Moderator Tim York, International Missions Director James Forlines, and International Fellowship of Free Will Baptists President Gerardo Acevedo were on hand to greet each guest and welcome them to the convention.
Throughout the week, a museum-style exhibit took visitors on a journey through missions history with artifacts, personal items, documents, and more. The fascinating displays included Dr. LaVerne Miley’s medical bag, Laura Belle Barnard’s Bible and handwritten notes, and Pop Willey’s holster, journal, and keepsake box.
In conjunction with the anniversary celebration, the Mission released, Into the Darkness, a beautiful hardbound volume documenting the 75-year history of Free Will Baptist missions in both pictures and text.

They Came to Walk
Perhaps the most visible portion of the International Missions celebration was the culmination of the 2,500-mile Go10 Walk for the World. For 84 days, nearly 2,000 walkers retraced Laura Belle Barnard’s steps across 14 states, carrying a Tamil (traditional Indian dialect) Bible and passing a well-worn baton from group to group to raise funds for missions. The walk ended at the Tuesday evening National Youth Conference service. A throng of walkers joined the final leg of the journey through downtown Oklahoma City. They flooded the streets in brightly colored tee shirts and carried large banners.
When the final group of walkers reached the stage, Carlisle Hanna, pioneer missionary to India, symbolically “passed the baton” to recently appointed missionaries, marking the beginning of a new era in Free Will Baptist missions.
During Wednesday evening’s worship service, convention attendees rejoiced together when Director Joe Wilson announced the effort had surpassed its $1 million goal, making the Go10 Walk the largest short-term fundraising effort in the history of the Free Will Baptist movement, due in part to a $500,000 gift of “matching funds” from an anonymous donor.

They Came to Worship
In keeping with the International Missions celebration, each evening service featured a missions emphasis, including greetings to the convention from international representatives of Free Will Baptist churches worldwide.
Convention speakers addressed the theme, “Who Will Go?” based on the prophet’s calling in Isaiah 6:1-8. After Sunday School taught by Thomas Marberry (OK), Bert Tippett (TN) took the pulpit, preaching powerfully in spite of an ongoing battle with an aggressive form of bone cancer. The theme of his message was appropriately, “The Crisis We Must Face.”
Sunday evening, after dedicating the sermon to his grandfather Mac Kinsey, Oklahoma Pastor Jeff Blair spoke on “The Concept We Must Grasp.” Charles Murphy (OK) addressed “The Condition We Must Correct” on Monday night, challenging listeners to eradicate the power of sin in their lives in simple, direct terms.
Karl Sexton, fiery preacher from Virginia, took the pulpit Tuesday night speaking on, “The Call We Must Consider.” He urged listeners to accept the call of God to share the gospel with the world around them. “I do not fear that the church will not succeed,” Sexton said. “I fear that the church will succeed in things that do not matter.”
The unforgettable Wednesday evening service featured a parade of nations including scores of current and former missionaries and international guests. They were greeted by a thunderous standing ovation. The mass choir, under the direction of Vernon Whaley, performed a unique musical score that incorporated ethnic instruments and musical sounds from around the world before Stan Bunch, Arkansas native and missionary to Panama, spoke on the subject, “The Commitment We Must Make.” Altars filled as the convention came to a close, a fitting conclusion to a week that challenged all attendees to reply to God’s call with, “Here am I, send me.”
Throughout the week, Chris Truett, convention music coordinator, produced an inspiring program featuring a mass choir with more than 100 voices, an orchestral ensemble, and a vocal accompaniment group. Each service included rousing specials and enthusiastic congregational singing.
This year, for the first time, almost 2,000 viewers watched convention services streamed live over the Internet. The Media Commission, which spearheaded the effort, reported that 1,703 viewers from 16 countries tuned in to one or more of the seven services that were broadcast.
Three national agencies and at least a dozen local churches and state associations syndicated the live feed on their own websites. Doug Earls, emcee of Wednesday night's missions service, reported to the congregation that Pastor Gary Fry, who had been scheduled to lead the service, watched the feed from his hospital bed.

They Came to Work
On Saturday, July 17, 72 participants from Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia arrived at the convention a day early. They took to the streets, going door-to-door to distribute thousands of flyers to homes in neighborhoods near ONE FWB Church in Moore, Oklahoma, and Epic FWB Church in Piedmont, Oklahoma. Their efforts marked the fifth year for the annual one-day evangelism and service campaign dubbed Impact.
During the five-year history of the event, nearly 1,500 volunteers have participated. The McCarty family from Ohio has participated every year. “I can’t imagine not doing this!” said Mom Marcia. “We look forward to Impact all year, and it is like a personal revival for our family.”
Not only did volunteers go door-to-door, they rolled up their sleeves and went to work on the campus of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College, preparing dormitories for the upcoming meeting of the International Fellowship of Free Will Baptist Churches. Hillsdale President Tim Eaton said, “I thank everyone for taking the extra time to come and help. Preparing for the convention and hosting the National Youth Evangelistic Team and Truth and Peace had stretched our summer staff to their limit. The extra help was very welcome.”
More than 500 registrants from 42 churches participated in the 16th year of Reach That Guy service projects, sponsored by the National Youth Conference. Volunteers logged 2,905 hours of work that benefitted 21 ministries and service organizations across Greater Oklahoma City.
On Wednesday, Reach That Guy sponsored a blood drive to benefit the Oklahoma City chapter of the Red Cross, collecting 94 units of blood from 111 participants.
NYC Director Danny Conn said, “I’ve simply been overwhelmed by the response to Reach That Guy this year. It’s obvious that Free Will Baptists came to work!”

They Came to Do Business
The General Board adjourned just before noon on Monday, June 19, after a four-hour, 43-minute session in the Sheraton OKC Hotel. Nine national boards and four commissions rolled out their reports and proposals for General Board members to review, and when Moderator Tim York’s gavel fell the last time, members had voted to recommend a 2011 denominational budget of just over $25 million.
They recommended a Treatise change from the Tennessee State Association that would add a 10th “Standing Rule” (Treatise, page 71) limiting reports by national departments to 30 minutes and commission reports to 15 minutes.
Another proposal recommended raising representation fees for $100 to $150 in 2012 to offset increased convention expenses.
A third recommendation asked the National Association to approve a change in the by-laws of Free Will Baptist Bible College and authorizes the Board of Trustees to “approve and review the mission of the college.”
A request from the Executive Committee to meet with the Randall House Board and the WNAC Executive Committee to discuss future convention funding was approved.

In other business, delegates…
Elected 35 national board and commission members, including general officers (4), Executive Committee (3), General Board (11), Randall House Board (4), FWBBC Trustees (5), International Missions Board (3), Home Missions Board (1), Music Commission (1), Media Commission (1), Commission for Theological Integrity (1), Historical Commission (1).
Approved a $25 million denominational budget for 2011. (See Convention at a Glance for more details.)
Voted to disburse funds from The Together Way Plan to national agencies according to the following formula: Underwrite the Executive Office Administrative Budget above designated gifts, not to exceed 45% of cooperative gifts. Disburse the balance of cooperative gifts—FWBBC (23%), International Missions (23%), Home Missions (18%), Retirement and Insurance (14%), Master’s Men (14%), FWB Foundation (6%), Commission for Theological Integrity (0.5%), Historical Commission (0.5%), Music Commission (0.5%), Media Commission (0.5%).
Agreed to increase representation fees from $100 to $150 beginning in 2012. This marks the first increase in representation fees since 2004.
Requested that the Randall House Board and the WNAC Executive Committee meet with the Executive Committee to discuss future convention funding.
Flinched when Executive Secretary Keith Burden announced that the convention faces a financial penalty to Oklahoma City hotels because a number of attendees cancelled room reservations, causing the convention to fall short of the room block commitment.
Registered 6,545 attendees for three concurrent conventions (including 686 ordained ministers, 153 ordained deacons, and 63 licensed ministers).
Examined a 220-page Digest of Reports containing reports from 13 national agencies, including projected budgets and annual summaries from agency ministries.
Heard Home Missions director Larry Powell say, “The fastest-growing aspect of the Free Will Baptist work is among Hispanics.”
Welcomed WNAC executive director, Elizabeth Hodges, pastor’s wife and professional educator from Tennessee.
Thanked the Oklahoma State Association for hosting the 2010 national convention. This marked the eighth time Oklahoma Free Will Baptists have hosted the convention, three times in Oklahoma City. Executive Director Mike Wade led Oklahoma to give more than $50,000 to defray convention expenses.
Learned that 1,469 people now participate in the denomination’s retirement plan. The oldest participant is 87 years old, the youngest 21. The Board of Retirement lists assets of $39.3 million.
Smiled when General Director David Brown announced the FWB Foundation is on solid financial footing with $37.3 million in assets, in spite of a roller-coaster year in the stock market.
Questioned International Missions Director James Forlines for more than an hour Wednesday morning regarding the new funding system and the departure of two career missionaries from the field of Brazil.
Stood to honor Sherwood Lee for 12 years on the International Missions Board, Jim and Vicki Sturgill for 40 years of service in Brazil, and Bobby and Geneva Poole for 50 years of service in Brazil. The International Missions Department presented plaques commemorating their years of service.
Endorsed a change in the FWBBC by-laws that clarifies the duties of the FWBBC Board of Trustees to approve and review the mission of the college.
Responded with interest when FWBBC president Matt Pinson announced a name change feasibility study that could result in the administration recommending a new name for the 68-year-old institution. A report will be presented to delegates at the 2011 convention.
Sent a clear message to national department directors that their convention reports have become too long. Delegates passed a motion limiting future department reports to 30 minutes and future commission reports to 15 minutes, except in special cases, and that by permission of the moderator.
Pushed past four resolutions Wednesday afternoon, rejecting two directed at national agencies, referring one to Randall House as information only, and objecting to the consideration of another.
Amened loudly when International Missions reported a 300% growth in church attendance on foreign fields in the past decade. Attendance now averages 40,000 per week.
Adjourned at 4:15 p.m. to meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 2011 convention.

2010 National Youth Conference: Reaching New Milestones
by Danny Conn, director

The 2010 National Youth Conference was marked with numerous milestones. These milestones began several weeks before the conference when a record 103 teens participated in Truth and Peace Leadership Conference.
The students met on the Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College campus for 10 days of intensive leadership training before serving as conference staff. The experience equips participants to be more effective leaders and more faithful to God. To learn more about opportunities for the 2011 Truth and Peace conference, visit www.verticalthree.com.
The Youth Evangelistic Team led worship at teen services for the first time this year. The talented high schoolers demonstrated that teens can enjoy an active role in ministry.
Monday evening, the team performed their final program, ending a 2,500-mile tour of ministry to mission churches in cooperation with Home Missions. The 2011 YET tour will include mission churches in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
NYC attendees celebrated the arrival of the historic Go 10 Walk for the World on Tuesday evening, as several hundred participants ended their walk in the convention center. They were the first to hear that the $500,000 goal had been surpassed. They also heard from veteran missionary Carlisle Hanna and witnessed the commissioning of new missionaries.
Tuesday evening, the teen worship service topped 2,000 in attendance, with an additional 800 in the children’s worship services. Overall, NYC registered 4,119, reaching near-record attendance.
Later that evening more than 2,300 students and adults enjoyed the high-energy humor of Tim Hawkins as he entertained them with humorous parodies of popular songs and other comedy.
Entries were down slightly in the Bible Competition and Music and Arts Festival with 887 entries. Conference attendance, however, is holding strong. Free Will Baptist colleges offered $115,000 in scholarships this year to competition winners.
The 2010 Revised Competition Guidelines and Bible Competition Study Packs are now available at 800-877-7030.
Another important element of the National Youth Conference is Reach That Guy. Five hundred-eight volunteers contributed 2,905 hours of community service through 21 local organizations and ministries. Ninety-four units of blood were also collected.
Numbers and statistics cannot adequately describe the impact of the 2010 National Youth Conference. The emphasis on being witnesses for Christ wherever will produce eternal results. Join the conference next year in Charlotte, North Carolina, and learn about John Weaver’s unique work in Afghanistan. The theme for 2011 will be Awaken, based on Romans 13:11.

Shine!
Women Nationally Active for Christ Marks 75 Years of Ministry
By Sarah Fletcher, WNAC Editor

The 75th annual convention of Women Nationally Active for Christ brought 986 women together to celebrate the past and effect changes for the future.

Shining Welcome
Oklahoma women welcomed attendees by serenading the early Tuesday morning audience with their state song, tossing cowboy hats into the crowd. Oklahoma WAC President Tracy Payne expanded that welcome with a humorous Top Ten list of laws to remember while visiting the state. Sooner women also hosted the annual WNAC fellowship luncheon, attended this year by over 400 individuals.

Shining Women
Pastor’s wife, educator, and longtime WAC leader Elizabeth Hodges (TN), was unanimously elected WNAC executive director. Hodges challenged women to act as “Aarons and Hurs” by supporting her and praying for the success of the ministry. She made a plea for 12 prayer partners from each state who will intercede for her and the ministry of WNAC.
A Monday afternoon presentation, “Shine! Celebrating 75 years of WNAC,” honored several little known women active for Christ (hidden jewels) and highlighted the history of the organization, recalling shining moments from three-quarters of a century.
During the business session, the Executive Committee unveiled a new national project. “Shine 75” offers women opportunity to support Free Will Baptist Hispanic educational ministries. With a goal of $75,000, the 2010-2011 project will split funds equally between the Seminary of the Cross, the Altimira Bible Institute, and the Gwen Hendrix Hispanic Bible Institute.
Four women studying at the Free Will Baptist Bible Institute in Campinas, Brazil, will receive funding from the Cleo Pursell Foreign Student Scholarship. In an effort to assist more young women, delegates voted to change the Mary R. Wisehart Student Loan Fund to the Mary R. Wisehart Student Scholarship Fund. A committee will formulate guidelines and report to the 2011 convention.
Women amended the WNAC purpose statement to define its scope more clearly to better resonate with today’s women. Women Nationally Active for Christ now exists to help women fulfill the Great Commission through their God-designed roles in the home, church, community, and world.
In other business, women retained a delegate system of convention representation and adjusted the deadline for receipt of annual fees and reports in order to coincide with the WNAC office fiscal year.
Delegates reaffirmed the organization's emphasis on missions, prayer, Bible study, and service, and challenged women to focus on building membership by revitalizing local WAC groups. Resolutions passed encouraging prayer for local, state, and national leaders and for those who stand against Free Will Baptists.

Shining Worship
Worship leader Gina Myers led women in song and Scripture during Tuesday’s sessions. Melissa Alvis, daughter of Darin and Joy Alvis, home missionary appointees to Buffalo, New York, shared a musical medley that included ‘This Little Light of Mine.” Jennifer Altom offered a unique perspective on light through, “The Cave People.”
During the Tuesday morning worship service, missionary Geneva Poole challenged women to shine as lights in their world. Expounding on Philippians 2:15, the 2010 WNAC theme verse, she urged women to shine by living a clean and pure life, loving people, and sharing His Word.
Luncheon speaker Anita Scott recounted her near death encounter with lightning. Using the newly adopted purpose statement, she offered insights concerning the God-designed roles of women in their homes, churches, communities, and world.
How will women remember the 75th WNAC Convention? Like a diamond whose beauty and quality come from extreme pressure, careful cutting, and polishing. The result? An organization that will shine with sparkling brilliance for decades to come.

Convention-at-a-Glance

2010 Registration Totals

NAFWB Registration
Board/Commission Members 44
Licensed Ministers 63
Local Church Delegates 12
NAFWB Attendees 3,139
NAFWB Staff 18
Ordained Deacons 153
Ordained Ministers 686
State Delegates 65
Total 4,180

WNAC Registration
Attendees 761
Local Delegates 27
Missionaries 59
National Officers 7
Staff 2
State Delegates 111
State Field Workers 10
State Presidents 11
Total 988
NYC Registration
Attendees 2,165
Child Attendees 136
Grades 1-3 297
Grades 4-6 367
Grades 7-12 883
Preschool Worship 137
Staff 134
Total 4,119

Combined Total 6,545*

*Some register for more than one convention.

Speakers
Sunday School Thomas Marberry (OK)
Sunday Morning Bert Tippett (TN)
Sunday Evening Jeff Blair (OK)
Monday Evening Charles Murphy (OK)
Tuesday Evening Karl Sexton (VA)
Wednesday Evening Stan Bunch (Panama)

2010 Budget
Executive Office $740,603
FWB Bible College $5,693,155
FWB Foundation $481,510
Home Missions $5,000,000
International Missions $7,800,000
Master’s Men $156,717
Retirement and Insurance $463,128
Randall House $4,869,500
Comm. for Theological Integrity $7,220
Historical Commission $3,220
Media Commission $3,000
Music Commission $3,875
Total $25,221,928

Elected in 2010

Executive Committee (2013)
Tim Campbell (AR)
Rick Cash (AL)
David Shores (IL)

General Board (2013)
Alabama: Rick Cash
Arizona: George Harvey, Jr.
Arkansas: Tim Campbell
Association of Mexico: Luis Felipe Tijerina
Atlantic-Canada: Oral McAffee
California: Millard Sasser
Colorado: Mark Thomas
Florida: Donnie Hussey
Georgia: Wayne Miracle
Idaho: Gene Kissinger
Illinois: David Shores

Home Missions (2011)
Bob Lewis (TN)

Music Commission (2015)
Chris Truett (NC)

Historical Commission (2015)
Darrell Holley (TN)
International Missions (2016)
Greg McAllister (CA)
Tom McCullough (MI)
Danny Williams (AL)

FWBBC Trustees (2014)
Jeff Crabtree (ATL-CAN)
Shiloh Hackett (AL)

FWBBC Trustees (2016)
Michael Armstrong (OH)
Billy Hanna (GA)
Terry Pierce (MS)

Randall House Publications (2016)
Tim Eaton (OK)
Tim Owen (FL)
Charles Cook (TN)

Randall House Publications (2012)
Mike Trimble (MI)

Media Commission (2015)
Travis Penn (IL)

Comm. for Theological Integrity (2015)
Craig Shaw (OK)

General Officers (2011)
Moderator: Tim York (TN)
Assistant Moderator: William Smith (GA)
Clerk: Randy Bryant (FL)
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis (IL)

National Youth Conference at a Glance

Attendees 2,165
Child Attendees 136
Grades 1-3 297
Grades 4-6 367
Grades 7-12 883
Preschool Worship 137
Staff 134
Total 4,119

Speakers
Sunday AM, Zack Hinson (OK)
Sunday PM, Brian Williams (NY)
Monday PM, Curt Gwartney (OK)
Tuesday PM, Clint Morgan (TN)

Competition
887 entries
$115,000 in Scholarship Awards

Youth of the Year: Mikaela Thompson First FWB Church, Mountain Grove, MO

Youth Group of the Year: Fellowship FWB Church, Park Hills, MO

Youth Worker of the Year: Darren Walker, First FWB Church, Washington, NC

2011 Youth Evangelistic Team
Maggie Barnett (AR)
Joel Williams (MO)
Elizabeth Snow (TN)
Tyler Heflin (MO)
Caitlin Honeycutt (OK)
Andrew Pierce (MS)
Rachel Ayers (AL)
Matthew Berry (FL)
Kristin Trussell (FL)
Dustin Patton (WV)
Mary Kathryn Ayers (AL)
Taylor McClure (WV)
Daniel Snow (Japan)