2009 Convention Review
A Promise Fulfilled
The 2009 Free Will Baptist convention lives up to expectations.
When the National Association of Free Will Baptists returned to Cincinnati on July 19-22, 2009, after a 12-year absence, the meeting held great promise. Like 1997, delegates filled downtown hotel rooms, laughed and swapped stories in the hallways, overflowed the exhibit hall in the Duke Energy Center, shouted amens through the services, and sat through almost nine hours of business.
The denomination returned to Cincinnati with a vision to reach the world and the courage to adopt a $25 million denominational budget during the worst recession in nearly a century. They adopted resolutions, elected 35 board and commission members, and honored the pioneers who put Free Will Baptists on the global map.
After four days of powerful preaching, heart-stirring music, passionate business discussions, and renewed fellowship, nearly 6,000 attendees left Cincinnati knowing that the convention lived up to expectations.
Powerful Preaching
Free Will Baptists from across the nation arrived in Cincinnati ready to hear great preaching, and they were not disappointed. Ohioans Bob Bouts and Mark Price kicked things off Sunday morning as they tag-teamed their way through Sunday School and morning worship. Bouts, an adult Sunday School teacher at Porter FWB Church, set the stage for his pastor’s message to follow. Price, moderator of the Ohio State Association and a member of the FWB Foundation Board, spoke from 1 John 2:25, on “The Promise of Eternal Life.”
Soft-spoken Jeff Sloan took the stage Sunday evening, and the Oklahoman’s words hit with the authority of a 16-pound sledge hammer as he spoke from 1 Corinthians 10:13 about “The Promise of God’s Faithfulness.” The former Home Missions church planter chairs the Pastoral Ministries Department at Hillsdale FWB College (OK).
Church historian Paul Harrison manned the pulpit Monday evening. The Tennessee pastor delivered a timely message from 2 Corinthians 12, in which he examined “The Promise of Sufficient Grace.” Harrison, adjunct professor at FWB Bible College and editor of Integrity: A Journal of Christian Thought, reminded listeners that God’s grace is most evident during times of great weakness.
Fiery preacher Henry Horne drew thunderous response Tuesday night when he unlocked “The Promise of His Coming,” found in 2 Peter 3. The North Carolina pastor urged listeners to live in light of Christ’s imminent return despite the skeptical nature of the surrounding culture.
On Wednesday, veteran pastor and evangelist Fred Warner spoke from Acts 1, “The Promise of His Power.” His passionate call to evangelism seemed natural from the man who once served as promotional director for FWB Foreign Missions. The altars filled, and the meeting ended in the best way possible—with Free Will Baptists on their knees.
Services throughout the week featured enthusiastic congregational singing and rousing special music from the Convention Choir and Orchestra, directed by Convention Music Coordinator Chris Truett. Numerous talented individuals, families, and groups lent their voices to the music and led the congregation into worship.
In addition to evening services, convention attendees enjoyed the annual Tuesday morning Preaching Conference featuring pastors Steve Berry (FL) and Ken Simpson (TN) and a variety of workshops, seminars, and resource demonstrations.
Serious Business
When Moderator Tim York’s gavel landed on the podium, delegates picked up their copies of Digest of Reports and took care of business.
Marathon Monday
The General Board met for seven hours and heard reports from 13 national boards and commissions. By 2:45 p.m. Monday, when Moderator Tim York declared the meeting adjourned, board members had voted to recommend a $25 million denominational budget and passed along three motions to the convention business session. One motion suggested penalties for hotel room cancellations, another requested the FWBBC Board of Trustees to present a clear plan for getting college audits to delegates in a timely manner, and the third recommended that the Executive Committee study the need for all national boards to present current audits.
A fourth motion recommending that the Home Missions Board meet with the Illinois Home Missions Board to discuss the recent dismissal of a home missionary was defeated. The moderator appointed four national committees—Credentials, Nominating, Resolutions, and Obituary.
Tabled Until Tuesday
The lengthy Tuesday business session resulted in a Treatise change regarding election of officers (tabled during the 2008 convention), approval of a motion authorizing convention hotels to place a non-refundable charge of one room night on individual credit cards (effective June 1, 2010); notice of an ongoing study that may result in future conventions meeting in select cities that best fit the convention.
The day ended with an earnest 30-minute discussion following the Randall House Publications report, centered on the use of pollster George Barna as a speaker during the September 2009 D6 Conference sponsored by Randall House. Seven people spoke after Charles Cook (NC) read a lengthy statement questioning the wisdom of allowing Barna to speak. Randall House Board Chairman Tim Owen and General Director Ron Hunter explained the rationale for including Barna as a resource for family-related statistics before delegates voted to approve the Randall House report.
In additional business, delegates heard national agency reports from the Executive Office and Randall House.
Executive Office
Executive Secretary Keith Burden indicated that the Executive Office remained in solid financial footing but cautioned that future conventions must address greater funding needs. He praised first-year convention manager Ryan Lewis, ONE Magazine editor Eric Thomsen, and the other members of his staff for their work.
“My job as your servant,” Burden said, “is to provide stability, leadership, and focus.” He announced plans to move the annual Leadership Conference to the Nashville’s Airport Marriott Hotel in December.
Randall House
“What we’re doing now (church methods) is not working,” General Director Ron Hunter said during his opening remarks. “It’s time to return to Scripture, to powerful preaching, and to solid small-group teaching.” He introduced a number of new resources in both electronic and print format that Randall House hopes will reconnect the local church with the home and parents with children.
The agency reported a $61,000 profit in 2008, and Randall House won 11 Awards of Excellence from the printing industry. The purchase of a digital press allows the agency to personalize curriculum for local churches, print books on demand, and print state papers at a reasonable cost. Hunter also introduced a new book by the late Jonathan Thigpen titled Teaching Students, Not Lessons.
Winding Down on Wednesday
International Missions
International Missions revealed extensive plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the department at the 2010 convention in Oklahoma City. Into the Darkness, a 196-page coffee table-style book is being prepared for distribution. A number of pre-convention events will be observed in conjunction with the triennial meeting of the International Fellowship of Free Will Baptist Churches when the organization meets in Oklahoma. The department has plans for a walk-through museum at the convention featuring artifacts from the Mission’s history. In addition, missionaries and international leaders from around the world will be flown to Oklahoma City to participate in the celebration.
General Director James Forlines announced that Free Will Baptist missionaries are in place for the first time in creative access countries such as Muslim North Africa and Buddhist Southeast Asia. His report to delegates included a tribute to Raymond Riggs, the agency’s first full-time director who died in April 2009. International outreach now includes 1,081 churches and mission works with an average attendance of 37,851.
FWBBC
President Matt Pinson indicated that plans are moving forward to relocate the college to Gallatin, Tennessee. A Nashville real estate development firm is working with officials to sell the current campus. Forty-one donors have pledged $2.1 million to pay for the Gallatin property while another $1 million in gifts-in-kind has been committed.
The college introduced a five percent salary reduction for all personnel in 2009, and instituted a new accounting procedure for pension liabilities. Since the college was unable to provide an audit for the first time in 67 years, the Board of Trustees presented a statement to delegates indicating that the audit would be completed by December 15, 2009, and mailed to denominational leaders. The audit will also be placed online for viewing. Several questions arose regarding a $200,000 real estate loan made by the college to a member of its Board of Trustees.
Home Missions
The Home Missions Department reacted to the financially challenging year by downsizing but reported no deficit missionary accounts. General Director Larry Powell reported three new church planters appointed (Canada, New York, Colorado) and three mission churches that have achieved self-supporting status (Tennessee, Texas, Colorado). Church planters now serve in 65 cities, and 14 Hispanic churches have been established across the U.S.
Outgoing board members Loyd Locklear (MI) and Jim Puckett (OK) were honored for their work—Locklear for 12 years of service and Puckett for 18 years. Powell explained to delegates that heritage trips sponsored by the agency were funded through interest earned by endowments, not by the North America Missions Offering gifts. The Church Extension Load Fund (CELF) reached $35 million in 2008 and is used to fund construction of new churches.
Historical Commission
The Historical Commission distributed copies of their third pamphlet in the Heritage Series, Free Will Baptists and Church Government, written by Matt Pinson. The Commission plans to distribute a fourth pamphlet during the 2010 national convention, Free Will Baptists and the Priesthood of the Believer, by Kevin Hester.
The first three pamphlets have been translated into French; the first pamphlet (feet washing) has been translated into Portuguese.
Commission for Theological Integrity
The Commission for Theological Integrity sponsored a convention seminar featuring Robert Picirilli speaking on the subject, “Is the Gift of Tongues for Today?” The 12th annual Theological Symposium met at FWB Bible College in October 2008; the 13th Symposium will meet October 19-20, 2009, at Hillsdale FWB College.
The Commission published the fourth issue of Integrity: A Journal of Christian Thought, and has a joint book project with Randall House Publication featuring a volume edited by Matt Pinson.
Music Commission
The Music Commission conducted three seminars during the 2009 convention featuring James Stevens and Monte McKenzie, in addition to the Wednesday afternoon Music Ministry Summit focusing on networking and ideas for music and worship in the early church. The agency also planned the music for the national convention.
The Media Commission
The Media Commission adopted a new motto: “Providing Tools for Excellence in Media.” The group re-launched its website (www.fwbmedia.com) as an interactive, blog-style site which also publishes short, informative articles. In an effort to pool media knowledge among Free Will Baptists, the commission surveyed 200 people during the 2008 convention.
Master’s Men
General Director Ken Akers pointed out that the purpose of Master’s Men is to encourage and equip men in local churches and beyond. Sports events—such as golf and softball tournaments—rallies, retreats, and work projects brought men together in 2008. In addition, the department sponsored projects in New Hampshire and Russia, and partnered with Home Missions in a Pennsylvania outreach project. Tom Harmon (IL) was named “Man of the Year” by the department.
Board of Retirement
“We believe we are coming out of the present crisis,” General Director Ray Lewis told delegates regarding the recent economic upheaval that resulted in the agency reporting a 32% ($10 million) loss in 2008. He reminded listeners that over the life of the plan, the agency has averaged a 7.5% annual increase.
FWB Foundation
The FWB Foundation reported assets of $35 million in 2008, a period Director David Brown called challenging. The endowment pool reported a 22% loss, and planned gift assets suffered a 25-30% loss.
The agency cut spending by $20,000 in 2009, cut the 2010 budget by seven percent, and froze all salaries. Director Brown reminded attendees that the Foundation is like an olive tree—planted for the next generation to enjoy.
2009 Convention Overview
Registration
Board members - 42
Licensed ministers - 29
Local church delegates - 9
Ordained deacons - 117
Ordained ministers - 599
State Delegates - 72
NAFWB Attendees - 3,111
WNAC - 776
NYC - 4,186
Total Attendees 5,662*
*Many attendees register for more than one convention.
Executive Office - $740,111
FWB Bible College - $5,457,425
FWB Foundation - $431,112
Home Missions - $5,000,000
Int’l Missions - $8,500,000
Master’s Men - $155,417
Retirement - $460,000
Randall House - $4,664,800
Commission for Theological Integrity - $4,100
Historical Commission - $2,715
Media Commission - $3,000
Music Commission - $5,215
Total $25,423,895
Speakers
Sunday Morning, July 19
Sunday School: Bob Bouts (OH)
Sunday Morning, July 19
Mark Price (OH)
Sunday Evening, July 19
Jeff Sloan (OK)
Monday Evening, July 20
Paul Harrison (TN)
Tuesday Morning, July 21
Pastors/Laymen Conference
Steve Berry (FL)
Ken Simpson (MO)
Tuesday Evening, July 21
Henry Horne (NC)
Wednesday Evening, July 22
Fred Warner (AR)
Elected in 2009
2010 Joe Wilson (TN)
Executive Committee
2012 Mike Wade (OK)
Glen Johnson (VA)
Keith Woody (TX)
General Board
2010 Florida: Donnie Hussey
2012 North Carolina: Billy Keith
Northeast District: Jim Nason
Northwest District: Brent Nix
Ohio: Mike Stokes
Oklahoma: Mike Wade
South Carolina: Todd Smith
Tennessee: Glenn Poston
Texas: Keith Woody
Virginia: Glen Johnson
West Virginia: Luther Morgan
Board of Retirement
2015 Jack Daniel (GA)
Rick Dement (MO)
Mark Ousley (TN)
Home Missions
2015 Earl Hanna (SC)
Ron Parker (LA)
Tim Stout (OH)
Master’s Men
2015 Eddie Hodges (TN)
Johnny Fowlkes (AR)
Rick Stone (KY)
FWB Foundation
2015 Len Blanchard (GA)
Rick Locklear (MI)
Phil Whitaker (AR)
Commission for Theological Integrity
2014 Steve Ashby (OK)
Historical Commission
2014 Robert Picirilli (TN)
Media Commission
2014 Keith Fletcher (TN)
Music Commission
2014 Daron Dwyer (NC)
General Officers
Moderator: Tim York (TN)
Assistant Moderator: William Smith (GA)
Clerk: Randy Bryant (FL)
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis (IL)
A Promising Future: NYC 2009
“My First One!” shouted a Truth & Peace altar counselor after the Monday night service. With an expression of pure joy, she recounted the experience of leading someone to Christ. Yet her experience was only one of more than 200 responses for salvation or surrender that students made during services at the 2009 National Youth Conference.
The conference made a profound impact upon the lives of the 1,917 students who attended. Reach That Guy participants who cleaned up an abandoned housing project were moved to tears by the squalor they witnessed.
Teens who attended Global Purpose Seekers seminars learned how to use Scripture, mentors, prayer, their conscience, and experiences to make wise decisions in discerning God’s will. The cross-cultural setting of the GPS-X International Marketplace prompted one student to observe, “Now I have a better idea of how to pray for missionaries.”
Teens and children who attended creation video sessions were equipped to defend their faith against attacks by secular philosophies that deny the reliability of God’s Word. Trips to the Creation Museum provided a realistic depiction of God’s account of Creation and The Great Flood.
On Tuesday night, Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and The Creation Museum, provided overwhelming evidence to support a young earth to an overflow crowd in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. He described an earth shaped by a catastrophic global flood and supplied relevant answers to many questions that can weaken the faith of today’s Christian students.
Youth leaders and adult attendees discussed the elements of a biblical model of youth ministry. They defined the God-given responsibility of parents to transfer their faith to their children. Youth leaders were challenged to develop reliable resources to provide relevant answers to questions asked by their students.
Other conference attendees enjoyed a demonstration of the new Elements Kid’s Worship from Randall House. Children and youth leaders alike were excited about the product, its features, and the price. The customizable program allows youth workers to plug in their own music to fit with the video, Bible lesson, and other valuable elements of the program.
Attendance is on the rise as 969 students participated in competitive activities, a six percent increase over last year. Student registration was up by five percent (97 more teens and children), and total attendance increased by 254, topping out at 4,186. The slight dip in Reach That Guy statistics reflects the cancellation of several outdoor projects due to rain. Still, participants logged 2,433 hours of community service and collected 69 units of blood at the blood drive.
The 2010 conference theme was introduced Wednesday night. Wherever incorporates Acts 1:8, which commands us to be witnesses of Christ at home and around the world. This theme complements the 75th anniversary celebration of International Missions.
Free Will Baptist students have been challenged to walk 10 miles along a 2,500-mile-route (once traveled by Laura Bell Barnard) to raise funds for the Go10 project. The unique event will start on Easter Sunday at Miss Barnard’s home church in Glenville, Georgia, and conclude next July during the Tuesday evening youth service in Oklahoma City. The goal? To raise $1 million dollars by the time International Missions General Director James Forlines walks into the auditorium! Visit www.fwbgo.com to learn more about how you can become involved in the Go10 project.
2009 National Youth Conference Overview
Theme: Sixty Minutes With God
Registrants: 4,212
Competition Entries: 969
Buck-A-Week Offering: $4,044.33
Reach That Guy
- 175 volunteers
- 2,412 hours of labor
- 23 completed projects
Worship Coordinators
Preschool: Katie Greenwood
Children: Johnny Miller
456: Steve Greenwood
Teen: Jacob Riggs
Teen Speakers: Cameron Lane (AR); Tommy Swindoll (MI); Jason Taylor (AZ) Allen Pointer (AR); Ken Ham (OH)
Youth Worker of the Year: Josh Young, Porter FWB Church (OH)
Youth of the Year: Stephanie Sparks, Bloom FWB Church (OH)
Youth Group of the Year: First FWB Church, Fort Gibson (OK)
YET 2010
Directed by Jeff and Sherri Sloan
Audrey Hollified (TN)
Kevin Strouth (VA)
Lauren Mitchell (GA)
Matthew Berry (FL)
Elizabeth Snow (TN)
Tyler Donaldson (SC)
Chesi Spriggs (KY)
Patrick Easley (MO)
Beth Ash (AR)
Tyler Cagle (AL)
Ashley Clark (KY)
John Palmer Rea (IL)
Women Nationally Active for Christ
Theme: That You May Know
Registration 776
Speakers: Carol Pinkerton (former missionary to Cotê d’Ivoire); Donna Crabtree (Canada)
That You May Know
That You May Know, the 74th annual convention of Women Nationally Active for Christ (WNAC), combined elements of past, present, and future. The two-day event drew 776 attendees and offered women opportunities to understand the changing ministry of WNAC and its participants.
Past
A Monday afternoon fashion show spanned the decades as it showcased the goals and accomplishments of WNAC from the 1930s to present. Christina Hopper (AL), Sandy Forman (AR), and Ellie Sargent (OH) shared moving testimonies about the impact of WNAC upon their lives. Women from Missouri presented a humorous view of what life would be like without WNAC.
Fellowship Luncheon Speaker Carol Pinkerton inspired laughter as she recalled her eventful years as a missionary in Africa and shared her perspective on her recent reentry into American culture. Worship speaker Donna Crabtree shared how God prepared her and her husband Jeff for ministry in Canada. Like a puzzle, each “piece” of their lives strategically fit into place, making the picture clear.
Present
During the convention business session, a new promotional DVD highlighted what today’s women want and need from a women’s ministry. WNAC is listening. A membership study committee offered a host of practical suggestions for improving and expanding present women’s groups.
Auditor Joel Collum addressed the crowd about the organization’s current financial challenges that required elimination of a full-time staff position. He offered suggestions for eliminating the shortfall and boosting financial stability. Delegates accepted the report and approved a streamlined 2010 budget.
Women also viewed “Faces of Christmas Joy 2009” and added two new faces to its leadership when Amy Johnson (IL) and Pam Hackett (SC) were elected to the WNAC Executive Committee as members-at-large.
In other business, women voted to extend the 20/20/20 Building for the Future project until July 2010. They also agreed to award Cleo Pursell Foreign Student Scholarships to Aida Zhankabayeva (attending FWBBC) and two students attending the Gwen Hendrix Hispanic Bible Insitute. Women gave a rising vote of appreciation for Yvonne Hampton’s 22-plus years of service in the WNAC office.
Delegates approved resolutions asking for placement of Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms and recommending women to contact authorities with concerns about crumbling morality. They authorized the WNAC staff and Executive Committee to review the current constitution and by-laws in order to offer recommendations for needed updates and changes.
Ohio Women Active for Christ combined taste and talent in welcoming the event. Women throughout the state made buckeyes (chocolate and peanut butter candies) for everyone who attended the Fellowship Luncheon. Young people from Chapel Hill FWB Church in Columbus, OH presented a dramatic presentation, and Malari Helman of Ohio’s Hillview FWB Church led in worship.
Future
“The future is bright,” Executive Secretary-Treasurer Danita High emphasized during her first annual report. For the first time in several years, WNAC saw numerical growth and a steady increase in inquiries for starting new groups.
Several attendees took note of younger faces on the stage and in the crowd. Others observed a different spirit and an air of anticipation as WNAC celebrates its 75th year in 2010.
“In the months leading up to the 2010 convention,” says Mrs. High, “We will learn from countless others whose legacy leaves a lasting impression on our lives. We will focus our efforts on ministering to the needs of women while providing an array of ministry ideas and opportunities to serve within their sphere of influence and beyond.
“Our vision is to offer a balanced ministry containing both tools for spiritual growth and opportunities to put faith into action. Our name says it well; we must be spiritually strong—Women Active for Christ.”
Danita contends that the new ministry focus will require a pioneer spirit and complete dependence upon God’s power. Realizing that support from pastors and church leaders is essential to the organization’s mission, she welcomes input and participation as laborers together with God.
Heard around the convention:
“It was wonderful—the music, the speakers, everything was so good.”
“I loved the focus on both the past and the future.”
“How will you top this in 2010?”