News About the Denomination The following news items apply to (or affect) the Free Will Baptist denomination scattered across the nation and around the world.To read more about Free Will Baptists and the various departments that make up the national organization, visit www.nafwb.org. Read a brief history of Free Will Baptists in the United States.

Patrick Appointed as Free Will Baptist Foundation CEO

Antioch, TN — Free Will Baptist Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Patrick (pictured below) as its new chief executive officer and director. With more than two decades of ministry leadership, financial stewardship, and a passion for advancing Kingdom work, Brent will guide the Foundation into a new season of growth and service for our churches and ministries.

Brent currently serves as the lead pastor of Gateway Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he and his family have faithfully ministered for the past 13 years. Prior to his work in Virginia, he pastored congregations in Kentucky and North Carolina and served at Southeastern College as the chief financial officer and director of development and recruitment, combining his heart for ministry with expertise in organizational leadership, business acumen, and a desire for generational impact.

Academically, Brent holds a master’s degree in business administration from Morehead State University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Kentucky. This blend of pastoral experience and business training uniquely positions him to lead the Foundation and steward its resources with spiritual vision, financial management, and operational excellence.
Brent has been married to his beautiful wife, Paula, for 29 years, and they have two children: Olivia (25) and Blake (21).

Reflecting on his new role, Brent shared: “It is an honor to serve the Foundation and to build on its mission of benefiting investors and bolstering Kingdom impact for denominational, church, and missions causes. I am humbled by this opportunity and excited about what God has in store.”

The Free Will Baptist Foundation Board of Directors expresses its confidence in Brent’s leadership, experience, and vision and invites our people, churches, and partners to join in prayer as he begins this important new chapter.

Rainer Featured at 2025 Leadership Conference

Nashville, TN — Dr. Sam Rainer (pictured below) will headline the 2025 Leadership Conference, December 8-9, at Sonesta Nashville Airport. Pastors, church leaders, and denominational leaders from across the nation will gather to explore “The Neighborhood Church.”

Rainer will speak five times: twice during Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions and three times Tuesday morning. The president of Church Answers and the lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida, Sam writes, teaches, speaks, and consults on a variety of church health issues. He also co-hosts the popular podcast Rainer on Leadership. The author of nine books, he has written hundreds of articles and is a frequent speaker on church health issues.

“Sam Rainer offers a fresh look at what it means to be a vibrant community church,” notes Executive Secretary Eddie Moody. “We welcome him to the Leadership Conference and look forward to hearing from him on this important topic.”

On Tuesday afternoon, four additional seminars will offer practical instruction on building and maintaining a healthy church.

• From Hello to Home: Dynamic First Impressions Ministry – Dr. Shiloh Hackett
  

• Ministering to People Who Didn’t Plant Their Own Olive Trees – Jon Forrest
  

• Revitalization: Lessons Learned From a Water Bottle and the Bible – Travis Alexander
  

• Small Groups Make Big Steps – Kevin Barnett
  

Various boards and committees will meet in conjunction with the conference, including the Executive Committee; D6 Family Ministry; FWB Foundation; IM, Inc.; North American Ministries; Richland Ave Financial; Welch College; the FWB Historical Commission; and state leaders and promotional directors.

Find more information and download the full conference schedule at www.nafwb.org/leadershipconference.

D6 CEO Contributes to Newly Published Book

Nashville, TN — Dr. Ron Hunter Jr. was asked to contribute to a multi- author book published by B&H Academic entitled Children and Salvation: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Considerations.

The project was headed by Dr. Karen Kennemur, professor of children’s ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and other highly regarded authors and experts: Dr. Shelly Melia,
associate dean and professor at Dallas Baptist University; Dr. David Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Dr. Donna Peavy, professor of Christian education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and several others. This book released September 2025.

Dr. Hunter’s chapter, “Generational Discipleship Among Spiritual Orphans,” tackles family ministry from the angle of the messiness when parents are not as engaged with their children as they should be. Hunter examines biblical orphans and the mentors who made a difference in their lives.