news around the world

IM serves churches, pastors, and people by helping them fulfill their role in establishing churches beyond North America so unreached peoples can know the joy of a relationship with the living God. To find out more about the ministry of IM, visit www.IMINC.org

Former Côte d’Ivoire Missionary Dies

Antioch, TN — Sandra Payne of Franklin, Tennessee, passed into the arms of her Savior December 20, 2024, at age 86. Born February 10, 1938, to Ebenezer and Edith Dawson of Clarksville, Florida, she attended St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Jacksonville, Florida, receiving her nursing degree in 1959. Afterward she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Free Will Baptist Bible College (now Welch College), where she prepared for missionary work. She married Eddie Payne August 26, 1960.

Together, they served and enjoyed the people of Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, from 1964 to 1988. At times, Sandra served as the only American healthcare worker at the isolated Doropo clinic. She touched the lives of thousands of Ivorians, physically and spiritually.

Following retirement from overseas missions, Sandra continued serving people in distress as a psychiatric nurse in Nashville, receiving a Frist award for excellence in nursing.

Sandra left behind her husband of 64 years, Eddie; daughters Laura Stafford and Debbie (Verlin) Anderson; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Family and friends celebrated Sandra’s life December 28, 2024.

WMO Sets Record, Staff Plan for 2025

Antioch, TN — Stacy Ross, pastor of Northridge FWB Church in Guymon, Oklahoma, said it well: “On our own, we could never get the gospel to Japan, Spain, Pakistan, India, Ecuador, Kenya, France, or any of the other places IM missionaries and partners go. But through the WMO, we get to be a part of what Jesus is doing all over the world.” The gospel simply cannot reach the ends of the earth without YOUR help!

Last year, Free Will Baptists joined together and gave $792,358 to the World Missions Offering. IM is thankful for every person who gave to the WMO to make this happen. Children learned about the WMO through IM’s missions-focused kids’ curriculum. Churches and individuals gave sacrificial gifts and offerings. WMO Ambassadors joined forces to share the story of the WMO in their states. Every nation, every people group, and every heart needs to hear the gospel message.

What does the World Missions Offering do?
Funds Partnerships. Our partners are spread out around the world in places missionaries often cannot go. Their strategic reach extends the gospel even further into places of darkness.
Launches New Missionaries. The WMO helps new missionaries launch their fundraising efforts and get to their fields of service faster. Last year, six IM missionaries received funds directly from the WMO. Some of them are already actively involved in ministry on the ground.
Boosts IM General Fund. Missionaries and ministries would not be possible without support from the General Fund in mobilizing, vetting, training, encouraging, and sending. These things make it possible for the gospel to go out!

IM needs your help to CONTINUE THE MISSION. It’s about the gospel!

Evangelistic Christmas Activities in Varna

Varna, Bulgaria — Trif Trifonov reported the New Life Church in Varna, Bulgaria, “made the most of every opportunity” to share the gospel during the Christmas season. Among the Christmas parties hosted for various demographics was one for Ukrainian refugees. Over 100 people (parents and children) attended. In addition to playing games, singing a Christmas song in Bulgarian, and each person receiving a gift, the gospel was clearly presented.

The church invited a children’s singing club to perform a Christmas concert at the church. Parents joined the children, and they all heard the good news presented as “the reason for the season.” Children received Christian literature and a large bar of chocolate as a thank you for their performance. Their vocal teacher loved it and, despite a heavy Christmas concert schedule, said she would like the New Life Church event to become part of their regular schedule. Trif invited all the attendees to the Christmas service. Trif said, “Some parents said they would come, and the parents of one of the girls really did!”

During their second annual Christmas Eve service, worship songs and a Christmas poem preceded Bible readings in the four languages represented at the service: Bulgarian, Ukrainian, English, and Kazakh. Trif concluded the candlelight service with a short sermon entitled "The Light of the World.” He then led any who wanted to accept Christ as Savior to pray along with him.

Snapshots Around the World

Brazil — The Alliance of FWB Churches in Brazil inaugurated an online discipleship study for young people in January 2025. The initiative is designed to encourage more young people to enroll in Bible college for training to serve in various ministries. Thirty-five young people from six churches attended the inaugural class January 27.

Cuba — Sixteen people (above) completed the requirements for an associate’s degree from an extension of the Los Cedros seminary. The Good Shepherd FWB Church hosted a service as the group received their certificates February 9, 2024.

Panama — A group of 12 people from the Buenas Nuevas FWB Church in Chitré, Panama, traveled to El Salvador for a ten-day missions trip February 1, 2024. The team worked with the Escudera family, missionaries from Panama to El Salvador.

Uruguay — Sunday, February 12, Pastor Yosvanys baptized two women and two men at the Emanuel FWB Church in Montevideo, Uruguay. The church has seen slow but steady growth since Pastor Yosvanys and his family emigrated from Cuba to help revitalize the church.