news around the world Free Will Baptist International Missions 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 Free Will Baptist International Missions, visit www.fwbgo.com.

WMO Benefits From Country Music Marathon

Antioch, TN—The 2012 St. Jude Country Music Marathon took place on Saturday, April 28, one day before International Missions’ World Missions Sunday and Offering. This year the rigorous route was tackled by three people raising funds for the World Missions Offering: Jonathan Postlewaite, missionary to Bulgaria; Randy Riggs, Tennessee pastor; and Steve Riggs, missionary to France.

Together, the threesome raised $2,285 for the World Missions Offering. Read the full story on www.fwbgo.com

April Board Meeting Encouraging, Productive

Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions met April 23-25, 2012, in the Antioch, Tennessee, offices. Over the three-day session, the board heard reports from the various departments and acted on proposals and general business.

Doug and Miriam (Hardin) Bishop were interviewed and approved for a two-year term as interns to Japan. Doug, son of Dale and Sandra Bishop, was raised in Japan. The couple will be mentored by a missionary while working under a Japanese pastor in Northern Japan. They hope this internship will confirm their call as career missionaries.

Patsy Vanhook tendered her retirement resignation to be effective December 31, 2013. The 40-year-veteran missionary will close out her time in France early next year and then spend the remainder of her tenure visiting and thanking supporting churches and individuals.

Additionally, the board approved Director of Field Operations Jeff Turnbough’s recommendation to renew the Mission’s partnership with ELIC. The Mission will make specific efforts to mobilize, recruit, and send more Free Will Baptist workers as teachers to Asia.

The board accepted Tim Keener’s resignation as regional director of Europe, effective in June 2012, with commendation for his faithful service. Jeff Turnbough will assume regional director responsibilities for Europe and Latin America (formerly Stan Bunch’s position) indefinitely.

The board approved the investigation of sending workers to Senegal for a joint church-planting project with a missionary-pastor from Côte d’Ivoire.

Additionally, Sam McVay was recognized and thanked for his hard work to make the 2012 World Missions Offering a success. Vice-chairman Randy Wilson concluded his 12-year tenure with the board at this meeting. The board commended Randy for his insightful participation and service.

Kiley Hawkins received the board’s appreciation for six years of faithful service in the office.
An unqualified approval of the audit was received from Blankenship CPA Group. Auditor Tommy Wooten also commended the Mission’s financial operations team for their meticulous bookkeeping.

The board approved a $7 million framework budget for 2013 to be presented at the July 2012 meeting of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. The 2012 framework budget was set at $7.25 million and reduced to a $6.1 million operational budget in December 2011 as the board sought to boost the Mission’s progress toward financial health. The operational budget for 2013 will be approved at the December 2012 board meeting.

At the end of the three-day meeting, Board Chairman Danny Williams remarked, “I was thrilled, as we ended these sessions, to hear other board members talk about the spirit of optimism that pervaded the meeting. We have a true sense of progress, direction, and hope for the future of the Mission that is encouraging.”

All board members (Danny Williams, AL; Randy Wilson, OK; Jeff Manning, NC: Mark Price, OH; Nelson Henderson, AR; Rob Morgan, TN; Greg McAllister, CA; Tom McCullough, MI) were in attendance. Officers elected for the upcoming year are Danny Williams, chairman; Jeff Manning, vice-chairman; Tom McCullough, secretary.

FWBIM Encouraged by Advance Response to 2012 WMO

Antioch, TN—Director of Advancement Mark McPeak expressed his appreciation for denominational support of the 2012 World Missions Offering (WMO). “We asked for 650 churches to commit to participate this year, a significant increase over previous years. More than 700 churches have indicated they are participating—many for the first time!” said McPeak.

The denominational calendar has the World Missions Offering scheduled for the last Sunday in April each year.
“As I’ve traveled and spoken in churches,” General Director Clint Morgan stated, “I’ve been encouraged by pastors, church members, and state leaders who have expressed their support for global missions by expressing extraordinary efforts to increase their WMO giving this year. I’ve enjoyed sharing these stories with our missionaries and staff, encouraging them as I’ve been encouraged.”

“I stepped into my position with a strong team already in place and working for the 2012 WMO,” McPeak said. “I commend missionaries, ambassadors, staff, state leaders, and others who have traveled tirelessly and worked diligently to promote the World Missions Offering. I am thankful God has used their efforts so effectively.” Read the full release on www.fwbgo.com.

Snapshots Around the World

India: Cyclones wiped out whole villages on Good Friday, April 6, in North India. Wind, rain, and hailstorms destroyed crops, leveled homes, and left many people with nothing. More than 100 families from Free Will Baptist churches were affected. Some who attended Good Friday services in Sonapurhat returned to villages that had been destroyed.

Japan: A 23-year-old man was baptized on Easter Sunday at the Kita Hiroshima Church. Sasaki San gave his testimony just before Pastor Kimura baptized him.

Côte d’Ivoire: The Women of the Good News (Ivorian WNAC) held a national retreat the first week of April in Agnibilekrou, Côte d’Ivoire. This was the first national retreat since last year’s political upheaval.

Panama: A Tuesday night Holy Week service at the Chame Bible institute was well attended by people from the community. Three people prayed for salvation. Students have worked diligently to increase their presence in the community and have established Bible studies with several Chame residents.

Uruguay: A children’s event in Melo, Saturday, March 17 (pictured below), ministered to over 200 children and 70 adults. Forty children responded to the opportunity to receive Christ as Savior.

France: Two believers were baptized (pictured below) at the Saint Sébastien Church, Sunday, March 11. Multiple visitors witnessed the baptisms, and one person made a decision to follow Christ. Two men were baptized Sunday, March 4, in the Nantes FWB Church.

Spain: Tim and Kristi Johnson, with children Alejandro and Ana, returned to Spain April 3. Failure to return would endanger their residency status. The full news release can be found at www.fwbgo.com.

Panama: The church plant in Santiago held its first Sunday service March 18. Twenty-seven people attended. Julio Barahona and Paul and Chrissy Collins are partnering to share the gospel in Santiago.