news from master's Men and WNAC

Master's Men has organized men's ministry for the National Association of Free Will Baptists since 1955. Women Nationally Active for Christ (WNAC), an auxiliary arm of the denomination, has coordinated the collaborative efforts of Free Will Baptist women since 1934.

Over 1,000 Women Attend Fall Events

Across the nation, over a thousand Women Active for Christ gathered in churches, camps, conference centers, hotels, and ranch resorts this past fall for time away and time together with the Lord and His people.

Alabama

Three generations of speakers shared the platform at the 7th annual Southern Ladies Retreat, September 9-10. Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church, Adamsville, Alabama, hosted the event. Susan Forlines, Amy Bee, and gospel ventriloquist Geraldine and Ricky ministered to 140 attendees with the theme, “Beautiful in His Eyes,” based on Proverbs 31:30.

Ladies of the church decorated with a bridal theme, adorning the walls with antique and modern bridal dresses representing women in the church. Friday evening’s meal included wedding and groom’s cake for dessert. Women of Mt. Zion Free Will Baptist, Pell City, Alabama, will host next year’s event.

Arizona

Arizona District Women Active for Christ met for their annual retreat October 14-15, at the Francisco Grande Hotel and Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona. Forty women attended the event, including five women from the New Mexico district.

Khristi Shores, home missionary to Albuquerque, New Mexico, spoke on “Body Builders,” encouraging women to utilize individual spiritual gifts as members of the Body of Christ. Women auctioned baskets and participated in a used book sale to support Arizona ministries and WAC projects.

Arkansas

Ninety Women Active for Christ met August 8, at Camp Beaverfork in Conway, Arkansas, for their annual meeting. Speaker Angie Outlaw explored the theme, “In His Image” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Change characterized the day. Instead of a traditional banquet, women feasted at a midday brunch. Due to changes in the state school calendar, women agreed to move the meeting from August to March. The 2012 meeting will convene at Camp Beaverfork March 10. Women will also meet at the camp September 21-22, 2012, for a retreat.

Michigan

Nearly 150 Michigan Women Active for Christ met September 23-24, at the Holiday Inn in Perrysburg, Ohio, for their 40th annual retreat. Missionary speaker Kristi Johnson and music leader Rebekah Seymour rallied women with chants of “Victory, Victory is our Cry,” the 2011 retreat theme.

Ten prayer rooms, three seminars, and a banquet also filled the schedule. A used-book sale netted nearly $900 for the 2015 convention fund. Women also gave over $600 in a love offering to defray truck repair expenses incurred by Field Worker Katy Taylor during Michigan’s annual Provision Closet delivery.

Missouri

Author Debra White Smith challenged each of the 144 attendees at the Missouri Women Active for Christ retreat to be “A Woman of Godly Influence.” The retreat, September 22-23, at the Holiday Inn North in Springfield, Missouri, included times of fun, fellowship, sharing, and spoiling. State president Lee Ann Wilfong described the meeting as “one of the best retreats ever.”

A two-part retreat project, “Women of Influence Influencing Other Women” involved raising funds for the 2016 national convention and collecting toiletries for women’s domestic shelters across the state. The group far exceeded expectations, giving approximately $1,600 toward convention expenses and contributing enough toiletries to supply seven different shelters with three of four large boxes of various items.

North Carolina

“The Woman’s Journey” led North Carolina Women Active for Christ to the Caraway Conference Center in the Uwharrie Mountains for two days of worship and retreat. WNAC Executive Director Elizabeth Hodges guided women in worship at the feet of “He.” Two women, Dana Brown and Selena Barrow shared powerful testimonies about the ways He has guided their lives. Several women’s groups set up vendor booths and sold goods to help fund various ministry projects. NCWAC sponsors the retreat every other year in October.

Ohio

“Are You Full?” Ohio Women Active for Christ considered this question and a corresponding theme verse, Ephesians 3:19, at their annual retreat. Eighty-seven women met October 14-15 at Heartland Retreat and Conference Center in Merengo.

Angie Outlaw spoke at the event, which also included a devotion by Jenna Altom, special music by Undivided, and a fun time filled with skits and a “Ms. OWAC” pageant. Women collected blankets for My Very Own Blanket (an organization supplying blankets for foster children) and school supplies for The Hanna Project distribution in Cote d’Ivoire.

Oklahoma

Almost 100 Oklahoma Women Active for Christ met at Rejoice Church in Owasso, Oklahoma, for their annual meeting, October 10. The day featured music from the Foundation Blue Grass Band of the Grove FWB Mission, a work currently supported by Oklahoma Women Active for Christ. Speaker Dana Brown of Bixby, Oklahoma, expounded on the theme, “Body Builders.”
Women awarded an OWAC scholarship to Caitlin Honeycutt. Brienne Rierson and Christian Sloan also received partial scholarships.

Over the past year, Oklahoma women have contributed more than $11, 799 to missions, Christian education endeavors and women’s ministry projects.

Tennessee

Tennessee Women Active for Christ converged in Pigeon Forge, September 29-October 1, to hear Wendy Pope of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Leaders rejoiced as 137 women registered—almost double the attendance at previous retreats. In the midst of this shopping paradise, women gave a missions offering of $904 and a $720 offering for WNAC. State president Amanda Kilgore commented, “We laughed, we cried…we listened and learned from God’s Word. What a wonderful time.”

Texas

Sky Ranch in Van welcomed 36 Women Active for Christ, September 23-24, for the annual Texas WAC retreat. Speakers Judy Smith and Jane Galvan shared Scriptures and thoughts related to the theme, “Come Before Winter.” Attendees participated in a Meal With a Message (object lesson about the availability of the Gospel in countries around the world), and took home copies of the lesson script to share in their churches. Women brought toys, underclothing and toiletries as Christmas gifts for children in Mexico.

West Virginia

Approximately 125 West Virginia women met September 9-10, at Central FWB Church in Huntington for a fall retreat featuring the Beech Grove Singers (ladies trio) and award winning songwriter Kyla Rowand. Friday evening’s service also included communion and washing of the saints’ feet. Jonathan and Amy Postlewaite, recent International Missions appointees to Bulgaria, shared about their ministry. Women gave $1,100 for Berea Ministries in Mexico as well as a love gift to the Postlewaites.

For more information regarding upcoming WNAC events, visit www.wnac.org.

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Master’s Men Expands Sports Ministry

Antioch, TN—For several years, Master’s Men has used sports ministry for a two-fold purpose—fellowship and fundraising. Fellowship is one of the five basic purposes of Master’s Men, and sporting events provide time to bond with and fellowship with other men. This is especially true of the National Golf Tournament held each year during the first Thursday of August and the National Softball Tournament played the first weekend in August.

Sports ministry is far more than fellowship, however. It provides an important source of funding. The income from these events enables Master’s Men to carry out many other ministries, from disaster relief and work projects to Bible study resources and training events. With this in mind, the department is gradually expanding sports ministry.

The three-day Deep South Golf Tournament will be held at Stonebridge Golf Club in Albany, Georgia, March 28-30. The beautiful course was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 10 new courses to play when it opened in 1997. Designed by Robert C. Walker in a traditional style, golfers will encounter unique challenges on every hole.

The department is also exploring the possibility of adding a national volleyball tournament in the coming year. If your church or organization would be interested in participating in this tournament, or if you have experience with volleyball tournaments, please contact the Master’s Men office.

For more details on all sports ministry events, visit the Master’s Men website: www.fwbmastersmen.org.

CMI Conferences Continue to Grow

Antioch, TN—After years of men’s retreats and rallies, Master’s Men decided to take the next step in providing training for Free Will Baptist men. The result was the development of CMI (Count Me In) Conferences. The goal of each conference is to train and motivate men to become more involved in kingdom work—at home, at church, across the nation, and around the world. To date, the department has hosted conference in five states including California.

Each meeting consists of seven sessions with a two-fold purpose: to emphasize men mentoring other men and to equip men for successful Christian living. Some sessions teach men to be leaders and how to encourage other men. Other sessions deal with issues men face in life. Every attendee receives a notebook with lesson handouts and a commemorative gift.

Two conferences are scheduled for 2012. Both in March, the conferences will take place in South Carolina and Arkansas. Every man from every church in these states would benefit from attending one of the conferences. For updated information, visit www.fwbmastersmen.org.