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.

WNAC Awards International Scholarships

Antioch, TN—WNAC recently named five young women, all students at Chame Seminary in Panama as 2012 recipients of the Cleo Pursell Foreign Student Scholarship.

Stephanie Concepción came to Christ through the efforts of New Tribes missionaries working among her native Ngobe Buglé Indian tribe. Stephanie’s commitment to Christian service and preparation at Chame (12 hours away from her home in Bocas del Toro province) has generated some family opposition. Culturally, girls are to stay close to home and marry someone from the tribe. A second-year student, Stephanie enjoys teaching children and working with teens.

Elisa Niz, a third-year student (senior) completes her studies this December. A talented artist and a soon-to-be bride, Elisa and her new husband, Daudeth Araúz, plan to continue lay ministry in their local Free Will Baptist church in Cañita.

Báderlin Castañeda, a first-year student from the Buenas Nuevas FWB Church in Chitré, Panamá, enjoys helping others and using her spiritual gifts in music and teaching children.

Cynthia Urriola, also a third-year student, hails from the San Vicente Church, the second oldest Free Will Baptist church in Panama. Her gifts lie in teaching children and working with the deaf. Cynthia plans to marry Julio Barahona, a Chame graduate currently working alongside missionaries Paul and Chrissy Collins in a church plant effort in Santiago.

Liz González, also a first-year student from the Buenas Nuevas Church, plays the guitar in chapel services at the seminary. Blessed with a great sense of humor, Liz’s joys include music and laughter.

Pursell scholarships, awarded annually, provide help for international students preparing for ministry within their own regions or countries. WNAC bases individual selection on recommendations from Free Will Baptist mission leaders (FWBHM and FWBIM). Awarded amounts vary, as funding comes solely from designated gifts received throughout the year.

This year’s total of $1,389.29, pays for tuition, textbooks, and a storage box filled with toiletry items for each of the five girls. Funds also helped purchase needed women’s ministry books for the seminary library. Missionary Judy Lytle commented, “We appreciate everything WNAC does for our ministry and for the seminary.”

Mary R. Wisehart Scholarship Recipient Announced

WNAC also announces a third Mary R. Wisehart Scholarship recipient. Gateway Free Will Baptist College chose Jessica Barrow, junior Elementary Education major from Faith FWB Church in Washington, North Carolina, to receive the $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to a promising young woman at each of the five Free Will Baptist Colleges.

A pastor’s daughter, Jessica serves as junior class secretary and society secretary. She also works as part of the college promotional team.

Jessica joins Bre Rieirson (Hillsdale) and Dominique Ward (Southeastern) in this honor as the first Wisehart Scholarship recipients. In 2010, WNAC Convention delegates voted to convert the organization’s longstanding loan fund to a scholarship fund. Guidelines approved in 2011 allow a scholarship committee at each of the five respective Free Will Baptist colleges to receive applications and select the school’s recipient.

Colleges are currently accepting scholarship applications, with selections made in early 2013. Interested women should talk with the financial advisor at their perspective school. WNAC provides these scholarships as part of its ongoing mission: helping Free Will Baptist women of all ages discover and utilize God-designed roles for communicating the gospel.