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.

The Neighborhood Church: 2025 Leadership Conference

Antioch, TN — Two hundred Free Will Baptist pastors and ministry leaders from 25 states gathered December 8-9 at Sonesta Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, for the annual Free Will Baptist Leadership Conference.

Keynote speaker Dr. Sam Rainer (pictured below, with Executive Secretary Eddie Moody) explored the theme, “The Neighborhood Church,” identifying the traits and strategies to develop a church that is loved and valued by its community. “Your church is not at its address by accident,” he challenged listeners during his opening session. “If God can save any person, then He can save any church....This should be the heart of our ministry.”

The president of Church Answers and the lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida, Rainer writes, teaches, speaks, and consults on many issues surrounding church health. The author of nine books and hundreds of articles, he is a frequent speaker and co-hosts the podcast Rainer on Leadership. Rainer spoke five times during the conference: twice during Monday and Tuesday evening keynote sessions and three sessions on Tuesday:

Session 1: The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church

Session 2: The Trends That Can Make or Break Your Next 10 Years

Session 3: Proven Approaches From Churches Reaching Young Families

Session 4: Why Churches Are Targets (Keeping Your Congregation Safe)

Session 5: How to Get Everyone in Your Church Inviting Someone

Washington pastor Brent Nix shared his thoughts regarding both the conference and what he heard during keynote sessions: “The Leadership Conference has been a source of encouragement and inspiration for me every year I’ve attended. This year’s sessions with Sam Rainer’s insightful, practical, and passionate teaching have been a wonderful blessing to me and, hopefully, to my church when I get home.”

Tuesday afternoon, additional seminars offered practical instruction on building and maintaining a healthy church.

From Hello to Home: Dynamic First Impressions Ministry, Dr. Shiloh Hackett (TN)

Ministering to People Who Didn’t Plant Their Own Olive Trees, Jon Forrest (TN)

Revitalization: Lessons From a Water Bottle and the Bible, Travis Alexander (AR)

Small Groups Make Big Steps, Kevin Barnett (AR)

As always, the Leadership Conference featured more than sessions and training. Attendees enjoyed conversations over banquet-styled meals, explored resources from national ministries, and talked long after sessions reached a conclusion. This year, the Leadership Conference also hosted a Funding Summit to explore ways to address the challenges of financing crucial denominational ministry without overburdening Free Will Baptists.

Various boards and committees met 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 Historical Commission; and state leaders and promotional directors.

“I left this year’s leadership conference with a lot of hope for our local churches," said Florida pastor John Howell. "We received practical tools and resources to help us reach our communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ!”

As the conference concluded, Executive Director Eddie Moody challenged attendees to set four specific goals for their states, associations, and churches: 1) pray for neighbors (nafwb.org/bless); 2) increase the number of churches using The Hope Initiative (nafwb.org/hope); 3) refocus on Sunday School and discipling others in the faith; and 4) pray for the harvest and harvesters.

“We must be outward focused to reach the community,” Moody concluded. However, we must be inward focused as we pray for and look for harvesters. Who within your church can teach a class? Who meets the criteria to be a pastor, and who might God be calling?”

Moody announced December 7-8, 2026, as the dates for next year’s meeting, which will explore the theme, “Church Tools: Basics for Effective Ministry.” Visit nafwb.org/leader throughout the year for updates regarding the 2026 conference.”

2026 D6 Conference Comes to Nashville

Nashville, TN — After seven fruitful years in Orlando, Florida, the D6 Conference is returning to the heart of the Southeast in 2026 when it meets in Tennessee. This location is closer to home for many Free Will Baptist pastors, leaders, and churches. Since 2009, D6 has strengthened families and equipped ministry leaders in Dallas, Louisville, Greensboro, and Orlando. Now, the conference will be located in a city many Free Will Baptists can reach with a single tank of gas.

Nashville, Tennessee, will be the home of D6 Conference 2026! Mark your calendars for April 23-25, 2026, and make plans to join us for D6 Southeast.

Nashville offers the perfect blend of accessibility, hospitality, and energy, making it easier than ever for an entire ministry team to attend the D6 Conference together. Whether you are a longtime D6 leader or planning your first experience, this is the year to attend the conference.
Pack your bags (or your car) and get ready for D6 to come to Nashville.

Register today at d6family.com/d6conference.

Introducing 2026 Nominees for Standing Boards and Commissions

Antioch, TN — The 2025-26 Nominating Committee has presented the following nominees to be considered for the 2025 Convention election, according to Clint Adams (GA), committee chair. The following boards do not elect members in 2026: Richland Ave Financial, FWB Foundation, North American Ministries. Note: bios are included only for new board and commission nominees, not for returning members.

IM, Inc. 2032

Chris Todd (OK)
Rick Cason (GA)
Steve Reeves (MO)

Steve Reeves is the director of Missouri Free Will Baptist Missions. A graduate of Randall University with a B.A. in theology and a minor in missions, Steve has a wide range of ministry experience. After 17 years of pastoring, he and his wife served as missionaries to Spain for a decade before returning to Missouri to plant Rejoice FWB Church in Columbia. Steve has served in various state leadership positions, including moderator, as a member of the Executive Committee, and as a member of the Missions Board.

Welch College 2032

Jeff Manning (NC)
Ben Eskola (TN)
Chris Truett (NC)

Jeff Manning has pastored Unity FWB Church in Greenville, North Carolina, for 35 years. He holds a B.A. degree from Welch College, an M.Div. degree from Bob Jones University, and the D.Min. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served various state and national positions, including ten years on the Commission for Theological Integrity and 15 years on the board of IM, Inc.

Ben Eskola is the principal partner in Eskola Roofing, LLC, which has locations in 24 states and more than 750 employees. A graduate of Walters State Community College, Eskola is a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Peace FWB Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Active in the work of Berea Ministries, Ben has led numerous missions trips.

WNAC 2032

Jessica Edwards (TN)
Brenda Bunch (MO)
Dusty Harrison (OK)

Brenda Bunch and her husband Stan served as missionaries to Panama for nearly three decades. A graduate of Central State University (OK) with a B.A. degree in elementary education, Brenda holds an additional degree in missions from Randall University (OK). Active in WNAC and women's ministries since 1973, she is currently involved in developing a ladies ministry at Calvary Chapel FWB Church in Buffalo, Missouri. She additionally serves as a crisis pregnancy counselor.

Dusty Harrison serves as an elementary school principal in Ada, Oklahoma. She earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Northeastern State University, an M.Ed. degree in education administration from University of Oklahoma, and currently is completing the D.Ed. degree in education administration and curriculum supervision from University of Oklahoma. Dusty serves as the vice president of Oklahoma WAC and has held various positions at the district and state levels. She and her husband attend First FWB Church in Ada, Oklahoma.

D6 Family Ministry 2032

Gary Clark (FL)
Dick Terry (OK)
Rick Taylor (AL)

Gary Clark is a Florida Public Service Commissioner, a position he has held since 2017. Previously, he served as Deputy Secretary of Land and Recreation for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A graduate of Chipola College, Clark also holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix. Clark has served (and chaired) numerous boards of civic organizations. He is a member and Sunday School teacher at Chipley Free Will Baptist Church, a church which utilizes D6 Family curriculum.

Dick Terry has been the pastor of First FWB Church in Sulphur, Oklahoma, since 2007. He earned a B.A. degree in theology along with an A.A. degree in church music from Randall University. A former member of the Free Will Baptist Executive Committee, Terry also has served 11 years on the Trustee Board of Randall University, five as chairman. His church led co-op giving in Oklahoma four of the last five years, regularly numbers among the top twenty highest giving churches to the World Missions Offering, and is a budgetary supporter of D6 Family Ministry.

Commissions

Music Commission 2031 — Sam Harris (NC)

Media Commission 2031 — Adrian Holland (TN)

Commission for Theological Integrity 2031 — Jeremy Craft (FL)

Historical Commission 2031 — Jesse Owens (TN)

Jesse Owens has been the pastor of Immanuel FWB Church in Gallatin, Tennessee, for nine years and serves as a member of the Welch College faculty. He holds a B.A. degree in pastoral ministry from Welch College, and an M.Div. in ministry and Ph.D. in historical theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Owens has contributed chapters to five books and writes and presents frequently regarding subjects of theology and history.

Executive Committee 2029

Ken Simpson (MO)
Larry Reynolds (MS)
Jimmy Lawson (MI)

Ken Simpson has pastored Calvary Fellowship FWB Church (MO) for 16 years. He earned a B.A. degree in biblical studies and pastoral training from Welch College and the M.A. in theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. Simpson has been a member of the Welch College Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of Missouri Free Will Baptists. He additionally served as the moderator of the Missouri State Association, the St. Louis District Association, and the Greater Kansas City District Association.

Larry Reynolds has pastored Cotton Heights FWB Church in Buckatunna, Mississippi, for 18 years. He holds an A.A. degree in biblical studies from Alabama Bible College, an A.A. degree in education from Mesa Community College, a B.A. degree in education from University of Alabama, an M.A. in theology and ministry from Welch College, and the D.Min. from Lake Charles Bible College. A former NAM church planter, Reynolds is a member of the General Board of the National Association and served as a member of the Mississippi State Missions Board. He also served as the moderator of the Mississippi State Association.

Jimmy Lawson has been the pastor of Community FWB Church in Westland, Michigan, since 1998. He earned a B.A. degree in Bible and pastoral theology from Southeastern FWB College, an M.A. in biblical studies from Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, and currently is completing the D.Min. with an emphasis in ministry leadership from Liberty University. Lawson is a General Board member of the National Association and additionally serves as the promotional director for the Michigan State Association. He is a member of the Southeastern FWB College Board.

General Officers of the Executive Committee

2027

Assistant Moderator: W. Jackson Watts (MO)
Clerk: Randy Bryant (FL)

2029

Moderator: Tim York (TN)
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis (IL)

Submitted by the Nominating Committee: Clint Adams, chair (GA); Brenda Bunch (MO); Josh Hampton (MT); Gary Hill (VA); Barry Long (KY); Terry Pierce (MS); and Ivan Ryan (IL).