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.

2014 Yearbook Now Available

Antioch, TN—The 2014 Free Will Baptist Yearbooks have been mailed to district association clerks for distribution of complimentary copies to local churches.

If you wish to purchase a copy for personal use, contact Randall House Publications at 800-877-7030 or visit www.RandallHouse.com.

Media Commission to Provide Archived Convention Services Online

Antioch, TN—Since 2010, the Free Will Baptist Media Commission has partnered with the Executive Office to provide live streaming of worship services. Due to the prohibitive cost of Internet services at the convention center this year, live streaming will not be possible.

In order to accommodate those who are unable to attend the convention, archived copies of the services will be made available online. Audio podcasts of each service will be posted online immediately following the service. Video of services will not be posted until a later date following the convention.

Archived audio and video files will be available for free download. Copies of CDs or DVDs will no longer be available for purchase or order at the convention.

The Media Commission will also be posting sermon quotes, video clips and photos on their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fwbmedia), Twitter (@fwbmedia) and website (http://www.fwbmedia.com) throughout the convention.

Introducing 2014 Convention Nominees

Antioch, TN—The 2014 nominating committee met Monday, March 3, at the Free Will Baptist Executive Office. Members include Edwin Hayes (OH), David Shores (IL), Donnie Miles (SC), Brent Patrick (VA), Chris Truett (NC), and Rick Scroggins (CA).

The board recommended the following nominations for board and commission positions to be filled at the 2014 National Association of Free Will Baptists in Fort Worth, Texas, according to Edwin Hayes (OH), Nominating Committee chairman:

2014 Election Schedule for Standing Boards and Commissions

Board of Randall House Publications

2020

Paul Bryant, Mississippi (replacing Danny Dwyer, North Carolina—ineligible for re-election)

Paul Bryant is senior pastor of Cross Creek Free Will Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi, where he has served since 2008. The Florida native received a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Welch College in 2004 and the M.Div. degree from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in 2007. Bryant has been a member of the Mississippi Executive Board since 2010, moderated the Little Brown Creek Association from 2011-2012, chaired the Mississippi Conference and Itinerant Ministries Board from 2008-2010, and directs both Mississippi State Teen Camp and Morganwood Youth Camp. He and his wife Beth have two children.

Steve Lindsay, Alabama (replacing Steve Lindsay, Alabama)
Randy Scott, Arkansas (replacing Randy Scott, Arkansas)

Board of International Missions

2020

Janice Banks, Oklahoma (replacing Janice Banks, Oklahoma)
Jeff Manning, North Carolina (replacing Jeff Manning, North Carolina)
Jeff Nichols, Tennessee (replacing Robert Morgan, Tennessee)

Jeff Nichols has been executive pastor of The Donelson Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, since 2005. Prior to this role, he served 15 years as youth/children’s pastor at churches in Missouri and Tennessee. The Mississippi native earned a B.S. degree in Christian Education from Welch College in 1987 and a Master’s Degree in Business from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2006. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Tennessee State Association, as a member of the Cumberland Association Christian Education Board, and on the Advisory Council for both Free Will Baptist International Missions and The Hanna Project. He and his wife Debbie have two daughters.

Board of Trustees of Welch College

2020

Jeff Crabtree, Atlantic-Canada (replacing Jeff Crabtree, Atlantic-Canada)
Shiloh Hackett, Alabama (replacing Shiloh Hackett, Alabama)
Brad Ryan, Illinois (replacing Rusty Russell, North Carolina)

Brad Ryan has pastored Ina Free Will Baptist Church in Ina, Illinois, since 2001. Prior to this pastorate, he served three years as youth pastor at Mt. Zion Free Will Baptist Church in Joelton, Tennessee, and taught physical education for three different schools from 1995-2001. The Illinois native earned a B.S. degree from Welch College in 1995. He has moderated both the South Central Quarterly and the Rend Lake Quarterly Conferences in Illinois, is a member of the Illinois Camp Board, and serves as the Ina police chaplain. He and his wife Tommi Joann have four children.

Free Will Baptist Foundation

2015

Gene Williams, North Carolina (Replacing Len Blanchard, Oklahoma)

Gene Williams has been senior pastor of Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Greenville, North Carolina, since 2008. An eastern North Carolina native, he attended East Carolina University and earned a B.S. degree in Psychology. He later completed his education at Southeastern Free Will Baptist College, where he earned a B.A. degree in Bible and Pastoral Theology in 1999. He has served as a youth pastor, educator, guidance counselor, and associate pastor in two other ministries in North Carolina and Virginia. He served as associate pastor of Parkers Chapel from 2003-2007 before he became the senior pastor. Williams served nine years on the Alumni Board of Southeastern FWB College and has also been a member of Southeastern’s Board of Directors since 2008. He and his wife Leslie have three children.

Commission for Theological Integrity

2015

Rodney Holloman, North Carolina (replacing Craig Shaw, Oklahoma)

Rodney Holloman was a professor at Southeastern Free Will Baptist College from 2003-2013, and chaired the Bible Department for seven years. During this time, he served as interim pastor for six different churches and spent six years as senior pastor at Emmanuel Free Will Baptist Church, Sharpsburg, North Carolina, and three years as senior pastor at Ahoskie Free Will Baptist Church in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Holloman earned a B.A. degree from Southeastern Free Will Baptist College in 1992, an M.A. degree from Pensacola Christian College in 1996, and is currently pursuing both M.Div. and D.Min degrees from Bob Jones University. He is an adjunct professor at Cedars of Lebanon Seminary in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and the Free Will Baptist Seminary in Barbacena, Brazil. He contributed to the book The Free Will Baptist Guide for New Believers (Randall House, 2012). He and his wife Andrea have two children.

2019

Randy Corn, Tennessee (replacing Randy Corn, Tennessee)

Historical Commission

2019

Robert Picirilli, Tennessee (replacing Robert Picirilli, Tennessee)

Music Commission

2019

Kevin Justice, North Carolina (replacing Kevin Justice, North Carolina)

Media Commission

2019

Josh Owens, Tennessee (replacing Josh Owens, Tennessee)

Executive Committee

2017

Stan Bunch, Missouri (replacing Stan Bunch, Missouri)
Wayne Hale, Mid-Atlantic (replacing Wayne Hale, Mid-Atlantic)
Daniel Edwards, Indiana (replacing Venny VanHoose, Kentucky)

Daniel Edwards has been pastor of Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Chandler, Indiana, since 2005. The Virginia native graduated from Gateway Free Will Baptist College in 2004, with a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry and Education. He is a member of the General Board and promotional secretary of the Indiana State Association, where he also served three years as assistant moderator. He was a member of the board of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Evansville, Indiana, from 2008-2012, and has been a board member for Newburgh Christian School since 2010. He and his wife Nicole have
two children.

General Officers

Moderator: Tim York, Tennessee (replacing Tim York, Tennessee)
Assistant Moderator: William Smith, Georgia (replacing William Smith, Georgia)
Clerk: Randy Bryant, Florida (replacing Randy Bryant, Florida)
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis, Illinois (replacing Ernie Lewis, Illinois)

The following boards do not elect members in 2014: Home Missions, Board of Retirement, and Master’s Men.