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.

Foundation Trains Free Will Baptist Leaders

Antioch, TN—The Free Will Baptist Foundation sponsored training for regional and national Free Will Baptist leaders for the 15th time, January 10-14, in Orlando, Florida. The week-long course prepares leaders for their roles in denominational planned giving, according to General Director David Brown. Participants included (pictured left to right) Mike Wootton (GA); David Brown (TN), Troy Sadowski (GA), Gene Williams (NC), and Barry Simpson (TN).

“We are pleased that more than 70 Free Will Baptist leaders have attended the training course since we began the program,” said Brown. “We continue to strive to elevate denominational awareness about the benefits of planned giving, endowments, and estate planning, and the Foundation has seen tremendous growth in all areas since the first course in January 2002.

2016 Yearbook Now Available

Antioch, TN—The 2016 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.

New Convention Housing Process to Continue in 2016

Antioch, Tennessee—After overwhelmingly positive response to the new convention reservations process in 2015, the changes will continue through the 2016 convention. Convention housing will open for online reservations only Monday, May 9, at 9:00 am CDT, with links to online reservations available at www.nafwb.org.

Phone reservations can be made beginning Tuesday morning, May 10, at 9:00 CDT. Due to limitations imposed by some hotels on the number of reservations made by individuals, groups booking eight or more rooms can contact convention manager Ryan Lewis (877-767-7659) for information about group reservations.

The cancellation policy will also remain in effect for 2016, meaning that a non-refundable cancellation fee of the first night’s room and tax will be charged for any canceled reservation. Rooms can be transferred between individuals, and available rooms can be posted at www.nafwb.org.

Convention hotel information is available in this magazine, as well as online at www.nafwb.org/convention.

Introducing the 2016 Nominations for Standing Boards and Commissions

Welch College 2022 

Michael Armstrong (OH) replacing himself
Louis Hatcher (GA) replacing Billy Hanna (GA) who is ineligible for re-election
Wayne Miracle (GA) replacing Terry Pierce (MS) who is ineligible for re-election

Louis E. Hatcher is a member of First FWB Church, Albany, Georgia, where he serves as Sunday School teacher, lay speaker, and usher. He has been a senior partner with the law firm of Watson, Spence, Lowe, and Chambless, L.L.P., since 1999. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Florida in 1986, and Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1990, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He served as a member of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority in Orlando, Florida, as a legal advisor to management regarding business, labor, and personnel issues; is a member of the Cumberland School of Law Advisory Board, and has been an elected member of the Lee County Board of Education since 2002. He is significantly involved in the community as a public speaker, high school football coach, recreation league coach, member of school advisory councils, and judge of teen courts and school courts.

Rev. Wayne Miracle has served 17 years as pastor of New Life Fellowship in Statesboro, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministry from Welch College in 1990. He has been both assistant moderator (2004-2011) and moderator (2011 to present) of the Georgia State Association, a member of the General Board since 2007, and a member of the Executive Committee since 2012. He has served as moderator of the South Georgia Association since 1994, and was a trustee of the Georgia State Association from 1991-2004 (chairman, 1998-2004). He has been active in promoting Welch College, serving as the co-host of Welch College Ignite the Flame dinners since 2011, and as a regional influencer since 2013. He was president of the Alma-Bacon County Ministerial Alliance from 1995-1996.

International Missions 2022 

Greg McAllister (CA) replacing himself
Will Harmon (AR) replacing Tom McCullough (MI) who is ineligible for re-election
Rodney Yerby (AL) replacing Danny Williams (AL) who is ineligible for re-election

Rev. Will Harmon has pastored churches in Texas and Arkansas. Currently, he is pastor of Cavanaugh FWB Church, Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he has served since 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Hillsdale College in 1983 and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a former member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hillsdale FWB College and currently is a member of the Executive Board of the Arkansas State Association. He has served in many other leadership positions on the district and state levels.

Rodney Yerby is a deacon, minister of music, and Sunday School teacher at Madison FWB Church, Madison, Alabama. He worked 13 years for SPARTA, Inc. in engineering and management for the aerospace defense industry. Currently, he is an engineer/project manager at Kord Technologies. Rodney earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Alabama in 1982 and pursued graduate studies in Computer Science, University of Alabama at Huntsville. He serves as state clerk of the Alabama State Association, as chairman of the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home Board of Directors, and is convention photographer for the National Association. He has also served the denomination as International Missions Ambassador, a member of an International Missions Advisory Council, and as an E-TEAM leader in 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Randall House 2022 

Darin Gibbs (NC) replacing himself
Timothy York (NY) replacing Tim Eaton (OK) who is ineligible for re-election
Toby Youngblood (OK) replacing Tim Owen (FL) who is ineligible for re-election

Timothy York is a church planter working with North American Ministries to establish a church in Buffalo, New York. Prior to becoming a church planter, he pastored First FWB Church, Decatur, Alabama, four years and was youth pastor at United FWB Church, Dickson, Tennessee, for two years. He earned a B.A. in Pastoral Training from Welch College, and a Masters in Church Planting and Discipleship from Liberty University. He served as clerk of the Kentucky State Association in 2002, and has been clerk of the David Marks Heritage Association since 2014.

Toby Youngblood has been pastor of Faith FWB Church in Glenpool, Oklahoma, for 13 years. Prior to this pastorate, he served three years as youth pastor at Sunnylane FWB Church in Del City, Oklahoma, five years at Cavanaugh FWB Church in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and three years as Vice President of Student Affairs for Hillsdale FWB College. Toby earned a B.A. in Theology from Hillsdale FWB College. He is a member of the Oklahoma Mission Board and former member of the Board of Trustees of Hillsdale FWB College.

WNAC 2022 

Pam Hackett (SC) replacing herself
Jonda Patton (KY) replacing herself
Lee Ann Wilfong (MO) replacing herself

Commission for Theological Integrity 2021

W. Jackson Watts (MO) replacing himself

Historical Commission 2021 

Jeff Cockrell (NC) replacing himself

Music Commission 2021

Donnie Burke (CO) replacing himself

Media Commission 2021

Daniel Edwards (IN) replacing himelf

General Board 2019

Alabama: Danny Williams replacing Rick Cash
Arizona: George Harvey Jr. replacing himself
Arkansas: David Taylor replacing Tim Campbell
Association of Mexico: Luis Felipe Tijerina replacing himself
Atlantic-Canada: Oral McAffee replacing himself
California: Rick Scroggins replacing himself
Colorado: Mark Thomas replacing himself
David Marks Heritage: Tom Jones replacing himself
Florida: Jim Christian replacing himself
Georgia: Wayne Miracle replacing himself
Idaho: Gene Kissinger replacing himself
Illinois: David Shores replacing himself

Executive Committee 2019 

David Taylor (AR) replacing Tim Campbell (AR) who is ineligible for re-election
Wayne Miracle (GA) replacing himself
David Shores (IL) replacing himself

General Officers

Moderator: Tim York (TN)
Assistant Moderator: William Smith (GA)
Clerk: Randy Bryant (FL)
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis (IL)