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.

Executive Committee Introduces Candidate for Executive Secretary

Antioch, TN—After a lengthy search process, the Executive Committee of the National Association of Free Will Baptists has introduced 51-year-old North Carolina native, Dr. Edward E. Moody, Jr. (pictured below) as candidate for executive secretary of the denomination. The position will be vacated following Keith Burden’s retirement in September. Pending approval by the General Board, delegates to the 2019 National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, will vote on Moody’s confirmation as Burden’s successor during the annual business session.

Dr. Moody has been pastor of Tippett’s Chapel FWB Church in Clayton, North Carolina, since 2000. He is professor of counselor education and associate dean of the School of Education at North Carolina Central University, where he has served since 1995. Dr. Moody is additionally vice-chairman of the Welch College Board of Trustees.

A licensed professional counselor supervisor and health services provider, the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of North Carolina named Moody Counselor of the Year in 2016. He holds a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in counselor education, an M.A. from Middle Tennessee State University in clinical psychology, and a B.A. from Welch College in pastoral training.
Moody is author of Surviving Culture, First Aid for Emotional Hurts: Helping People Through Difficult Times, and the First Aid for Your Emotional Hurts training series, along with numerous professional journal and magazine articles.

Eddie and his wife Lynne have two children, Mackenzie and Mitchell.

South Carolina Church Celebrates 200 Years

Timmonsville, SC—Bethany FWB Church celebrated its 200th anniversary (1818-2018), October 20-21. A Saturday evening service featured former pastors Galen Dunbar, Earl Hanna, Al Davis, and Elro Driggers. The church opened a time capsule with notes written by young people 35 years earlier when then educational wing was built.

The Sunday morning service featured the quartet “Bible Tones.” Artist Jerry Locklair, great great-grandson of nineteenth-century pastor Nathan Hall, presented a beautiful painting of the church, and Benoit Hancock introduced a detailed history of the church. Sherwood Lee, who grew up in Bethany Church, shared the morning message.

Throughout the weekend, the church displayed an ox-cart wheel similar to those on the carts used to pull logs for the original building in 1818, an original copy of 1884 South Carolina conference minutes, which recorded the motion made to change the name of Pine Log Church to Bethany, along with historic Bibles, songbooks, and pictures.

Introducing 2019 Nominees for Standing Boards and Commissions

Antioch, TN—The 2018-19 Nominating Committee has presented the following nominees to be considered for the 2019 Convention election, according to Tommy Swindol (TN), committee chairman. Please note: the following boards do not elect members in 2019: Welch College; Randall House; WNAC.

Board of Home Missions
2025
Jeff Jones (NC), replacing himself
Frank Webster (MO), replacing himself
Frank Wiley (OK), replacing himself

Board of IM, Inc
2024 
Casey Cariker (OK), replacing Robert Posner (TX), resigned

Casey Cariker has been lead pastor of Rejoice FWB Church in Owasso, Oklahoma, since 2011. Prior to becoming lead pastor, Casey served the church as teaching pastor (2008-2011) and student ministries pastor (2000-2008). He pursued undergraduate studies at Mid-America Christian University and later earned a masters degree from Moody Bible Seminary. He additionally studied with the Ambassador Program for Apologetics and completed the Bonhoeffer Project, which included mentoring from Dr. Bill Hull. Casey has been a member of the Oklahoma State Missions Board for four years, served on the Oklahoma Christian Education Board for eight years, and is a member of the Church Planter Leadership Fellowship. He has been active in short-term international missions efforts, serving in eight countries and leading the Rejoice Church to construct a bilingual school in northwest Africa. Casey also has assisted North American church planters in Arizona, Illinois, and California.

Board of Retirement and Insurance
2025
Lance Boyer (MO), replacing Rick Cason (GA), ineligible for re-election
Don Myers (MI), replacing Mike Gladson (OH)
Randy Wilson (OK), replacing himself

Lance Boyer is a deacon, treasurer, and teacher at Hartville FWB Church in Hartville, Missouri, where he has been a member since 2002. Lance earned a bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude, 1998) and master’s degree (2007) in business administration from Missouri State University. After two decades in the banking industry, he currently works as chief financial officer for Community First Banking Company, West Plains, Missouri. He has served as alderman for the Hartville City Council (2008-2011), board member and president of the Kiwanis Club of Lebanon, Missouri (2012-2013), and is treasurer of the Rotary Club of West Plains, Missouri (2017-present).

Don Myers is an associate pastor filling worship, executive, administrative, and pastoral roles at Kirby FWB Church in Flat Rock, Michigan, where he has served for 23 years. Don earned degrees in business management and music from Welch College. He has served as chairman of the Michigan State Association Board of Education, worship leader and counselor for the Truth & Peace Student Leadership Conference, and as a member of the presbytery board for Michigan’s Fellowship Association. Myers is president/owner of T&D Homes, served on the supervisory committee for Taylor Community Credit Union (2009-2013), and is a member of the board of directors for Total Community Credit Union (2012-present).

Board of FWB Foundation
2025 
Brent Patrick (VA), replacing Donnie Miles (SC), ineligible for re-election
Hubert Stafford (GA), replacing himself
Corey Minter (TN), replacing Wendell Walley (CA), ineligible for re-election

Brent Patrick has been senior pastor since 2012 at Gateway FWB Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he oversees all ministries of the church, including Gateway Christian Academy and Gateway Global Missions. Brent earned a BS in business management from University of Kentucky (1994), an MBA from Morehead State University (1995), and studied Bible and pastoral theology at Southeastern FWB College (1998-2001). In addition to pastoring churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia, Brent also served as business manager, professor, and promotional director for Southeastern FWB College from 1996-2002. He is a member of the Virginia Executive and Missions Boards, and serves as treasurer for the Virginia State Association. He has been assistant moderator of the Tidewater Association (VA) since 2015. Previously, he served as treasurer of the North Carolina Executive Board, Clerk of the Randall Association (NC), member of the North Carolina Youth Board, chairman of the Kentucky Youth Board, and as a member of the Bible Book Store Board for the North Carolina State Association.

Corey Minter has been lead pastor of New Hope FWB Church in Joelton, Tennessee, since 2013. He previously served New Hope as student pastor from 2009 to 2013 and associate children’s pastor at Gateway FWB Church in Virginia (2008-2009). Corey earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Gateway Christian College in Virginia in 2008. He is assistant moderator of the Tennessee State Association (2015-present), executive committee member for the Northern Quarterly of the Cumberland Association of Tennessee (2009-present), and a member of the Board of Cumberland Youth Camp (2009-present).

Commission for Theological Integrity
2024 - Thomas Marberry (OK), replacing himself

Historical Commission
2024 - Robert Picirilli (TN), replacing himself

Music Commission
2021 - Joshua Riggs (OK) replacing Donnie Burke (GA), resigned
2024 - Kevin Justice (NC), replacing himself

Joshua Riggs has been worship pastor and media director for Bethany FWB Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, since 2010. Prior to his ministry at Bethany, he served as minister of music and worship at Trinity FWB Church in Greenville, North Carolina, where he was ordained in 2006. Joshua earned a B.A. in missions and a minor in music from Welch College in 2005. He has been active in the music program of the national convention, serving as the praise band and orchestra leader for eight years. Joshua is a frequent worship leader for various retreats, prison ministry, youth camps, and more.

Media Commission
2019- Josh Owens (TN), replacing himself

Executive Committee
David Taylor (AR), replacing himself
Danny Williams (AL), replacing himself
David Shores (IL), replacing himself

General Officers
Moderator: Tim York (TN), replacing himself
Assistant Moderator: William Smith (GA), replacing himself
Clerk: Randy Bryant (FL), replacing himself
Assistant Clerk: Ernie Lewis (IL), replacing himself

2019 Yearbook Now Available

Antioch, TN—The 2019 Free Will Baptist Yearbook has 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.

This will be the final Yearbook in its present form after delegates to the 2018 national convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, approved a plan to publish the annual volume in digital format to save money and to maintain current contact information. A prototype of the online directory is expected at the 2019 convention.