Free Will Baptist North American Ministries is dedicated to planting churches across America as well as Canada, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Chaplains minister to thousands of men and women serving the nation. And cross cultural church planting specialists connect with people who have come to America from all over the world. Learn more about our ministry: www.FWBNAM.com.

Mackies Approved as Associate Church Planters

Waco, TX — North American Ministries introduces Caleb and Sara Mackie (Sparta, Tennessee) as new associate church planters at Quest FWB Church in Waco, Texas.

The Mackies will join lead church planters Jim and Tracey Kilgore, who launched Quest Church in fall 2022. Since the launch, the Lord has blessed their ministry by providing a permanent church building, expanding outreach opportunities, and establishing a growing congregation passionate about reaching others with gospel.

Prior to their approval as church planters, the Mackies worked in Tennessee churches for 13 years. Caleb served as a youth pastor in two churches before his most recent ministry as pastor of the Union Grove FWB Church in Cookeville. The Mackies have two children, Benjamin (6) and Brynleigh (2).

Central to Dallas and Austin, Waco is home to Baylor University, the Magnolia company, and several national museums attracting visitors from around the world. China Spring — Quest Church’s target community — has a population of over 30,000 and continues to grow rapidly. The Mackies have seen the abundant spiritual needs in Waco and feel deeply burdened to take the gospel there.

NAM Hires Josh Bennett as Chief Strategy Officer

Antioch, TN — North American Ministries is delighted to announce church planter Josh Bennett has been appointed to a new part-time role at NAM as chief strategy officer. Josh currently serves as the lead planter of Awaken FWB Church in Tifton, Georgia, which will remain his primary focus and full-time ministry.

Josh and his wife Ashley moved to Tifton in 2017 after planting The Springs FWB Church in Marana, Arizona, alongside Jeff and Heather Goodman. The Bennetts have three children, Sawyer, Finn, and Harper.

Josh is a passionate advocate for church planting and has volunteered at NAM for several years, assisting Dr. Brad Ransom, chief training officer, in leading boot camps and training and in developing a “next steps” training program: WIN Training (What’s Important Next). As chief strategy officer, Josh will develop a more intentional approach for equipping church planters for success by leading and implementing the WIN program.

WIN provides hands-on, practical training and coaching at critical stages in the church planting process. This includes a specialized strategy and support for successful launches. During the crucial and often challenging post-launch phase, Josh will work with church planters and teams to develop a WIN strategy that ensures planters have a clear and effective path for sustainability and growth.

Josh’s dedication to church planting, history of faithful Kingdom service, and passion for the gospel will enable and equip him to fulfill this vital role in NAM’s church planting support structure. We are excited to see how his addition to the NAM team will benefit current and future church planters in their efforts to reach the lost with the hope of Christ.

Shermans Resign Role

Ardmore, OK — Effective March 2025, Luke and Dalanee Sherman resigned as associate NAM church planters at Hilltop FWB Church in Ardmore, Oklahoma. After many months of prayer and counsel, the Shermans feel confident God is calling them to serve the Kingdom at a fellow Free Will Baptist church in Kansas.

We are thankful for the Shermans and their dedication to the revitalization work in Ardmore. We look forward to our continued fellowship with them through denominational ministry. Luke and Dalanee ask you to prayerfully consider giving to the Hilltop church plant by redirecting donations to either Matt Hanshaw or Cody Matlock.

2025 Deep South Tournament Results

Albany, GA — The 2025 Deep South Golf Tournament was a success! We had beautiful weather, great fellowship, and some incredible scores on the final day, with teams finishing as low as 10 under par.

This year’s Championship Flight winners were John Pugh and Jason Mewborn, edging out second-place team Blake Nance and Michael Kuchera by just one stroke and finishing two strokes ahead of last year’s champions, Tim Baumgarten and Don Dease.

In the First Flight, John Grove and Buster Brister took first place, with Caleb Franks and Chris Trieber coming in second place.

Beyond the golf, we enjoyed some great food and even better company. A big thank-you to all our hole sponsors and to First Free Will Baptist Church in Albany, GA, for graciously hosting us.
We’re already looking forward to being back in Albany again next year!

Stay tuned—details on the Mid-South Golf Tournament in Amory, MS, are coming soon!