NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

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 in the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, and Reserve forces. 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.

Chaplain Kevin Trimble Promoted

On April 6, 2018, family, friends, and fellow soldiers gathered at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Chapel at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to celebrate the promotion of Chaplain Kevin Trimble from the rank of captain to the rank of major.

The promotion was a below-the-zone selection, which means CH Trimble was promoted a year early. The early promotion reflects not only his outstanding service, but his future potential as an Army chaplain and leader of soldiers. It also provides him a year-long seat as a resident student at the U.S. Army Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

CH (COL) Randy Griffin, the senior chaplain at Fort Bragg; LTC James O’Brien, 4th Battalion Commander and CH Trimble’s commanding officer; and Kerry Steedley, FWBNAM director of chaplain support, all spoke and commended “Team Trimble” for outstanding ministry and faithful service to God and country.

CH Trimble’s wife, Darla, and their daughter, Rachel, pinned on the new rank. Free Will Baptists commend this couple for their care of soldiers and military
families.

Chaplain Roy Swisher Retires

CH (MAJ) Roy Swisher (nicknamed Chappy) retired in June after 28 years of military service—20 years enlisted in the navy and eight years as an army chaplain in the U.S. Army Reserve. From 1974 to 1981, Swisher was a chief electronics technician, submarine qualified. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Spadefish, a nuclear-powered submarine based in Norfolk, Virginia.

After completing naval service, Swisher joined the Naval Reserve and, for many years, juggled time between the navy, pastoring, teaching, and family life. At 53-years-old, Roy decided to return to military life, this time as a chaplain, first for the Indiana National Guard Patriot Academy then in the Army Reserve, where he received his final assignment to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

The denomination honored Swisher for his dedication to God and to men and women in uniform during the national convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, in July, where Swisher remarked, “After almost 43 years in the military, my biggest desire is to treat my wife like a queen and to enjoy time with my children and grandchildren. I’ll leave the rest up to the Lord.”
Submitted by Kerry Steedley, FWBNAM Director of Chaplain Support.

Updates From the Field

This has been an exciting and eventful year for church planting. At the beginning of 2018 three church planters and two churches reached self-supporting status.

• The 180 Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, has enjoyed great success and consistently averages in the mid-200’s in attendance. They have also seen regular salvations and baptisms. Chad Kivette (lead planter) and Brian Lewis (associate) did a fantastic job leading this church to self-supporting status. We congratulate the 180 Church, leaders, and congregation.
  

• The Faith Church in Oakland, Tennessee, has faced challenges, most of them out of their control. The original church planter, Tim Osborn, died after a multi-year battle with cancer. Finishing the planting of the church was providentially saved for Tim’s son, Jordan Osborn, who completed his father's work, leading the church to self-supporting status. The church is currently in the process of buying land to build a permanent building. Congratulations to Jordan and the Faith Church family.
  

Easter, always an exciting day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, can often be a great milestone in the life of the church plant. Several churches experienced great days this past Easter.

• The Springs Church in Marana, Arizona, had 702 in attendance with two salvations. They have had 25 salvations the first half of 2018 (143 since the inception of the church). They took 42 teens to camp and are currently having three services every Sunday.
  

• Compassion Church in Gilbert, Arizona, continues to have great attendance and is seeing many people saved. On Easter, over 500 people attended, with 26 baptized! They have seen over 50 salvation decisions in the first half of 2018. Pastor Myron Scott leads Compassion Church.
  

• Grace City in Irvine, California, had 218 on Easter and continues to see growth in every area. There are amazing stories of people very far from God coming to salvation! In May 2018, a Muslim was converted, along with two agnostics. Planter Stephen Kimbrell (lead) and Amos Dillard (associate) moved this growing congregation into a larger facility in June 2018.
  

In other news, Restore Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, bought a building and remodeled it for a permanent home. Their grand opening was January 28, 2018, with 357 in attendance. On Easter 2018 they set a new record attendance of 403! They added a second service starting in August 2018. Lead planter Marc Neppl and associate Kevin Bass lead this impactful work in a difficult place.

In May 2018, NAM sponsored the fourth Power Conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with a record high registration. Over 430 registered, with more than 500 in attendance at Monday evening's service.

Hispanic works continue to bring about many positive results. Our Spanish-speaking missions now include more than 55 churches in the United States. These works are all planted by pastors from FWB Hispanic works led by the Hispanic pastors sent through FWBNAM.

Chaplain Updates

CH (COL) Terry Austin provided the invocation and the benediction at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. on May 28, 2018. The President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke at the event.

LTJG Hal Jones has been selected for promotion to LT (0-3).

Chaplains Brad Hanna and Amir Ashoori continue to serve in their respective National Guard posts.

LT Mark McCraney, CH, USN (below with his sons), offered prayers at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France, for a Memorial Day observance on May 28, 2018.

Rafael Barney, a Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9) in the U.S. Navy, and a prospective FWB chaplain, was ordained June 16, 2018 at the Cross Creek FWB Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Rev. Paul Bryant, Rev. Russell Clouse, Dr. David Crowe, Rick Bowling, and Kerry Steedley participated in the ordination service.

CH (CPT) David Dodson, the newest FWB military chaplain, reported to the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, for the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course on June 6, 2018, with a follow-up assignment at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, after his graduation in September 2018.

Former Welch College student and Tennessee pastor Matthew Saunders has been endorsed as a chaplain candidate in the U.S. Army Reserve and is pursuing graduate studies.

CH (MAJ) Tracy Kerr, who was deployed in Afghanistan for a year with his unit, returned June 2018, to his family and his assignment at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.

CH (CPT) Lee Frye has been selected for a below-the-zone promotion from captain to major. He is currently stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Welch College student and Vanderbilt ROTC student Jonathan Truett leads a Bible study for his fellow ROTC students as he prepares for the military chaplaincy.