news around the world Free Will Baptist International Missions serves churches, pastors, and people by helping them fulfill their role in establishing churches beyond North America so unreached peoples can know the joy of a relationship with the living God. To find out more about the ministry of Free Will Baptist International Missions, visit www.fwbgo.com.

CUBAN ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 65 YEARS

Pinãr del Rio, Cuba Christians celebrated the 65th anniversary of the FWB work in Cuba during their annual association meeting, February 20-24. The meeting was held at Cedars of Lebanon Seminary in Pinãr. Regional Director Stan Bunch and Director of Field Operations Steve Lytle attended the conference. Kathleen Willey Peterson was also present. Although each of these invited guests spoke during the conference, the majority of the preaching was by young, recent graduates from the Bible institute.

The theme for the five-day conference was “Los Que Bajo el Guano Adoramos” (We Who Worshipped Under the Thatched Roof), referencing the chapel building on the seminary property that was used until the early 1990s.

Presentations honored previous generations—those who helped Pop and Mom Willey found the FWB work and those who labored alone during the 25 years of isolation from the outside world. But Cubans aren’t living in the past. They also celebrated new church plants within traditional areas of work and at least 12 churches planted in three of the eastern provinces. Their reports indicate a total of 24 new mission works on the island and average Sunday attendance has increased by almost 600 people.

INDIA ASSOCIATION MEETS

Sonapurhat, India Somewhere between 5,500 and 6,000 people celebrated God’s blessing on His work in India at the 56th annual FWB conference in Sonapurhat, India, March 8-11.

Daily activities began at 5:30 a.m. each morning with personal devotions, followed by group devotions, and breakfast. A Bible class and morning worship service rounded out pre-lunch activities. A business meeting was held each afternoon.

The evening service began at 6:30 p.m., usually concluding by 9:30. Dinner was served immediately after the evening service allowing attendees to be in bed by midnight. The people seemed to thrive on the full day of meetings.

Missionary Carlisle Hanna and the Indian pastors spent much advance work to prepare the worship, eating, and sleeping facilities for the vast throng. A spirit of joy and heart-felt worship was evident during the services.

A highlight of the conference was the annual Sunday morning baptismal service. This year 44 people (24 men and 20 women) publicly professed their faith in Christ through baptism.

GOOD NEWS TRAVELS

Chitré, Panama Members of the Good News FWB Church in Chitré, Panama, know the gospel is to be shared. Several newer converts have family ties to the mountain village of El Barrero. Although many of the residents of the small town have been exposed to the gospel through Christian family members or radio and television, there is no evangelical work in the town and no evangelistic outreach has ever been attempted there.

However, March 16-18, 2007, members of the church took the good news to El Barrero. The campaign was held in the front yard of the Mendoza family. An average of 60 people attended nightly.

At the end of the three-day outreach, 15 people had accepted Christ as Savior, including the 82-year-old man who hosted the meetings. Mr. Mendoza’s son and daughter-in-law were also among the new converts.
Some villagers have offered to donate land for a small church building. Immediate plans are to have periodic services in homes, and seek God’s direction for future ministry.

This is the second mountain town the Chitré church has reached with the gospel this year. The congregation is continuing monthly outreach events in El Capurî, a village where the gospel had never been preached.

A GREAT COMMISSION REVOLUTION

Antioch, TN International Missions and Home Missions are combining efforts to sponsor A Great Commission Revolution in Little Rock. The joint missions rally at the National Association of FWB will be both informative and inspirational. Three Free Will Baptist pastors will share their innovative—even revolutionary—approaches to fulfilling the Great Commission.

Jim McAllister, pastor of Harmony FWB Church in Fresno, CA, will share A Cross-Cultural Revolution. Learn about the ways Harmony Church reaches out to various people groups to share the gospel in their Jerusalem. God has brought the nations to their doorstep and Harmony is reaching them.

Bobby Ferguson, pastor of First FWB in Houston, TX, has led his people to reach out to their Judea and Samaria through A Church Multiplication Revolution. The people of First Church had a burden to multiply their efforts and four churches later—they have.

Karl Sexton, pastor of Gateway FWB in Virginia Beach, VA, will share how his people are inspired to do their part in reaching the ends of the earth through A Missions Conference Revolution. Gateway is mobilizing to impact the world and God is honoring their efforts.

Come, learn how revolutionary obedience to the Great Commission can change your church. All three pastors will speak and then participate in a question-and-answer panel discussion. No conference attendee will want to miss it!

CELEBRATE WITH US!

Antioch, TN Free Will Baptist International Missions is hosting Celebrate! at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17, in Little Rock, AR. This inaugural event offers an exciting format, combining a delicious evening meal with the sights and sounds of international cultures.

Share a table with a missionary. Hear moving stories of God’s amazing power to change lives. View never-before-seen footage of Free Will Baptist ministry around the world. Revitalize your vision of the Great Commission.

Celebrate! the progress made in spreading the gospel over the last few years. Feel the excitement as you hear stories of breakthrough ministries on our fields. See the faces of the enormous wave of people seeking to share God’s love with unreached peoples. Celebrate! God’s work with us during this interactive event.

Tickets may be purchased ($30) when preregistering for the National Association, or may be ordered directly from FWBIM at (615) 760-6120 or kiley@fwbgo.com.

FOUR BAPTIZED IN CAMPINAS

Campinas, Brazil Four people acknowledged their commitment to Christ through baptism on Sunday, March 18, at the First FWB Church in Campinas, Brazil. Pastor Lucas immersed two teens and two adult women.

The teens, Evandro and Paula, are the great-grandchildren of Waldemar Daminelli the first pastor of the church.