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.

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IM Board Meets

Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions held its annual meeting April 27-29, 2009, in the Mission office in Antioch, Tennessee.

In historic and significant action, the board approved both a new purpose statement and eight core values:

• Purpose of Free Will Baptist International Missions: We exist to facilitate Church Planting Movements among unreached peoples.

• International Missions’ Core Values: Integrity, Trust, Interdependence, Accountability, Flexibility, Affirmation, Life-long Learning, and Facilitation

For more information about the purpose statement and core values visit the IM website at www.fwbgo.com.

The three-day meeting yielded the following additional actions:

• The board voted to renew IM’s partnership with the International Training Alliance. Three official IM representatives for Cuba were interviewed and approved as part of our ongoing partnership with the FWB National Association in Cuba. Tom Willey, Jr., Ron Callaway, and Gary Curry will serve staggered terms of service and work in accordance with a Position Results Description (PRD) established specifically for this role.

• Stan and Brenda Bunch (Panama) and Matthew and Brooke Turnbough (Spain) were appointed for another term. Affiliate status was granted to Joshua and Jennifer Detherage who will be seconded to ELIC to serve in an undisclosed creative access country. The couple’s long-term goal is to serve as IM career workers.

• The board voted to expand the role of its NGO to mobilize FWB people for projects on established IM fields. This allows The Hanna Project, originally created only to work in restricted access areas, to be strategically employed by workers on existing fields. Creative and restricted access areas will still be THP’s priority.

• A finance committee recommendation to commend the missionary family on their cooperation and understanding in reducing their current budgets and to encourage them to underspend in the remainder of the current fiscal year was adopted. The board voted to reaffirm the plan and budget for the 2010 Missionary Gathering as part of the 75th Anniversary Celebration in Oklahoma.

• A change in missionary stateside travel policy was adopted. Beginning January 2010, the Mission will provide a Mission-owned vehicle for use while on stateside assignment. The 2007/2008 audit was received. The 2007 audit was restated to include field assets added to the IM books. The auditor outlined requirements for all field-held assets to comply with standardized reporting guidelines in the future.

• The board elected Danny Williams, chairman; Randy Wilson, vice chairman; and Tom McCullough, secretary for the coming year.

The board also received updates on all areas of Mission activity including:

• A review of the newly redesigned IM website (www.fwbgo.com) including the MyIM feature allowing users to personalize their experience and the information and updates they receive.

• A progress report on the development of Into The Darkness—the 75th anniversary commemorative pictorial history of IM.

• A look at the new IMpulse video magazine strategy—free for download to all users on the website.

• A meeting with representatives from FWB colleges to discuss curriculum planning and the Missionary-in-Residence programs.

• A meeting with the U.S. stakeholders of our partnership with the Russian Baptist Union and our continuing role of the facilitating/educational ministry with the Russian Church.

• IM’s partnership with NYC to present GPS materials and training to students attending the NYC in Cincinnati, OH.

Board members participating were: Danny Williams (AL), chairman; Randy Wilson (OK), vice-chairman; Tom McCullough (MI), secretary; Paul Creech (GA); Nelson Henderson (AR); Sherwood Lee (SC); Jeff Manning (NC); Jerry Norris (MO); Robert Morgan (TN).

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International Missions to Print Into the Darkness

Antioch, TN—As International Missions approacheches its 75th anniversary, several special events and projects are planned to help the denomination celebrate this milestone. One project is a coffee table-style book highlighting the Mission’s pioneer missionary efforts. Rare photographs enhance the beautiful design and compliment the well-written profiles.

After September 30, this lovely book will sell for $49.95. Pre-orders paid by September 30 receive a discounted price of $45, a free copy of Laura Belle Barnard’s autobiography Touching the Untouchables (while supplies last), and free shipping. The nearly 200-page, pictorial history of Free Will Baptist International Missions will be mailed no later than May 1, 2010. Review sample pages and reserve your copy at www.fwbgo.com or by calling 877-767-7736 to place your order.

Watch for more information about additional projects and special events.

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Snapshots Around the World

Bretagne, France—JCROIS, the annual youth conference in France (pictured above), was held outside of Nantes for the first time May 1-3. Sixty-five young people participated, the largest number to date. During the last service, Raphael, the speaker for the weekend, invited those who believe God is calling them to ministry either in France or around the world to step forward. Twenty-four young people responded; six were from Dennis and Carol Teague’s church in Saint Sébastien.

Svishtov, Bulgaria—The Good News FWB Church in Svishtov celebrated its first baptism service Saturday, May 23. Tim Awtrey was privileged to baptize three new believers. The baptisms did not take place in a normal baptistery, but rather in a small pool.

Alpedrete, Spain—The Alpedrete church showed the movie Fireproof on Sunday, May 24, as part of their month-long emphasis on the family. Twenty-one children watched Veggie Tales: The Pirates Who Can’t Do Anything while 30 adults viewed Fireproof. Several couples who watched the movie have recently faced difficult times in their marriages. The movie provided a great way to reach out in the community and help struggling marriages.

Tokyo, Japan—While sitting at an intersection waiting to turn, Noriko noticed the Kamifukuoka church sign. She walked 45 minutes in the rain to attend worship services on Sunday, May 24, and returned the next Sunday. Noriko has been a believer for many years, but her husband and two children have not accepted Christ.

Ramadan—The 18th annual focus on prayer for Muslims, coinciding with the Islamic festival of Ramadan, is scheduled for August 22-September 20, 2009. Each year, more than a billion Muslims observe the most holy month of their religious calendar. Each year, millions of Christians internationally use the 30 Days Muslim Prayer Focus for constructive, informed prayer for Muslim peoples worldwide. Join in prayer for Muslims in your neighborhood and around the world. Churches and individuals may order the prayer guides directly (www.30-days.net).

Chitré, Panama—The Panama FWB Seminary exists to train pastors, missionaries, and leaders to serve in Panama and around the world. Every FWB church in Panama has at least one mission work that will need a pastor one day. Stephany, Julio, and Osvaldo are second-year students preparing to serve as a pastor’s wife, pastor, or missionary. Cirilio and his wife Kathia are first-year students who feel called to the pastorate. Loyda, Lino, and Benjamin complete the list of first-year students.

Uberlândia, Brazil—The First FWB Church in Uberlândia celebrated its first anniversary Saturday, May 30. This work started as a children’s Bible club in the home of Juninho and Simone. Parents became interested in having a Bible study and the group gradually outgrew the couple’s home. The church rented a storefront a little over a year ago with Juninho serving as the pastor. As part of the celebration, seven people followed the Lord in baptism in the congregation’s first baptismal service. Six people accepted Christ during the Saturday evening and Sunday morning services.