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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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Ambassadors Set 2010 WMO Goal
Antioch, TN—Free Will Baptist International Missions’ Ambassadors gathered September 21-22, 2009, to discuss the success of the 2009 World Missions Offering (WMO) and to plan WMO initiatives for 2010. During the meeting, the Ambassadors voted to set the 2010 WMO goal at $600,000.
The Ambassador program was established in the fall of 2006. Since then, WMO church participation has increased by 48%, and monetary growth has skyrocketed by 83.5%.
Development Director Barry Simpson stated, “The Ambassador team is essential to the success of the WMO. These men and their wives have done an outstanding job with their assignments. I look forward to promoting the WMO and the Change the World coin banks with them in 2010.”
The 2010 Ambassador team (and the states in which they will promote the WMO) is:
Jimmy and Janie Aldridge (Alabama, Florida); Earnie and Jean Deeds (Oklahoma); Galen and Barbara Dunbar (South Carolina); Fred and June Hersey (Alabama, Georgia); Tom and Nancy Hughes (Arizona, Idaho, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Northwest District); Jerry and Carol Pinkerton (Missouri); Mark and Deanna Price (Kentucky, Ohio); Norman and Bessie Richards (Arkansas, Kentucky); David and Pat Shores (Illinois); Henry and Virginia VanKluyve (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee); Fred and Rachel Warner (Arkansas, Oklahoma); Earl and Debbie White (West Virginia); and Rodney and Mary Yerby (Alabama).
To learn more about the World Missions Offering, visit www.fwbgo.com.
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Jones Resigns, Seeks Direction
Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions accepted the resignation of Casey Jones effective September 30, 2009. Casey experienced several seizures while working in Central Asia. The Mission flew him to Germany for treatment and diagnosis. Subsequently, he returned to the States for further treatment and medical recommendations. In his letter of resignation Casey stated, “This is probably the hardest thing I ever had to do...I thought, prayed, and fasted for guidance on this issue.”
“Casey has served well and, while we are sad to see him leave, we understand and support his decision to suspend his involvement in Central Asia for the time being,” stated Jeff Turnbough, deputy director of field operations. “We pray that he will be able to return soon.”
"Casey served with honor and excellence in Central Asia,” affirmed Regional Director Clint Morgan. “The Central Asia Team, our ministry partners in Kazakhstan, and I are saddened by Casey’s decision, but we understand it and embrace it with him. We know he will continue to serve God and anticipate what God has in store for him in the future."
Jones served as an intern in Central Asia, teaching English and building relationships. Appointed in April 2008, he began on-the-ground activity on January 13, 2009. “My heart will always be with the people of Central Asia,” Casey wrote. “I will never forget what God taught me during this period of my life.” Casey hopes doors will reopen at some point in the future.
General Director James Forlines, emphasized, “The team in Central Asia has been faced with particularly difficult situations in the past months. I urge everyone to pray for those still hard at work there, as well as those who’ve resigned for various reasons.”
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Richards Receive Six-Month Assignment
Antioch, TN—Norman and Bessie Richards received Free Will Baptist International Missions Board approval on October 21, 2009, for a short-term assignment to France. Norman and Bessie will serve as Specialized English Ministry Assistants while career field workers are on stateside assignment. The couple will teach English and fill other service needs from January-June, 2010.
The Richards’ served in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, for 28 years. Norman’s health needs predicated their resignation from the Mission. However, once those needs were resolved, the couple took an assignment in Louisiana with the Free Will Baptist Home Mission Board.
Norman and Bessie currently live in Nashville, Tennessee, and are active members of the Donelson FWB Church, including heading an English as a Second Language (ESL) ministry to immigrants. The couple’s knowledge of the French language, as well as their ESL and cross-cultural experience, make them a perfect fit for this six-month assignment with Free Will Baptist International Missions.
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Snapshots Around the World
Campinas, Brazil—The São José Church hosted a joint baptismal service in Campinas on Sunday, October 3. Those baptized were from the Nova América Mission Church (6), Ouro Verde Mission Church (7), São José FWB Church (4), and the First Church (2). Three more people were received as members who transferred from other churches. The Sunday evening service at the São José Church was also a blessed time. As Pastor Nilvio gave the invitation, 10 people came forward to accept Christ as Savior.
Côte d’Ivoire—Eight men and one woman received their diplomas from the Bible Institute in Bouna during the August 2009 General Assembly of FWB Churches in Côte d’Ivoire, marking the fourth graduating class. These students began their studies with missionary instructors Jerry Pinkerton and Kenneth Eagleton six years ago. They studied and worked through a period of economic and personal hardship as a result of the 2002 civil conflict. They finished their courses under Paul Amiézi and Robert Houéssou. Two of the graduates recently left established works to either begin a new work, or become pastor of a church begun by lay leaders. The fifth class of students began their second year in Bouna on October 12.
Tokyo, Japan—The Japan FWB Association met October 11-12. The two days were filled with celebrations as the Iriso Church celebrated their 40th anniversary and the Japanese association celebrated its 55th. Sunday included music by MK and accomplished concert pianist Paul Hersey and a message by veteran missionary and former Iriso Church pastor Fred Hersey. Several others performed, including former church members and Pastor Hirabuki from the Hokkaido Koinonia Church. The association met on Monday at the Kamifukuoka Christ Church. Members from the Hokkaido churches and three churches in the Kanto (Tokyo) area were represented. Pastor Hirabuki sang and Fred Hersey spoke on the history of FWB in Japan.
Antioch, TN—International Missions has completed digitizing and uploading all previous issues of IMpulse onto the Mission’s website: www.fwbgo.com. Each segment is categorized according to its original issue volume. However, when the issue date is unknown, videos may be found by using keywords (such as a country or a missionary name) to locate the desired segment. This will make it easier to choose the “just right” video for Sunday School, women’s or men’s groups, or missions emphasis services.
A wide variety of other inspirational, educational, and historical videos are available on the new video page. Users may watch videos online, download a high-quality version for watching in groups, or share videos with others via a new media player. The media player allows viewers to include a video in an email or upload it to another website (such as a church site or Facebook).
For those who prefer DVDs, volumes one through four may be purchased on the site as well.
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