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.

Cuba National Convention

Pinar Del Rio—The National Convention of Free Will Baptists of Cuba met at Cedars of Lebanon Seminary, February 21-23. The convention theme, “Involved in God’s Vision for Missions,” indicated Cuban Free Will Baptists commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission.

For several years, the convention has sent church planters to other provinces of Cuba. This year, they boldly created an international missions committee. They elected Pastor Miguel Ángel Abdala Romero as the first International Missions director.

Photos: Convention choir and worship team (above).

Financing is the greatest obstacle the Cuban Church faces in sending missionaries. Pastor Abdala’s answer to the financial challenges is tent making—professionals who support themselves overseas through their work.

Although the Cuban Church does not have “official” missionaries overseas, several Cubans (mostly doctors) have worked under government contracts internationally. One Cuban pastor serves as director and teacher at the Chame seminary in Panama. Another is teaching Spanish in China and learning Chinese. Cuban Free Will Baptists are praying the Lord will open doors of opportunity for professionals with missionary training from the seminary to work overseas as bi-vocational, cross-cultural missionaries.

Kenneth Eagleton, missionary to Brazil and regional director for Latin America, preached in the Saturday evening session on “God’s Missionary Call for Latin America.”

Panama Holds National Convention

Chame, Panama—The Panama National Association of Free Will Baptists convened January 10-12, 2014. Lively worship, smiling faces, and vibrant testimonies were among the notable things at this year’s convention. During the business session on Saturday, ten organized churches and 19 mission churches were reported. Sunday morning, a variety of classes were offered with an emphasis on missions, youth, children’s church, and holiness.

Regional Director Kenneth Eagleton and Director of Field Operations Jeff Turnbough attended, participated in the meetings, and preached.

Steve and Lori Torrison, the only missionaries to Panama present, were honored for their service. The Panamanian association also presented a plaque to the Mission (pictured above), thanking Free Will Baptists for investing in Panama by sending missionaries to share the Good News.

Kenneth said, “The Panamanian church is making a real effort to bring unity to the work, train future leaders for ministry, and promote church planting at home as well as through cross-cultural missions.” •

April Focus on World Missions

Antioch, Tennessee—Each April, churches throughout the denomination focus on International Missions and receive a World Missions Offering (WMO) the last Sunday of the month. Over the last two years, the denomination has raised record-setting offerings: over $1 million in 2012 and more than $800,000 in 2013.

The remarkable aspect of those phenomenal totals is that fewer than 900 churches contributed to those offerings. Pulling together, these churches accomplished an extraordinary feat, something Free Will Baptists had never done before. Imagine what could be accomplished if all Free Will Baptist churches determined for the month of April to focus on what God is doing through missionaries and national workers around the world. What might happen if every Free Will Baptist church prayed diligently for missionaries throughout the month? What could God do through concentrated prayer efforts for overseas churches, pastors, national leaders, Bible colleges, evangelistic efforts, and so on? What if every church determined to do something for the WMO?

Perhaps more than funding for overseas missions would be raised. Perhaps individuals would recognize God moving in their hearts to witness to their coworkers, neighbors, and friends. Perhaps our churches would be infused with a new sense of purpose. Perhaps churches and individuals would decide the Great Commission is bigger than one offering a year, and decide to make monthly commitments to fund missions. Perhaps God would call more people to labor in the harvest, our colleges would see higher enrollments, both Home and International Missions would struggle to process all the candidates applying for service, and funding would not be an issue.

Let’s find out! It is not too late. If you have not signed up to participate in the World Missions Offering, go online today (www.fwbgo.com/wmo), sign up, download resources, and order supplies. Or, call the International Missions office (877-767-7736) and a staff member will help you.

Snapshots Around the World

Brazil—Pastor Nilvio Silva of the São José FWB Church in Campinas, Brazil, welcomed 2014 with the baptism of 14 believers during their New Year’s Eve service.

South Korea—David O. recently spent almost two weeks training pastors in South Korea. Two of his students immediately traveled to Pakistan and taught the same lessons in a Bible institute.

Brazil—On December 27, 2013, José Assunção (pictured above), a recent graduate of Campinas Bible College, was ordained to pastoral ministry. The service was held in his home church, First Free Will Baptist of Araras where Elizeau Cantelmo pastors.

Japan—After a knock-on-the-door visit by two Mormon women, a Mormon lady returned to Heath and Joni Hubbards’ home to accept the offered “true Scripture” from them.

Spain—The Alpedrete congregation celebrated their eighth year of worship services on February 2. As they seek to develop leadership among the believers, the Edgmons and Johnsons are in the process of choosing another pueblo (city) with no Bible-teaching church to begin laying groundwork.

Japan—Doug and Miriam Bishop (above) moved to Bihoro mid-February to begin working with Pastor Ishii and the Bihoro Church.

Côte d’Ivoire—The two-day funeral services for prominent Christian businessman Samuel Appia featured several sermons aimed at sharing the gospel with unsaved family, tribal members, and friends. Many people heard the gospel.

Spain—Missionaries to Spain honored pastors of the Spanish churches for their sacrificial labor in difficult and challenging circumstances with grace and faithfulness. Honored were: Pastor José Manuel and his wife Carmen, and Pastor Jhon Fredy and his wife Lannah.

India—Carlisle Hanna returned to India March 5, in time to participate in the national convention of churches in India later in the month.