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.

Bulgaria Churches Enjoy Retreat

Bulgaria—No exact word for retreat—a time of relaxation and fellowship—exists in Bulgarian, according to missionary Tim Awtrey, “but we went on a retreat anyway.” The two Free Will Baptist churches in Bulgaria met for a nationwide church retreat in May. It was the first time the two churches have come together for a national conference.

In July 2013, Trif and Vanya Trifonov began a church in the city of Varna. “They have done an amazing job reaching the people of Varna,” Awtrey said. “Having a time to fellowship with other brothers and sisters is especially important for us in a country where evangelical Christians make up less than a half percent of the population.”

Members of the International Missions team gathered before the retreat to work on officially registering the Free Will Baptist church work in Bulgaria. They hope to have the churches in Bulgaria officially recognized by the Bulgarian government by the end of 2014.

“In the past,” Tim wrote, “the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been known for hostility towards Protestant churches, and we need their approval for registration. Keep us in your prayers."

Nova América Church Building Project

Campinas, Brazil—Several years ago, churches in Indiana raised money to buy property for the Nova América mission church. It took some time for the church to locate property with a clear title, but they eventually purchased property with two small rental houses.

About the same time, a church member who had been preparing for missionary service was commissioned. She spent two years in an internship in South Africa and currently resides in Turkey, where she is learning the language. Nova América used the income from the rental houses to help support this missionary.

This year, the church decided to build. They tore down one of the rental houses, leaving one to provide Sunday School rooms and a kitchen. They began building with funds raised through a number of projects. The men of the church go to the construction site after work and on weekends, completing the construction themselves. Women of the church prepare meals at the construction site for the workers, make pizzas to sell, and collect and sell discarded electronic equipment for recycling. They purchase building supplies with the money.

The congregation held their first service in the unfinished building July 10. Even without a roof and flooring, the worship was enthusiastic and heartfelt. “It is amazing to see the hard work this group of 40 people is putting into this project,” says Kenneth Eagleton, missionary to Brazil. 

Willie Gage Welcomed Home

Antioch, TN—Former missionary to Côte d’Ivoire Willie R. Gage entered Heaven on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Her husband Howard preceded the 93-year-old in death in 2005.

Willie was 45 when she and Howard applied for missionary service in 1966. When completing a standard questionnaire for the Mission, she responded to a query concerning how long she had considered missionary service by saying, “For many years I have taught others we could not truly pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers if we would not be willing to go ourselves.”  She was willing.

The Gages served two years building furniture, outbuildings, missionary housing, churches, and the hospital at Doropo. After a year stateside, missionaries requested they return to Ivory Coast for more building projects, and the couple gladly resumed their ministry, serving until 1973.

Mrs. Gage’s funeral was Friday, May 30, at Greenbrier Free Will Baptist Church in Adair, Oklahoma, and officiated by missionary Robert Bryan. Mrs. Gage leaves behind two daughters (Ruth Bivens and Sue Wilcox) and one son (W.H. Gage) and their families.

Encouraging, Historic Board Meeting

Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions met April 28-30, 2014. Monday, the board divided into two committees: the candidate committee interviewed two people, and the finance committee reviewed the proposed budget. The full board convened for some reports then adjourned early to share dinner with the Home Missions directors and board members. Tuesday, the board and directors met all day, then adjourned for supper. The board concluded receiving reports Wednesday morning, acted on proposals, and concluded before noon.

Board members voted to partner with the Home Missions Board for the purpose of cross-cultural ministry projects in North America. “I’ve looked forward to a partnership like this for a long time,” stated General Director Clint Morgan. “I am excited about the possibilities that exist as Home Missions and International Missions work more closely to reach the vast international population in the United States.”
Steve and Lori Torrison were assigned to Uruguay. The Torrisons were appointed to Panama in 2004 and served two terms in the country.

The transition to Panamanian leadership, however, prompted them to investigate missions service in another Spanish-speaking country. A visit to Uruguay led them to request a transfer of service to this hard place in much need of continued missionary involvement.
The board gave a partnership blessing to Tony and Dana Sebastian as they prepare to serve in Asia with a partner organization.

The position of Educational Specialist for Latin America was approved. The position is designed to assist the Mission in maintaining partnerships in Hispanic countries, particularly where we no longer have resident missionaries. In light of the new partnership with Home Missions, the position will also help us connect with growing Hispanic ministries in the United States.

Lazaro Riesgo and Dr. Ariadna Iglesias were approved as short-term interns, filling the new position of Educational Specialist for Latin America. Originally from Cuba, the couple serves at the Chame Seminary in Panama. An article in the October-November issue of ONE Magazine will introduce them.

The board voted to amend the current policy concerning keeping missionaries stateside when liquid assets are less than 10% of the operational budget. As long as missionaries have secured the funds they must raise during their stateside assignment, the assignment will not be extended more than three months beyond the original assignment time. However, when liquid assets are less than 10%, the Mission will keep approximately 30% of the missionary force for stateside fundraising ministry.

An unqualified approval of the audit was received from Blankenship CPA Group. The board approved a $6.7 million framework budget for 2015 to be presented at the July 2014 meeting of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. The operational budget for 2015 will be approved at the December 2014 board meeting.

Board members Danny Williams (AL), Jeff Manning (NC), Mark Price (OH), Nelson Henderson (AR), Rob Morgan (TN), Greg McAllister (CA), Tom McCullough (MI), and Janice Banks (OK) were in attendance. Brad Ransom reluctantly announced his intention to resign from the IM Board, citing his inability to fulfill his heavy travel schedule and responsibilities as Home Missions’ director of church planting and maintain the type of focused involvement he deemed appropriate as a board member.

Snapshots Around the World

Brazil—Pastor Rui Magno Xavier reports two people (below) were baptized at the Jardim Palmeiras FWB Church in Uberlândia, Brazil, on May 18.

Panama—Two people (below) were baptized Sunday, May 18, by pastor Cirilo Mendoza at the FWB Church in Chitré, Panama.

Spain—The Alpedrete congregation participated in a one-day church retreat Saturday, May 31. Games, a picnic lunch, and song time provided plenty of time for fellowship.

Panama—Rolando and Keila Delgado received visas from the U.S. Consulate on May 28 and flew to Miami, Florida, on June 9. After several weeks in Miami, visiting family and acclimating to the U.S., they traveled to Arkansas where they plan to serve the Hispanic population.