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.

Board Appoints Six in April

Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions met in annual session in Antioch, Tennessee, April 27-28, 2015.

The board approved Anna Forlines for a one-year, short-term internship with Matt and Cristina Price in Nantes, France. Anna, completing her sophomore year at Welch College (Nashville, Tennessee), will attend the University of Nantes to study French and to learn about the culture.

The board approved Myriam (Mimi) Le Louarn for a two-year internship in France. Myriam, sister of Lydie Teague, attended Hillsdale FWB College (Moore, Oklahoma) for the 2014-2105 academic year and toured with the college’s New Life Singers. She will work with the J’Pense team—Dennis, Carol, Joel, and Lydie Teague—in their outreach ministries.

The board approved Eddy and Amanda Simmons (Faith Fellowship FWB Church, Matthews, North Carolina) as career missionaries to the Samburu people group of Kenya. The Simmons will serve in an isolated region among the unreached Samburu people.

“This is a historic appointment,” stated Jeff Turnbough. “We are not opening a country (Kenya), yet opening a work exclusively with an unreached people group who reside primarily within the borders of a particular nation.”

Photos (left to right): first row - Anna Forlines, Myriam Le Louarn, Eddy and Amanda Simmons; second row - Tyler and Kellie Penn, Steve and Judy Lytle, Neil and Mandi Morgan.

The board approved Tyler and Kellie Penn (Champaign, Illinois) as career missionaries to

international students at the University of Illinois Urbana. In 2014, the board voted to partner with the Home Missions Board for the purpose of cross-cultural ministry projects in North America. “I hope this significant appointment,” Jeff Turnbough said, “is the first of many such joint ministry ventures with North American Ministries.” The Penns, originally appointed as career missionaries with North American Ministries in 2011, will partner with a church-planting home missionary.

The board accepted the retirement of Steve and Judy Lytle (Panama) effective June 30, 2015. “Steve and Judy have served selflessly for 40 years,” stated Board Chairman Danny Williams. “We commend them for their dedicated service in Panama, in the Mission office, and wherever their services were requested. They have been outstanding examples of God-called missionaries.”

Blankenship CPA Group provided an unqualified approval of the 2014 audit. The board approved a $6.9 million framework budget for 2016 to be presented at the July 2015 meeting of the National Association of Free Will Baptists.

All board members (Danny Williams, chairman, AL; Janice Banks, OK; Nelson Henderson, AR; Jeff Manning, NC: Greg McAllister, CA; Tom McCullough, MI; Jeff Nichols, TN; Robert Posner, TX; Mark Price, OH) were in attendance.

Morgans Transfer to Spain

Antioch, TN—The Board of Free Will Baptist International Missions approved Neil and Mandi Morgan’s (pictured above, bottom right) reassignment to Spain from Uruguay via email ballot on May 19, 2015.

Neil and Mandi, scheduled to return to Uruguay May 31, struggled with excessive education costs in Uruguay. After much conversation with multiple options considered, the couple agreed a transfer to Spain was both practical and God directed. “It was not an easy decision to leave Uruguay. Our brothers and sisters there are dear to us,” Neil and Mandi wrote. “However, after much prayerful consideration, we feel this is God’s leading and we are excited about the opportunities He has for us in Spain.”

Initially, the Morgans will work in the Madrid area with an existing church plant. “The transfer just makes sense,” General Director Clint Morgan stated. “The Morgans are a passionate, talented couple, and the Mission wanted to see them continue to serve.”

Neil and Mandi were appointed as career missionaries to Uruguay in April 2008. Following deputation ministry and a year of language study in Costa Rica, the Morgans arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, September 2011. They returned to the States in December 2013 for stateside assignment.

The Morgans will begin the process of applying for visas for Spain and continue to hold services as they reorient and prepare for this change in ministry. “We ask that you remember our family in prayer during this transition,” Mandi said. Neil and Mandi have three daughters: Emma Catherine, Aubrey, and Sofia.

“The Spain team is excited about gaining these reinforcements,” Clint Morgan added. “The Morgans need the ongoing support of all those who have stood by them in the past.”  

Those wishing to support Neil and Mandi Morgan may give online at www.fwbgo.com/give or send donations to 5233 Mt. View Road, Antioch, TN 37013.

Earthquakes in India and Nepal

Antioch, TN—On April 25, 2015, a 7.8M (some reports say as high as 8.1M) earthquake rocked Nepal and north India. Strong aftershocks, continuing for days, yielded more damage and devastation. Another earthquake shook Nepal and North India, Tuesday, May 12

Carlisle Hanna, missionary in North India, felt many of these and watched as buildings on the Sonapur compound sustained damage from the recurring quakes. Brother Carlisle wrote, “ The suffering is beyond description.”

Churches in both India and Nepal incurred damage. Several churches are no longer safe. Hundreds of thousands of individuals lost their homes, many Christians among them. Thousands lost their lives. Afraid to be inside or sometimes with dwellings too damaged to house them, families live in tents and makeshift accommodations. Parents kept children home, fearful of them being trapped in school buildings.

Even though the events fade from news headlines, people need physical and spiritual aid. You can help:

• Pray for emotional stability in overwhelming loss and devastation.

• Pray those most in need of help will receive aid.

• Pray God’s peace and joy will emanate through Christians, despite the horrific conditions.

• Pray for wisdom for Brother Carlisle and our pastors as they assess the situation and seek to help.

• Pray for safety for families as traffickers and others seek to take advantage of the situation.
  

• Give to help rebuild churches and provide for people through our partners Friends of India: (2434 Allen Road, Effingham, SC 29541)

Snapshots Around the World

• Brazil—The First FWB Church of Campinas— first Free Will Baptist church in Brazil—celebrated its 57th anniversary, Sunday, April 26.

• Bulgaria—Twenty people attended a lecture on depression, sponsored by the New Life FWB Church in Varna. The session addressed both physiological and spiritual issues.

• Côte d’Ivoire—A pastors’ retreat was held in Doropo, Côte d’Ivoire, April 6-10.

• Cuba—The Cedars of Lebanon Seminary in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, graduated its first class with master’s degrees in ministry.

• India—Pastors’ and leaders’ wives were encouraged and strengthened by a conference April 19-23.

• Japan—The first adult English class held at the Bihoro church had 10 attendees. Doug Bishop and Rusty Carney teach this class. Additionally, 52 children attended the Easter party.

• Panama—More than 30 children from the Los Sauces community attended a breakfast followed by Bible classes on April 18. The mission work is sponsored by the Chitré church and led by Benjamin and Stephanie Acevedo.

• France—Robert Bryan and Dennis Teague began a seven-week training course on apologetics at the St. Sébastien and St. Nazaire churches Monday, May 4.

• France—The St. Sébastien church sponsored an outreach event Sunday, April 26, in a neutral location. The event featured singing, a play, and a presentation of evidence of Christ’s resurrection.

• France—Three young people— Nathaniel, Mélanie, and Saraly—from the St. Sébastien church were baptized Sunday, May 17.

• Spain—The Executive Committee of the Federation of Free Will Baptists met in Spain April 18 to develop a strategy for strengthening churches and establishing new works.