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.

Hanna Project in Côte d'Ivoire

Doropo, Côte d'Ivoire—Côte d’Ivoire—Multiple delays and lost luggage did not deter members of the THP team to Doropo, Côte d’Ivoire. All team members made it to Doropo by August 13. Once on-site, the group split into two teams. One focused on working with the Ivorian medical staff; the other on construction.

The medical team assisted Ivorian medical personnel at the Doropo Hospital with surgeries, delivered babies, and met medical needs of hundreds of patients. The construction group assisted with painting, tile work, installation of an AC unit, and window installation for the new LaVerne Miley Medical Block as well as general maintenance and repairs of the hospital. THP team returned
August 21.

Team members included team leader and THP Director Sam McVay; IM General Director
Clint Morgan; physician and IM Director of Field Partnerships Dr. Kenneth Eagleton; and IM
Director of Member Care Dr. Neil Gilliland.

Three IM Family Members With the Lord

Antioch, TN—IM recently lost three long-time family members. Each contributed immeasurably to overseas missions efforts and the Kingdom.

Paul Wilton Robinson, pioneer missionary to Uruguay, entered his heavenly home Sunday, August 19, 2018. The 93-year-old died of cardiac arrest.

Appointed as missionaries to Uruguay in 1960, Paul and his wife Amy departed for language school in August 1961. The Robinsons planted churches and developed a camp for church members. A natural evangelist, Paul’s love for people translated into a desire to see them know His Savior. Paul believed his layman status encouraged Uruguayan laymen to serve and be witnesses. The Robinsons retired from missionary service in 1992, after 32 years of service with IM. They continued ministering to Hispanics after they settled in Smithville, Tennessee.

Missionaries, missionary kids, and local mourners filled the chapel of DeKalb Funeral Chapel in Smithville, Tennessee, for the funeral service on Thursday, August 23.

Charlie Hingst, long-time volunteer with IM, was welcomed to Heaven, September 11. Born February 2, 1922, “Mr. Charlie” joined the IM staff as a volunteer the Monday after his retirement from Otis Elevator Company and ministered to missionaries almost 30 years.

At 65 years old, the former WWII Merchant Marine radio officer wasn’t ready to sit around all day. Instead, he did “whatever six women” told him needed doing.

He began working full-time with a partial pay package but quickly asked to volunteer. He retired in 2013, at the age of 91.

His funeral was held September 15 at The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee.

Willie Jean (Barker) Deeds entered life eternal on September 12, 2018. She suffered for several years from Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Jean accepted Christ as Savior as an 18-year-old, after hearing the testimony of a Welch College quartet in her native Arkansas. She attended Welch, where she met Earnie Deeds. They married in 1957 and graduated together in 1958. After four years of pastoral ministry in the States, the Deeds were appointed as career missionaries in 1962.

Initially, they settled in Campinas, strengthening the first Free Will Baptist church in Brazil. Jean played music and developed a variety of ministries for women and children. In subsequent years, they worked in Jaboticabal and Conselheiro Lafaiete where they planted strong churches. Each congregation organized, purchased property, and constructed church buildings under the Deeds’ leadership. Jean led church choirs, taught Bible studies, ministered to women, and exercised hospitality while raising their five children.

The couple retired in 1998, after 35 years of ministry in Brazil. Yet, they did not retire from ministry. Serving in their local church, they also were among the first to join the Ambassador program, capably representing IM in Oklahoma churches as they raised awareness of IM’s efforts around the world and promoted the World Missions Offering.

Her funeral was held at Randall University in Moore, Oklahoma, on September 17.

Full releases are available at www.iminc.org.

Snapshots Around the World

France: Robert Bryan began mentoring two church council members, Jonathan and Michelle Chéreau, through the 15-lesson Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course on August 27. The course gives a biblical perspective of missions and explains the Christian’s role in declaring His name to all nations.

Spain: Neil and Mandi Morgan, assisting Pastor José Manuel at the Esperanza Church in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, began a new children’s Sunday School ministry in August.

Bulgaria: On Sunday, August 26, Trif Trifonov baptized six people (above) in the Black Sea. Four children, including MK Phoebe Provow, and two women testified of their faith in Jesus through baptism.

Partner Ministry: A two-week Leadership Matters Course was held in El Salvador August 12-25. Jeff and Susana Turnbough and Lázaro Riesgo served as three of the 11 trainers.