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.

Missionaries for Christ

Côte d’Ivoire—A group of church members in Abidjan formed an action group, Missionaries for Christ, to support evangelistic efforts and help Free Will Baptist churches within Ivory Coast. One of their efforts, a fundraising banquet, raised money to begin a building for the church at Tiassalé in the north of the country.

The Tiassalé church was begun by a Free Will Baptist nurse who worked for the government and was assigned to the area. Through witnessing and Bible studies in his home, a church was born. The group outgrew his home and eventually bought property. They erected a shelter but had been unable to build.

After completing a pastoral internship with the fledgling congregation, Emmanuel Tamignon became pastor following his graduation from the Bible institute in Bouna. When Kenneth Eagleton, director of field partnerships, visited the congregation in August, he discovered only two out of approximately 30 adults present have known Christ as Savior more than five years.

“Missionaries for Christ” helped erect the walls of the church. IM’s partnership with Ivory Coast will provide the funds for the roof and finish construction.

“Howdy” Filkins With the Lord

Antioch, TN—Howard “Howdy” Filkins (left) entered His Savior’s presence on August 31, 2019. The 86-year-old experienced complications following an angioplasty.

Howard and Joan “Jody” (Barnett) married December 25, 1955. They had three sons, two of whom were teenagers, when they answered the call to missionary service.

Howard and Jody served in Côte d’Ivoire ten years, from 1972-1982. During that time, they made an undeniable contribution to the physical and spiritual lives of dozens of missionary kids at the boarding school in Bouaké. Howard was also instrumental in the construction of some of the buildings in Doropo.

General Director Clint Morgan said, “Howdy was a faithful friend, missionary colleague, and the man who made life easier for some rookie missionaries in Africa with his many skills. His character shown like a bright light for he was humble, kind, thoughtful, encouraging, hardworking, and most of all, in love with God, His Word, and His work.”

Services were at CrossPointe Church in Norman, Oklahoma. Mr. Filkins was buried near Kirksville, Missouri, Monday, September 9.

Snapshots Around the World

Samburu: The Samburu in Kenya have another fresh water well. A drill team (pictured below) arrived in September, and the first bore hole they dug produced an abundant water supply, freeing the team to make repairs to other pumps.

Uruguay: Twelve students began a three-year program of Bible institute classes on July 15 in Rivera, Uruguay. Pastor Yosvanys Quiñones is teaching the first class, Old Testament Survey.
This partnership between the FWB Institute in Cuba and the Uruguayan National Association will be headquartered in Rivera with hopeful extensions to the cities of Melo and Montevideo.

India: Prior to leaving India on August 28, Carlisle Hanna ordained another ten men to pastoral ministry in India.

United States: Dr. Ruby Griffin (pictured above), who served in Côte d’Ivoire 1965-1968, entered Heaven August 16. Her funeral was held in Baldwyn, Mississippi, August 18.

Cuba: Dr. J, a young Free Will Baptist Cuban doctor, recently committed to work in a risky area of the Middle East with a Christian organization. She will use her medical skills to provide openings for sharing the gospel.

Bulgaria: The congregation in Shumen, Bulgaria, celebrated communion August 11. A young man Josh and Lydia Provow had befriended, Sevdi, accepted Christ as Savior during the service. He was baptized in September.

Brazil: Pastor Fred Moreira baptized 11 people at the Carandai church in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on September 1.

Côte d’Ivoire: Approximately 400 people attended the annual convention of Ivorian Free Will Baptists, August 26-30, in Gouméré, Côte d’Ivoire. A Bible conference in the mornings was followed by business in the afternoons and evenings. Delegates ordained two pastors who joined 38 pastors and two cross-cultural missionaries in representing the association.

Samburu: September 24, in the crocodile infested waters of the Ewaso Nyiro River, Eddy Simmons baptized nine people. Some walked as far as six miles to be immersed.

Bulgaria: During the September retreat for Free Will Baptists in Bulgaria, five people were baptized and at least one woman accepted Christ as Savior.