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.

April Board Meeting Conducted Via Zoom

Antioch, TN—Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IM, Inc.’s board held their annual meeting April 20-21, via Zoom video conferencing. Chairman Jeff Manning commented, “Conducting our April board meeting virtually was certainly different, but our mission remains the same: getting the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world. Not everyone will contract the coronavirus, but everyone needs to hear about Jesus and, ultimately, that was our board meeting focus.”

The board conducted business as usual. Policy changes and a framework budget were adopted. The board heard and accepted the results of a very favorable audit. Auditor Tommy Wooten, from Blankenship CPA Group, congratulated the board and the IM team for a good year. No new missionary candidates came before the board during the meeting.

Chairman Jeff Manning led his last meeting as a board member and was honored by special delivery gifts and words of encouragement. General Director Clint Morgan said, “We cannot express our appreciation enough for Jeff Manning’s 15 years of service and dedication. His leadership, organizational skills, and attention to detail will be greatly missed.” Other board members and directors also offered encouraging comments.

Manning stated, “My time on the board has been full of privileges: meeting new missionary candidates, hearing breaking news about the advancement of God’s Kingdom, working in partnership with some of the finest servants both on the field and in the office. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The board elected former vice-chairman Jeff Nichols as chairman. The board also voted to keep Mark Price as secretary and to install Rodney Yerby as vice-chairman.

All board members attended the virtual meeting: Jeff Manning (NC), Jeff Nichols (TN), Janice Banks (TX), Casey Cariker (OK), Will Harmon (AR), Cameron Lane (AR), Mark Price (OH), Darren Walker (NC), and Rodney Yerby (AL). General Director Clint Morgan, and directors Rob Conley, Kenneth Eagleton, Jr., Neil Gilliland, Curt Holland, Danny Gasperson, and Don Matchett also participated.

WMP Postponed Until August 30

Antioch, TN—In response to the coronavirus pandemic, churches, missionaries, and organizations have found it necessary to adjust their activities to accommodate social distancing, quarantine, and other government mandates or guidelines.

IM postponed the World Missions Offering, scheduled for April 26, to August 30. Instead, churches and individuals were encouraged to use April 26 as a day of prayer for worldwide needs during the pandemic.

Resources to promote the WMO can be found on IM’s website: iminc.org/wmo.

Snapshots Around the World

Bulgaria: Brenton and Debbie Driscoll (below) departed for Shumen, Bulgaria, June 5. Following government guidelines, they remained quarantined for two weeks before joining the Provows in ministry. The couple’s first child, James Clinton, was born July 3, and they rejoice in God’s provision of his birth in Bulgaria.

Côte d’Ivoire: In May, Pastor Jérôme, from the First Church in Bouna, Ivory Coast, baptized ten people (below) in Buoko—a village between Bouna and Doropo.

Côte d’Ivoire: Pastor Germain Hien reports two people became Christ-followers on Easter Sunday in Kalamon, Ivory Coast.

Brazil: Easter Eve, Josiane decided to follow Jesus. She is the teen daughter of José and Maria, who were baptized in December by Pastor Clóvis at the church plant in Alagoas, Brazil.

Côte d’Ivoire: Even in a pandemic, outreach continues. The First FWB Church in Bouna, Ivory Coast, is evangelizing in Tessodouo. They held the first service May 24 with four women and several children attending under the shelter (pictured, above) built for this new preaching point.