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From the Memo Board: June 2025

Important Dates to Know

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
June 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 4 – The Office and most US Banks will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.
April 13-16, 2026 – Family Fellowship Week in Sophia, NC.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

Summer Helpers

Makenzie Case is a member at Gantt Street Baptist Church in Cayce, SC. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a degree in Elementary Education and Missions. She joined our team in 2023, helping coordinate the See the Harvest trips remotely while also teaching third-grade children at a Christian school. This summer, she is joining the office staff to assist with tasks in the office. Her email is [email protected].

Madelyn Davies is a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Wythville, VA, where her father serves as the Associate Pastor. This young lady has a heart for missions and wanted to learn about World Wide and what we do. She will join our staff from June 9-20, 2025.

New Baby

Daniel Levi Elwart was born May 15, 2025. Daniel is the seventh child of Jackie and Brittany Elwart, and joins siblings Charlotte, Audrey, Sadie, Elijah, Dalton, and Isaac. The Elwarts are missionaries to Big Bear, CA.

2025 Graduates

Several in our missions family have graduated in recent months. We are thankful for each of these individuals. They have worked hard to achieve this milestone, and we look forward to seeing how the Lord will use them in the future. Click here for a list of graduates and their future plans.

Click here to view the list in the Headquarter Happenings Folder for Secure Cloud.

Missionary Milestones

We would like to recognize several ministry milestones being reached during the year 2025. We are grateful for these individuals who continue to serve faithfully.

Click here to view the list in the Headquarter Happenings Folder for Secure Cloud.

Learn Biblical Giving

Learn Biblical Giving is a 13-lesson series teaching a biblical perspective on giving. The course helps churches, schools, families, and Bible study groups learn the spectrum of giving from the Word of God. Click here to visit the website to view the video series.

Things to Consider When Mentioning Financial Needs to Donors

You may occasionally have financial needs that are not covered by your regular support funds. It is good for your donors to be aware of the needs of your ministry. However, there are some things that you should think through when mentioning such situations to donors. Because of this, WWNTBM asks that you keep the following information in mind when communicating your needs and contact us prior to seeking designated funds.

When WW receives or receipts funds with a specific designation, we become legally accountable to ensure the funds are used for that specific project. One challenge with this approach is that multiple donors may give above what is needed for the project, leaving surplus funds that cannot be redirected to other areas of ministry without the donor’s approval. Because of this, our recommendation is that funds always be designated simply “as needed for the missionary,” without any additional designations or specifications attached. Where that is not possible, we recommend the following.

First, if you are asking to raise funds for a specific project, we request that you let the Office know ahead of time. This allows us to be prepared for new donations or any questions we may receive from your donors.

Second, there are many logistical items the Office can assist you with. For instance, it may not be advisable to ask donors to mark a gift as “France Building” because we may already have another missionary raising funds with that designation, and it could create confusion with how we would process the donation. Therefore, it is always best to confer with the Office prior to contacting donors, so that we can help advise on the best way for funds to be designated. In addition to the designation, there may be tax implications to you based on the manner in which funds are designated. We can help ensure the best tax situation for you as funds are received.

Third, we always recommend that donors make checks payable to WW, rather than to the individual missionary. Although we do have the ability to cash checks in your name, this makes for a smoother process and can avoid unnecessary tax paperwork for the church and the missionary. (If a church makes funds payable to you in the amount of $600 or more over the course of the year, they are required to issue a separate 1099 to you, even if the funds came through WW. In addition, if you are not a US citizen, there may be other tax and visa implications for you.) If you have any questions, please reach out to our staff.

Opportunity for High School Juniors and Seniors

Ambassador Baptist College has a dual-enrollment program, allowing high school juniors and seniors to take up to two classes per semester to get a head start on a Bible degree. These classes are offered tuition-free, and are taught over zoom. Click here to see more information about this program.

Plan for Retirement

Bro. Whetstone has emphasized the need for each missionary to plan for retirement. John O’Malley’s brother, David, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and has helped the Office as well as many of our missionaries with their investments. He produced a short video for our missions family about saving for the future. We trust this will be helpful to you. If you have questions or would like contact information for him or other financial advisors, please contact Kim O’Malley.

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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The Art of Listening

By John O’Malley

This year, I will be releasing a new book called Ministering to the Wounded. For my article this month, I am sharing a chapter from the book titled “The Art of Listening.”

After 40 years of ministry, I have found that listening is crucial.

In a world full of noise, listening is one of the rarest gifts we can offer. I struggle with completing someone’s thought in my mind so I can prepare my answer. For those who minister to the wounded, listening is not a passive act—it is a sacred ministry. It requires emotional restraint, spiritual sensitivity, and selfless love. Before Scripture can be applied wisely, ears must be opened humbly.

Listening is the first act of Christlike compassion. Jesus often asked questions—not because He lacked knowledge, but because He valued presence over performance. To listen is to enter someone’s suffering without trying to fix them. It reflects the heart of a God who “is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18).

1. The Value of Listening: Listening affirms dignity. It says, “Your story matters. You are not invisible.” It gives the wounded space to breathe and their burdens a place to land. Authentic listening slows down solutions and honors the process of trust.

2. The Patience Required: Listening is not efficient. It will interrupt your schedule. It may stretch your emotions. But love that listens is love that lingers. Proverbs 18:13 warns, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Quick answers are rarely wise ones.

3. What Biblical Listening Looks Like: Biblical listening is:
• Quiet (James 1:19): “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…”
• Compassionate (Romans 12:15): “Weep with them that weep.”

• Discerning (Proverbs 20:5): “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

Listening is not agreement, but understanding. It is not silence without discernment—it is restraint guided by the Spirit. When spoken in season, listening allows space for the Holy Spirit to work through the Scriptures.

To care well, start by listening well. Put down your notes. Resist the urge to fix. Hear the hurt. Hold the silence. Let their pain speak before you speak of healing. Listening may feel small, but it often opens the door to the most incredible work God wants to do.

What Can We Offer?:
      • Resist the urge to interrupt or mentally prepare a response while someone else is sharing.
      • Reflect back what you heard to ensure understanding (“What I hear you saying is…“).
      • Pray before offering advice. Without Him, we can do nothing.
      • Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom to know when to speak—and when to stay present.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” —Matthew 11:15

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

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I Need an Estimate

By John O’Malley

“For the LORD is good…” (Psalm 100:5).

How many times have you needed a service performed in your life and sought an estimate? First, you have to find a provider of that service. Then you must find out the price. You may read reviews online, ask some trusted friends, and ask how long the vendor has been in business. You may gain confidence in a service provider with each mention of a friend, review you read, and advertisement you see. These all help you gain confidence in the service provider for your needs.

As in the illustration above, when we want a service performed we seek an estimation of both a vendor and his service reliability. The psalmist gives us his estimation of both the person and perception of the Lord: “the LORD is good.” The psalmist speaks from his experience with God. His opinion is not just subjective. He writes with authority as God inspired him to write these words.

“The LORD is good.” What confirmation! What consolation! What comfort!

The psalmist, in our focus phrase, invokes the name of God, which makes us think of God’s self-existing eternal state of being. Notice the spelling of the word “LORD.” Do you see the capital letters? The word’s meaning has to do with Him being self-existing. The God who has always been and will always be is the Lord that is good. This is the same word God used to introduce Himself to Moses in Exodus 6:2-3.

We considered the psalmist’s estimation of the person of God. Now, we should consider the psalmist’s estimation of God’s quality. The psalmist estimates the value of God as good. Good does not seem high enough to describe God.

Advertisers use superlatives in their estimations of their services and products. Advertisers say “good” is just okay. Advertisers tell us we need spectacular. We need awesome. We need amazing. However, God told The psalmist to use the word “good.”

When compared to modern adjectives, “good” seems inadequate. When David used this word, he used it in the sense that he estimated God as the best. He valued Him as beautiful and better. He knew Him to be both fair and the finest. He is God. Using the word “good” is the highest estimation He could give to He who is altogether lovely. David’s estimation of God is He is perfect.

When we seek an estimate, we want to know the length the vendor has been in business. We want to know the quality of their work. We use these elements to determine whether we enlist them to help us. The psalmist’s words speak to these two elements of an estimation. The Lord has been in business since before time. The Lord is good!

What is your estimation of God? Have you found Him good? He is always good. Try your estimation of God right now. Write down three ways you know God has been good to you and the world at large.

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

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From the Memo Board: May 2025

Important Dates to Know

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 26 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Memorial Day.
June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
June 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 13-16, 2026 – Family Fellowship Week in Sophia, NC.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

Missionary of the Day

Our website at wwntbm.com promotes a missionary of the day. This is a great way to get to know about the ministries of others in our missions family. Some have chosen to set this as their home page so they can be reminded to pray for a different missionary each day.

The Edge Christian Camp and Edge2Go International

For the last several years, we have been blessed to have Scott Carsley, Carey Charles, and the team from The Edge Christian Camp attend Family Week and provide an exceptional program for our young people during the week.

Edge2Go is a ministry of The Edge Christian Camp that brings camp to Independent Baptist church locations. The Edge staff offers many aspects of summer camp in a one-day, day camp format, including activities, chapel service, evening service, God & I time booklets, games, activities, and competitions. They have recently been burdened to take this ministry internationally by partnering with missionaries. Their desire is to work with WWNTBM missionaries to bring camp to your mission field. If you are interested, or if you know local churches in the US who could utilize their services, please contact them through their website at theedge.camp.

Family Fellowship Week 2026

Now is the time to begin planning to attend Family Fellowship Week 2026! The conference will be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC, from April 13-16, 2026. The week begins on Monday afternoon and ends with breakfast on Friday morning. When interviewed, missionaries agree to attend Family Week for two years while on deputation and once every four years thereafter. Please plan to attend the entire week. This is an important time to gather for fellowship, encouragement, and reminders of our heritage.

2025 US MFR Template – Meal Allowance Rate

It has come to our attention that the old standard meal allowance rate of $59 is listed in the yellow comment box that pops up when hovering over the Meal Allowance column on the 2025 US MFR Template.

Please use the rates listed in the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu includes the current rates, including the “new” standard rate of $68.

Seasons of Ministry by Pastor Wingard

At Family Fellowship Week, we were asked about the Seasons of Ministry sermon series by Pastor Wingard. Pastor Wingard’s life principle was to “serve faithfully in his present season of life.” He exemplified this principle in his life and ministry, and we know you will be encouraged by this series.  Click here to listen to the sermon series.

Principles and Practices

Each year at Family Fellowship Week, Bro. Danny Whetstone teaches our Principles and Practices. These values have guided World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions since 1971, and they will continue to do so.

Below is the outline of our Principles and Practices. Click here to listen to Pastor Wingard teach our Principles and Practices. This audio is from the Family Fellowship Week of 2014.

I. The Purpose of this Mission Agency is to Honor Our Lord Jesus Christ in Carrying Out the Great Commission.
A. We Assist Churches in Getting Their Missionaries to the Field.
B. We Assist Missionaries in . . .
1. Getting to the Field.
2. Staying on the Field.
3. Returning to the Field.
II. We Are Servants of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Local Churches.
A. We Do Not Maintain Authority to Ordain.
B. We Do Not Maintain Authority to Commission.
C. We Do Not Maintain Authority to Discipline.
D. We Must Maintain Biblical Standards.
E. We Must Maintain Working Relationships.
1. Mission Agency with Missionaries
2. Missionaries with Missionaries
III. All of Us Who Are Supported Through the Agency Are . . .
A. Accountable for the Funds.
B. Fellow-Helpers in Financing the Mission Office.
IV. Concerning Relationships
A. Agency to Missionaries
B. To Our Families
C. Missionaries to Agency
V. Concerning Policy
A. Return Passage
B. Insurance
C. Bible Translations
VI. Concerning Our Attitude
A. Towards Other Missionaries
B. Towards the Mission Agency
C. Towards Preparation
D. Towards Separation
E. Towards the King James Version

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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See the Harvest Grenada 2025

By Cody Carden

In March, I was privileged to lead a See The Harvest Team of six to St. George’s, Grenada. Our team worked alongside Pastor Anderson Gibson and the First Baptist Church of Berrotte to have an open-air street meeting, youth/discipleship conference, discipleship movie night, and fun youth activities! Pastor Mike Barnette of McLeansville Baptist Church in McLeansville, NC, was the keynote speaker from our team.

Though we only had eight days on the island, God used us greatly! Most of our morning hours were spent with other missionaries and pastors on the island, learning from their experiences on the field and the history of ministry in Grenada. It was such a blessing for our team to be an encouragement to them and their families! Simple encouragement for missionaries and saints on the field can go a long way, and it’s often an overlooked part of short-term missions ministry.

Our main ministry efforts were the events that took place in the evening at First Baptist Church. Pastor Anderson Gibson is bi-vocational, which is why our mornings were spent with others. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday’s services focused on youth and discipleship. Pastor Mike preached on how a deeper life with God is possible, practiced, and worth every sacrifice! To end the conference, we showed a film at the church on Wednesday night. The film “The Forge” gave everyone a visual of what practical discipleship looks like and helped them understand how preaching and teaching apply to their lives personally.

Finally, to end our week, we had a Youth Night on Friday with all kinds of games for the children and teens. Of course, we also had hot dogs, roasted corn, and Grenadian S’mores! It was such a refreshing week of ministry for First Baptist Church, The Gibson Family, and our team. We hope to visit Grenada again, possibly working with other pastors on the island to accomplish outreach efforts. Praise God for a wonderful trip!

Yours for the Harvest,
Cody Carden
See The Harvest Director

If you have any questions about this trip or the See the Harvest program, you can email Bro. Carden.
Our team with Pastor Gibson and his wife.
Our team visiting our missionaries, Pat Mathena and Carrie Mathena
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From the Memo Board: April 2025

Important Dates to Know

April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 US taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

Tax Filing Information

The deadline this year to file US taxes for most taxpayers is Tuesday, April 15. If you have not yet contacted your tax preparer about filing your taxes, you need to do so as soon as possible. Failure to file on time, even if you are unable to pay on time, can result in additional penalties and interest. Individuals can receive an extension of the filing deadline, but please note that if taxes are owed, interest on those payments will begin as of April 15 even if you are not required to file until later in the year. All missionaries with WWNTBM are responsible for filing their own taxes. If the office can assist in providing paperwork to your preparer on your behalf, please let us know.

Financial Status Report

We will upload a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account in the coming days, showing figures for the first quarter of 2025. This is meant to show you the financial details that we have on file, such as your support estimate and the average amount of support you received this past quarter. This is information we provide to pastors who may call about your ministry. We ask that all missionaries update their support estimate once every four years, or as their lives and ministries change. Please review this information and contact us if you have any questions.

Policy on Designated Funds

The Executive Board adopted the following policy in 2023 for handling designated funds. They recognized you faced hardship and a challenge when designated gifts arrived at the missions agency, which were unsolicited and unexpected. Here is a reminder of our policy for handling designated funds:

Unsolicited Designated Funds: When a donor sends a designated unsolicited gift, we will process the gift as a regular gift. We will process the gift as unrestricted funds.

Solicited Designated Funds: We will follow donor intent when a missionary solicits funds for a project. All solicited projects need to be approved by the Executive Board. This agency has complete control of the donated funds and discretion regarding their use.

Reminders:
– We will make you aware of designations in the memo field of your support list.
– We can only accept designated funds for WWNTBM missionaries.
– We cannot receive funds designated as “national support” or funds designated as gifts for adult children of our missionaries (age 18 and older).

Doctrinal Agreement

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2025-2026 is now available for you to download and print from your SecureCloud folder. If you have not yet submitted your annual agreement, email us as soon as possible, indicating that you have read and are still in agreement with our Articles of Faith. If you have questions or concerns, please contact John O’Malley.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.

Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Noah Clarke to the World Wide family. Bro. Clarke is a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Fremont, CA, with Pastor Devon Ortiz and plans to serve the Lord in Brazil. Bro. Clarke is the brother of our missionary to Brazil, Gloria Duarte.

New Baby!

Michaela Grace Villarreal was born on March 27, 2025. Michaela is the third child of Stephen and Anelly Villarreal, and joins brothers Stephen (6) and Timothy (4). The Villarreals are missionaries in Mexico.

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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You Are Hereby Invited

By John O’Malley

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

Recently, I received an invitation to an Unbirthday party of McKenna, a friend. Alice in Wonderland was the theme. You could come dressed as anyone from the story. The invitation was playfully presented. The date and time were clear.

My wife and I were not able to attend. However, I did arrange for a FaceTime call. When I called, I had a video feed of the event. People were dressed in costume. Laughter and chattering were heard. I saw that all who responded to the invitation were participating in the joy. Yet, I was only a distant observer.

I spoke to “Alice” and sang the “Merry Unbirthday” song to her. We spoke for a moment, and McKenna was back to the party. I continued on with my evening, five hundred miles away.

In verse four, we read of the believers’ invitation to God’s house. He calls us to the gates and courts of the Lord. The gates are the entry point to His house. The courts are the place between the gates and His dwelling place.

The invitation of this psalm speaks not only of where we are to come. It tells us what we are to wear and what we are to do upon arrival. We are to come wearing garments of thanksgiving and of praise. When we arrive, we are to express words of thankfulness directly to Him. We are then to bless His name.

The invitation of our Host must be heeded. He asked us to come to His presence, whether it is in personal or public worship, wearing thanksgiving and praise. He asks us to arrive and be thankful. He asks us to bless His name.

Today, as you stand in His courts, look around you and reflect on Him. I urge you to reflect on His grace. He applied grace to your life when you believed in Him. None deserved His salvation. As you stand in His courts to praise Him, remember His goodness to you. He meets your every need. He always does what is best for us. Lastly, in this moment of intentional reflection, rejoice in His glory. When you rejoice in His glory, you remove yourself from the spotlight of attention to take credit for your talents and skills. You place Him in the spotlight, and you give Him the attention and praise for everything.

Reader, today I urge you to praise Him. Let thankfulness and praise be confirmed with the words you speak and the attitude you display. Then, you should bless His name. The idea behind the English word “bless” is to bow and praise Him.

For my friend McKenna’s party, we were to wear what was asked. We were to come and celebrate her birth and life. We were to come dressed to celebrate. The believer’s invitation to God’s presence is no different. Psalm 100:4 says we are to arrive in His presence with thanksgiving and praise. When in His presence, we must express thankfulness and blessing.

Do you give greater attention to an invitation to a party than you do to God’s presence? How often do you come to His presence in the way His invitation asked?

Today, accept His invitation to “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Wherever you are right now, why not just say aloud to God, “I know You are here and I am thankful I am not alone. Thank You for Your presence.”

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

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I Am Where He Placed Me

By John O’Malley

“…and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).

As a boy, we lived in Colorado, a state in the western mountain region of the United States. Sheepherders lived in the community where we lived. We could both see and sometimes smell these animals. On more than one occasion, we had sheep wandering through our land. While these wandering sheep were on our land, they did not belong there. They were not ours.

We learned from living there that shepherds know their sheep. Most shepherds where we lived used a numbered and colored tag that was pierced in their sheep’s ear. This system allowed any shepherd who found a wandering sheep to easily identify the owner of the sheep and the pasture to which the sheep belonged.

When the psalmist says we are “the sheep of his pasture,” he identifies two relationships. He points to the relationship the sheep have with God; we are His possession. The second relationship is one of protection. He says we are in His pasture.

In the Psalms, you will find the relationships of possession and protection mentioned. The familiar passage of Psalm 23 identifies these relationships. Look at these three passages as well.

“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice” (Psalm 95:7).

“Thou leadest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalm 77:20).

“But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock” (Psalm 78:52).

God wants me to know I am His, and He protects me. Delightfully, I am not a wandering and aimless sheep without a Shepherd. I am His sheep. I am in His pasture. He will go to great lengths to provide, protect, and pamper His sheep. As my owner, He drives away the wolves, worries, and wicked thieves.

Fellow sheep, mind not the discomforts of this life. Recall this truth: we are “the sheep of his pasture.” There will be no lonely moments of listless wandering. Yes, there will be panicked moments of wondering how will He provide and protect. However, if you are His sheep, His provision and protection will come. These assurances come with our relationship to the Shepherd.

Will you pause right now and reflect on God’s provision in your life? Today, will you share this with someone who needs to hear it?

John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.

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From the Memo Board: March 2025

Important Dates to Know

March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

Please keep in mind that January reports are due on March 1, February reports are due April 1, and so forth. It is very important that your reports are submitted on time with all receipts. Thank you for helping our staff in this area.

Reminders about Receipts

Receipts must be submitted for all ministry expenses on your reports that are equal to USD $75 or more. According to the IRS, “A canceled check, together with a bill from the payee, ordinarily establishes the cost. However, a canceled check by itself doesn’t prove a business expense without other evidence.” Based on this, we do not accept cancelled checks in lieu of receipts. Credit card statements are also not preferred. Although they show date and cost, they typically do not show what was purchased or the business purpose of the expense.

Please be sure that all receipts submitted with your report include the entire receipt or invoice for the item(s). The purpose of a receipt is the outside verification of the expense. Therefore, you should never receipt yourself. Receipts should be obtained at the time the expense occurs.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.

Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Jedidiah and Ashleigh Bickmore to the World Wide family. The Bickmores are members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Abingdon, VA, with Pastor Kevin Rogerson. The Bickmores plan to serve the Lord in Shuman, Bulgaria. They have four children: Jedidiah, Zoey, Octavia, and Sofia.

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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From the Memo Board: February 2025

Important Dates to Know

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year are available on Secure Cloud.
February 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

 

For easy access to all of these dates, click here to download our WWNTBM Dates and Deadlines Calendar into your calendar app.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2025 has been uploaded to SecureCloud.

January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. If you have not yet submitted your January report, please be sure to utilize the new template for all future reports.

Click here to view a Financial Report Checklist to ensure you are filling out your MFRs correctly.  This checklist is also available in the Secure Cloud folder named Forms and Manuals.

Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

New Mileage Rate

Beginning on January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has increased to $0.700 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new Excel template for 2025, which will be available on February 15.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If you have not yet contacted us to reserve your spot please do so ASAP by clicking here. Your final plans regarding attendance for you and any guests need to be communicated to our office by February 1, 2025. Changes made after this date will affect our contract billing with the retreat center. Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

IRS Information for the 2024 Tax Season

The IRS has issued a notice about this year’s tax season. Please click here to view the information from the IRS.

We encourage all missionaries who are subject to US Taxes to contact your tax preparer and begin the filing process as soon as possible.

Preparing and Filing Taxes for US Missionaries

Please note that while our Office Staff is familiar with many of the IRS regulations that affect missionaries, we are not authorities on the subject. We will attempt to assist our missionaries in any way possible; however, questions that are beyond the scope of your mission’s status are best directed to a tax professional.

We will provide you with the following information at the end of January. You may wish to submit this to your tax preparer:

      • A copy of your 1099
      • A year-to-date Summary of the MFR information that you have submitted to the Office. This can be especially helpful if you have completed Categories 17-22, as many of those categories can affect your personal taxes. This will show your Personal Earnings Calculations for the year, as well as Housing Allowance information and details of estimated taxes we may have submitted for you during the year. There may also be notices on this document specifically for you and your tax preparer about any situations we are aware of that may impact your tax filing.

You should also provide your tax preparer with the following:

      • List of the dates that you were in the US vs. out of the country during the year.
      • Details of any Housing Expenses, to be used in addition to the Approved Housing Allowance for completing Worksheet 1 of IRS Publication 517.
      • Information on any retirement plans that you may have contributed to during the year, or that you have received a distribution from during the year.
      • Names and Social Security Numbers of all family members.
      • Names and dates of any family births or deaths (children and spouses), as well as whether you were married during the year.

US Treasury Department regulations require that if you have any foreign bank accounts, and if the sum total of all of your foreign accounts has ever been $10,000 or more at any time during the year, you should file the FBAR via FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. Further information is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

You may also need to complete Form 8938, which deals with foreign assets.

If you participated in the Healthcare Marketplace, you will need to provide your tax preparer with Form 1095-A.

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Cody and Nikayla Carden to the World Wide family. The Cardens are members of the McLeansville Baptist Church in McLeansville, NC, with Pastor Michael Barnette. Bro. Cody came with World Wide as an associate in March of 2023. He and Nikayla were married in October of 2024 and have now been accepted as missionaries with full status.  As See the Harvest Director, he will lead See the Harvest trips.

To learn more about See the Harvest and the upcoming trips, please visit SeeTheHarvest.com.

Prayer Requests and Special Days

Click here to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises, as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for this month.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.