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Made Where?

By John O’Malley

“… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves…” (Psalm 100:3).

Made in China. Made in Taiwan. Made in Japan. Made in Malaysia.

These are all common tags we see on the products we purchase. The tag reminds us of a distant land we may have only heard about. The tag may remind us of a global economy. The tag may even evoke strong feelings of national pride and seemingly unanswerable questions about trade practices.

On some products we purchase we also find a tag that reads, “Inspected by #4.” These tags make me smile. I wonder, “Who is number four? Is there more than one number four? Is number four a station? Who really made what I am wearing?”

Dear Reader, our verse for today sends one clear message. Believers carry a tag. It is a tag that designates our Maker. We carry God’s tag. The tag reads, “Made by God.” The psalmist describes our tag: “… it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.”

My entire existence is affected by this verse. This truth affects my worship and work for God. This precept brings me to the realization I did not bring myself into existence; He did. I did not make me; God made me. I read this phrase, and it brings comfort to my soul, conviction to my service, and compassion as I work with others. David’s words in the 139th Psalm say that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The tag on every person’s life is the same: “Made by God.” We do not make our own way in this life. We may try to make a name for ourselves, but we carry His tag.

When someone accepts the payment for salvation paid by Jesus, we bear another mark on our tag. It is the designation that we were bought with a price. Paul wrote that we are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus purchased us with His defeat of death, hell, and the grave. His purchase of me means I am His. I am to put God in the spotlight of my life, or in other words, glorify Him. By faith in Him alone, the tag on my heart says “Purchased.” I am His.

This analogy is simple. It conveys one clear truth. Our lives are not our own; therefore, bring Him glory.

The believer wears the tag “Made and Purchased by God.” Is God pleased with your actions, your attitudes, and your activities?

I want you to find someone today and tell them, “God made me.” Then ask them, “Did you know He paid the price for you to go to heaven?”

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: January 2025

Important Dates to Know

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 7 – Inform the office via the Signal app if you have any special instructions or additional information regarding your tax paperwork.
January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 13 – All Missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.
January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2024. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
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.

Tax Information

We are preparing to issue tax paperwork for the year, and need to be sure we follow your intentions. Many missionaries have us use alternate addresses on their 1099, or have us send paperwork directly to a tax preparer for them. Please login to your SecureCloud and look for the document called 2024 Tax Info Status Report. If anything needs to be adjusted to the information included, or if you have any additional information or special instructions regarding your tax paperwork for this year, please contact us via the Signal app to let us know what changes to make. If we do not hear from you by January 7th we will issue your tax information as indicated on this report.

Year-End Adjustments

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. This means that you receive your Support List and total income figures on or about the 25th, and we then deposit funds into your account(s) on the 29th, 5th, or 10th of the month after we have calculated estimated taxes, tithes, and other month-end payments.

Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December, as we are required by law to process funds that were postmarked in December as if they were received in December. This means we cannot close the books for December until January 10th, and therefore we do not have final December figures until January 10th.

    • Unless you have requested an early deposit, final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 13th, 2025, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly support.
    • Please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. November reports are due January 1 and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2025 will be available on February 15. This will give us time to review the need for any possible updates. January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. Should you wish to complete your January report before the new template is available, you are welcome to submit it on the 2024 template. However, starting with the February report please be sure to use the new template.

SecureCloud Packets

At the end of each month, we scan any mail that has come to the Office and place it in your SecureCloud folder. This would include check stubs for all bills paid by the office, as well as any cards or correspondence from donors. Please be sure to check SecureCloud periodically, especially once you receive the notice that December packets have been uploaded, as many missionaries have received Christmas cards and letters which are available to you there.

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 Know

By John O’Malley

“Know ye that the Lord he is God…” (Psalms 100:3).

Advertisers spend millions trying to get us to know their product name and its benefits. They bombard our lives in print, radio, and television. When we might forget the name and benefit of their product, advertisers erect billboards. Even if we do not see the billboards, advertisers produce bumper stickers. All of their efforts are to help us remember their product and how it will change our lives.

The psalmist, in our focus verse today, puts up a billboard on the highways of the followers of Christ. The psalmist speaks of something everyone must know. He does not speak of knowing the name of another product. He is speaking of knowing something in the spiritual realm.

The psalmist says, “Know ye that the Lord he is God.” We should know He is God when difficulties arise that shake the very structure of our lives. We should remember He is God when we become overwhelmed. We should know He is God when in the midst of distress. Simply, we should know He is God.

Remind yourself. He is God. Not, He was God. The God of all Creation is your God. What should you fear?

Yet, life is filled with fears. Our tragedies and challenges seem to cast a shadow on our confidence. We easily lose sight of God. Our view of our distresses may be shortsighted. We can only see a short portion of our journey. However, God sees the entire path of our life. He knows what is beyond us. He sees the beauty when we see the ashes. He sees the hope when we see our hurt. He sees what is best when we see what is worst.

Dear reader, it is time to notice the billboards God erects on the path of our lives. This verse is like a highway sign. God’s highway sign reads: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…” I read this and know I am never alone. God is never without specific and keen awareness of my situation. Have you considered that Creation is a billboard to remind us He is God? Calvary is a billboard to remind us He is God. His compassion is a billboard to remind us He is God.

No matter where you go today, find the billboard He left in your path. You may hear it in a song. You may hear it in a sermon. But wherever you see it, believe this: “Know ye that the Lord he is God…”

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: December 2024

Important Dates to Know

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations
December 9 – All prayer letters the Office assists in mailing via Prayerletters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 16 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or if you will need a deposit between Christmas and the end of the year. This allows us time to schedule your deposit around bank holidays and the office being closed.
December 16 – All prayer letters the Office assists in sending via Mailchimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 23-27 – The office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.
January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 13 – All Missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.
January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2024. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
April 14-17, 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.

Also available is a PDF of the year-end deadlines. Click here to download the PDF.

Year-End Adjustments

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. This means that you receive your Support List and total income figures on or about the 25th, and we then deposit funds into your account(s) on the 29th, 5th, or 10th of the month after we have calculated estimated taxes, tithes, and other month-end payments.

Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December, as we are required by law to process funds that were postmarked in December as if they were received in December. This means we cannot close the books for December until January 10th, and therefore we do not have final December figures until January 10th.

    • Please contact our office by December 16 via the Signal app if you will need funds in your account before the end of the year. This helps our staff plan for all transfers before we close for the Christmas holiday.
    • The last day we can initiate a bank transfer in the year 2024 is December 19.
    • Final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 13th, 2025, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly support.
    • Please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. October reports are due December 1, November reports are due January 1, and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.

Year-End Prayer Letter Services

If the office assists in mailing your prayer letters through PrayerLetters.com, please send us your information by December 9th for your recipients to receive it before Christmas.

If we assist with your MailChimp emails only, please get us your information by December 16th in order for your recipients to receive them by Christmas.

Please be aware that letters received in our office after these dates may experience delays due to the holidays. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly, and contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!

You should have received an email regarding our special letterhead options for Christmas. If you would like to send your prayer letter with one of our letterheads, please email your request to [email protected].

Our Office will resume processing prayer letters on January 6, 2025.

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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New Continuing Education Opportunities Available for WWNTBM Missionaries

Dear Missions family,
We are excited to share a new opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge and strengthen your ministry skills through a generous offer from  First Bible School of Translation. As a ministry of First Baptist Church of Milford, OH, they are now offering a selection of online classes that can be taken either for audit or toward a full degree.
This program is designed to meet your unique needs, allowing you to study at your own pace, which we trust will help you balance your studies with your full-time ministry responsibilities.
Here’s what you need to know about this opportunity:
1. Available Courses and Format:
They currently have four courses ready for enrollment: Introduction to Biblical Counseling, Philosophy of Music in the Ministry, Bible Doctrines, and Cultural and Historical Background of the Bible. While the full First Bible curriculum is accessible online, these four courses are part of a new format designed specifically for those in ministry. The format allows you to study at your own pace rather than following a strict schedule, with new courses added each semester until the entire program is available in this format.
2. Cost Options
They understand the financial challenges missionaries often face, so we are offering two levels of cost for these courses:
  • Free Audit Option: Current WWNTBM missionaries may take one course per term at no cost for audit. If you wish to give a gift toward the program, that would be welcomed, but they emphasize that there is no requirement.
  • Discounted Credit Option: If you prefer to take courses for credit, a 25% discount is available for WWNTBM missionaries who enroll directly through our organization. (Please keep this discount within our group, as it is not widely available and may cause confusion for others.) For those interested in taking the full program, we are working on a heavily discounted per-semester fee for unlimited credit hours—please reach out to us for details.
3. For Those Ministering Overseas
If you would like to use these materials with your people in the field, please get in touch with First Bible directly, and they can create custom opportunities tailored to your ministry context.
4. Registration
To register, simply fill out the online registration form here: Registration Form, or scan the QR code below:
First Bible School of Translation is grateful to be able to offer this opportunity to you. We hope these resources will equip and encourage you in your service to the Lord. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process at [email protected].
Thank you for being so dedicated to the work, and may these courses be a blessing to you as you continue to sharpen your tools for ministry.
If you are interested in pursuing any continuing education and you wish to record the expense on your MFR, please let the mission office know your intentions prior to making any payment. In compliance with IRS regulations, the Executive Board must vote to approve your course of study before it can be considered a ministry expense.
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God Wants to Hear You Sing

By John O’Malley

“… come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).

Have you received an invitation to a place you would really like to go? The invitation brings joy. Your level of anticipation increases. Your desire to go to such a place excites you.

Certainly, you would share the news with your friends. It is likely you would bring something with you to honor the host of the event. If it were a party to which you were invited, you would bring a gift. Your gift is a way of expressing your appreciation for the invitation, the inclusion in the event, and the interest they had in you.

In our focus verse today, we see the divine invitation to come to the very presence of God. His invitation should make our hearts race. The anticipation should be overwhelming. The joy should be difficult to contain.

The very Lord of Glory has taken an interest in us. He desires our presence. He has issued to us an invitation. He wants to include us.

Your mind races. What can I bring to He who has everything? He owns cattle on a thousand hills. The earth is His footstool. What could I give Him as a servant of the Lord? What is it that He desires?

Dear Reader, what can we bring? Our gracious Host suggested we bring one thing. He wants to hear us sing.

What is that I hear you say? “Singing? That is so simple. Certainly, I can find something more special than that!” God would like us to come to Him with singing.

Consider this, God has angels who can sing before Him, but He asks for my song. God can choose any singer from any era that ever lived, but He wants to hear His children’s song.

God’s request for me to come before His presence with singing reminds me of seeing a mother and father at a school performance as they await their five-year-old child’s performance. The parents lean forward as their child’s voice joins a chorus of voices. The parents whisper to each other, “I can hear her! Just listen to her angelic voice! It is beautiful.” Truthfully, the child’s voice is mediocre. Her voice struggles with the tune. Her pitch is off, and harmony is absent. Yet, her parents beam with joy. Their little darling is singing. The young girl looks out and sees the pleasure of her parents. Their pleasure in her causes her to sing with more enthusiasm as she realizes her song pleases her mother and father.

Reading this phrase indicates to me that God, like the five-year-old girl’s parents, must enjoy when we come to our place of worship with singing. You may despise the sound of your voice, but He does not. He loves to hear you sing. Like the five-year-old girl’s parents were pleased, our singing pleases our Father.

You say, “What song shall I sing?” The song choice is yours. Even now, choose a song you will sing to Him. Your quality of voice is not the point. Your song is what He wants to hear.

Go to His presence right now. Lift up a song to Him. Remember, He desires us to come into His presence with singing. Bring Him His gift today.

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: November 2024

Important Dates to Know

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 11 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans Day.
November 28-29 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.
December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations
December 5 – Those who normally receive funds on the 5th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
December 9 – All prayer letters the Office assists in mailing via Prayerletters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 10 – Those who normally receive funds on the 10th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
December 15 – Missionaries on an R-1 Visa will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
December 16 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or if you will need a deposit between Christmas and the end of the year. This allows us time to schedule your deposit around bank holidays and the office being closed.
December 16 – All prayer letters the Office assists in sending via Mailchimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 23-27 – The office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.
January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 13 – All Missionaries will receive they final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.

January 15 – Missionaries on an R-1 Visa will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2024. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
January 29 – Those who normally receive funds on the 29th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
February 5 – Those who normally receive funds on the 5th will receive their deposit(s) as usual.
April 14-17, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

Year-End Adjustments

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. This means that you receive your Support List and total income figures on or about the 25th, and we then deposit funds into your account(s) on the 29th, 5th, or 10th of the month after we have calculated estimated taxes, tithes, and other month end payments.

Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December, as we are required by law to process funds that were postmarked in December as if they were received in December. This means we cannot close the books for December until January 10th, and therefore we do not have final December figures until January 10th.

What does this mean for you?

    • Please contact our office by December 16 via the Signal app if you will need funds in your account before the end of the year. This helps our staff plan for all transfers before we close for the Christmas holiday.
    • The last day we can initiate a bank transfer in the year 2024 is December 19.
    • Final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 13th, 2025, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly support.
    • Please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. October reports are due December 1, November reports are due January 1, and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.

Year-End Prayer Letter Services

If the office assists in mailing your prayer letters through PrayerLetters.com, please send us your information by December 9th for your recipients to receive it before Christmas.

If we assist with your MailChimp emails only, please get us your information by December 16th in order for your recipients to receive them by Christmas.

Please be aware that letters received in our office after these dates may experience delays due to the holidays. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly, and contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!

You should have received an email regarding our special letterhead options for Christmas. If you would like to send your prayer letter with one of our letterheads, please email your request to [email protected].

Our Office will resume processing prayer letters on January 6, 2025.

Guidelines on Business Meals

US Missionaries are able to claim the cost of business meals related to ministry on their financial reports. This includes instances such as taking a pastor out to discuss your ministry or counseling with an individual. Please note that the IRS requires you to record the name of the individual(s) and the purpose of the meal in order to establish the ministry purpose of the expense. Please be sure to include this information when completing your Monthly Financial Report. See the examples below.

  • Business meal with Pastor Smith at McDonald’s to give a ministry update on… (i.e., deputation, furlough, church project, etc.).
  • Business meal with John and Jane Doe at Subway for discipleship training/counseling.

**Please note that “ministry meal” does not sufficiently describe the purpose.

Meal expenses related to travel may only be listed on the financial reports as a Meal Per-Diem. Missionaries may not claim as an expense the actual cost for meals or snacks purchased when away from home for ministry.

Business meals should not be claimed on the same day that you claim a Meal Per-Diem.

If you have any questions, please contact our office staff.

Uplift

The following recordings were recently published on uplift.wwntbm.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. We hope they will encourage your heart.

Episode 165: Family Fellowship Week – Georg & Opal Zimmer

Episode 166: Family Fellowship Week – Fred Daniel

Episode 167: Family Fellowship Week – Frank Camp

Episode 168: Family Fellowship Week – Tim Daniel

Episode 169: Family Fellowship Week – Allen Mercer

Episode 170: Family Fellowship Week – Ethan Prater

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Serve the Lord with Gladness

By John O’Malley

“Serve the Lord with gladness…” (Psalm 100:2).

I have been in homes where there were servants in abundance. I met servants who prepared the food and managed hospitality in the home. I met servants who cared for household tasks from cutting the grass, to washing the laundry, to managing the repairs of the automobiles of the owner.

In those encounters with servants, it was rare to see a servant overcome with gladness in their work. While some were glad for the income, others were satisfied with the lodging and meals. Others, I recall, loved the stability of work but did not like the position of serving. These same servants would be happy doing something else if the pay were better.

Most people in the western world would consider being a servant demeaning. To most, being a servant sounds menial. They find it degrading and unfulfilling. Some would think that serving others diminishes their self-worth.

The psalmist opens the second verse with a phrase that appears to be oxymoronic. He calls those who are commanded to make a joyful noise to now serve. He tells them to serve the Lord with gladness. How can one serve with gladness? It seems to go against the grain.

The follower of Christ is called to serve the Lord. He or she must serve the Lord with a specific disposition or mindset. The psalmist says they are to serve Him with gladness.

What does gladness in a servant look like? Gladness is the joy of a mother when she is with her child. It is the delight of a prisoner upon being freed. Gladness is the feeling associated with singing your favorite song before the Lord in public or private worship.

Proverbs 10:1 helps me learn the meaning of gladness. The writer of Proverbs presents a contrast using the parent-child relationship. The son that is wise makes his father glad; but if a son is foolish, he brings a heaviness to his mother. What a beautiful picture is given here for us! Gladness is the absence of heaviness of the spirit.

I would like you to consider yourself as a servant of the Lord. Ask yourself these questions: What is my spirit or attitude when I serve the Lord at my house? Do I display the maternal joy mentioned above as I serve the Lord by meeting the needs of my children and spouse? Do I have the liberty and delight of a prisoner released from their confines when I serve the Lord in my house? Does the song of my heart find its expression in signing? Do I have such gladness in my service? Have I lost delight in my service to the Lord and others—even among my own family?

I want you to extend your vision beyond your heart and home. This extended look is to see whom you could encourage to serve the Lord with gladness. There could be people in your place of worship that may have lost their gladness in serving. You may be able to help them find their gladness in service.

When your fellow servants of the church come into view, what do you see? How many are there who appear to be serving the Lord with gladness? When the servants of the Lord lose their gladness, they display an image opposite of this proposition in Scripture. We are to serve the Lord with gladness.

When you see those who teach in Sunday School, do you see gladness? When you see ushers and greeters, do you see gladness? When you see choir members and soloists, do you see gladness? When you see the church staff, do you see gladness? If the gladness can evaporate out of your life, you know it can do the same in the lives of others.

Now, I do not want you walking around the church with a gladness meter measuring the levels of gladness in every servant’s heart! What I want you to do is if you see a servant without gladness, pray for them. Then, serve alongside them and exhibit gladness. You will discover that gladness is contagious.

Dear Reader, are you a glad servant? Does gladness arise first when you are faced with a situation to serve? Does gladness show on the outside? Your lips may send one message, but does the attitude of your heart express the Bible’s message of gladness?

Today, take an opportunity to intentionally serve the Lord with gladness. Find someone in your home, at work, or in church on whom you can practice serving the Lord with gladness.

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: October 2024

Important Dates to Know

October 1 – August Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

October 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

October 14 – Most US banks will be closed for Columbus Day.

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 11 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans Day.

November 28-29 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

December 16 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 23-27 – The office will be closed in celebration of Christmas. The office will reopen on December 30th.

April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

Family Fellowship Week

We are beginning preparations for Family Fellowship Week 2025, which will once again be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC. Our missions family greatly enjoys this quiet retreat location, which allows all services, lodging, meals, and activities to take place in one place.

Our next meeting will be held April 14-18, 2025. Please make plans to join us! Please watch your email for registration information in the coming days. Final reservations need to be communicated to the office by February 1, 2025.

This is a time to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Meals, lodging, and child care are provided. Attendees are expected to stay the entire week, beginning Monday afternoon and ending after the Thursday evening service. (Lodging Thursday night and breakfast Friday morning are provided, but guests are welcome to leave Thursday evening if they wish.) There will be preaching and teaching sessions in the morning and evening, with free time in the afternoons. The week provides opportunities to rub shoulders with fellow servants from around the world in all stages of ministry. Please plan to join us.

Please keep in mind that as a missionary of WWNTBM, you agreed to attend Family Fellowship Week every four years. You and your family are expected to stay for the entirety of the meeting. Exceptions will be granted by Danny Whetstone and John O’Malley.


Financial Report Reminder

As we enter the last quarter of the year, thoughts turn to year-end tax procedures. Many people begin thinking of last-minute deductions that will affect them. If you anticipate making large ministry purchases and you desire the purchase to be a deduction in the year 2024, you may wish to make the purchase by the end of November. Because of the way our 1099s are calculated, December expenses are “reimbursed” out of January income, so the tax benefit on your 1099 would actually be considered a 2025 reimbursement. Regardless of when the purchase is made, you will still receive a tax benefit. However, we wanted you to be aware of these deadlines as you plan your expenses over the next few months.

New Meal Allowance Rates

The US Government issued updated Meal Allowance rates effective October 2024-September 2025. The standard daily rate within the Continental US has increased from $59 to $68. Please note that if you would like to take advantage of this on your October, November, and December financial reports, you should follow the instructions on the Mileage tab. You can adjust the report by following the steps listed for utilizing international meal allowance rates. If you have a question, please contact us at [email protected]. These new rates will be included as part of the 2025 Financial Report template, which will be available in mid-February 2025.

Financial Couriers

Missionaries occasionally have situations where they request that we send funds through a courier, rather than through normal banking channels. Often this is used when it is beneficial to have US cash brought into a country. We have established the following fiduciary guidelines to ensure full transparency and accountability whenever we distribute funds to an individual who is not a World Wide missionary. If you have questions about this process, please contact our office.

    • If the courier is a US Citizen, they must provide:
      1. A W-9 form for our records
      2. A government-issued photo ID, preferably a passport, that shows their citizenship status
      3. An ACH Credit form with their banking information
    • If the courier is a Non-US Citizen, they must provide:
      1. A W-8BEN form for our records
      2. A government-issued photo ID, preferably a passport, that shows their citizenship and visa status
      3. An ACH Credit form with their banking information

Additional Notes:
If funds will pass through multiple individuals before they reach the missionary, World Wide will need a list of each individual who will handle the funds, so that we can provide the courier with a chain of custody receipt. This receipt should be signed by each individual along the route. The missionary will then return the receipt to World Wide once funds are received.

The Missionary should confirm any restrictions for someone carrying cash into their country. Each country has its own laws about how much cash can be brought in, and whether it needs to be declared to customs officials.
Groups traveling together as they leave the US are limited to carrying a combined total of $10,000 without declaring it for customs purposes. There is no impact to them for declaring it. However, failure to declare funds in excess of $10,000 can result in penalties.

Faith Promise Cards

Thanks to a fellow missionary, our Faith Promise Cards are now available to download in Chinese, French, and Spanish.

The office has three different designs of English Faith Promise cards as well as two designs of Children’s Faith Promise Cards available for download or order. All Faith Promise Cards are free! Donations to help cover the cost of printing and shipping are accepted.

Find these and other helpful resources for your missions conference at helpmymissionsconference.com.

Absentee Voting

In order to vote in the November 2024 elections, all overseas U.S. citizens need to have completed a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) in 2024.  Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, you must complete an FPCA each year to participate in elections as an overseas absentee voter.  Click here for more information about registering to vote.

Uplift

The following recordings were recently published on uplift.wwntbm.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. We hope they will encourage your heart.

Episode 163: Family Fellowship Week – Chad Estep

Episode 164: Family Fellowship Week – Mike West

Episode 165: Family Fellowship Week – Georg & Opal Zimmer

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Make a Joyful Noise

By John O’Malley

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” (Psalm 100:1).

Have you ever been to a large stadium to watch a sporting event? My son and I were given tickets to an NFL game. The crowd that gathered to watch the game numbered over 65,000 people. People from all over the country assembled. The nation watched by television that Monday night. Many wanted to see this battle of the quarterbacks. The crowd could not be silent; everybody had something to say. The noise in that stadium was, at times, deafening.

The psalmist in our text verse today speaks of all the lands of the earth making a joyful noise. Imagine this planet is a stadium. In each section of the stadium, nations are assigned seats. Now, over the loudspeakers, a call is issued for each nation on earth to proclaim its joy for the Lord of Glory. Like in the Olympics, the roll call of nations would begin—each nation longing for the moment when their nation’s name is called. What exuberance! What exaltation! What enthusiasm!

In the Olympics, each participating country sends a delegation to represent them. Have you seen the nations that only send a single athlete? The cheers for that single athlete cannot compare to a nation that sent dozens of athletes to participate. Similarly, in our imagined stadium, the cries from some nations are not as loud as others of the same size. Why not? Why are some nations louder than others? Why is it that there are so few to make a joyful noise from some countries?

Oh, I say, my friend, it is we, the believers, who should have gone to the nations and told them of our great Saviour! We should have thought of our command and commission more than the comforts and conveniences of this life. The command will be issued one day, my friend—a command for all the lands of the earth to bow their knees. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

The celebration of the Saviour from all nations will be splendid. Oh, may we take the challenge from Scripture and go to the people of the world and tell them of His great love. Oh, let us commit once again to the task of getting the gospel to every creature!

Today, purpose in your heart that in the next twenty-four hours, you will share the gospel’s message with someone. Your witness may be their last opportunity to hear. Will you do this?

John O’Malley

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