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The Power of Church Discipline: A Devotional Excerpt from Unshaken

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. As you work through these devotionals, my prayer is that you will grow stronger, stand firmer, and live bolder for Christ. No matter what comes, you can remain unshaken because your foundation is in Him. – John O’Malley

Below is an excerpt from Bro. John O’Malley’s book, Unshaken: Strengthening Your Faith. If you would like to read the book in its entirety, please click here.

1 Corinthians 5:4-7

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

Learn About It

Paul instructs the Corinthian church on the necessity of church discipline. The church was tolerating unrepentant sin in their midst instead of addressing it. Paul rebukes them for being proud rather than sorrowful over this sin.

He tells them to “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” This means removing the unrepentant person from church fellowship so they can experience the consequences of their sin. The goal is not punishment, but restoration—that the person might turn back to Christ and be saved in the end.

Paul uses leaven (yeast) as a metaphor for sin. Just as a little yeast spreads through an entire lump of dough, sin left unchecked will spread and corrupt the entire church. His command is clear: “Purge out therefore the old leaven”—remove the influence of sin so that the church remains pure.

Apply It to Me

Church discipline is often misunderstood or neglected today. Some believe confronting sin is harsh, while others ignore sin to avoid conflict. But biblical discipline is about love and restoration, not judgment.

• Do I tolerate sin in my own life that I should confess and forsake?
• Do I encourage holiness in my church, or do I ignore sin to keep peace?
• Am I willing to lovingly hold others accountable, or do I stay silent out of fear?

Paul’s warning reminds us that sin spreads if it is not dealt with. The goal of church discipline is to protect the body of Christ and bring the sinner to repentance.

Talk to God About It

Lord, help me to take holiness seriously in my own life and in my church. Give me wisdom to address sin with truth and love, seeking restoration rather than condemnation. Help me to be accountable and to encourage others to walk in righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

Examine your heart for any unconfessed sin that may be affecting your walk with Christ. Repent and take a step toward accountability. If you see a fellow believer struggling, pray for them and encourage them to seek restoration.

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 2026

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 25 – 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 12-15, 2027 – Family Fellowship Week in Sophia, NC.

Maternity Leave

Mrs. Bekah Tolley, our Office Assistant, is currently on maternity leave following the arrival of her new baby girl, Ellie. Please pray for Bekah, her husband Brandon, and their sons Davey and Andy as they welcome and adjust to this new addition to their family. A photo of Ellie can be found in the  “New Babies!” section.

 

 

Please continue submitting prayer letters to [email protected]. Prayer letters will be processed as usual. During Bekah’s maternity leave, Makenzie Case (Staff Support) will be covering prayer letters.

The Edge Christian Camp and Edge2Go International

For the last several years, we have been blessed to have 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, 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. They have partnered with Tim and Stephanie Germano, our missionaries to the Dominican Republic, and David and Millie Preston, our missionaries to Utah.

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 2027

Now is the time to begin planning to attend Family Fellowship Week 2027! The conference will be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC, from April 12-15, 2027. The week begins on Monday afternoon and ends with Thursday evening service. Lodging for Thursday evening and breakfast on Friday morning are provided. 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.

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

The Office Work

During Family Fellowship Week, the amount of work the office accomplishes was discussed in the sessions. We thought you may enjoy reading some statistics!

In 2025, the office processed over 7.3 Million dollars. The office handled over 48,000 transactions in processing funds, meaning the amount of transactions it took to distribute funds to the designated missionaries on each donation. This does not include the bank transactions for missionaries, paperwork completed, emails to missionaries and churches, or phone calls sent or received. We serve over 11,000 donors (including churches, individuals, and businesses) and send out an average of 2,000 receipts for donations each month.

The Lord has blessed our office to serve you. During our weekly staff meetings, we review our purpose statement: “We serve God’s Great Commission Partners so they can focus on giving and going into all the world.” The Great Commission Partners are the Missionaries, Sending Pastors and Churches, and Donors. Without each of our partners, the office would have no purpose. It is our privilege to serve the Lord with you.

New Babies!

Rosanna Barbara Risinger was born on April 10, 2026. She is the third child of Matthew and Anna Risinger, and joins siblings Abraham (2) and Janica (1). The Risingers are missionaries to Cameroon.

 

 

 

Eleanor (Ellie) Dorothy Tolley was born on April 30, 2026. Ellie is the daughter of our Office Assistant, Rebekah Tolley, and her husband, Brandon. She joins older brothers Davey (4) and Andy (2).

New Executive Board Members!

Thomas Engle has been appointed to the Executive Board. Bro. Engle has served on our Board of Reference since 2024. He has pastored Victory Baptist Church in Darlington, SC, since 2023. Prior to pastoring, he served as an evangelist for 12 years. He and his wife Sarah have three children: TJ, Elise, and Vance.

 

Scott L’Heureux has been appointed to the Executive Board. He has served as the pastor of Freedom Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, since 2000. He and his wife, Rebecca, have four adult children, two grandchildren, and are expecting another grandchild in July.

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 log in 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: April 2026

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 2025 taxes without an extension.
April 13-17, 2026 – Family Fellowship Week in Sophia, NC. Office will be closed.
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.

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 13, 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!

Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17, for Family Fellowship Week. We will reopen on Monday, April 20.

Should you have an emergency during this time, you may contact Kim O’Malley at 704-974-1008 or Jeremy Lockhart at 706-617-3042.

Tax Filing Information

The deadline this year to file US taxes for most taxpayers is Wednesday, 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.

Doctrinal Agreement

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2026-2027 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.

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 2026. 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).

New Baby!

Loriel Gracelyn Smothers was born on March 19, 2026. She is the third child of Joel and Noel Smothers, and joins brothers Gabriel (7) and Samuel (3). The Smothers are missionaries to Brazil.

 

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 log in 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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Handling Disputes with a Biblical Mindset: A Devotional Excerpt from Unshaken

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. As you work through these devotionals, my prayer is that you will grow stronger, stand firmer, and live bolder for Christ. No matter what comes, you can remain unshaken because your foundation is in Him. – John O’Malley

Below is an excerpt from Bro. John O’Malley’s book, Unshaken: Strengthening Your Faith. If you would like to read the book in its entirety, please click here.

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”

Learn About It

Paul confronts the Corinthians for taking their disputes to secular courts rather than handling them within the church. Instead of resolving conflicts as brothers in Christ, they were dragging each other before unbelieving judges, harming their testimony.

Paul reminds them that believers will one day judge the world and even judge angels (v.3). If they are entrusted with such responsibilities in eternity, why are they unable to handle minor disputes now?

The core issue is not legal matters, but a failure to practice grace, forgiveness, and wisdom. Paul goes so far as to say, “Why do ye not rather take wrong?” In other words, it would be better to suffer personal loss than to destroy Christian unity by acting like the world.

The church should be a place where believers seek peace and reconciliation, not a battleground where selfishness and pride take over. When Christians air their grievances publicly, they damage the church’s witness and fail to reflect Christ’s humility.

Apply It to Me

Conflict is inevitable, but how we handle it reveals our spiritual maturity. The world teaches us to fight for our rights, but Christ calls us to seek peace and show grace.

• Do I quickly resort to retaliation or legal action, or do I seek biblical reconciliation first?
• Am I more concerned with winning an argument than with preserving unity?
• Do I let pride and anger drive my responses, or do I practice forgiveness and wisdom?

Handling disputes with a biblical mindset does not mean we ignore injustice, but it does mean we prioritize love, grace, and the testimony of Christ over personal gain.

Talk to God About It

Lord, teach me to handle conflict in a way that honors You. Help me to seek reconciliation rather than revenge, to show grace rather than demand my rights. Give me wisdom to resolve disputes in a Christlike manner, putting unity and testimony above personal pride. Let me be an example of humility and love in my relationships. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

If you have a conflict with a fellow believer, take the first step toward reconciliation today. Whether through prayer, a conversation, or an act of kindness, seek to restore the relationship in a way that honors Christ.

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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What Happens When the Church Tolerates Sin?: A Devotional Excerpt from Unshaken

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. As you work through these devotionals, my prayer is that you will grow stronger, stand firmer, and live bolder for Christ. No matter what comes, you can remain unshaken because your foundation is in Him. – John O’Malley

Below is an excerpt from Bro. John O’Malley’s book, Unshaken: Strengthening Your Faith. If you would like to read the book in its entirety, please click here.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Learn About It

Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for tolerating open sin within their congregation. A man was involved in an immoral relationship with his stepmother—a sin that even the pagan Gentiles found shocking. Yet, instead of dealing with the issue, the church was “puffed up”—arrogantly ignoring the sin rather than mourning over it.

Paul makes it clear that sin left unaddressed will corrupt the entire church. He commands them to remove the man from their fellowship, not out of cruelty, but out of love for his soul. The phrase “deliver such an one unto Satan” means allowing the man to face the consequences of his sin outside the protection of the church, with the hope that he would repent and be restored.

This passage reminds us that sin in the church is never just a personal matter—it affects the whole body of believers. If tolerated, it spreads like yeast in dough, corrupting others and damaging the church’s testimony.

Apply It to Me

Today, many churches struggle with compromising on sin for the sake of avoiding conflict or appearing “loving.” But true love confronts sin with truth and grace, seeking repentance and restoration.
• Do I excuse or overlook sin rather than addressing it biblically?
• Am I more concerned with appearing tolerant than with upholding holiness?
• Do I hold myself accountable to living righteously, or do I justify my own compromises?

Paul’s warning is clear: tolerating sin weakens the church. We must hold each other accountable in love, seeking to restore those who fall, while maintaining holiness before God.

Talk to God About It

Lord, help me to take sin seriously. Give me the courage to address it in my own life and to lovingly encourage holiness in my church. Keep me from becoming indifferent to unrighteousness. Let me balance truth with grace, always seeking restoration rather than condemnation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

Examine your own heart for any sin you have ignored or justified. Confess it before God and take steps toward repentance. If someone in your church is struggling, pray for them and, if appropriate, encourage them toward restoration in Christ.

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 2026

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 2025 taxes without an extension.
April 13-17, 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.

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 2025, 69% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 23.10%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

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 13, 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!

World Wide Logo

In 2022, the World Wide office adopted a new logo. This logo can be used for your prayer letters, prayer cards, displays, and videos. We can also give you the embroidery file if you would like to get any attire embroidered.

These files are available in Secure Cloud in the file WW Logo for Prayer Cards and Presentations.

Tax Filing Information

The deadline this year to file US taxes for most taxpayers is Wednesday, 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.

Selah International Counseling Ministries

Selah International Counseling Ministries exists to provide compassionate, Christ-centered counseling for those serving the Lord on the Mission field or in Ministry.

One of Selah’s ministries is personal counseling and care for ministry leaders. Ministry often requires pouring into others continuously. Selah is there to do the same – they want to pour into you and your family. Counseling services are available in person and virtually, in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for individuals and families serving in diverse locations.

Selah International Counseling Ministries also specializes in missionary debriefing and soul care for the entire family. Transitioning between cultures, returning from the mission field, or navigating long-term service can bring emotional and spiritual strain. Selah provides an environment for missionaries and their loved ones to process experiences, restore emotional health, and reconnect as a family.

Selah’s counseling services address a wide range of topics, including:

      • Grief and emotional challenges
      • Relationship and family dynamics
      • Behavioral issues
      • Crisis intervention and transitional support

In addition to counseling, Selah offers retreats designed specifically for those in ministry. These include pastoral retreats and workshops for missionaries and ministry leaders.

Selah International Counseling Ministries also hosts conferences designed to encourage those in ministry. Two of the conferences they offer are:

Selah Refresh – a two-night conference in November held at the Wilds with a cost of $300 per person, it is created specifically for ministry leaders and missionaries to step away from daily responsibilities.

Selah Soul Care Conferences – Whether about marriage, parenting, teens, or soul care in the church, they would love to come and serve your church in this way.

New Baby!

Lottie Jean Lee was born on February 11, 2026. Lottie is the third child of Colton and Melodie Lee, our missionaries to Solomon Islands, and joins siblings Douglas (5) and George (2).

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 log in 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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Carnality vs. Spiritual Maturity: A Devotional Excerpt from Unshaken

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. As you work through these devotionals, my prayer is that you will grow stronger, stand firmer, and live bolder for Christ. No matter what comes, you can remain unshaken because your foundation is in Him. – John O’Malley

Below is an excerpt from Bro. John O’Malley’s book, Unshaken: Strengthening Your Faith. If you would like to read the book in its entirety, please click here.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

Learn About It

Paul addresses the Corinthians with a rebuke—they are not growing in spiritual maturity. Though they had been Christians for some time, they were still acting like spiritual infants. He describes them as carnal, meaning they were living according to their fleshly desires rather than walking in the Spirit.

Paul explains that he had to give them milk instead of meat—he had to teach them the basics of faith because they were not ready for deeper spiritual truths. The evidence of their spiritual immaturity was clear: they were filled with envy, strife, and division. Instead of growing in love, unity, and selflessness, they were acting just like the unsaved world.

Carnality is a serious issue. A believer may be saved but still live in a way that reflects worldly attitudes rather than the character of Christ. Paul’s warning is clear—if we are not growing spiritually, we will remain weak and immature, unable to handle the deeper things of God.

Apply It to Me

Paul’s words challenge us to examine our own spiritual maturity. Just because we have been Christians for many years does not mean we are spiritually mature.
•Am I growing in spiritual maturity, or do I still struggle with envy, strife, and division?
•Do I crave spiritual nourishment from God’s Word, or am I content with just the basics?
•Are my actions more like those of the world, or do I reflect the character of Christ?

Spiritual maturity requires intentional effort—feeding on God’s Word, seeking wisdom, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts. The goal is to move beyond spiritual infancy and grow into Christlikeness.

Talk to God about It

Lord, I don’t want to remain spiritually immature. Help me to hunger for Your Word, to put away childish attitudes, and to walk in the Spirit. Show me where I have been carnal in my thinking or actions, and help me to grow in faith, love, and wisdom. Teach me to desire the deeper things of Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

Identify one step of spiritual growth you need to take this week. It could be memorizing Scripture, spending more time in prayer, or surrendering an area of your life where you’ve been spiritually immature. Make a commitment to take that step 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: February 2026

Important Dates to Know

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2025 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
February 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.
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 13-17, 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.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2026 has been uploaded to SecureCloud. If you need a template with extra travel logs, please let the office know and we can provide you with one.

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 2025, 69% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 23.10%. 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 $0.725 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new 2026 Excel template.

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.

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 13, 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 emailing Hannah Brenneman. Your final plans regarding attendance for you and any guests need to be communicated to our office by February 1, 2026. 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!

New Missionary!

We are pleased to welcome Matthew and Anna Risinger to the World Wide family. The Risingers are members of the Fellowship Baptist Church of South Bend in South Bend, IN, under Pastor Stephen Wesco. They plan to serve the Lord in Cameroon. They have two children, Abraham and Janica, and a baby due in April.

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 log in 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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Dealing with Division in the Church: A Devotional Excerpt from Unshaken

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. As you work through these devotionals, my prayer is that you will grow stronger, stand firmer, and live bolder for Christ. No matter what comes, you can remain unshaken because your foundation is in Him. – John O’Malley

Below is an excerpt from Bro. John O’Malley’s book, Unshaken: Strengthening Your Faith. If you would like to read the book in its entirety, please click here.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”

Learn About It

Paul’s words to the Corinthians reveal a major issue in their church—division and factionalism. The believers were separating into groups based on who had taught them the gospel. Some were claiming loyalty to Paul, others to Apollos, some to Peter (Cephas), and another group even claimed Christ in an exclusive manner. This division was not doctrinal—all these men preached the same Christ. The problem was that people were letting personal preference and pride cause division in the church.

Paul makes a heartfelt plea in the name of Jesus that they should be unified in mind and judgment. This does not mean they must agree on every minor issue, but that they should have a shared purpose—Christ and His gospel.

The rhetorical questions in verse 13 are powerful: “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Paul redirects their focus to who truly matters—Jesus Christ. No human leader, no matter how gifted, should take the place of Christ as the central focus of the church.

Apply It to Me

Divisions in the church are still common today. While we may not claim allegiance to Paul or Apollos, we often let denominations, leadership styles, worship preferences, or minor doctrinal differences divide us.
• Do I allow personal preferences to create barriers between me and other believers?
• Am I more loyal to a pastor, a ministry style, or a church tradition than to Christ Himself?
• Do I seek unity in my church, or do I contribute to division by gossiping, criticizing, or refusing to work with others?

Unity in the church does not mean compromising truth, but it does mean keeping Christ at the center. Division comes when we focus on ourselves, our opinions, or our preferences more than on Jesus.

Talk to God About It

Heavenly Father, I desire to be a peacemaker in Your church. Forgive me for times when I have allowed my preferences, pride, or opinions to create division. Help me to seek unity, to build others up, and to keep my focus on Jesus, the true foundation of my faith. Teach me to encourage peace and harmony while remaining firm in Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

This week, take a step toward church unity. Reach out to someone with whom you have had disagreements or tensions and seek to encourage them in Christ. Pray for your church to remain focused on Jesus rather than personal differences.

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 2026

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 13 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support.
January 15 – 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 2025. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2025 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.
February 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.
February 15 – The new 2026 MFR Template for US Missionaries will be available.
April 13-17, 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.

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.

    • Final transfers of December funds (after all estimated taxes and tithes have been calculated) will be made for January 15th, 2026, 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!

December Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your December financial reports are submitted on time.

December reports are due January 15th along with any outstanding paperwork from 2025.

If it is possible for you to submit your report before the due date, that would greatly assist our staff.

Please note that 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.

2025 Tax Refund Checks

As of September 30, 2025, the IRS will no longer issue paper checks for all Federal tax refunds. Please provide your tax preparer with your bank account information so you can receive your 2025 tax refund via direct deposit.

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.

Housing Allowances for 2026

Housing allowances previously in place automatically roll over to the new year. Missionaries who are ordained are eligible to have a housing allowance in place, which can provide certain tax benefits. If you did not have a housing allowance in 2025 and would like to have one for 2026, or if you have questions regarding this, please contact our office.

New Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2026 will be available on February 15. This will give us time to review the need for any possible updates. January financial reports 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 2025 template.

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 log in 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.