Month: April 2018

Posted on

2018 Graduates

Several young people in our missions family are graduating this spring. Please be in prayer for them as they make transitions in their lives and seek the Lord’s will concerning future plans.

Beryl David has completed her 12th year of school and is seeking the Lord’s will regarding future studies. Beryl is the daughter of Charles and Abigail David, who serve in India.

Colton Lee will graduate from Ambassador Baptist College with a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Evangelism degree. He will travel on a short-term trip to Madagascar in May, and then begin work as the staff evangelist for Camp Joy in Wisconsin.

Deborah Howell will graduate from high school with the Abeka Homeschool graduates at Pensacola Christian Academy. She will enroll at Pensacola Christian College this fall to study Computer Science and Software Engineering. Deborah is the daughter of Lewis and Kim Howell, who minister in New Zealand.

Garrett Conley will graduate from Ambassador Baptist College with both a Graduate of Theology and a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in English Bible Studies degree. He will travel on deputation this summer and will leave for Ireland later this fall.

Hannah Quinlan will graduate from high school this spring. She will work for a year while she saves money to attend Pensacola Christian College, where she plans to study nursing. Hannah is the daughter of Sean and Tammy Quinlan, who minister in Guam.

John Mark Zimmer will graduate from Bob Jones Academy this spring. He plans to study Computer Science at Bob Jones University this fall. John Mark is the son of Mark and Diane Zimmer, who serve in Yap.

Stephen Grove will graduate from Bob Jones University in May with a degree in International Studies. He will be taking a missions trip to Germany this spring. Please pray that the Lord will use this trip to confirm His plans for the future. Stephen is the son of Michael and Nancy Grove, who serve in New Zealand.

Stuart Renfrow will be graduating from high school this spring. He plans to enroll in the diesel mechanic program at Johnston Community College this fall. Stuart is the son of Mike and Priscilla Renfrow. Bro. Renfrow pastors the Trinity Baptist Church in Wilson, NC, and serves on our Board of Reference.

Whitney Bourdess has finished high school. His family will travel to SC for a graduation ceremony on May 19, then he will return to serve with his parents until the Lord gives other direction for the future. Whitney is the son of Leslie and Amy Bourdess, who minister in Alaska.

Posted on

Featured Article: God, Deal More In Me Than Through Me!

By Dr. Eric Franks

I cannot speak to others, unless God speaks to me.
I cannot teach others, unless I myself am taught of God.
I cannot lead others into holiness, until holiness becomes me.
I cannot make others love the Word, until His Word is my daily bread.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot love others until I realize God’s love to me.
I cannot make others love their enemies, until enmity ceases in me.
I cannot make others to forgive until a vessel of mercy I first trust.
I cannot make others reverent with Christ, until the alabaster has broken on me.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot make others to sacrifice, until I myself become a sacrifice.
I cannot help those that suffer until I myself suffer for Christ.
I cannot ask others to give, until with me is left nothing more to give.
I cannot make others unselfish, until I myself am poured out like Christ.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot make other soldiers of Christ until scars of battle I reflect.
I cannot make others give up their treasures, until my only treasure is Christ.
I cannot make others cease from self, until I cease from my own conceit.
I cannot make others labour, until I am faint yet pursuing for Christ.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot make others meek, until my own self-will I desert.
I cannot make others thankful, until my own unworthiness I confess.
I cannot make others humble, until to God’s sovereignty I first submit.
I cannot induce true values in others, until eternal values I possess.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot make others think Scripture-sense until I cease from my own common sense.
I cannot make others spiritual, until in me, fruits of the Spirit ripen.
I cannot make others trustworthy, until my own suspicions I forsake.
I cannot make others sing with praise, until I myself sing out with broken heart.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot break others, until I myself am broken by God.
I cannot help shipwrecked ones, until I myself on Christ am shipwrecked.
I cannot get others to repent until I myself have changed my mind.
I cannot make others dead to the world, until I myself am from this world freed.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

I cannot make others Christ-like unless I myself am like Christ.
I cannot make others close to Christ until my only love is Christ.
I cannot make others conscious of Christ until I myself consciously reflect Christ.
I cannot make others devoted to Christ until my passion is only Christ.
O God, deal more in me than through me!

Posted on

Prayer & Dates: May 2018

May Prayer/Praises and Special Dates

Click the link above to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for May. 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.

Posted on

From Our President: May 2018

Danny Whetstone

In recent days, I have been encouraged to see teenagers who are showing a real interest in the Lord’s work. This is a good thing even if the Lord does not call them to a full-time ministry. Perhaps they will maintain that interest as they assume the responsibilities in their local church.

Let’s be reminded that these teens are among those that read our prayer letters when they are posted. If you haven’t been writing with this in mind, please consider injecting something from time to time that exposes your interest in seeing others serving in your part of the world. Around the world, there are great needs, and there is no one more qualified to share those needs than you. Thank you for being a wonderful example for others to learn from in the service of the King.

We are expecting a great meeting with Pastor Goodman and the Faith Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina, next month. Family Fellowship Week is my favorite meeting to go to every year. Some of you have not been to the meeting for a number of years. Please look ahead and make plans to get together with us in the not-to-distant future. Brother O’Malley always puts together a theme and sessions that speak to the heart. It is always the third Monday of June and goes through Thursday night. There are sessions in the morning, time off in the afternoon, and a service in the evening. By the way, we eat too!

Pray for those who are preparing to speak at Family Week. We want the morning sessions and the night services to be an encouragement to continue faithfully in the work of our Saviour.

Thank you again for another month of faithful service to the Lord. We pray that the Lord will bless you abundantly with fruit that will remain. If there is anything that we can do to help you, your ministry, or your family please do not hesitate to bring it to our attention.

In His Service,
Danny A. Whetstone

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. Whetstone here to let him know.

Posted on

From the Memo Board: May 2018

Dates to Know

May 28 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Memorial Day.

May 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

June 1 – April financial reports will be due.

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week in Shelby, NC.

July 1 – May financial reports will be due.

July 4 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.

July 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

August 1 – June financial reports will be due.

August 13 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before August 31st.

August 20-24 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

August 31 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

September 1 – July financial reports will be due.

September 3 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Labor Day.

Summer Support

Bank holidays and the timing of weekends this summer in relation to when we close the books may affect the days you receive your support. Please make a note of the adjusted pay dates for May, July, and August listed above, and contact us in advance if you have special needs for early deposits during those months.

Most of our staff will be traveling to Germany for the Encouragement Conference in August. We are trying to plan ahead to reduce interruptions in our service to you during this time. Please message us via Signal by August 13 if you would like funds in your accounts before August 31. Contacting us by August 13 will enable us to schedule your funds before we leave. Upon our return, we will need time to handle the mail that will arrive during our absence. Therefore, final August support distributions will be made on August 31.

Family Fellowship Week

This year’s Family Week will be hosted by Pastor Barry Goodman and the Faith Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina. Family Week will begin with registration at 4:30 p.m. Monday evening, followed by a dinner in the fellowship building of the church at 5:30 p.m. The evening service will immediately follow. Guests will be housed at the American Inn in Boiling Springs, which is approximately 15 minutes from the church.

Each missionary is invited to bring their ministry display to set up in the gymnasium area. Church members, visitors, and other missionaries will have time to visit the displays throughout the week. Children’s activities for the week will include skating, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf, a playland, and a ropes course. Please watch your email for more details as the week approaches.

New Missionary

Garrett Conley is the newest missionary to join the World Wide family. He is a member of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, with Pastor Jim Davidson. Brother Conley will graduate from Ambassador Baptist College this spring. He has traveled for three years with Neighborhood Bible Time, including spending two summers in Ireland. He plans to go to Ireland later this year, where he will complete a one-year internship with Pastor Bob Zemeski while he seeks the Lord’s will for future ministry. Pray for him as he travels on deputation this summer.

New Baby

Grace Elizabeth Fry was born on April 24th. She was 20 inches long and weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces. Grace is the first child of Nathan and Hannah Fry. The Frys have a ministry called Lens of the Harvest, through which they assist missionaries and churches with photography and presentation needs.

Uplift Meetings

Have you joined us for one of our Uplift meetings? We host a video conference call every Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time. In addition, we host bi-monthly meetings that alternate between Tuesday mornings and Tuesday evenings to give those in other time zones an opportunity to participate.

Each meeting features a time of prayer for those in our missions family. Most feature a board member or other guest who shares devotional thoughts to challenge and encourage you. Staff members are available to give announcements and answer office-related questions. Sessions are recorded and published in a podcast for those unable to attend the live meetings. Once a month we also have unrecorded meetings to provide a forum where you can openly discuss ministry needs with John O’Malley and Jeremy Lockhart.

Upcoming Tuesday meeting times will be as follows. All times listed are Eastern Time.

  • Tuesday, May 8 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, May 22 at 9:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 12 at 9:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m.

If you have not yet joined, we encourage you to try us out.

Posted on

The Homegoing of Eric Franks

In Memory of Dr. Eric Franks
October 27, 1939-April 11, 2018

Eric (Bobby) Wilfred Franks was born in southern India on October 27, 1939. Although he lost his father at a young age, his mother saw to it that he and his siblings received a good education. He attended the National College in Bombay and studied to pursue a career as a medical doctor. On April 15, 1960, at the age of 20, he was saved under the ministry of a single lady missionary. Within a few months, the Lord called him into a life of ministry. As he described it, “The Lord stole my heart in 1960 and my life changed for the better.”

He married Molly Dorcas Suttle on May 2, 1964. That same year he began pastoring the Chembar Baptist Church, the first of many he would shepherd through the years. He began teaching at the Biblical Baptist Theological College and Seminary in 1970, where he eventually became Dean of Academics. The Franks were blessed with six children: Leena (and Francis) Newton; Leah (and Richard) Jacobs; Abigail (and Charles) David; Emma (and Adrian) Hendricks; Lemuel Franks; and Stephen (and Geena) Franks (not pictured).

As his ministry grew, so did his passion for education. In 1977, he left his family and went to California to continue his studies at the San Francisco Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1980. During this time the Lord gave him a burden to begin extensive church planting throughout India.

In 1986 the Franks joined WWNTBM. They based their deputation out of Trinity Baptist Church in Wilson, NC, which was pastored by one of our founding board members, Robert Winstead. Herb and Ruby Kersey became close friends during this time and assisted them with their travels.

In 1987 he began the Grace Baptist Trust, along with the Calvary Baptist Bible College and Seminary. In the following years he also founded the Grace Baptist School for the Underprivileged, Hearing Impaired, and Physically Handicapped. He also started several other churches, among them the Heritage Baptist Church, Kuramberi Baptist Church, the Jawadhi Hills ministry, the Tiruapttur Baptist Church, and the Whitefield Baptist Church. Many students have graduated from their programs and started other ministries throughout India.

Dr. Franks lived a life of service to others. He knew that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” and he preferred to use his resources to make others comfortable, often at the expense of his own comfort. Dr. Franks has been quoted as saying, “When God’s got a great work to do, he looks for a man, and often his family. God’s methods are men!” This truth has been evidenced in his own family, and his legacy is continuing in future generations as his children and grandchildren are active in ministry.

When Parkinson’s Disease began to slow his physical body in 2008, Dr. Franks did not allow it to distract from the work that the Lord still had for him to do. He faithfully continued to travel, preaching and teaching the gospel for ten more years, until the week of his death. On April 11, 2018, he laid down to cease from his labors on earth and to wake in the presence of his Lord and Savior.