Month: November 2020

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The Homegoing of Ruth Ann Arthurs

Ruth Ann Arthurs

September 16, 1937 – November 27, 2020

Ruth Ann Williams Arthurs was born in Portsmouth, OH on September 16, 1937.  She was the daughter of Edward and Annabelle Young Williams. While attending Bob Jones University she met Dave Arthurs, and they were married on September 1, 1962.

The Arthurs served for some time with TransWorld Radio Ministries. They ministered on Bonaire, one of the Netherlands Antilles islands in the Caribbean; on the island of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean; and in the country of Swaziland, in southern Africa, before spending several years working in a radio ministry on the island of Guam. The Arthurs joined WWNTBM in October of 1982, and they served for several years in the World Wide Office in New Bern, NC.

In December of 1987, the Lord led them to Pohnpei, where they began working with the Calvary Baptist Church and School. In addition to beginning the Calvary Radio Station on Pohnpei, they were used of the Lord to help start radio stations on the islands of Chuuk, Majuro, and Yap, as well as in Africa.

Ruth Ann continued the radio station ministry after the passing of her husband in 2013 until she was able to turn it over to the Eibens in 2015.  Although she retired from active service at that time, she remained a vital source of encouragement, counsel, and support for the ministries in Pohnpei.  She was an active member of Bethel Calvary Baptist Church in Taylors, SC.

On Friday, November 27, Ruth Ann left behind her robe of flesh and entered the presence of her Savior, where she was reunited with her husband.  She is survived by her daughter, Denise Arthurs of Taylors, SC; and her sister, Judy Bolin of Columbus, OH.

Plans are being made for a memorial service, to be held in South Carolina at a future date.  We will keep the World Wide family informed of details as they are made available.  Condolences may be sent to Denise Arthurs, 2 Bond Street, Taylors, SC 29687, or by email to [email protected].

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. . . . Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

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From the Memo Board: December 2020

Dates to Know

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

December 13 – All prayer letters mailed through prayerletters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 17 – 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 20 – All prayer letters submitted solely through MailChimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them by the end of the year.

December 21-25 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

January 4-5 – The Office will be closed for staff training.

January 8 – Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

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 2020.

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2020 tax year will be available.

June 21-24 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

December Support

Please contact us via Signal by December 17 if you would like funds in your account before Christmas. Final December support distributions will be made on January 13 for all missionaries, regardless of their regular pay date. Contacting us by December 17 will enable us to schedule your funds around bank closings and holiday hours. Should you have an emergency need after December 18, you may contact our staff at the following numbers:

Kim O’Malley: 704-974-1008
Naomi Torberson: 704-692-7237

January Income Totals

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December. As a result, 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!

2020 Graduates

Congratulations to those in our missions family who have graduated in recent months!

Clarisse Gilliam graduated from Pimlico State High School on November 20. Pray for her as she seeks the Lord’s will for the future. Clarisse is the daughter of Kelly and Becca Gilliam, our missionaries in Australia.


Seth Folkers graduated with his Masters in Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary in August. Bro. Folkers and his family serve in Cameroon. Pray for them as they return to the field in December.

New Baby

Congratulations to Stephen and Anelly Villarreal on the birth of Timothy Jeremiah. He was born on November 25, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz. and measuring 21.25 inches long. Timothy joins his older brother Stephen, Jr. (2.) Please pray for the Villarreals as they are on deputation to go to Mexico.

Uplift Podcast

The following recordings were recently published on uplift.wwntbm.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

Clarifying Your Message Over the Phone by Duey Whitfield

Go Forward by Mike Gali

Waiting for Results by Al Lorenzo

Do the Right Thing by Stephen Sorrel

Transitioning to the Field by David Landers

Things to Remember in Difficult Times by Markie Bullock

Flexible in the Spirit by Bill Wingard

God With Us by David Price

Get Out of the Shallows by Chris Swiatocho

International Medical Insurance

We recently became aware of two international medical insurance providers. If you would like to learn more about these providers, please see the information below.

Azimuth Risk Solutions LLC
Azimuth Risk Solutions heath insurance offers three types of medical insurance: short-term travel, extended major medical, and simplified issue. Rates vary depending on age and deductible of choice. You can check out the types of insurance and rates Azimuth provides on their website at https://www.azimuthrisk.com.

Cigna Global
Cigna Global insurance plans combine the reassurance of comprehensive inpatient cover, with the flexibility of optional additional modules, allowing you to build a plan that’s right for you. You can view their plan options and rates on their website at https://www.cignaglobal.com/international-medical-insurance.

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I Serve Others – Tender: December 2020

by John O’Malley

The phrase, I Serve Others, captures all we want to do for the Lord at WWNTBM. Over the next few months, I will write on the values we hold dear in the phrase, I Serve Others. We have already looked at the words inspire and open.

Mary held the infant Jesus. God, robed in flesh as a newborn babe, is now in her arms. He Who spoke the world into existence, she now cradles.

Love fills the stable as first-time parents bring a Child, who is Christ the Lord, into a world in the midst of crisis, conflict, and confusion. Shepherds will soon arrive. Mary and her espoused husband will share this precious Babe with the world. He came to save His people from their sin.

As I see it, Joseph looks lovingly. Mary returns the look with understanding. Yes, their world changed. But, even more so, the whole world changed forever. Tenderness is etched in every word as well as in the silence of the scene.

Yes, tonight begins His journey to the cross. Mary will be present for each significant event of His life and ministry. He will become sin for us Who knew no sin. The suffering He will face will be harsh, tortuous, and violent. Yet, the lady who wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes has only tenderness for this child of the Holy Ghost.

The tender spirit of the first Christmas night is the spirit we must have in every aspect of our lives and ministries. When the world is in conflict around you, be tender. When confusion abounds in your community, be tender. When there is trouble in your church and home, be tender. When there are fear and worry, be tender.

Our desire at World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions is to manifest tenderness. We desire to communicate with tenderness. We want to be a voice of calm, peace, and tenderness when you enlist our assistance.

When you are at your best, are you tender? When you are less-than-your-best, are you tender?

This Christmas season will produce many emotions. Let the tenderness of the Savior’s birth be in the tone, attitude, and spirit of your communication amongst all with whom you interact.

Merry Christmas.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

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