Month: August 2025

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From the Memo Board: September 2025

Important Dates to Know

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

 

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

New Baby!

Bethany Faith Ortiz was born on August 25th, 2025. Bethany is the seventh child of Rolando and Hannah Ortiz, and joins siblings Azelia, Viana, Amadeo, Selicia, Tirza, and Dastan. The Ortizes are missionaries in Mexico.

 

See the Harvest

 

 

See the Harvest

See the Harvest is a ministry that desires to fulfill the Great Commission by offering church members, college students, and pastors opportunities to see, learn, and do missionary work, enabling them to discern God’s call, find their place of service, and reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The See the Harvest ministry, directed by our missionary, Cody Carden, is making preparations for 2026!

Upcoming Trips:
Atlanta World Cup: June 13-22, 2026
Scotland: July 3-18, 2026
Dominican Republic: July 31-August 10, 2026

To learn more about See the Harvest, please visit SeeTheHarvest.com. If you would like a team to come to your field, please contact Cody Carden. Please like and follow the See The Harvest page on Facebook and share this ministry.

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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The Homegoing of Russell Bell

Bro. Russell Bell
May 13, 1940 – August 8, 2025
 

Rev. Benjamin Russell Bell Sr., 85, formerly of Mill Creek, NC, passed away peacefully at his home in Henderson, NC on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Rev. Bell was born on May 13, 1940, in Morehead City, NC, to the late Guy Bell and Bessie Oglesby Bell. His life was marked by his deep faith and an unwavering devotion to the Lord, which he expressed through a remarkable 54 years of pastoring and over 26 years of missionary evangelism, impacting countless lives along the way. Known for his ministry of encouragement, support, and leadership, Rev. Bell dedicated himself to spreading the gospel and guiding new believers in their journeys of faith.

Russell Bell was saved at the age of 19 and was called into the ministry that same year. He studied at Temple Baptist Institute and Apologian & Award Tabernacle Baptist of Virginia Beach, VA, and received his Doctor of Divinity in 1993 from Clarksville Theological Seminary. He came with World Wide in 1971 as one of the four founding Board Members, who have now all gone on to Glory.

Growing up on the coast, Rev. Bell had a profound love for the water and never missed an opportunity to go fishing or boating. He was also a talented carpenter, who could build anything and always did so with precision and care.

Rev. Bell will be deeply missed by his loving family, who cherish the positive influence he had on their lives and the lives of so many others.

Those remaining to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Mamie Riggs Bell; daughters, Theresa Joy Bell of Mill Creek, NC and Sherry Bell McGuire of Kernersville, NC; sons, Benjamin R. Bell Jr. (Tonya) of Mill Creek, NC and Chad Bell (Kristin) of Fruitland Park, FL; brother, Mike Bell of Mill Creek, NC; grandchildren, Benjamin Guy Bell (Amanda), Kerrigan Shae Bell, Keagan Paige Bell, and Keith McGuire (Jessie); and great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Jackson, Harley, and Emma.

A funeral service to honor Rev. Bell’s life will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 14th at Reece’s Chapel Baptist Church, 171 Old Winberry Rd., Newport, NC 28570, officiated by Rev. Danny Whetstone. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service as well as the home of Benjamin Russel Jr., 211 Point Road in Newport. Rev. Bell will be laid to rest privately at Bell-Oglesby Family Cemetery in Mill Creek.

For those unable to attend his funeral service, the service can be viewed through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.

Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Bell at [email protected].

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Refocusing on the Power of God’s Wisdom Over Human Wisdom: 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.

Refocusing on the Power of God’s Wisdom Over Human Wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:5

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Learn About It

Paul knew that the Corinthians were surrounded by a culture that valued human wisdom. Corinth was influenced by Greek philosophy, where eloquence and intellect were seen as the highest forms of knowledge. The Corinthians, like many today, were tempted to measure truth by human reasoning rather than divine revelation.

Paul reminds them that their faith should not rest in the wisdom of men—the ever-changing philosophies and ideas of the world—but in the power of God. Human wisdom has limits. It changes with time, culture, and personal opinions. But God’s wisdom is eternal, unshakable, and rooted in His character.

Paul’s preaching was not designed to impress people with clever arguments or philosophical debates. Instead, he relied on the demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Corinthians 2:4). The effectiveness of the gospel does not come from human skill or intellectual appeal—it comes from God Himself.

This verse challenges us to examine what we are truly depending on: Are we leaning on human understanding, or are we trusting in the wisdom and power of God?

Apply It to Me

In today’s world, many people rely on science, logic, or personal experience to define truth. While knowledge and reasoning have their place, they cannot replace the wisdom of God. Have you ever felt pressured to make decisions based on popular opinions rather than biblical truth?

When difficulties arise, where do you turn first? Do you rely on worldly advice, self-help books, or cultural trends? Or do you seek wisdom in God’s Word? The challenge for every believer is to build their faith on God’s unchanging wisdom, not on the shifting opinions of society.

The way we live reveals where our faith truly stands. If we say we trust in God’s wisdom, yet we make choices based only on human reasoning, we are not fully relying on Him. Faith means choosing to trust what God says—even when it contradicts the wisdom of the world.

Take a moment to reflect: What areas of your life are you tempted to handle with human wisdom instead of trusting in God?

Talk to God About It

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me the wisdom of Your Word. I confess that at times, I have relied on my own understanding instead of trusting You. I have looked to the world’s wisdom for answers rather than seeking Your truth. Help me to build my faith on You alone. Teach me to trust in Your wisdom, even when it doesn’t make sense to my human mind. Let my decisions, my words, and my life reflect my faith in Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Act on It

Think of a current situation where you are unsure of what to do. Instead of relying on your own reasoning, spend time praying and searching the Scriptures for God’s wisdom. Write down a verse that applies to your situation and commit to following God’s direction rather than human opinions.

John O’Malley

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