World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions is approaching fifty years of service to missionary families and their sending churches. We are at a place now where we see missionaries retire from full-time missionary service. The Lord has been so good to send new families for us to minister with in the work of world evangelism. There is no doubt that we stand in great need of young missionaries to carry on the difficult work that is necessary all over the world. However, I would like to express my appreciation to the Lord for permitting us to still have those who have labored long in this ministry.
I will not attempt to bring to your attention all those who have given of themselves in this work, but I am most grateful that the man whom God used to see this work born is still the Chairman of the Board. Pastor Bill Wingard has been the heart of this work, and our Lord has blessed our mission by sustaining him through the years. In the wisdom of God, we are aware that the younger is to learn from the older. It is certainly true that the energy resides in the younger, but the wisdom abides in those who have long served the Lord through various circumstances of life and ministry.
Men like Brother Russell Bell were there at the beginning with Pastor Wingard. Pastor Clyde Eborn was also involved in the beginning stages of this work. We have indeed learned much since those early days. So much that we have learned, and so many troubles that we avoided have been because these men have stayed with us through good and bad. Make no mistake about it: we need these men more than ever before. This mission has operated on biblical principles that these men, and many others like them, have kept before us through the years.
We enjoy the memories of Mrs. Smithwick in a closet with a journal keeping the records for the mission. They were humble beginnings, but none of this operation would be here today if these faithful servants had not taken the first steps to see it come alive. There have been many who have invested their energies in this work. There have been hundreds of hours spent in board meetings attempting to steer the ministry in such a direction that God would be honored. I am so proud of the work being accomplished by our mission today, and I am convinced that it will only get better if we remember that we are building on a very good foundation given to us by faithful servants of the Lord.
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.