Author: WWNTBM

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From the Memo Board: July 2018

Dates to know

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.

Mark Your Calendars

Now is the time to begin planning to attend next year’s Family Fellowship Week. We will meet June 17-20, 2019, with Pastor Tim Daniel and the New Testament Baptist Church of Kinston, NC. If you are planning a furlough in 2019, please be sure to arrange your schedule so you can attend this meeting in its entirety.  It will begin with dinner on Monday evening and end with the Thursday evening service.  Most attendees plan to depart Friday morning.  It is truly the highlight of the WWNTBM year.

Thank you!

Our Office Staff greatly enjoyed the opportunity to visit with many of you during the recent Family Week. This is our favorite week of the year because we have the opportunity to connect with you in person. Several of you were so gracious to give us gifts, including some we received marked simply as “from the missions family.” Thank you to each of you who participated in this gift. We appreciate your thoughtfulness!

25th Anniversary     

This year’s Family Week included a special recognition of John and Kim O’Malley for 25 years of service at WWNTBM.  We praise the Lord for their faithfulness and for their heart for missions.  The mission gave them a gift, and in addition Faith Baptist Church also took up a collection for them. Here is a note of thanks from the O’Malleys:

Dear Missions Family,

In 1993 when Brother Whetstone approached me about serving with World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions I did not know what the next 25 years held. But, I knew Who would hold us during the next 9,125 days. I know, as long as God gives life and His will permits, He will hold us the next 9,125 days. 
It is a joy to serve the Lord at WW. Kim and I sense your love and prayers. Your prayers and love make us thankful for you. 

Thank you for your kind and generous financial remembrance and the extravagant gift card for Starbucks. I am planning to use the funds for a getaway with Kim. 

Thank you for the privilege to serve you!

John and Kim O’Malley

SERVE Qualities

This year our staff has adopted a new mission statement.  We thought you would like to see our motto so you are aware of what we are striving for each day.  As you consider this, perhaps it is something you would like to implement in your own ministry as well. We pause weekly to remind ourselves of this goal, and to focus on staff and missionaries who have exemplified these qualities during the week.

We serve God’s Great Commission partners so that they can focus on giving and going into all the world. (God’s partners are the Laborers, Leaders, and Givers who participate in spreading the Gospel.)  We are at our best when we are:

S-Selfless
E-Eager
R-Responsible
V-Valuable
E-Exceptional

Form I-9

We have recently learned that Homeland Security requires WWNTBM to have a Form I-9 on file for all of our current missionaries (employees). Typically this form has to be completed in the presence of a staff member.  However, because many of our missionaries are not present in the Kings Mountain, NC, location, we have established a process for those individuals who cannot come to the office to complete this form. You should have received an email detailing the steps needed to submit this. Please complete this as soon as possible so we can get our records up to date. If you have questions, please contact Naomi Torberson. Thank you for your help with this urgent matter!
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Featured Article: The Church Planter and His Character

Bro. David Price has been a church planter in France for many years now. We appreciate his wisdom and the thoughts he has shared in the article below on the vital importance of The Church Planter and His Character.

Introduction

Church planting is one of the most challenging, exhilarating, disappointing, and consuming ministries that God can call one of His servants to accomplish. Although I cannot imagine being a part of any other ministry that places such rigorous demands on God’s servant, the challenge is so fulfilling because of God’s leading. The church planter is on the front line, accomplishing God’s plan for this age of grace. Charles Ryrie said it best:
“The importance of the church can scarcely be overstated. It is that which God purchased with the blood of His own Son (Acts 20:28). It is that which Christ loves, nourishes, and cherishes (Eph. 5:25, 29), and which He shall present to Himself blameless in all her glory one day (v. 27). Building His church constitutes Christ’s principal work in the world today (Matt. 16:18).”

Church planting is the direct accomplishment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8), making disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching. God’s servant must remember that all other types of ministries should help to accomplish God’s primary goal and purpose–church planting. The world has a great need for a vibrant church that is evangelistic, Christocentric, dynamic, and engaged in society to reproduce itself. Through this type of church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches the lost, bringing them to a saving knowledge of the Savior. The question to ask is what are the requisite qualities of a church planter involved in this type of church?

The Church Planter and His Character

The Lord calls exceptional men to be church planters. The demands of a church-planting ministry are so great that only those with exceptional character and godly qualities will accomplish this great endeavor. In addition to the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus, three character qualities should be present in the church planter’s life: (1) spiritual maturity, (2) learning capacity, and (3) vision.

One area that is of utmost importance is spiritual maturity. The church planter must exemplify maturity in his:
Perseverance
Emotional stability
Marital and family health
Prayer life

The church planter must persevere when there seems to be no fruit (Colossians 1:11-12). He must understand that if God has called him, He will bring fruit in due season if the church planter remains faithful. The church planter must also reveal spiritual maturity in his emotional stability (Proverbs 25:28, 12:16). Through disappointments and even failures, he must remember that God is faithful. The church planter must have his emotions based on the things of the Lord and not the circumstances that are before him. This stability will also play an important role in the church planter’s marriage (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 11:29). Simply put, the church planter must have a marriage that those around him envy. He must be 100% devoted to his wife and family, who are his greatest and first ministry.

These three aspects of the church planter’s spiritual character will only be possible if he has a prayer life that reveals an intimate, daily walk with God (1 Chronicles 16:11). The importance of this foundational truth is impossible to express. Prayer makes or breaks the church planter and his ministry.
Another aspect of the character of the church planter is his ability to be a good student. He must be a student of not only God’s Word but also the culture in which he is serving. Charles-Daniel Maire defines culture as “…everything which, through education, passes from one generation to the next, leaving a footprint that expresses the identity of a human being and allows him to recognize himself as a member of the group to which he belongs by birth or by choice.”

Church planting and especially cross-cultural church planting requires men who adapt to the culture within which they serve whether they are in West Virginia or in Europe. A key element to being successful in soul winning is understanding the person in his cultural context and overcoming cultural barriers to share the gospel. The apostle Paul clearly explains this principle in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. This principle of studying is also seen in language acquisition on the foreign mission field. Many times, foreign church planters, in their zeal, rush and do not effectively learn the language. Without proper language skills, the most important message cannot be communicated effectively, often resulting in the national’s rejection of the message.
The last element of the church planter’s character that is of utmost importance is vision (Psalm 5:3). A vision for the ministry will cause the church planter to be unsatisfied with the status quo and put all of the effort possible on God’s program instead of man’s. A vision will also unite the church plant around one objective using its energy to attain that goal. A byproduct is that much of the discord that may exist in a church will often disappear if everyone is striving to reach the same goal. Vision also gives a purpose for every single activity, from cleaning the bathrooms to teaching a Sunday school class.

Conclusion

The importance of church planting cannot be overemphasized. The church planter’s character also cannot be overemphasized. God needs exceptional men through whom His plan for this age of grace will be accomplished. The result will be a church that is evangelistic, Christocentric, dynamic, and engaged in society able to reproduce itself.

If this has been a blessing to you or you would like to share your thoughts with Bro. Price, you can contact him via email here.

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Ministry Milestones 2018

We would like to recognize several ministry milestones that are being reached during the year 2018. We are grateful for these individuals who continue to serve faithfully.

Jim Bailey has served on the Executive Board for 35 years. He and his wife, Patty, are from Edinburg, VA, where he formerly pastored. After his retirement from the pastorate, they began traveling as furlough replacements in August 2014.
Barbara O’Malley has served on the Office Staff for 5 years. She formerly volunteered in our office for many years, before becoming paid staff in 2013. She lives in Kings Mountain, NC, and also spends part of the year in West Palm Beach, FL, with family.
John and Kim O’Malley have been missionaries with World Wide for 25 years. They live in Kings Mountain, NC. Bro. O’Malley has served in several capacities and has been the General Director since 2006. He spends much of his time on the road preaching in missions conferences and encouraging the next generation of missionaries. Kim has served on our Office Staff for over 20 years and has been the full-time Office Manager since 2004.
Ruth Ann Arthurs has been a missionary with World Wide for 35 years. She and her late husband, Dave, served in radio ministries in several locations, even before joining WWNTBM and settling in Pohnpei. After his home-going in 2013, she eventually retired to Taylors, South Carolina. She remains active in encouraging the ministries in Pohnpei.
Renee Atkins has been a missionary with World Wide for 25 years. She and her late husband Chick were missionary helpers assisting others in many capacities throughout several countries and in many states in the US. After his home-going in 2009, Renee retired in Duncan, SC, to be near her children.
Joe and Carolyn Cannon have been missionaries with World Wide for 30 years. They served for many years in Yap and Canada. Since 2011 they have worked in prison ministries in North Carolina.
Stanley and Marvine Cline have been missionaries with World Wide for 30 years. They served in Majuro before moving into a representative role as Deputation Secretary in 2002 and have also assisted many ministries as furlough replacements.  In 2014 the Lord led them to take over the pastorate of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Timberville, VA.
Edgar and Rosann Feghaly have been missionaries with World Wide for 35 years. They served in his home country of Lebanon throughout the Lebanese War. They now live in Tennessee, from where they base their ministry to the Middle East and Africa.
Nathan Fry has been a missionary with World Wide for 5 years. He initially served as an interim in Pohnpei, running the Calvary Baptist Radio Station after Dave Arthurs’ passing. While there he met his wife, Hannah, and they served for a time in Yap. They have recently started the Lens of the Harvest ministry, to assist missionaries with video and presentation needs. Their daughter, Grace, was born this April.
Kelly and Becca Gilliam have been missionaries with World Wide for 20 years. They serve in Queensland, Australia, with their children Clarisse and Bryce. In addition to the church they have planted, they are reaching their community through youth sports programs and religious instruction classes in local schools.
Jack and Johnnie Hunt have been missionaries with World Wide for 45 years. They live in New Bern, NC, where they serve with Mission Aeroservices which assists missionaries from around the world with pilot training and aircraft maintenance.
Elwood and Doris Hurst have been missionaries with World Wide for 40 years. They served in Guam for many years. They now travel as Representatives and have recently begun a Ministry of Encouragement to our missionaries. You can learn more about this new opportunity at ebarnabas.org. They live in Greenville, SC.
Ruby Kersey has been a missionary with World Wide for 35 years. She and her late husband Herb served as representatives for many years. After his home-going, she served on our Office Staff for a time. She is now retired and lives in Lucama, NC.
Rolando and Hannah Ortiz have been missionaries with World Wide for 5 years. They serve in Mexico with their children Azelia, Viana, and Amadeo. They are in their first term on the field and have a thriving church plant currently meeting in their home. They are praying about the direction the Lord would have them go concerning expansion out of their home.
Jack and Melinda Peeler have been missionaries with World Wide for 15 years. For many years they traveled assisting ministries around the world. They have most recently been helping to start a church on the Nukuoro atoll in Micronesia.
David and Heidi Racke have been missionaries with World Wide for 15 years. They have served in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, and Peru and currently live in Bradenton, FL, where they are assisting a church to begin a Spanish ministry.
Omar and Tracey Schrock have been missionaries with World Wide for 10 years. They serve in Brazil with their children, Johnathan and Mahalia. They have recently been able to move the location of their church to a new facility, and are excited about how the Lord is using this move to reach more individuals.
Josh and Sarah Wagar have been missionaries with World Wide for 5 years. They are serving in their first term in Chuuk, Micronesia, with their daughter Milena. Currently, their ministry is assisting an established church while working to learn the language and to build contacts in the community.
Ernie and Nancy Wyrick have been missionaries with World Wide for 25 years. They served for a time in Siberia until the Lord moved them to Delta Junction, Alaska. Bro. Ernie is a chaplain with the local Fire Department, and they have a ministry with shut-ins and those in nursing homes.
Mark and Diane Zimmer have been missionaries with World Wide for 15 years. They serve in Yap, Micronesia, with their three youngest children, Cherish, Caleb, and Levi. Two older children are currently attending Bob Jones in South Carolina. Their ministry reaches as well to the outer islands of Micronesia, as they assist nationals with other church plants.
Fred Daniel, Jr. serves on the Executive Board of WWNTBM. This year he and his wife Beth will celebrate 30 years of ministry at Brookhaven Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. Two of the Daniels’ children, Fred III (and Brittany) Daniel and Hannah (and Rolando) Ortiz, are missionaries with WWNTBM in Mexico.
David Fulp serves on the Board of Reference for WWNTBM. This year he and his wife Lisa will celebrate 20 years of ministry at the Good News Baptist Church of Madison, NC. Their daughter Stephanie (and Tim) Germano is a missionary with WWNTBM in the Dominican Republic.
David Landers serves on the Executive Board of WWNTBM. This year he and his wife Judy will celebrate 20 years of ministry at Gateway Baptist Church of Rising Sun, MD. Prior to this pastorate, the Landers were missionaries with WWNTBM to the country of Bolivia.
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The Homegoing of Norman Johnston

In Memory of Norman Johnston
March 23, 1950-May 14, 2018

Norman Lee Johnston entered into the joy of his Lord on Monday, May 14th. He passed away of a heart attack while at home, the day before he was scheduled to travel to share the Gospel in remote unreached mountain villages of Madagascar.

“Pastor J,” as he was affectionately known, was born in Ohio on March 23, 1950, and attended Bob Jones University. He and his wife Joy served for many years as missionaries to Korea, until the Lord closed the door for them to remain in that country. They moved next to Vancouver, where he pastored a Korean congregation. He later pastored in Pennsylvania. In 2002, he joined the faculty of Ambassador Baptist College, where he was the chairman of the missions department.

Bro. Johnston had a burden and passion for reaching the lost, and for encouraging young people in their service for the Lord. He was known for his contagious smile, and his “can do” approach to life. He was a friend and mentor to hundreds of students and loved nothing more than to play matchmaker and see new Christian families established. He could always be counted on to share an encouraging word or to challenge an individual to set aside excuses and simply do the next thing to serve God and spread the Gospel.

In 2005 during a Mission Prayer Band meeting, Bro. Johnston presented the idea of placing the Bible and other Christian resources on the internet in multiple languages. The Alethia Project was born out of this meeting. It continues as a student-led organization at ABC and is a tribute to his memory.

Bro. Johnston came to World Wide as an associate missionary in 2009 while assisting a Korean church, and also planting a multi-language church in Charlotte, NC. Today, Every Nation Baptist Church continues to reach many ethnicities in Charlotte’s inner city area.

Funeral services were held at Ambassador Baptist College on May 18th. A recording of the memorial service is available here.

Bro. Johnston was well known for sharing quotes and poems. Some of his favorites include:
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do, and by the grace of God, I will do.
-Edward Everett Hale

All the people,
all the towns,
every need as it is found,
all the people, every one,
all my heart until it is done.

Go forth serving God, loving others, and winning souls.

We really have no excuse for not trying to reach this world with the Gospel.

As Christians our partings are never good-byes, they are only “see you later.”

In addition to his wife Joy, he is survived by four children: Ahna Johnston, Rebecca (and husband Robert) Harr, Seth Johnston, and Benjamin Johnston. Please be in prayer for the family, and especially for Mrs. Joy.

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From the Memo Board: June 2018

Summer Dates to Know

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.

New Babies

Amadeo Dante Ortiz was born on May 11th. He was 21 inches long and weighed 8 pounds and 9 ounces. Amadeo is the son of Rolando and Hannah Ortiz, who serve in Mexico, and the grandson of our board member, Fred Jr. and Beth Daniel. Amadeo joins two older sisters, Azelia and Viana.

Priscilla Marjorie Rose was born on May 24th. She was 20 inches long and weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Priscilla is the daughter of Matthew and Rebecca Rose, who are on deputation to go to Kenya. Priscilla joins four older sisters, Deborah (6), Hannah (5), Esther (4), and Lydia (2).

Kezia Leigh Knickerbocker was born on May 26th. She was 21.5 inches long and weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces. Kezia is the daughter of Stephen and Julie Knickerbocker, who serve in Burkina Faso. She joins her sister Alina, who is almost 2.

New Missionary

We rejoice that the Lord continues to bring new missionaries to join our growing World Wide family! Kevin and Hannah Taylor are missionaries to Mexico. They are sent out of the Calvary Baptist Church of Statesville, NC, with Pastor Chris Haizlip. The Taylors have served in pastoral and evangelistic ministries in IL and NC. Most recently, they have been assisting a Hispanic church whose pastor needed to return to Mexico for a time. Their goal is to work with an established ministry in Puebla, Mexico, training church members in discipleship and family counseling. Eventually, they would like to assist other churches throughout Mexico in developing strong family-centered counseling ministries. The Taylors have three daughters: Tirza (6), Hadassah (4), and Aletheia (2). Pray for them as they travel on deputation.

Student Interns

Kaitlyn Whitney and Tyler Scott spent a week with us in May, completing a portion of their internship requirements for Ambassador Baptist College. One of the ministries our staff enjoys being a part of is training students for whatever the Lord has called them to do, whether on the mission field or in a ministry office. Please pray for these ladies as they serve the Lord this summer, and return to finish their education at ABC this fall.

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 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.

Uplift Podcasts

The following recordings were recently published on Uplift.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.

Recent Episodes

Family Ministry On The Road by Pastor Frank Camp

Dangers of Spiritual Indifference by Pastor Freeman Weems

It’s Not Over Until God Says It’s Over by Pastor Mike Renfrow

Helpful Resources Recently Shared on Uplift:

The Plague of Plagues by Ralph Venning

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

What Do I Know About My God by Mardi Collier

Go Ye There Podcast by Leland Johnson

Breeze Church Ministry Software

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Prayer & Dates: June 2018

June 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 June. 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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.