Category: From Our President

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, open, tender, helper, and edify.

This month, I am continuing our core values phrase “I Serve Others” series. The second R in I Serve Others stands for Reliable.

The sense of the word reliable is to be consistently good in quality or performance. Someone who is able to be trusted is counted as reliable. The Bible word for reliable is faithful.

1 Samuel 2, while Eli was High Priest and his two sons polluted their office in the temple, God told Eli what would happen to his sons. God also said He would raise up someone who was faithful. The sense of the word faithful in this text is someone who is reliable.

In 1 Samuel 2:35, God explained what He wanted in His servants. He said He wanted reliable people to serve. He wanted people who would know His mind and heart. The servant He chose would do what was in the heart and mind of God. God promised He too would be faithful or reliable to the servant He would raise up.

I want to consider two things this month about the core value of being reliable. First, consider with me God’s reliability to us. Then I want you to evaluate your reliability in your service to Him.

Consider God’s faithfulness or reliability:

• God Himself is faithful — he does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• God’s Word is faithful — He’s given a more sure word of prophecy.
• God’s presence is reliable — He’s promised never to leave us nor forsake us
• God’s power is reliable — He shows Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.
• God’s justice is reliable — He is the Judge of the whole earth Who will do right.

Consider our faithfulness or reliability:

• Do the people to whom I bring the Gospel find me reliable in my witness?
• Does my family find me reliable in my promises and availability?
• Do my supporting churches find me reliable in communication and connecting with them?
• Does my spouse see me as reliable in my biblical mandate for my responsibility in our marriage?
• Does everyone with whom I interact see my word as reliable?

We are at our best when we are faithful or reliable to our Master, in our ministries, and in our marriages.

At the missions office, we desire to be reliable to you. We want to honor your requests. We want to be reliable to pray for you when you share with us your heart’s burden. We want to be reliable to be considerate and compassionate when you face challenges.

I believe in the work you are doing for Christ. I want to see you accomplish God’s goals for you and the people to whom He called you.

Let us be reliable.

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.

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, open, tender, and helper.

Demolition is easier than construction. When a worker demolishes, they approach the job site and see their goal is to tear down what they see. Swinging a sledgehammer does not require accuracy; one just needs to make sure they leave nothing standing.

Paul wrote in Ephesians that God gave leaders to the church. He gave these leaders to His church to do three distinct actions. Leaders are for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the saints.

We all work with people. God assigned us to a people. The passage in Ephesians 4 discloses the three tasks of all leaders. Our task is to bring people in our care to a state of completion. We are to perform the tasks assigned to us. We are to edify people.

The people we serve, like ourselves, are an incomplete construction project. Our role as a leader is to add to the building progress in the lives of those around us. Every time you connect with people in your ministry, you are to add to the building of their lives for the glory of God.

Our calling is to build people up and help them become what God intended. If we are out of calibration with God and His Word, we easily can become leaders who demolish. We can demolish with our words, tone, and spirit. We can criticize and complain about these incomplete projects around us.

As a missionary, fulfilling our God-given roles as an evangelist and pastor and teacher, we must consciously choose to edify. We must build people up. The world is busy tearing people down. When people come to your place of ministry, the place where you carry out the work God gives you to do, make sure they edify each person.

When you call the office, our goal is to edify you. We want to build you up. Like you, we all are incomplete building projects. Our staff wants to add value to your life by adding hope, courage, and compassion in the work you are doing for Christ.

I preface the “I Serve Others” phrase with the words, “We are at our best when…” I want to be at my best, always. I want to build others with my words. I want to treat others as Christ treats me. I want to edify everyone.

Is God pleased with your task of edifying others? How are we doing at the home office with edifying you? How can we improve? “I serve others” is not a slogan; it is our mission. In fact, as servants of the Lord, God intends and expects us to edify.

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.

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, open, and tender.

The H in I Serve Others stands for Helper.

In the book of John, Jesus described the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of the believer. The word He used was Comforter. The Comforter would be a helpful presence in the absence of the Son. The Comforter would come in the name of the Father. The Holy Spirit would teach us all we needed to know of what Christ taught. The Holy Spirit would testify of the Godhead. The presence of the Holy Spirit came after the ascension.

God designed the activities of the Holy Spirit to help us. When our hearts are confused, He helps us understand. When our hearts are overwhelmed, He comforts us with His presence and promises. When our minds are overloaded and we cannot think clearly, He makes His way known. When burdened and dismayed, He comes with a yoke which is easy and a burden which is light.

The Holy Spirit is God’s helper for the believer.

In the WWNTBM family, the Executive Board, the Administration and Staff, and every missionary family know the help the Gospel brings. Each day you are serving in hundreds of locations.

We believe God assembled all of us to help you. Our desire is to help you with the technical and logistical so you can serve. Our passion is to help you with the domestic-based tasks so you can focus on the Great Commission.

Each week in our staff meeting, we read or recite our purpose. Our purpose is:

We serve God’s Great Commission partners so they can focus on giving and going.

We know God’s partners are the churches which send, the churches which support, and the missionaries who are sent.

Our staff of seven arrive in their offices each day to help you. There is no request too odd, too difficult, or too minimal; we love and live to help you. Please ask. Do not serve without all you need to do Great Commission work.

We want to be a helper of Gospel workers around the world. We want to be your helper.

Jesus made it clear; the simple task of giving water to a believer counts. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mark 9:41)

At WWNTBM, we take this passage and reminder to heart. No request is too burdensome. No request is a bother. No request is inconvenient.

We are here to help you.

Happy New Year!
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.

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.

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. Last month, we looked at the word inspire.

This month, I write about the letter O in the phrase “I serve others.” O introduces the value of being Open. The culture of World Wide must be one where our eyes are open to see, our hearts are open to care, our minds are open to think, and our hands are open for you.

Look around your home and place of ministry. Has the ministry or an unpleasant person caused you to close the tools of ministry God gave you? We must never close these God-given tools of ministry (eyes, heart, mind, and hands). If we close these innate tools of ministry, we may miss God-orchestrated moments of personal and spiritual opportunity.

The people you serve on your field deserve your best. They deserve a missionary leader whose hand is open to give, whose ears are open to listen, whose heart is open to care, and whose mind is open to thoughtfulness.

I want the culture of the office of World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions to be we are open to your suggestions, ideas, and thoughts. Psalm 34:15, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

Like God, are your eyes open to those around you? Are your ears open to their cry? Is your heart still open to the very people you promoted on deputation and furlough to your supporters? Never allow closed hands, ears, hearts, minds, or eyes to make you turn away from those God placed you there to serve.

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.

by John O’Malley

In recent months, I shared with you the core values of World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions. These values are best remembered with the acrostic: SERVE. We believe we are at our best when we are Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional.

We attempt to exemplify these traits in every communication with you. We review these values every week in our staff meeting. We inspect ourselves weekly to make sure we meet what we expect of ourselves.

The acrostic SERVE fits in a larger sentence acrostic: I Serve Others. This phrase, I Serve Others, captures all we want to do for the Lord at WWNTBM. Over the next seven months, I will write on the values we hold dear in the phrase, I Serve Others.

The first value of this phrase is the word Inspire.

We choose daily to inspire or depress people with our words. You meet people in your community, your church, your ministry. These people need words which will build them, better them, and bless them. It is hard to choose the right words. Our emotional health, our spiritual discipline, and our temperament all play a role in whether we will use words which inspire or words which depress or deflate people.

Solomon’s words help me and haunt me: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21) My words will either kill someone or will give them life.

Think of all the words you used this week. How many words made someone die a little on the inside. How many of your words breathed life into a person? Did your spoken or written words wound an entire segment of society, a child, a spouse, a co-worker, or a friend?

Perhaps you are like me. I prefer to hear words which give life. I dislike hearing words which cause me to die a little on the inside. I despise it even more when I choose words which cause people to die on the inside.

Since heart surgery, I’ve given thought to an epitaph, whether etched in stone on a marker, or on hearts of the people I met. I want it to be, John pointed people to Jesus and inspired people.

Our words can suffocate or strengthen. Our words can inspire or depress. It is easier to use words which hurt others. It is a challenge and a choice to use words to breathe life into people.

Our staff at WWNTBM want to inspire you every time we speak with you. It is easy to speak words of life to you because you inspire us. You inspire us with your kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32) You inspire us with your faithfulness when we see you facing trauma, trouble, and trials. You inspire us with your words. Your words speak life into our staff.

Please know, wherever you are in the world today, I believe in you. I believe in the work God called you to do for Him. I believe you are the right person in the right place at the right time. I believe the best about you. I believe you can do all God called you to do.

There are plenty of mean things to say about mean people. Let us be people who inspire others to go further, do more, and be who God wants us to be.

I am inspired when I think of you!

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.

by John O’Malley

This article is part six in a six-part series on the core values and culture of your missions office. Each article in this series focuses on the values we display when we are at our best. The five values are Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional.

Customer service experts teach the little things a company does for their customers are the things which make an enormous difference for their customers.

Enterprise Leasing once had an employee suggest they give a bottle of cold water to their cars’ renters. Now, you can expect a cold bottle of water at the time of rental.

The worldwide hotelier, The Ritz-Carlton, teaches their people they are ladies and gentlemen who serve ladies and gentlemen. One of their parking lot attendants who valet parked a guest’s car noticed the driver had a certain flavor of Gatorade (a sports beverage) in his cup holder. Upon check out, the parking attendant had a cold Gatorade of his preferred flavor, waiting in the customer’s cup holder.

Chick-fil-a, an American quick-serve restaurant, follows the same line of thinking as The Ritz-Carlton. The team members in their restaurants learn the value of replying when thanked, “My pleasure.” In the business world, some would say, these are exceptional gestures.

The business world should take note. Christ made clear in His Sermon on the Mount the exceptional principles He expected of His kingdom’s subjects. In Matthew five, we read:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matthew 5:39–42

Notice the exceptional expectations Christ shares. He expects when we have a loss of dignity that we turn the other cheek. The Lord expects when threatened (sued for our shirt), we go beyond all expectations and give them our outer coat. When compelled by authorities, we are to go the second mile. When people ask, we give. When people need to borrow, we do not ignore them.

When Christ said these words, I am sure His words raised eyebrows amongst His hearers. The areas of exceptionality covered personal, legal, governmental, and financial matters. God calls His people to exceptionality.

When we serve you, we believe every communication, every interaction, every transaction must reach the threshold Jesus set. Choosing to be exceptional in life, ministry, marriage, and with your children will never fail to pay off. When we are exceptional with our co-workers, our church people, the heathen, and each other, we look like Christ requires.

Try this. This month, look for people who may seem prickly and do something exceptional for them. Anyone can be exceptional to the pleasant people in their lives. It takes sacrifice to be exceptional and Christlike.

If we ever miss the mark of being selfless, eager, responsible, valuable, or exceptional, I want to know so we can improve our service to you.

It is a joy to SERVE with you.
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.

by John O’Malley

This article is part five in a six-part series on the core values and culture of your missions office. Each article in this series focuses on the values we display when we are at our best. The five values are Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional.

Two hundred warriors were so faint they could not follow David, their leader. They waited by a brook called Besor while David took other warriors to fight a battle. David recovered the people and possessions stolen by the Philistines. David spoiled the enemies. The two hundred weary men met David on his return. David greeted them.

David’s victory in the battle over the Philistines yielded a spoil. The carnal men in David’s army said they would not share the spoil of war with the weary. These complaining malcontents felt those who stayed behind should only get from the spoils their once-stolen wives and children. These men felt those who remained and did not go into battle should take their wives and kids and go away.

David taught the warriors a lesson on seeing value in others. David taught them: the battle we fought was the Lord’s. David reminded them: we did not get these spoils on our own; God gave us the spoils. As a king and warrior, David taught our Lord preserved us in battle. God gave the enemies into our hands.

David dismissed the negative words. His message was simple: everybody is valuable for who they are and not for what they do. This moment led David to declare a new statute and ordinance in Israel. When David spoke of the men who stayed back and the men who advanced, David did not differentiate or discriminate; the men were all warriors to David.

How David looked at all the warriors is how I see the principle of being valuable.

Valuableness is a core principle I ask our staff to practice. I want our staff to add value to you and everyone we connect with on your behalf. I want all to see value, not by a status (deputation, furlough, medical leave, retired, or semi-retired, church planter, education, medical or orphanages), but by their worth to God. If we are in missions together, we are together and not segmented.

In ministry, you will have many people with whom you will connect and contact. Make sure you see everyone as valuable. Make sure you view others as valuable as God sees them.

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.

by John O’Malley

Click below to view the video version of this devotional.

This article is part four in a six-part series. Each article in this series focuses on the values we display when we are at our best. The five values are Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional.

The family of Kish’s female donkeys wandered away. Kish wanted the donkeys home. The donkeys were valuable for breeding and riding. Kish sent his son, Saul, and a servant to find the family’s donkeys. Saul and the servant were assigned a responsibility: seek the female donkeys and bring them home.

Saul’s responsibility was to do whatever it took, go wherever necessary, adjust his course as needed, and finish the mission. Saul’s relationship with his father meant he had the higher calling to find the donkeys and please his father. Saul sought the donkeys and kept his father’s heart close to him.

God used Kish to accomplish His will for Saul and Israel.

Saul found more than the missing donkeys. Saul saw God’s man — Samuel. Saul also learned God’s will for his life. He discovered God had more for him on the journey than to find the missing donkeys.

God does the same with us. He mobilizes us to fulfill an assignment, and while completing the task, we find God had more for us than the one destination.

God assigned you to seek souls. Your church commissioned you to fulfill a divine assignment. Your responsibility is to go wherever is necessary and adjust your course to accomplish God’s mission.

At first, you thought what you would find on the mission were eternal addresses would be changed, an indigenous church planted, and leave a spiritual legacy for the Lord’s glory.

You may realize now, on God’s missionary assignment, you found more than the “donkeys.” You found God’s assignment bigger than you could ever imagine. Perhaps, like Saul, you discovered more than the souls to whom He sent you. You found much about yourself, your family, and your God.

Responsibility is a significant aspect of missionary service. Responsibility is a massive part of our office culture at World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions.

Each month we perform thousands of tasks, receive hundreds of requests, and take scores of calls. Each task, request, and call we receive, we take as our divine responsibility. We commit ourselves to be responsible to God, the Executive Board, and you to help with your harvest work.

Being responsible means taking ownership of your request, following it through until resolved, and proactively finding solutions to assist you. We know we are at our best when we are responsible for the assignments you give us.

Each day each team member delights in fulfilling your request. We love to hear from you. When you have a need, we pray for you. When you rejoice, we rejoice with you. When you weep, we weep with you. Our responsibility to you is more than clerical; it is spiritual.

May God find us responsible whether we serve in the field or the office.

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.

by John O’Malley

This is part three in a series about the culture of World Wide. Click below to view the video version of this devotional.

Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah served King David’s interests. These men, called mighty men, acted on the king’s behalf. Each man was courageous, bold, and eager to take an impossible task with God’s help and to accomplish the impossible for the honor of Israel, the king, and God.

Scripture records an occasion when David was in a cave called Adullam. In a valley below was a troop of Philistines. Over twenty miles away, at home in Bethlehem, was a garrison of Philistines.

David longed for water from home. David had water available to him in the cave. He longed for water from his hometown well, the well by the gate.

David spoke from his heart. “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” The mighty men heard David’s heart’s desire. They made the more-than-forty-mile round trip. They broke through the garrison and the troops of the enemy they encountered, to bring David water from home.

David knew he could not drink this water. Their sacrifice, endangerment, and honor were more than David could bear. He could not even sip this water of sacrifice.

David’s heart was toward God. He took the water, which to him was pure, precious, and valuable, and poured it out to the Lord as a sacrifice.

Our trio of warriors were men of honor too. Their eager effort to get the king water from home was rewarded enough to them. Their offering to David became David’s offering to God.

In continuing my series on the five disciplines* of our agency’s culture, please notice the eagerness of David’s mighty men. The mighty men heard the mere wish of their king. They accomplished the impossible with eager ability.
As part of our agency’s culture, our office staff commits to eagerness. We want to do more than what you request. We are eager to bring God glory and bring you pleasure by fulfilling your request.

How we treat you has as much to do with our walk with God and our calling to serve you, as it does with our daily job description.

In ministry, have you lost your eagerness? The eagerness you began this course with, do you still manifest it? When ministry becomes monotonous, devotion-less, and without eagerness, the people you serve the Lord in front of lose.

When you lose eagerness, it affects your pulpit ministry, public ministry, and private ministry. A marriage without eager responsiveness can wither. A home without eager participation can quickly drift in the sea of complacency.

As a leader at WWNTBM, I commit to being eager to listen, love, and labor for the honor of the King. Is your highest level of eagerness for the spiritual things in life? May God help us if we become eager for the carnal.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

*The Five Disciplines of SERVE: Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, Exceptional

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