Category: From the Memo Board

Important Dates to Know

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 11 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans Day.
November 27-28 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.
December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations
December 10 – All prayer letters the Office assists in mailing via Prayerletters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 16 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or if you will need a deposit between Christmas and the end of the year. This allows us time to schedule your deposit around bank holidays and the office being closed.
December 17 – All prayer letters the Office assists in sending via Mailchimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.
December 23-29 – The office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.
April 13-17, 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.

November and December Deposits

November Funds:

• • • November funds will be deposited into your account(s) on November 29th, December 5th, or December 10th respectively.

December Funds:

• • • Please contact our office by December 16th via Signal if you would like funds before Christmas and the end of the year. This allows us time to schedule your deposit around bank holidays and the office being closed.
    • Final December funds will be deposited on January 15th, regardless of the day you usually receive your monthly deposit. If you need a deposit prior to this date, please contact the office via Signal.

Upcoming Financial Reports for US Missionaries

Please prepare now to ensure that your year-end financial reports are submitted on time. October reports are due December 1, November reports are due January 1, and December reports are due January 15. If it is possible for you to submit reports before the due dates, that would greatly assist our staff. Please note it is fine to submit a report without waiting for the Line 1 income figure. We can add that for you as needed. Reports should be submitted to [email protected]. Please be sure to include all receipts for expenses $75 and over at the same time you submit your report so there are no delays in processing. Thank you for your help in these areas.

Year-End Prayer Letter Services

If the office assists in mailing your prayer letters through PrayerLetters.com, please send us your information by December 10th for your recipients to receive it before Christmas.

If we assist with your MailChimp emails only, please get us your information by December 17th in order for your recipients to receive them by Christmas.

Please be aware that letters received in our office after these dates may experience delays due to the holidays. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly, and contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!

You should have received an email regarding our special letterhead options for Christmas. If you would like to send your prayer letter with one of our letterheads, please email your request to [email protected].

Our Office will resume processing prayer letters on January 7, 2026.

Family Fellowship Week

We are beginning preparations for Family Fellowship Week 2026, which will once again be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC. Our missions family greatly enjoys this quiet retreat location, which allows all services, lodging, meals, and activities to take place in one place.

Our next meeting will be held April 13-17, 2026. Please make plans to join us! Please watch your email for registration information in the coming days. Final reservations need to be communicated to the office by February 1, 2026.

This is a time to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Meals, lodging, and child care are provided. Attendees should plan to stay the entire week, beginning Monday afternoon, and ending after the Thursday evening service. (Lodging Thursday night and breakfast Friday morning are provided, but guests are welcome to leave Thursday evening if they wish.) There will be preaching and teaching sessions in the morning and evening, with free time in the afternoons. The week provides opportunities to rub shoulders with fellow servants from around the world in all stages of ministry. Please plan to join us.

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.

Important Dates to Know

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 13 – Most US banks will be closed for Columbus Day.
November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
November 11 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans 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.

Changes to WWNTBM Bylaws

We want to inform you of two recent updates to our bylaws. These changes bring added clarity to our Articles of Faith and ensure our positions are organized in their proper sections.

1. Marriage Language Update – The marriage statement in Article XVIII – D – Section 2 has been updated as follows:

• • Previous wording: “We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.”
    (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
  • Updated wording: “We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one natural born male human and one natural born female human.”
    (Gen. 2:24; Rom. 7:2; I Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)

2. King James Version Position Relocation – Our position on the King James Version of the Bible was previously included under Article XVIII – A. It has now been relocated to its own section for clarity: Article XVIII – L.

New Section XVIII – L: Our Position on the Authorized Version – the King James Bible

a. The Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Received Text of the New Testament (Textus Receptus) are those texts of the original languages we accept and use.

b. Therefore, we believe the Word of God is preserved in the King James Version for English-speaking people. The only approved Bible for use in English-language settings by the mission agency and its missionaries is the King James Version.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please feel free to reach out for clarification.

Financial Report Reminder

As we enter the last quarter of the year, thoughts turn to year-end tax procedures. Many people begin thinking of last-minute deductions that will affect them. If you anticipate making large ministry purchases and you desire the purchase to be a deduction in the year 2025, you may wish to make the purchase by the end of November. Because of the way our 1099s are calculated, December expenses are “reimbursed” out of January income, so the tax benefit on your 1099 would actually be considered a 2026 reimbursement. Regardless of when the purchase is made, you will still receive a tax benefit. However, we wanted you to be aware of these deadlines as you plan your expenses over the next few months.

IRS to Phase Out Paper Refund Checks

Beginning September 30, 2025, the IRS will phase out paper tax refund checks, moving to electronic payments as part of Executive Order 14247. Per the IRS electronic refunds are faster, more secure, and less costly than paper checks. Paper checks are over 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, or delayed.

The IRS will publish detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. We will share these guidelines as soon as they become available. Until further notice, taxpayers should continue using existing forms and procedures, including those filing their 2024 returns on extension of a due date prior to Dec. 31, 2025.

You should continue filing returns the same way. Most refunds will now be issued by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods. For those without access to a bank account, options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets, or limited exceptions will be available. In preparation for these new changes, be sure you know your banking information.

Legacy Contact Access Key

If you have Apple devices, consider setting up a Legacy Contact Access Key. A legacy contact access key is a secure code that allows a designated person to access your digital data and passwords after your death or incapacitation. There is no cost required.

How to get a Legacy Contact Access Key

1. 1. Add a Legacy Contact: On an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac), go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact.
   2. Choose a contact: Select a trusted person from your contacts to be your Legacy Contact.
   3. Receive the key: After adding the contact, your device will generate a unique access key.
   4. Share the key: Share this key with your Legacy Contact. You can do this by sending it electronically via Messages (if they are on a compatible device) or by printing a physical copy to keep with your estate planning documents.

What your Legacy Contact needs to access your data

After your passing, your Legacy Contact will need to provide two things to Apple to request access: The Legacy Contact Access Key you provided and a death certificate for you.

They can then use this information to initiate a request through Apple’s Digital Legacy service, allowing them to access your Apple account data.

Faith Promise Cards

Thanks to a fellow missionary, our Faith Promise Cards are available to download in Chinese, French, and Spanish.

The office has three different designs of English Faith Promise cards as well as two designs of Children’s Faith Promise Cards available for download or order. All Faith Promise Cards are free! Donations to help cover the cost of printing and shipping are accepted.

Find these and other helpful resources for your missions conference at helpmymissionsconference.com.

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.

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.
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 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 and 2027!

Upcoming Trips:
Atlanta World Cup: June 13-22, 2026
Scotland: July 3-18, 2026
Dominican Republic: July 31-August 10, 2026
Croatia: June 8-19, 2027

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.

Important Dates to Know

August 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
August 1 – July Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
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.
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.

Missions Support And The Local Church

Our staff has compiled a document that we believe is beneficial to churches and missionaries alike. This is a compilation of recommendations on missions finances, based on over fifty years of assisting with processing missions support funds. In addition to practical observations, our staff has spent much time researching legal and financial guidelines from many government agencies, as well as with our team of financial advisors and tax lawyers. Click here to download the document. This is also available on the giving page of our website. Feel free to recommend this to churches you come in contact with.

New Staff Member

Bethany Lockhart is the daughter of our General Director, Jeremy Lockhart. She is a member with her family at Maranatha Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. Bethany graduated high school this year. She feels called to missions and agreed to join our office part-time while she takes classes at Ambassador Baptist College. We are thrilled to have her join the team and look forward for what the Lord has in store for her future. Her email is [email protected].

Postage Increase

Please note that the US Postal Service has voted to increase postage for 1-ounce first class letters from $0.73 to $0.78 within the US, and from $1.65 to $1.70 for international mail. Metered mail that we send in the office (instead of using a stamp) has increased to $0.74 for the first ounce.

Financial Couriers

Missionaries occasionally have situations where they request that we send funds through a courier, rather than through normal banking channels. Often this is used when it is beneficial to have US cash brought into a country. We have established the following fiduciary guidelines to ensure full transparency and accountability whenever we distribute funds to an individual who is not a World Wide missionary. If you have questions about this process, please contact our office.

• • If the courier is a US Citizen, they must provide:

1. 1. 1. A W-9 form for our records
      2. A government-issued photo ID, preferably a passport, that shows their citizenship status
      3. An ACH Credit form with their banking information

• • If the courier is a Non-US Citizen, they must provide:

1. 1. 1. A W-8BEN form for our records
      2. A government-issued photo ID, preferably a passport, that shows their citizenship and visa status

Additional Notes:
If funds will pass through multiple individuals before they reach the missionary, World Wide will need a list of each individual who will handle the funds, so that we can provide the courier with a chain of custody receipt. This receipt should be signed by each individual along the route. The missionary will then return the receipt to World Wide once funds are received.

The Missionary should confirm any restrictions for someone carrying cash into their country. Each country has its own laws about how much cash can be brought in, and whether it needs to be declared to customs officials.

Groups traveling together as they leave the US are limited to carrying a combined total of $10,000 without declaring it for customs purposes. There is no impact to them for declaring it. However, failure to declare funds in excess of $10,000 can result in penalties.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

*Due to the technical difficulties in the office and SecureCloud being down, we are extending the due date for reports due in July.

July 10 – May Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 10 – June Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 4 – The Office and most US Banks will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.
August 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
August 1 – July Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
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.

DirectLine Ministry

Paul Woody is a former missionary church planter with WWNTBM to the Dominican Republic. He and his wife, Debbie, serve as representatives for DirectLine Ministry. DirectLine Ministry desires to keep the cost of shipping to a minimum for missionaries who need help getting Scriptures, tracts, and church supplies to their fields. They help instruct the missionaries step-by-step on how to process a container. Low-cost and personal help from them makes receiving materials much easier for the missionaries. Learn more at directlineministry.com.

International Term Life Insurance

Life insurance is vital for families because it gives financial security and peace of mind to your family should you pass away. Life insurance provides your family with the funds needed to replace your income, pay for expensive funeral arrangements, and protect your family’s financial future. Coverage is recommended to be 10-12 times your annual income. Among the many types of insurances, term life insurance is a popular choice due to its affordability and straightforward nature.

Good Neighbor Insurance offers international term life insurance plans to U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. These plans are tailored to your needs as you serve the Lord on a foreign field. Learn more about a term life insurance plan that might be right for you, please visit gninsurance.com.

Good Neighbor Insurance also offers Travel Insurance and International Health Insurance for individuals and groups.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
June 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
July 4 – The Office and most US Banks will be closed in celebration of Independence 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.

Summer Helpers

Makenzie Case is a member at Gantt Street Baptist Church in Cayce, SC. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a degree in Elementary Education and Missions. She joined our team in 2023, helping coordinate the See the Harvest trips remotely while also teaching third-grade children at a Christian school. This summer, she is joining the office staff to assist with tasks in the office. Her email is [email protected].

Madelyn Davies is a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Wythville, VA, where her father serves as the Associate Pastor. This young lady has a heart for missions and wanted to learn about World Wide and what we do. She will join our staff from June 9-20, 2025.

New Baby

2025 Graduates

Several in our missions family have graduated in recent months. We are thankful for each of these individuals. They have worked hard to achieve this milestone, and we look forward to seeing how the Lord will use them in the future. Click here for a list of graduates and their future plans.

Missionary Milestones

We would like to recognize several ministry milestones being reached during the year 2025. We are grateful for these individuals who continue to serve faithfully.

Click here to view the list in the Headquarter Happenings Folder for Secure Cloud.

Learn Biblical Giving

Learn Biblical Giving is a 13-lesson series teaching a biblical perspective on giving. The course helps churches, schools, families, and Bible study groups learn the spectrum of giving from the Word of God. Click here to visit the website to view the video series.

Things to Consider When Mentioning Financial Needs to Donors

You may occasionally have financial needs that are not covered by your regular support funds. It is good for your donors to be aware of the needs of your ministry. However, there are some things that you should think through when mentioning such situations to donors. Because of this, WWNTBM asks that you keep the following information in mind when communicating your needs and contact us prior to seeking designated funds.

When WW receives or receipts funds with a specific designation, we become legally accountable to ensure the funds are used for that specific project. One challenge with this approach is that multiple donors may give above what is needed for the project, leaving surplus funds that cannot be redirected to other areas of ministry without the donor’s approval. Because of this, our recommendation is that funds always be designated simply “as needed for the missionary,” without any additional designations or specifications attached. Where that is not possible, we recommend the following.

First, if you are asking to raise funds for a specific project, we request that you let the Office know ahead of time. This allows us to be prepared for new donations or any questions we may receive from your donors.

Second, there are many logistical items the Office can assist you with. For instance, it may not be advisable to ask donors to mark a gift as “France Building” because we may already have another missionary raising funds with that designation, and it could create confusion with how we would process the donation. Therefore, it is always best to confer with the Office prior to contacting donors, so that we can help advise on the best way for funds to be designated. In addition to the designation, there may be tax implications to you based on the manner in which funds are designated. We can help ensure the best tax situation for you as funds are received.

Third, we always recommend that donors make checks payable to WW, rather than to the individual missionary. Although we do have the ability to cash checks in your name, this makes for a smoother process and can avoid unnecessary tax paperwork for the church and the missionary. (If a church makes funds payable to you in the amount of $600 or more over the course of the year, they are required to issue a separate 1099 to you, even if the funds came through WW. In addition, if you are not a US citizen, there may be other tax and visa implications for you.) If you have any questions, please reach out to our staff.

Opportunity for High School Juniors and Seniors

Ambassador Baptist College has a dual-enrollment program, allowing high school juniors and seniors to take up to two classes per semester to get a head start on a Bible degree. These classes are offered tuition-free, and are taught over zoom. Click here to see more information about this program.

Plan for Retirement

Bro. Whetstone has emphasized the need for each missionary to plan for retirement. John O’Malley’s brother, David, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and has helped the Office as well as many of our missionaries with their investments. He produced a short video for our missions family about saving for the future. We trust this will be helpful to you. If you have questions or would like contact information for him or other financial advisors, please contact Kim O’Malley.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 26 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Memorial Day.
June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
June 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
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.

Missionary of the Day

Our website at wwntbm.com promotes a missionary of the day. This is a great way to get to know about the ministries of others in our missions family. Some have chosen to set this as their home page so they can be reminded to pray for a different missionary each day.

The Edge Christian Camp and Edge2Go International

For the last several years, we have been blessed to have Scott Carsley, Carey Charles, and the team from The Edge Christian Camp attend Family Week and provide an exceptional program for our young people during the week.

Edge2Go is a ministry of The Edge Christian Camp that brings camp to Independent Baptist church locations. The Edge staff offers many aspects of summer camp in a one-day, day camp format, including activities, chapel service, evening service, God & I time booklets, games, activities, and competitions. They have recently been burdened to take this ministry internationally by partnering with missionaries. Their desire is to work with WWNTBM missionaries to bring camp to your mission field. If you are interested, or if you know local churches in the US who could utilize their services, please contact them through their website at theedge.camp.

Family Fellowship Week 2026

Now is the time to begin planning to attend Family Fellowship Week 2026! The conference will be held at the Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, NC, from April 13-16, 2026. The week begins on Monday afternoon and ends with breakfast on Friday morning. When interviewed, missionaries agree to attend Family Week for two years while on deputation and once every four years thereafter. Please plan to attend the entire week. This is an important time to gather for fellowship, encouragement, and reminders of our heritage.

2025 US MFR Template – Meal Allowance Rate

It has come to our attention that the old standard meal allowance rate of $59 is listed in the yellow comment box that pops up when hovering over the Meal Allowance column on the 2025 US MFR Template.

Please use the rates listed in the drop-down menu. The drop-down menu includes the current rates, including the “new” standard rate of $68.

Seasons of Ministry by Pastor Wingard

At Family Fellowship Week, we were asked about the Seasons of Ministry sermon series by Pastor Wingard. Pastor Wingard’s life principle was to “serve faithfully in his present season of life.” He exemplified this principle in his life and ministry, and we know you will be encouraged by this series.  Click here to listen to the sermon series.

Principles and Practices

Each year at Family Fellowship Week, Bro. Danny Whetstone teaches our Principles and Practices. These values have guided World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions since 1971, and they will continue to do so.

Below is the outline of our Principles and Practices. Click here to listen to Pastor Wingard teach our Principles and Practices. This audio is from the Family Fellowship Week of 2014.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 US taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.
May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
May 1 – April Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

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

Tax Filing Information

The deadline this year to file US taxes for most taxpayers is Tuesday, April 15. If you have not yet contacted your tax preparer about filing your taxes, you need to do so as soon as possible. Failure to file on time, even if you are unable to pay on time, can result in additional penalties and interest. Individuals can receive an extension of the filing deadline, but please note that if taxes are owed, interest on those payments will begin as of April 15 even if you are not required to file until later in the year. All missionaries with WWNTBM are responsible for filing their own taxes. If the office can assist in providing paperwork to your preparer on your behalf, please let us know.

Financial Status Report

We will upload a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account in the coming days, showing figures for the first quarter of 2025. This is meant to show you the financial details that we have on file, such as your support estimate and the average amount of support you received this past quarter. This is information we provide to pastors who may call about your ministry. We ask that all missionaries update their support estimate once every four years, or as their lives and ministries change. Please review this information and contact us if you have any questions.

Policy on Designated Funds

The Executive Board adopted the following policy in 2023 for handling designated funds. They recognized you faced hardship and a challenge when designated gifts arrived at the missions agency, which were unsolicited and unexpected. Here is a reminder of our policy for handling designated funds:

Unsolicited Designated Funds: When a donor sends a designated unsolicited gift, we will process the gift as a regular gift. We will process the gift as unrestricted funds.

Solicited Designated Funds: We will follow donor intent when a missionary solicits funds for a project. All solicited projects need to be approved by the Executive Board. This agency has complete control of the donated funds and discretion regarding their use.

Reminders:
– We will make you aware of designations in the memo field of your support list.
– We can only accept designated funds for WWNTBM missionaries.
– We cannot receive funds designated as “national support” or funds designated as gifts for adult children of our missionaries (age 18 and older).

Doctrinal Agreement

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2025-2026 is now available for you to download and print from your SecureCloud folder. If you have not yet submitted your annual agreement, email us as soon as possible, indicating that you have read and are still in agreement with our Articles of Faith. If you have questions or concerns, please contact John O’Malley.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.

Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Noah Clarke to the World Wide family. Bro. Clarke is a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Fremont, CA, with Pastor Devon Ortiz and plans to serve the Lord in Brazil. Bro. Clarke is the brother of our missionary to Brazil, Gloria Duarte.

New Baby!

Michaela Grace Villarreal was born on March 27, 2025. Michaela is the third child of Stephen and Anelly Villarreal, and joins brothers Stephen (6) and Timothy (4). The Villarreals are missionaries in Mexico.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 1 – March Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 15 – The last day to file your 2024 taxes without an extension.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center 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.

Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

Please keep in mind that January reports are due on March 1, February reports are due April 1, and so forth. It is very important that your reports are submitted on time with all receipts. Thank you for helping our staff in this area.

Reminders about Receipts

Receipts must be submitted for all ministry expenses on your reports that are equal to USD $75 or more. According to the IRS, “A canceled check, together with a bill from the payee, ordinarily establishes the cost. However, a canceled check by itself doesn’t prove a business expense without other evidence.” Based on this, we do not accept cancelled checks in lieu of receipts. Credit card statements are also not preferred. Although they show date and cost, they typically do not show what was purchased or the business purpose of the expense.

Please be sure that all receipts submitted with your report include the entire receipt or invoice for the item(s). The purpose of a receipt is the outside verification of the expense. Therefore, you should never receipt yourself. Receipts should be obtained at the time the expense occurs.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If your plans for Family Fellowship Week have changed, click here to let the office know about your changes ASAP.

Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Jedidiah and Ashleigh Bickmore to the World Wide family. The Bickmores are members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Abingdon, VA, with Pastor Kevin Rogerson. The Bickmores plan to serve the Lord in Shuman, Bulgaria. They have four children: Jedidiah, Zoey, Octavia, and Sofia.

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 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.

Important Dates to Know

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2024 tax year are available on Secure Cloud.
February 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
March 1 – February Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.
April 14-18, 2025 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center 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 Excel Template for US Missionaries

A new Excel template for the year 2025 has been uploaded to SecureCloud.

January financial reports for US Missionaries will be due on March 1. If you have not yet submitted your January report, please be sure to utilize the new template for all future reports.

Click here to view a Financial Report Checklist to ensure you are filling out your MFRs correctly.  This checklist is also available in the Secure Cloud folder named Forms and Manuals.

Benefits of Financial Reports for US Citizens

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that US Citizen Missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses rather than having all funds listed as personal earnings. Over the course of 2024, 74% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their 1099 Personal Earnings by a combined average of 25.06%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our office.

New Mileage Rate

Beginning on January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has increased to $0.700 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new Excel template for 2025, which will be available on February 15.

Family Fellowship Week

Family Week is fast approaching! We are excited to see the plans coming together, and we hope you are planning to attend. The week will begin with dinner on Monday evening, April 14, and will end with the Thursday night service. There will be free time in the afternoons so you and your family can enjoy the facilities or take in local attractions. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire week. Check-out will be Friday morning after breakfast.

If you have not yet contacted us to reserve your spot please do so ASAP by clicking here. Your final plans regarding attendance for you and any guests need to be communicated to our office by February 1, 2025. Changes made after this date will affect our contract billing with the retreat center. Click here to see more information and details about the week. We look forward to seeing you there!

IRS Information for the 2024 Tax Season

The IRS has issued a notice about this year’s tax season. Please click here to view the information from the IRS.

We encourage all missionaries who are subject to US Taxes to contact your tax preparer and begin the filing process as soon as possible.

Preparing and Filing Taxes for US Missionaries

Please note that while our Office Staff is familiar with many of the IRS regulations that affect missionaries, we are not authorities on the subject. We will attempt to assist our missionaries in any way possible; however, questions that are beyond the scope of your mission’s status are best directed to a tax professional.

We will provide you with the following information at the end of January. You may wish to submit this to your tax preparer:

• • • A copy of your 1099
    • A year-to-date Summary of the MFR information that you have submitted to the Office. This can be especially helpful if you have completed Categories 17-22, as many of those categories can affect your personal taxes. This will show your Personal Earnings Calculations for the year, as well as Housing Allowance information and details of estimated taxes we may have submitted for you during the year. There may also be notices on this document specifically for you and your tax preparer about any situations we are aware of that may impact your tax filing.

You should also provide your tax preparer with the following:

• • • List of the dates that you were in the US vs. out of the country during the year.
    • Details of any Housing Expenses, to be used in addition to the Approved Housing Allowance for completing Worksheet 1 of IRS Publication 517.
    • Information on any retirement plans that you may have contributed to during the year, or that you have received a distribution from during the year.
    • Names and Social Security Numbers of all family members.
    • Names and dates of any family births or deaths (children and spouses), as well as whether you were married during the year.

US Treasury Department regulations require that if you have any foreign bank accounts, and if the sum total of all of your foreign accounts has ever been $10,000 or more at any time during the year, you should file the FBAR via FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. Further information is available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

You may also need to complete Form 8938, which deals with foreign assets.

If you participated in the Healthcare Marketplace, you will need to provide your tax preparer with Form 1095-A.

New Missionary

We are pleased to welcome Cody and Nikayla Carden to the World Wide family. The Cardens are members of the McLeansville Baptist Church in McLeansville, NC, with Pastor Michael Barnette. Bro. Cody came with World Wide as an associate in March of 2023. He and Nikayla were married in October of 2024 and have now been accepted as missionaries with full status.  As See the Harvest Director, he will lead See the Harvest trips.

To learn more about See the Harvest and the upcoming trips, please visit SeeTheHarvest.com.

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 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.