Category: From the Memo Board

Dates to Know

May 27 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th

May 30 – The Office will be closed for Memorial Day

June 3 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 5th

June 20-24 – The Office will be closed for Family Fellowship Week

Bonikowsky Wedding

Congratulations to David Bonikowsky and Raquel Rodriguez, who will be married on Friday, May 6! David grew up in Spain as the son of Andy & Mimi Bonikowsky. In recent years, he has been active in the ministry that his grandparents, Al & Helga Bonikowsky, began in Irun, Spain. Raquel is the daughter of a pastor in southern Spain. Please be in prayer for this young couple as they seek the Lord’s will about future ministry opportunities. They are currently planning to remain in Spain for approximately a year, before returning to the U.S. to raise additional support.

New Baby

Congratulations to Matthew and Jennifer Inboden on the recent birth of Virginia Rose. She was born on March 27 and weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces. Virginia is their fourth child, joining older siblings Julia-Anne (7), Gabriel (5) and Alivia (3). The Inbodens have recently moved to Butte, Montana, where he will pastor the Lighthouse Baptist Church. Please pray for them in this new ministry.

Graduations

Several in our missions family are graduating this spring. Please be in prayer for them as they seek the Lord’s will concerning future plans.

Zachary Daab will be graduating from high school. He will be attending college in the U.S. this fall.

Jonathan Newton has completed his physical therapy training in India.

Joseph Zimmer has graduated from high school. He will be attending BJU this fall.

Missions Website

Missions.Today is a blog where missionaries can share resources and tips about life on the field. The goal is to provide a portal of information where missionaries can share and receive materials pertinent to missions and Christian service. The site is user-driven, and is most useful when many individuals participate in sharing information. We encourage you to browse the site and participate by posting your suggestions and ideas.

Vehicle for Sale

Missionary Sean Quinlan has for sale a 2006 Ford Turtle Top Van Terra E-350 XLT. This configuration seats 12 passengers, in addition to a copilot, and is also equipped for wheelchair access, although the wheelchair lift is not included. There is room for additional seats to be installed, if desired. The mileage is 136,900, and the engine runs well. There is some minor body work that could be done. The vehicle is located in Kings Mountain, NC. Asking price is $12,300. For more details please contact Bro. Quinlan at [email protected]. Please help spread this news if you know someone who may be interested.

Family Fellowship Week Picnic

This year’s Family Week will again begin with a picnic dinner and a casual time of fellowship. Valley Baptist is blessed to have a picnic shelter and facilities right on the church property.  Last year’s format for the first evening was a huge success, with an overwhelming number of people requesting this again.  If you’ve not yet registered, please be sure to click here to let us know if you will be able to attend or not.

Doctrinal Agreements

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2016-2017 is now available for you to download and print from your SecureCloud folder.  If you have not yet submitted your annual agreement, please click here, or email Naomi Torberson 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.

Charitable Contributions

Charitable contributions may be carried into future years if they cannot be deducted in the current year because they exceed your adjusted gross-income limits.  You may be able to deduct the excess in each of the next five years until it is used up, but not beyond that time.  Details of this option are available in IRS Pub 526.  We encourage you to discuss this possibility with your tax preparer, as it may be beneficial during furloughs when the Foreign Income Exclusion may not apply.

An App for SecureCloud

Did you know there is an app called OwnCloud available for your iOS or Android device? This app gives secure access to your SecureCloud account and allows you to view your files on your phone or tablet. At the end of each month, we scan any mail that has come to the Office for you and place it in your online account. This includes check stubs for all bills paid by the Office, as well as information that may have come from your supporters. World Wide does not sell this app; it is provided by the company, OwnCloud, who created the platform we use for SecureCloud.

New Missionary

Tim and Kristin Stalcup have recently joined the World Wide family. The Stalcups are sent out of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kings Mountain, NC, with Pastor Jim Ogle.  Their desire is to reach the Muslims in New York City, specifically the Afghan people. They have one daughter, Anna Faith Shirin, who is 17 months. Pray for the Stalcups as they begin their new ministry.

Bible Institute Resource

Melvyn and Carol Brown are veteran missionaries, and they have shared a resource they have created with our missions family. Their burden is to aid missionaries in starting Bible Institutes on the field and training people for service. You can read more about the materials and pricing at their website.

 

Family Fellowship Week

Family Fellowship Week is fast approaching! Please be sure to make plans to join us June 20-23 at Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg, VA. We will be exploring the theme, Workers Together With God. You’ll not want to miss this exciting time of encouragement with fellow servants. Click here to see what others are saying about this life changing week!

Moving to the Field or Furlough Trips

Are you leaving for the field soon? Planning a furlough? Click here to see a list of tips that might help in your planning stages. These lists are a part of the Missionary Procedures Manual, which is always available on SecureCloud.

Tax Alert

For tax year 2015 a significant change took effect in regards to the Federal Child Tax Credit. It is our understanding that this will affect those living abroad who have children under 17 and who utilize Forms 2555 or 2555-EZ when submitting their tax returns. If this applies to you, you may want to discuss with your tax preparer whether calculating your 2015 return without Form 2555 or 2555 EZ will give you a better outcome. Please discuss with your tax preparer whether this change will affect the amount you should be submitting in estimated taxes for 2016.

Tax Notes

As you prepare to submit your financial documents to your tax preparer, here are some things you may want to remember to give them:

• List of dates you were in the US vs. out of the country
• Details of any housing expenses
• Information on any retirement plans
• Information on any investments
• Information about any foreign bank accounts on which you are a signatory
• Details of any family births or deaths (Names, dates, and SSNs)
• Details of estimated taxes submitted
• Information about your health coverage and medical expenses
• W-2s, 1099’s, and other tax forms received
• Details of charitable contributions

New Missionary

Sammy and Connie McNeill have recently joined the World Wide family. The McNeills are sent out of the New Testament Baptist Church in Robbins, NC, with Pastor Darrin Richardson. They have been married for 33 years and have two adult daughters. Bro. McNeill has recently retired as the Chief of Police. His experience in law enforcement and as a coach in local schools has given him a burden to reach the unchurched youth in America. Pray for the McNeills as they begin this new ministry.

New Babies

Congratulations to Fred III and Brittany Daniel on the birth of Carolina Rose on January 28th. Carolina weighed 7 pounds and was 21 inches long. She is the sixth child of the Daniels, and joins older siblings Katherine, Ashlyn, Fred IV, Kevin, and Isabella. The family serves in Mexico.

Congratulations to Stephen and Charity Jenney on the birth of Samuel on January 29th. Samuel is the second child of the Jenneys, and joins his older brother Judson. The family plans to begin deputation this spring to work in the Southwestern United States.

Congratulations to Josh and Joanna Town on the birth of Jennifer Rose on February 16. She weighed 8.14 pounds and was 20 inches long. Jennifer is the third daughter of the Towns, joining Juliana and Jayla. The family currently serves in Lebanon, where they have been preparing for a stateside ministry to Muslims. They plan to transition back to the US later this summer.

Dates to Know

February 19 – You should receive the 2016 MFR Template with the new mileage rates.

March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due.

June 20-23 – Family Fellowship Week with Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg, VA.

Benefits of Financial Reports

The Monthly Financial Report (MFR) is the tool that missionaries can use to become accountable to WWNTBM for their reimbursable expenses, rather than having all funds listed as salary. Over the course of 2015, 79% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their W-2 Wages by a combined average of 29%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our Office.

Excel Template for 2016

We are working on some changes to the Financial Report Template. If you’ve not already done so, would you consider giving us some feedback? Click here to complete a short survey. We will need your response by February 8. Then, the new Excel template for the year 2016 will be available on or about February 19. This will give us time to review the your suggestions and incorporate any changes. January financial reports will be due on March 1. Should you wish to complete your report before the new template is available, you are welcome to submit it on the 2015 template.

Dates to Know

January 8 – Missionaries will receive their emailed statements of December Support Received.

January 11 – All missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day that they normally receive support.

January 15 – December financial reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2015.

June 20-23 – Family Fellowship Week with Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg, VA. Begin arranging your summer schedule to be with us!

January Income Totals

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December. As a result, please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

Housing Allowances for 2016

Housing allowances previously in place have automatically rolled over to the new year. Missionaries who are ordained are eligible to have a housing allowance in place, which can provide certain tax benefits. If you did not have a housing allowance in 2015 and would like to have one for 2016, or if you have questions regarding this, please contact our office.

New Excel Template

A new Excel template for the year 2016 will be available during the first week of February. This will give us time to review the need for any possible updates. January financial reports will be due on March 1. Should you wish to complete your report before the new template is available, you are welcome to submit it on the 2015 template.

New Mileage Rate

Beginning January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has decreased to $0.540 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected on the new Excel template for 2016.

Birth Announcement

Congratulations to Clayton and Linda Eliam on the birth of baby Timothy on December 17th. Timothy weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. Both mom and baby are doing well! Timothy is the fifth child of the Eliams, and joins his older siblings Cheryl (12), Nathan (10), Hadassah (7), and Keila (5). The family serves on the island of Pohnpei.

Upcoming Dates

December 1 – October financial reports will be due.

December 4 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 5th.

December 9 – All prayer letters should be submitted to our staff, in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 15 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Christmas, or before the end of the year.

December 21-25 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November financial reports will be due.

January 8 – Missionaries will receive their emailed statements of December Support Received.

January 11 – All missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day that they normally receive support.

January 15 – December financial reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2015.

December Support

Please contact us by December 15 if you would like funds in your account before Christmas. Final December support distributions will be made on January 11th for all missionaries, regardless of their regular pay date. Contacting us by December 15 will enable us to schedule your funds around bank closings and holiday hours. Should you have an emergency need after December 18, you may contact our staff at the following numbers:

John O’Malley: 704-974-6108
Kim O’Malley: 704-974-1008

January Income Totals

During a typical month, we close the books on the 25th, and any checks received after that date are posted to the following month. Due to receipting requirements, we cannot do this in the month of December. As a result, please be aware that your December support total may be higher than normal, while your January support total may be lower than normal. Please be sure to plan ahead for this!

New Arrival!

Congratulations to Josh and Sarah Wagar on the arrival of their daughter, Milena Kalani Wagar. She was born on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 24, weighing 8lbs., 7oz. and measuring 21 inches long. Sarah had some complications after the delivery; please be in prayer for her recovery.

 

Retirement Accounts

Each year we are required to publish to all missionaries the following:

WWNTBM currently offers our missionaries the option of participating in a 403(b) Retirement Plan, the non-profit version of a 401(k) plan. We encourage all of our missionaries to participate in some type of retirement planning. If you do not currently have a 403(b) account and would be interested in opening one, please contact our office for a listing of vendors and more information.

Due to IRS regulations, we are required to use a Third Party Administrator (TPA) to handle all 403(b) accounts. The administrative fee is $50.00 per year, which will be deducted from Support each January or February for those who contribute. The TPA assists us by administering our plan and keeping us in compliance with the Department of Labor and IRS codes.

Please note that loans and hardship withdrawals are not allowed by the companies who manage your 403(b).

Please see the file in SecureCloud for the latest information on contribution amounts and limits for 2015 and 2016.

Special Recognition

Jimmy Watson was recently recognized by the Governor of Colorado for his part in helping to catch a murder suspect, during the course of a speaking engagement at a church. Click here to read more details in his recent prayer letter.

Bible Institute Information

We recently asked you to submit information about Bible Institute courses you are familiar with, so we can share these resources with others. Contact information for companies that offer such curriculum is listed below. If you are familiar with other sources, please click here to submit additional information.

• Faith Bible Institute
  1133 HWY 139
  Monroe LA 71203
  faithbibleinstitute.com
• Macedonia Baptist College
  9690 US-601
  Midland, NC 28107
  (704) 784-4200
  macedoniabaptistcollege.com
• Jerrel Shaw, Sr., has materials available in Spanish. If you are interested you may contact him directly at [email protected].

Dates to Know

November 11 – All US Banks will be closed.

November 26-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.

November 30 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

December 1 – October financial reports will be due.

December 4 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 5th.

December 9 – All prayer letters should be submitted to our staff, in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 15 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 21-25 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November financial reports will be due.

January 8 – Missionaries will receive their emailed statements of December Support Received.

January 11 – All missionaries will receive their final December support on this day, regardless of the day that they normally receive support.

January 15 – December financial reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2015.

New Missionary Family

Matthew and Jennifer Inboden have recently joined the World Wide family. Matthew graduated from Ambassador Baptist College, as well as from Crown College and Emmanuel Baptist Seminary of Newington, CT. The Inbodens are sent out of the Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg, VA, with Pastor Chad Estep. Their desire is to plant a church in Columbus, Montana. They have three children: Julia-Anne (6), Gabriel (5), and Alivia (3).

Christmas Prayer Letter Services

If the Office assists with your prayer letter, please be sure to submit December letters by December 9, so that they can be mailed in time for Christmas. Due to year end procedures in our Office and at PrayerLetters.com, letters may not be published between December 15 and January 5. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly. Thank you!

Christmas Letterhead Templates

Did you know that we have professionally designed Christmas Letterhead templates available for your use? These are available to all missionaries, whether the Office assists in sending your letter or not. For more information, please contact Laura Cmaylo.

Ministry Equipment

World Wide is required to maintain an inventory of all equipment valued at $500 or greater that missionaries have listed on Line 15 of their financial reports. Please review your records prior to the end of the year and let us know if you have disposed of or sold any equipment this year, so that we can update our records. Income received from the sale of the equipment will need to be recorded on Line 2 of your financial reports if you previously claimed the purchase as a ministry expense. If you have any questions, please contact Naomi Torberson.

Free Bibles

Lighthouse Baptist Press Ministry is a faith promise ministry of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle in Rapid City, South Dakota. They provide printing and shipping of Bibles at no cost to missionaries and church planters around the world. For more information, you can visit their website at LighthouseBaptistPress.us.

We are here to assist you

Often we are asked, “Whom do I contact when I want to get answers to my questions?” If you have a question about a specific area, these are the individuals who can best assist you:

Gifts you received:
Bekah Cmaylo – [email protected]
Naomi Torberson – [email protected]

Funds spent from your accounts:
Kim O’Malley – [email protected]
Naomi Torberson – [email protected]

Monthly Financial Reports:
Laura Cmaylo – [email protected]
Naomi Torberson – [email protected]

Please also continue to use the email address [email protected] to submit financial reports or receipts.

Prayer Letters:
Laura Cmaylo – [email protected]
Bekah Cmaylo – [email protected]

Please be sure to use the email address [email protected] to submit all correspondence related to your prayer letters or address changes.

Mrs. O’Malley manages the entire office. Our entire Staff exists to serve you and your needs. Each staff member has a speciality, but all will serve all of your needs. Your calls and emails are never a burden. We exist to help you as you serve the Lord. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your needs.

Mrs. Workman leaving for another ministry

Mrs. Anna Workman served with us for three years in the office. She enjoyed getting to know many of you. Effective October 1, she is now a church receptionist in Shelby, NC.

Birth Announcement

Congratulations to Rolando and Hannah Ortiz on the birth of their second daughter, Viana Alethia Ortiz. Viana was born on September 14, weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz. The Ortizes are currently on deputation to go to Mexico.

Housing Allowance Reminder

If you already have a housing allowance in place, this will automatically roll over at the same amount for future years. There is no longer a need to submit a new request every year. If you would like to make a change to the amount of your allowance, please email the new amount to [email protected], and we will present this to the Executive Board for approval. Ordained missionaries who do not have an allowance in place may request one at any time.

Mark Your Calendar

The Office will be closed on Monday, September 7, in celebration of Labor Day.

New Missionaries

Markie and Christy Bullock have been appointed as associate missionaries with World Wide, pending their interview.   Bro. Bullock grew up on the mission field in Mexico.  After his graduation from West Coast Baptist College in 2005, they returned to Mexico, where they served as missionaries until the Lord called them to accept an associate pastorate at the McKee Road Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA.  They now believe it is the Lord’s will for them to serve in Spain.  They are being sent out of the Pine Bluff Baptist Church of Albany, GA, with Pastor Keith Smith.  The Bullocks have two sons, Nick (7) and Sam (5).

Nick and Lindsey Stelzig are the newest additions to the World Wide family.  They are both recent graduates of Ambassador Baptist College.  While at Ambassador, they were active in inner-city ministries in Charlotte, NC.  Their desire is to plant inner-city churches in the Boston, MA area.  They are sent out of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Yorktown, VA, with Pastor Dale Coffey.  The Stelzigs have one son, Gabriel, who is 6 months old.

Office Staff Transitions

April Howell resigned last month. April served with World Wide in areas of prayer letters, graphics design, and web layout since 2011.

Bekah Cmaylo and Laura Dillon will be sharing April’s previous responsibilities regarding prayer letters. Please be sure to use the email address [email protected] to submit all correspondence related to your prayer letters or address changes.

April has offered to continue doing graphics work on a freelance basis for our missionaries. If you are interested in this you may contact her directly at [email protected].

We would also recommend Andrew Minion for any of your graphics and web design needs. He may be reached at [email protected].

Prophet Room Available in Tennessee

Tennessee Ridge Baptist Church in Tennessee Ridge, TN, has a guest room available for those traveling in that area.  Contact Pastor Dennis Kirk at 865-360-4240 for information and reservations.

Fund-Raising Projects

From time to time you may have a need to raise funds for a special purchase.  Often our missionaries will raise funds for Bibles, hymnbooks, pews, vehicles, building programs, or assistance for nationals serving in their ministries, among other things.

If you will be raising funds for a special project such as this please contact our Office in advance, as the Executive Board must vote on any special projects for which funds are received in our Office.

Intern

We are enjoying having Kaitlyn Haye as an intern in the Office this summer! Kaitlyn grew up in a ministry family. She is a student at Ambassador Baptist College, where she is majoring in Church Ministries. She and her husband, Drew, were married in May of this year. They are members of the Crossroads Baptist Church of Columbus, NC, with Pastor Nathan Deatrick. Upon completion of her schooling in December, they plan to pursue a ministry in evangelism.

 

New Missionaries

Stephen and Charity Jenney have joined the World Wide family. The Jenneys are sent out of Shalom Baptist Church in North Tonawanda, NY. Charity’s father, Roland Mills, is their pastor. The Jenneys are both graduates of Ambassador Baptist College. Their plans are to begin deputation to plant churches in Arizona. Their son Judson is one, and they are expecting another baby early next year. Please be in prayer for them as they begin this new ministry.
 

Missionary Housing Available in PA

Nathan Fry’s parents, Jim & Pat Fry, have a house in central Pennsylvania. They would like to make it available to missionaries on a first come basis, for the reasonable cost of $250 per month to help cover the utilities. For more information, you may contact the Frys at 717-808-7922.

 

New Baby!

Congratulations to John and Sarah on the birth of their first child, John Gabriel, on July 28.  He was 20 inches long and weighed 7 pounds 6.3 ounces.  Everyone is doing well!  Keep them in prayer as they are finishing deputation and preparing to leave for the field soon.