Dates to know

July 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

August 1 – June financial reports will be due.

August 13 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before August 31st.

August 20-24 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

August 31 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

September 1 – July financial reports will be due.

September 3 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Labor Day.

Mark Your Calendars

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

Thank you!

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

25th Anniversary     

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

Dear Missions Family,

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

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

Thank you for the privilege to serve you!

John and Kim O’Malley

SERVE Qualities

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

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

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

Form I-9

Summer Dates to Know

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week in Shelby, NC.

July 1 – May financial reports will be due.

July 4 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.

July 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

August 1 – June financial reports will be due.

August 13 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before August 31st.

August 20-24 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

August 31 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

September 1 – July financial reports will be due.

September 3 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Labor Day.

New Babies

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

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

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

New Missionary

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

Student Interns

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

Summer Support

Bank holidays and the timing of weekends this summer in relation to when we close the books may affect the days you receive your support. Please make a note of the adjusted pay dates for July and August listed above, and contact us in advance if you have special needs for early deposits during those months.

Most of our staff will be traveling to Germany for the Encouragement Conference in August. We are trying to plan ahead to reduce interruptions in our service to you during this time. Please message us via Signal by August 13 if you would like funds in your accounts before August 31. Contacting us by August 13 will enable us to schedule your funds before we leave. Upon our return, we will need time to handle the mail that will arrive during our absence. Therefore, final August support distributions will be made on August 31.

Uplift Podcasts

The following recordings were recently published on Uplift.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

Recent Episodes

Family Ministry On The Road by Pastor Frank Camp

Dangers of Spiritual Indifference by Pastor Freeman Weems

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

Helpful Resources Recently Shared on Uplift:

The Plague of Plagues by Ralph Venning

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

What Do I Know About My God by Mardi Collier

Go Ye There Podcast by Leland Johnson

Breeze Church Ministry Software

Dates to Know

May 28 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Memorial Day.

May 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

June 1 – April financial reports will be due.

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week in Shelby, NC.

July 1 – May financial reports will be due.

July 4 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.

July 30 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

August 1 – June financial reports will be due.

August 13 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before August 31st.

August 20-24 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

August 31 – Adjusted pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 29th.

September 1 – July financial reports will be due.

September 3 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Labor Day.

Summer Support

Bank holidays and the timing of weekends this summer in relation to when we close the books may affect the days you receive your support. Please make a note of the adjusted pay dates for May, July, and August listed above, and contact us in advance if you have special needs for early deposits during those months.

Most of our staff will be traveling to Germany for the Encouragement Conference in August. We are trying to plan ahead to reduce interruptions in our service to you during this time. Please message us via Signal by August 13 if you would like funds in your accounts before August 31. Contacting us by August 13 will enable us to schedule your funds before we leave. Upon our return, we will need time to handle the mail that will arrive during our absence. Therefore, final August support distributions will be made on August 31.

Family Fellowship Week

This year’s Family Week will be hosted by Pastor Barry Goodman and the Faith Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina. Family Week will begin with registration at 4:30 p.m. Monday evening, followed by a dinner in the fellowship building of the church at 5:30 p.m. The evening service will immediately follow. Guests will be housed at the American Inn in Boiling Springs, which is approximately 15 minutes from the church.

Each missionary is invited to bring their ministry display to set up in the gymnasium area. Church members, visitors, and other missionaries will have time to visit the displays throughout the week. Children’s activities for the week will include skating, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf, a playland, and a ropes course. Please watch your email for more details as the week approaches.

New Missionary

Garrett Conley is the newest missionary to join the World Wide family. He is a member of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, with Pastor Jim Davidson. Brother Conley will graduate from Ambassador Baptist College this spring. He has traveled for three years with Neighborhood Bible Time, including spending two summers in Ireland. He plans to go to Ireland later this year, where he will complete a one-year internship with Pastor Bob Zemeski while he seeks the Lord’s will for future ministry. Pray for him as he travels on deputation this summer.

New Baby

Grace Elizabeth Fry was born on April 24th. She was 20 inches long and weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces. Grace is the first child of Nathan and Hannah Fry. The Frys have a ministry called Lens of the Harvest, through which they assist missionaries and churches with photography and presentation needs.

Uplift Meetings

Have you joined us for one of our Uplift meetings? We host a video conference call every Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time. In addition, we host bi-monthly meetings that alternate between Tuesday mornings and Tuesday evenings to give those in other time zones an opportunity to participate.

Each meeting features a time of prayer for those in our missions family. Most feature a board member or other guest who shares devotional thoughts to challenge and encourage you. Staff members are available to give announcements and answer office-related questions. Sessions are recorded and published in a podcast for those unable to attend the live meetings. Once a month we also have unrecorded meetings to provide a forum where you can openly discuss ministry needs with John O’Malley and Jeremy Lockhart.

Upcoming Tuesday meeting times will be as follows. All times listed are Eastern Time.

• Tuesday, May 8 at 9:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, May 22 at 9:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 12 at 9:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m.

If you have not yet joined, we encourage you to try us out.

Dates to Know

New Missionaries

Matt and Colleen Dundon have recently joined the World Wide family. They are sent out of the Hampshire View Baptist Deaf Church of Silver Spring, MD, with Pastor Terry Buchholz, where he has been serving as assistant pastor. Bro. Dundon is a graduate of Capital Baptist Deaf College. Their goal is to plant a deaf church in Philadelphia, PA. Please pray for them as they begin deputation.

Colton Lee is a new associate with World Wide. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of La-Salle, IL, with Pastor Wesley Waddle. Bro. Lee will graduate from Ambassador Baptist College this spring and plans to do short-term evangelistic missions trips several times a year to different locations. He recently took a trip to India to minister with the Hendricks family. In addition to missions trips, he will be working as a staff evangelist for Camp Joy in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Pray for him as he completes his studies and begins making plans for his next overseas trip.

Doctrinal Agreements

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2018-2019 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.

Donations for Adult Children

We recognize that donors often wish to show kindness to our missionaries by sending birthday gifts, etc., for their children. However, WWNTBM cannot receive funds designated for adult children of our missionaries (age 18 and older). This is to protect financial integrity by not issuing charitable contribution receipts for funds designated for individuals who are not missionaries with us. In some instances, receiving such donations through WWNTBM could also create tax issues for the recipient, and/or possible visa issues if they are not US citizens. If a donor is interested in assisting your adult college student, we suggest that funds be sent directly to the student, or to the student’s educational institution.

We are here to serve all the needs of our missions family. If there are other ways in which we can assist your college student while they are away from family and home, please let us know.

Uplift

Several new recordings were recently posted on Uplift! We hope you find encouragement in these devotionals. (Access Information: Username- wwntbm Password- gospel)

Finish Your Race Well by Steve Zeinner

Comfort In God’s Characteristics by Fred Daniel, Jr.

Flee And Follow by David Fulp

Raising Kids In Missions (Part 1) by Jonathan Earnhart

Amazon Shopping Donation

Did you know that it is possible to support the ministry of World Wide through your regular purchases from Amazon? Simply click here to begin your shopping experience at smile.amazon.com, and then link your account to authorize Amazon to make donations to World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions Inc. Amazon will then donate a portion of their proceeds to the Office.

Teaching English as a Second Language

Crown College of the Bible in Powell, Tennessee is offering an eight-week summer course which can equip you with internationally recognized certificates to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Structured Literacy. It is their desire to help missionaries preparing for the field to get this certification quickly and easily. You will earn your TESOL certification by completing courses on different teaching methods, choosing the right curriculum, and using the Word of God as your English Textbook. You will have opportunities to student teach and practice what you learn. The Lord is already using graduates with this certification around the world—including many creative access nations. Other graduates are using these certifications in the United Kingdom to reach many of the Muslim immigrants coming into the nation. A church has recently been planted through these efforts!

Classes begin May 8th. Contact Crown College at 865.938.8186 or [email protected] for more information.

Dates to Know

March 30 – the Office will be closed in observation of the Resurrection

April 1 – February financial reports will be due

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week in Shelby, NC

Financial Report Checklist

Changes in ministry can affect the typical expenses you list on your reports from month to month. For instance, someone on deputation will primarily have travel expenses, while someone on the field may have more costs related to renting a building or purchasing snacks and Sunday School supplies. Someone coming home on furlough will be dealing with mileage, meal allowances, and lodging costs they don’t usually see when on the field. We suggest that you click here to review our checklist of commonly overlooked expenses, to be sure you are claiming all allowable deductions.

Changes in Tax Laws will affect you this year

Our CPA has given us guidance on several changes taking place for this tax year. While our staff is not qualified to give tax advice, we do seek to keep you aware of situations that may impact you financially. Please review the following information carefully, and contact us or your tax preparer if you have questions.

• Necessity of submitting MFRs

Our accountable plan has always provided a benefit to those who choose to submit Monthly Financial Reports. Those who do not participate have previously had the option to itemize unreimbursed employee expenses on Schedule A of their personal taxes. However, starting this year that is no longer an option. This means that if you have previously been submitting ministry expenses through your tax preparer, you will lose the tax benefit this year unless you begin submitting MFRs. Some ministry expenses could possibly still be used to modify self-employment taxes via Schedule SE, but those specifics would need to be discussed with your tax preparer. By far the best situation is for you to report all ministry expenses through WW, thus providing the fullest tax benefit. If you are new to submitting reports, or even if you just need a quick review, you can click here to download a handy checklist.

Please note that other personal expenses may still affect your tax return, such as health care, contributions, etc. This change specifically affects ministry expenses, such as mileage, travel, and so forth.

• Change in Entertainment Expenses

Several have asked about the change that eliminates the ability to claim business entertainment expenses. Our CPA has assured us that taking a supporting pastor to lunch and hosting missions teams are expenses that can still be listed on your MFR. One key factor is recording the business purpose of the meal, as well as the participants. (i.e. Took Pastor and Mrs. Smith to lunch to discuss ministry philosophy, or took the Taylors to coffee for a counseling session.) This change specifically affects entertainment expenses such as tickets to sports games or concerts, or sightseeing excursions, so will likely have little impact on our missionaries.

• Change in Moving Expenses

One big change is that moving expenses are no longer tax deductible. Therefore, shipping a container of household goods is no longer able to be listed on your MFR. If that container also has ministry items, it is possible there may be some allowances that can be made for a portion of the overall expense. Our CPA is unsure how the impact of this change will play out, as the IRS begins making decisions on case-by-case situations of what may still be allowable vs. what will definitely not be allowed. Passports and visa costs will still be allowed, as they are not specifically related to moving. For now, please be aware of this as you estimate costs for moving to the field. As many costs will no longer be tax deductible, you may wish to increase your estimated tax payments to help make up the difference. Please communicate with us when the time comes to move, so we can consult our CPA about your individual case.

• Change in Child Tax Credits

These changes will affect each family differently, and it is vital that your tax preparer is aware of both state and federal laws that affect this complex situation. Following is a brief note from our CPA: “We are balancing state and federal laws regarding the foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE), foreign tax credits, and child tax credits. In some cases, we delay using the FEIE for federal purposes (but not for state, if applicable), in order to gain benefits of child tax credits. With the increased credits, especially the refundable portion, it’s potentially a whole new ballgame. As our missionary clients get older and their children begin to turn age 17 or begin to attend accredited colleges (depending on the five-year window for FEIE elections), we annually must revisit these factors.”

We recommend discussing your situation with your tax preparer annually, and asking that they recommend which method of exclusions vs. tax credits will most benefit you not only in the current year but also for the future. Our CPA is also available to discuss this should you or your preparer have questions.

• Tax Notes

As you prepare to submit your financial documents to your tax preparer, here are some things you may want 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 – IRA, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or 403(b)
• Information on any investments
• Information about any foreign bank accounts on which you are a signatory
• Details of any family births or deaths in 2018 (Names, dates, and SSNs)
• Details of estimated taxes submitted
• Information about your health coverage and medical expenses, including the type of health coverage you have (i.e. traditional insurance, marketplace insurance, health sharing plan, etc.)
• W-2s, 1099’s, and other tax forms received
• Details of charitable contributions
• Be sure your tax preparer is aware that you are a dual-status minister, who is self-employed but receives a W-2.
• New for this year: You may need to provide copies of a photo I.D. such as a drivers license or passport if your preparer will be submitting your taxes electronically

Dates to Know

February 19 – You should receive the 2018 MFR Template with the new mileage rates.

March 1 – January Financial Reports will be due.

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week in Shelby, NC.

August 20-24 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

Uplift

The Friday Uplift time changed to 11:15 AM. The adjustment allows everyone a better block of time for making deputation contact calls. If you have never attended Friday Uplift, please join us for this time of encouragement and prayer. Other Uplift meetings this month are Tuesday, February 13th at 9:00 AM EST and Tuesday, February 27th at 9:00 PM EST.

Women of World Wide

We’re announcing a fairly new ministry of WWNTBM for ladies only. For several months now, we’ve had a Facebook closed group for the women of our mission. Every day, you can laugh, pray, ask questions, and share with us. Some of our ladies are very active, but we haven’t seen many of you at all. Perhaps you didn’t even know we existed. Men, please tell your wives about WOW (Women of World Wide), and if you are a World Wide lady reading this, please come over and join us. It would be wonderful to have ladies praying for each other at any hour of the day or night. We are all over the globe, you know! Hope to see you soon! Your fellow WOW, Lou Ann Keiser (Spain)

Please contact the office to be added to the WOW group.

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 2017, 82% of those eligible chose to submit MFRs. By doing so, they were able to reduce their W-2 Wages by a combined average of 33.73%. If you are not currently utilizing MFRs and would like information about how to begin, please contact our Office. This tool will be even more important in 2018 as changes to the tax law may make it more difficult to claim certain items on your own taxes that could still be claimed through the WW office.

Financial Status Report

We have uploaded a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account. 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.

New Baby

Congratulations to Joshua and Joanna Town on the birth of their newest baby, Joshua Scot. He was born on January 31, and weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. Joshua joins three sisters: Juliana, Jayla, and Jennifer. The Towns are starting an Arabic church plant in Philadelphia, PA. Pray for their ministry as they are seeking a new location.

Dates to Know

January 9 – Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

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

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2017.

January 31 – W-2 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2017 year will be available.

June 18-21 – Family Fellowship Week with Faith Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. Begin arranging your summer schedule to be with us!

August 20-24 – European Encouragement Conference in Nittendorf, Germany.

SecureCloud Packets

At the end of each month, we scan any mail that has come to the Office and place it in your SecureCloud folder. This would include check stubs for all bills paid by the Office, as well as any cards or correspondence from donors. Please be sure to check SecureCloud periodically, especially once you receive the notice that December packets have been uploaded, as many missionaries have received Christmas cards and letters which are available to you there.

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 2018

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 2017 and would like to have one for 2018, or if you have questions regarding this, please contact our office.

New Excel Template

A new Excel template for the year 2018 will be available during the second 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 2017 template.

New Mileage Rate

Beginning January 1st, the IRS mileage rate has increased to $0.545 per mile for business/ministry miles. This change will be reflected in the new Excel template for 2018.

New Tax Laws

On December 22, President Trump signed legislation that enacts some major changes to tax law. We are working with our CPA to determine what changes may affect our missionaries and will keep our missions family updated with our findings. We would recommend that as you begin working with your tax preparer to file your 2017 taxes, you also consult with them on how these changes may impact you personally.

Uplift for Servants

Devotional excerpts from our Uplift calls are available to the general public at upliftforservants.com. Uplift For Servants will help other Christians benefit from the encouragement provided to us each week. Please feel free to share this resource with your friends and family!

Dates to Know

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due.

December 8 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 10th.

December 8 – All prayer letters should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 18 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 20-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due.

January 9 – Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

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

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2017.

January 31 – W-2 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2017 year will be available.

December Support

Please contact us via Signal by December 18 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 18 will enable us to schedule your funds around bank closings and holiday hours. Should you have an emergency need after December 19, 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!

Utilizing a Tax Professional

We have recently had several requests for information about tax preparers used by other missionaries. Therefore, we wanted to make this available again to everyone in case others are looking for a new tax preparer.

Studies have shown that the average person who uses a tax professional, instead of filing their own taxes, receives a much greater tax return. Many have also found that using tax software does not always compare to the benefits of using a professional either. In many instances it is not that the software or the self-filer is wrong, but that other choices not obvious in the software may be better for the individual. (Information taken from daveramsey.com.)

It is also good to note that not all professionals are familiar with tax situations that might affect you. We encourage all missionaries to use a certified tax preparer who is familiar with special tax situations that affect missionaries. A list of tax preparers used by other missionaries is available on SecureCloud, under the Forms and Manuals section. Each of these agencies are currently taking new clients. Prices and level of assistance can vary greatly from one agency to another, so it may be beneficial to contact them first to discuss your individual circumstances before choosing a preparer. A less expensive option may not always be the most beneficial for your situation.

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 403(b) Availability Notice in SecureCloud under the Forms and Manuals folder for the latest information on contribution amounts and limits for 2017 and 2018.

Uplift Podcasts

The following recordings were recently published on Uplift.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

• When Are You At Your Best? by John O’Malley
• Encouragement In The Jupiter Tree by Chris Swiatocho
• Pressing Through Distractions by Danny Whetstone
• A Glimpse Into Glory by Fred Daniel, Jr.
• Remembering To Make Him Known by Jeremy Lockhart
• Encouragement In God’s Call by David Fenley

Dates to Know

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due.

November 11 – Most US Banks will be closed for Veterans Day.

November 20 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Thanksgiving.

November 23-24 – 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 8 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 10th.

December 8 – All prayer letters should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 18 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 20-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due.

January 9 – Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

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

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2017.

January 31 – W-2 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2017 year will be available.

Executive Board Member

Pastor Chad Estep has been appointed to the Executive Board of WWNTBM. Bro. Estep has served on our Board of Reference since 2007. He has pastored Valley Baptist Church in Edinburg, VA, since 2015, where he previously served as assistant pastor under Bro. Jim Bailey since 1997. He and his wife, Becky, have three children: Jeremiah, LauraBecca, and Hunter.

Deputation Director

Bro. Jeremy Lockhart has recently been appointed as Director of Deputation for WWNTBM. He and his wife, Esther, have served with WWNTBM as missionaries in Brazil for the past ten years, where they have ministered alongside Omar and Tracey Schrock. The Lord has closed the door for them to return to Brazil but has opened up this new avenue of ministry for them to assist others in getting to the field. The Lockharts are graduates of Ambassador Baptist College and are sent out of Maranatha Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, with Pastor Jim Davidson. They are currently in the process of reporting to their supporting churches and have begun representing WWNTBM as well. They have four children: Allie (12), Bethany (10), Judah (8), and Levi (3). Please pray for them as they transition into their new responsibilities. Should you wish to reach Bro. Lockhart, you may do so by email or by phone at 704-434-6152.

Financial Status Reports

We have uploaded a Financial Status Report to your SecureCloud account. 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 you update your support estimate once every four years, or as your lives and ministries change. Please review this information and contact us if you have any questions or changes.

Uplift Podcasts

The following recordings were recently published on Uplift.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

• Serving Together With God: Allen Mercer
• Missing People Without Missing Your Calling: Albert Lorenzo
• Characteristics Of A Servant: Elwood Hurst
• Why God Used Ordinary Andrew: Mike Renfrow
• Three Things That Can Steal Your Song: David Carroll
• Blessing In Distress: Tim Daniel

Do you have any topics you would especially like to hear covered during these Uplift calls? If so, please let us know. We would appreciate any feedback you can provide us.

Please help spread the word about our public podcast, Uplift For Servants. Each episode averages 10 minutes in length. These short devotional excerpts are a perfect length for listening on the go.

Dates to Know

October 9 – Most US Banks will be closed for Columbus Day.

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due.

November 11 – Most US Banks will be closed for Veterans Day.

November 20 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Thanksgiving.

November 23-24 – 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 8 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive funds on the 10th.

December 8 – All prayer letters should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 18 – Please contact us by this date if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 20-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due.

January 9 – Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

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

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2017.

January 31 – W-2 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2017 year will be available.

New Privacy Policy

WWNTBM is committed to securing the privacy of all individuals associated with our agency. Therefore, we have adopted a new privacy policy to guide our staff and to inform our missionaries concerning how information is shared. A copy of this policy is available on SecureCloud under the Security Protocols folder. If you have questions or concerns about your privacy, please contact our office.

SecureCloud Settings

With our move to placing Support Lists and Ledgers in SecureCloud, we are receiving more feedback on the use of this secure platform. One common concern is that many of you have begun receiving emailed activity logs. These emails are automatically sent by the software, as a way to inform you of new files shared with you, or changes in your folders. If you do not want to receive these emails, you can change it in your settings.

• Log in to your account.
• Click on your name in the upper right corner, then select “Personal” from the dropdown menu.
• Add your email address if you have not yet done so. This will aid in password recovery.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page, under the Activity section.
• Adjust your preferences in the “Mail” column. If you never want to be notified, be sure to uncheck every item on the list.
• Return to your main screen by clicking on “Personal” from the upper left corner, and select the “Files” icon from the dropdown menu.

Click here to watch a video on how to change or retrieve your SecureCloud password.

Click here to watch a video on how to share files in SecureCloud.

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 2017, you may wish to make the purchase by the end of November. Because of the way our W-2s are calculated, December expenses are “reimbursed” out of January income, so the tax benefit on your W-2 would actually be considered a 2018 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. If you have questions about this, please contact Naomi Torberson.

REAL ID Update

In April 2017, we wrote about the future enforcement of “The REAL ID Act.” Starting January 22, 2018, state driver’s licenses presented at U.S. airports for ID purposes must be a “REAL ID” version. Otherwise, an alternative form of ID, such as a passport, will be required. Many federal agency websites, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, have recently published updated information regarding the requirements and enforcement of these policies. State-specific DMV websites provide instructions for obtaining a “REAL ID.” Please take time to research how this issue may affect you in the future.

Click here to find out more about the “REAL ID” and how your state is handling these new requirements.

Click here for more information from TSA.

Uplift Podcasts

The following recordings were recently published on Uplift.com. You may access the site by entering the username: wwntbm and the password: gospel. These recordings for our missions family contain the Uplift calls in their entirety, including prayer requests and challenges to our missionaries. We hope they will encourage your heart.

A Stewardship of Faithfulness: Duey Whitfield
Going Forth in God’s Grace: Ernie Bauserman
Trusting God to Provide: Jonathan Earnhart
Maintaining Focus on Deputation: Gene Krachenfels

Devotional excerpts from our Uplift calls are now available to the general public at upliftforservants.com. The new podcast, Uplift For Servants, will help other Christians benefit from the encouragement provided to us each week. Please feel free to share this resource with your friends and family!

Summer Intern

We were thrilled to have Rene Pollack complete her graphics design internship with us this summer. Rene is a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, with Pastor Michael West. She is a student at Pensacola Christian College. Rene helped us with several projects, including redesigning our application forms and creating new designs for kid-centered faith promise cards. She also assisted us with photography at FFW and has helped several of our missionaries with their design needs as well. If you have a design project that you need assistance with, you can contact her at [email protected]. Pray for her as she continues her education.