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From the Memo Board: June 2020

Dates to Know

June 29 – July 6 – See the Harvest Trip to Utah.

July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

July 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

July 3 – Our Office and US banks will be closed in celebration of Independence Day.

July 6 – Revised pay date for those who normally receive support on the 5th of the month.

August 1 – June Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries.

August 1 – July Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries.

New Look to Your Monthly Support List

We are implementing changes in our database to incorporate the National Partnership Services. Please note these changes to your Support List this month. We have added a new column of figures and also renamed the columns to add clarity to the report. The column titled Donations shows the total amount given by the donor. The MAS column represents the 5% contribution to cover Mission Agency Services. This applies to all missionaries. The new NPS column represents the 5% contribution to cover the National Partnership Services. Although this column will show on all Support Lists, the percentage will only be applied to those who are a part of our National Partnership Program. The column for Missionary shows the amount of the donation that the missionary receives personally. The figure in the lower right of the last page of your Support List, in the box marked “Use this figure on your monthly financial report,” continues to be the sum of the Missionary Column for all accounts. It represents the total income you received personally during the month and should be used as the income figure on your monthly financial reports.

The NPS contribution, just as the MAS contribution, will be applied according to the following guidelines:

• When a donor indicates new support, even if it is the first time we have received funds.

• When funds begin coming from a donor on a regular basis, even if the check memo continues to say ‘gift,’ unless it is specifically designated such as ‘gift for building fund’ or some other specific project. Regular basis does not necessarily mean monthly; some donors give at varying times and some even give annually.

• All regular funds received are subject to the MAS and NPS contributions, regardless of whether they are received in personal or ministry support accounts (i.e. accounts for ongoing operations of a ministry such as a school or radio station.)

• Funds for specific projects will be evaluated on an annual basis to determine if they have become ongoing ministry support as opposed to one-time fundraising events.

New Monthly Reporting for Non-Resident Missionaries

Non-Resident Missionaries who do not have a Certified Foreign Non-Profit Organization (FNPO) should begin tracking their ministry expenses in the month of June, in order to submit their June NRA Financial Report by July 1. Please be sure to check your email and watch the video explaining how to complete the report. These reports should be submitted to [email protected], along with receipts for ministry items over $75. Please note that failure to submit the reports on time will prevent future distributions of funds from World Wide until all reports have been received. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Cmaylo.

World Wide of Canada Contact Information

Bro. Ernie Bauserman manages the office for World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions of Canada. Please note the updated contact number for our Canadian Office, effective June 1:

WWNTBM of Canada
PO Box 116
Elliot Lake, ON P5A 2J6
CANADA
705-849-9395

Ninth Hour Prayer Meetings

Bro. O’Malley continues to host a daily online prayer meeting to inform viewers and tell God our cares about the COVID-19 situation. This is held daily at 3 p.m. EDT, and it can be viewed on Facebook. We invite you to join in as you are able. Past meetings are available on Bro. O’Malley’s Facebook page. Click here to watch a recent meeting with Dr. Bill Wingard as the guest speaker.

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From the Heart of a Missionary: June 2020

The Missionary Woman’s “Disease”
by Lou Ann Keiser

I am sitting in my living room with the door open. The birds are singing, and it’s a gorgeous day. My husband is thumping around upstairs, taking something from his office to our bedroom.

I am alone.

Our children are grown and gone. (I mean really gone. The closest lives just over four thousand miles away.) They are married and the parents of the cutest grandsons on the planet. (Don’t let me get started!) When our youngest left the nest, the silence was deafening. Except for my husband’s goings and comings, it was like a tomb around here–too quiet!

I know some of you live in places where the noise deafens. Some of you have children running around the house–and hollering and getting into things–and you can’t even imagine the scene I painted for you. You’d like to hear silence, experience quiet.

You’ll agree, though. We all have a “disease” in common: loneliness.

You might work with a missionary team, or not. You might have lots of friends, or not. You might have the aforementioned children and a husband, or not. It doesn’t matter. You’re lonely.

Why is it that, in this day of connectedness–think social media, Skype, FaceTime, and secret groups. Did I tell you how thankful I am for you?–missionary women feel more lonely than ever in the history of missions? I believe it’s true, and I may understand some of the reasons why. Let me share a few thoughts.

We came to the mission field with illusions. We thought we’d adapt easier. We thought the people would love us. We had the idea that the natives were just waiting to hear the gospel–fields white unto harvest–and it turns out they couldn’t care less. We thought that it would be an adventure, and we found out it was hard, slogging work. We thought our teen kids would love it, but they resent the field–and us. We thought . . . . False expectations. Missionary work is no piece of cake. We thought too much.

We came seeking new friends. We severely limited our sphere of friends when we left our sending friends behind, moved across a border, and arrived at this place: our mission field. We looked for new friendships, and, thank the Lord, we’ve made some. Our soul sisters, those few-in-life kindred-spirit friends got left behind. We didn’t understand what that would mean. We’ve gone on, and so have they. After a few years, our life experiences are poles apart. They will always be our friends, but we (and they) have changed.

We became overwhelmed–or underwhelmed. We either jumped into the work feet first and got super busy, always seeing needs, always saying yes, that, along with preparing meals, cleaning house, mothering, wife-ing, and all the rest, we are exhausted. Every. Single. Day. Or . . . we have a hard time fitting in. Our team leader won’t let us do all we want to do, so we have too much time on our hands, and we feel frustrated, undervalued, and resentful.

We came to the field conscious of the airplanes out of here. Many years ago, missionaries went to the field with the understanding that they would live and die there. Many of those missionaries lived and died without ever seeing their families and home countries again. Their families couldn’t visit, either (or Skype or e-mail). I believe that, since we know we can “escape” or connect if necessary, it colors our emotions. We didn’t have to completely cut with the past when we came to the field, thank the Lord. We know we can be with our loved ones in a matter of two days or less, if need be. They can visit us, too. We have a foot here, and a foot back home. (I’m not recommending otherwise, you understand. Just talking!)

So, we’re lonely. We look inside our emotions and see a black hole that doesn’t fill up.

Sometimes, we lock our teeth, smile, and get on with life. Other times, we stream big ole tears.

How can a missionary woman deal with loneliness? Here are eight constructive ideas:
1. The Lord promises to meet all your needs. Make Him foremost. He will truly fill up your black hole with light. People don’t satisfy. God does. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
2. Invest your emotional energies (love) in the people closest to you. I’m talking about your husband and children. For singles, pray that God would give you a girlfriend where you are. She might be an older woman or someone closer to your age. Ask God to show you someone. If you don’t find a kindred spirit where you live, accept it as God’s will. Rely on Him. He will be your Best Friend. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4).
3. Avoid dwelling on what you don’t have, and give thanks. Suppress those negative, pity-party thoughts. Especially during the holidays, it’s normal to miss friends and family. When loneliness begins, change the self-conversation and give thanks to the Lord. A heart of praise cures attitudes and emotions. (Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 5:4)
4. Find joy in ministry. Love is, after all, giving. Give yourself to your family, your church ministry, and to meeting others’ needs. Enjoy your church people. Laugh and love.
5. Get out of the house! This is so basic, but there’s nothing like getting out of the house, taking a walk in a park, the countryside, or along the beach or lake. (It’s okay if you take the family.) There’s something about being outside in nature that refreshes the spirit. Don’t let yourself be hemmed in by walls. (Shopping malls don’t count!) Get out and find something God made. Breathe. Thank God for beauty. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? (Psalm 106:2)
6. Read. Ask friends for recommendations. If you work with a group of missionaries, swap books. Be open to different genres and new authors. I recommend reading missionary biographies from time to time. They’ll put your own struggles into perspective. Of course, read your Bible first, but if you need some unwinding time at night, a good book is much better than a movie.
7. Get a hobby. “Hobby? Surely you jest. I’m just trying to keep my head above water!” Here are some ideas: Do cross-stitch, crocheting, or knitting while the kids are playing. Learn how to cook like a native chef while visiting with the ladies in your church. Become a photographer. (You need the pictures for your ministry reports, anyway.) Sew. Cut hair. Play the violin. Plant and tend flowers or a vegetable garden. Write. Make crafts–again learning from the native women. A hobby helps you feel fulfilled because it’s something you enjoy and it’s productive. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it (Psalm 90:17).
8. Remember that loneliness is a perception, a state of mind. Oh yes, it’s real, too! When you’re lonely, read the Psalms. Let their beauty and trust wash over your soul. Let God speak to you, renew your mind, and mend your heart.

God bless you!

If this article has been a blessing to you, let Mrs. Lou Ann Keiser know here. The Missionary Woman’s Disease first appeared on http://inhershoesbmw.blogspot.com/ in December 2014. 

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From the Memo Board: May 2020

Dates to Know

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due.

July 1 – May Financial Reports will be due.

July 3 – Our Office will be closed in celebration of Independence Day

Family Fellowship Week

We have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Family Fellowship Week due to COVID-19. The Lord willing, New Testament Baptist Church in Kinston, NC, will co-host next year with Calvary Baptist Church in New Bern, NC, June 21-24, 2021. Please be sure to mark your calendars now, and make plans to join us in 2021.

Online Giving

WWNTBM is happy to provide online giving options to make it easier for donors to support your ministry. You can direct donors to our website at wwntbm.com/give for details on all the ways they can participate. Please note that the company that processes credit cards does take a small percentage out of each donation to cover costs. Donors have the option to cover those fees if they choose. However, you may see a slightly smaller amount on your support list as a result of this.

Missionary Micro Stories Podcast

Josh Wagar, missionary to Chuuk, Micronesia, has started a podcast to show how God can take ordinary people and use them in extraordinary ways. This is a collection of modern-day missionaries telling stories of God’s work in their lives. Josh is looking for missionaries to interview. If you are interested in participating, you can click here to contact Bro. Wagar. To listen to the podcast you can look for it on Facebook at #MissionaryMicroStories, or you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Our Current Missions Family

Click this link to download a PDF of the current list of World Wide missionaries.

Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document.  Once you have logged in, click on the Headquarter Happenings folder, then “Missionary List May 2020.” This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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A Selfless Culture: May 2020

by John O’Malley

Click here to view the video version of this article.

Culture is how we do life in context. We can speak of culture regarding a bias, a people group, or a region. Culture is an accepted set of ideas, values, and beliefs.

We see subsets of culture everywhere. We refer to culture as we compare our home country to our host country. We can identify another’s culture more readily than we can see our way of doing life.

If you are in a tribal area, you can identify people from another tribe because of culture’s markers. If you are in an urban area, you can identify people from a specific culture by how they walk, dress, and speak.

Earth is not the only place with a culture. Heaven has a culture.

Heaven’s culture is God’s way of how He wants us to live and behave. We learn of heaven’s culture and how to implement it in our lives from the Bible.

You determine how you implement heaven’s culture. As a leader, you determine the standard of practicing John 13:35. Each believer must practice the word of God.

Our homes are to be embassies of heaven’s culture. Our ministries are to be consulates of heaven. We live our lives as ambassadors of heaven.

Last month, I described World Wide’s office culture, and by extension, the entire mission’s family. We define our culture by one word, SERVE*. Our culture is simple, intentional, and spiritual. We know we are at our best when we SERVE.

The first value of our culture is selflessness.

Selflessness is difficult work. Selflessness is to think the same as Christ. (Philippians 2:5) Selflessness is a mental, emotional, and spiritual decision. Selflessness is being in sync with God. Selflessness asks, “Does what I am about to do meet His goals or mine?”

Selflessness, in the life of Christ, meant every action of Christ, every word of Christ, and every thought of Christ gloriously displayed the attribute of selflessness.

Selflessness is death. (Galatians 2:20) Selflessness is death to my ideas, my ways, and my wants. It is to live with the spirit of death about us. I am crucified with Christ. Selflessness is the supreme act of the love of Christ. Selflessness was His substitutionary death on the cross. Paul states positionally and practically, “I am crucified with Christ.”

Selflessness is deacon work. (1 Timothy 3:13) Deacon work is menial and unattractive. Deacon work is not honorable. Yet, selflessness–deacon work–is vital, necessary, and beneficial. When we are selfless, we purchase a good degree and confidence in our walk and work for the Lord.

Selflessness means no glory for ourselves, only Him. Selflessness has no agenda, no ambition, nor conceit. Selflessness maintains a posture of lowliness in mind. Selflessness means I value you above me. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Selflessness is hard work. I have work to do on me. What about you?

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

*(SERVE is an acrostic — Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional)

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

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From the Heart of a Missionary: May 2020

When I Do Not Understand…
By Tim Germano

What do we do when we do not understand what God is trying to do in our lives? Have you ever asked God “why?” If we are honest with ourselves, we have all done so. In our finite minds and understanding, we can only see what is going on around us or what has already happened. Our infinite God knows what has happened, is happening, and will happen. He has a plan for us.

Habakkuk found himself in a similar situation of questioning and struggle. He asked God how long until He would judge Judah for their wickedness (Hab. 1:1-4). God responded by telling him that He was fully aware of their sin and that He would use the Babylonians to punish them (Hab. 1:5-11). This answer troubled Habakkuk, and he asked how God could use a wicked nation to judge His people (1:12-2:1). God answered him and told him that He would also hold them responsible for their wickedness (Hab. 2:2-20). In chapter three, Habakkuk offers a prayer to the Lord. We can know what to do when we do not understand by looking at how Habakkuk coped with surprising news and challenging answers.

First, he rested in the Lord (Hab. 3:16). He was troubled by what was going to happen, and he even felt rottenness and decay in his bones. He knew that in the midst of difficult times and in receiving challenging news that he could rest. This resting can only happen in the Lord. We cannot have the peace that we need in trying times without the Lord’s help. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” We can rest in our all-knowing God. He knows what is best for us!

Second, he rejoiced in the Lord (Hab. 3:17-18). Habakkuk stated in faith that even if everything that seemed certain failed (like the harvest, the livestock, one’s livelihood, etc.), he would still rejoice in the Lord. Even when everything around us that seems stable becomes unstable, we can rejoice in our God! We can joy in the God of our salvation! When we receive troubling news about our health or the health of a loved one, we can rejoice in God. When we lose our job or face financial hardship, we can rejoice in God! Our joy is found in God, not our circumstances. Psalms 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” We can rejoice in our ever-present God Who never changes!

Third, he relied on the Lord (Hab. 3:19). After everything that he faced, Habakkuk finished his prayer by stating the “The LORD God is my strength.” Even as a mountain goat can scale the steep precipices and cliffs without fear, we can weather the storms of life and the unknown by relying on God and His strength. There will be days that we feel as if we cannot go on, but we can only because God is with us and helps us! Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” We can make it through by relying on the Lord and His never-failing strength and help.

“Whatever God permits to come into our lives is designed to conform us to the image of His Son. When we see this, it takes the question mark out of our prayers. Our lives are not controlled by impersonal forces such as chance, luck, or fate, but by our wonderful, personal Lord, who is “too loving to be unkind and too wise to err.'” WILLIAM MACDONALD

 

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The King’s Business: April 2020

The King’s Business

by John O’Malley April 2020

World Wide accepted me for missionary service in 1993. As a 29-year-old, I knew God’s will for me. I know His will now. My calling is to serve God in my generation and advance the Great Commission.

Since 1993, I have watched Brother Wingard, Brother Whetstone, and many other leaders and workers in my association with WWNTBM. I work with wonderful servants. I learned from these servants that the Lord’s work requires my best. (Numbers 18:29)

Do you realize what it takes for you to be at your best? Are you aware of what you need to be at your physical best? Do you consider the minimums you need for your nutrition, sleeping, and exercising? Do you recognize which spiritual practices you need daily to be at your best? Do you focus on which mental disciplines you need to be at your best?

These questions are what I ask myself and the missions office. When we make sure we are at our best, we serve you better. We bring the Lord glory when we are at our best.

I wonder how often I am at my best in this work I am supported by churches to do? God’s acceptance of me and His willingness to work with me makes me want to be at my best.

Our Great Commissioner does not seek extraordinary people. He seeks willing people. He takes available people. He uses flawed people. He is most pleased with people who have faith. (Hebrews 11)

In our office, we are on a five-year pursuit to study, embrace, and practice five disciplines of when we are at our best. We listed what we need to do to be at our best. We believe we are at our best when we serve others. Our goal is to practice five disciplines in every communication. In our staff meetings, we look for these values in you and in ourselves. We hold ourselves accountable to these values.

We want to be at our best for God’s glory. We have, at every desk in our office, these values etched on a glass plaque. We also had these values printed on canvas. We hung this canvas in the hallway between the offices. We quote these values in every staff meeting.

The five disciplines are an acrostic of the word SERVE. We are at our best when we are Selfless, Eager, Responsible, Valuable, and Exceptional. I will write more on these values each month in my article of Headquarter Happenings.

We want you to catch us at our best. We want to catch you at your best. When either of us is not hitting the mark, will you give grace to us? We will give grace to you.

The King’s business requires our best, not just our haste.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

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

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From the Memo Board: April 2020

Dates to Know

April 10 – The Office will be closed in celebration of the Resurrection.

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due.

May 1 – Quarterly Reports for Foreign Non-Profit Organizations will be due; please see more information below.

June 1 – April Financial Reports will be due.

June 15-18 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

WWNTBM’s Response to COVID-19

With the growing awareness of the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to take a moment to encourage you. The Missions office is still open. We plan to continue working in the office as usual, until further notice.

We are taking the recommended precautions to keep our office staff healthy. We are requesting no visitors to the Office through May 1, 2020, in compliance with the NC Governor’s recent executive order. If more serious restrictions occur, we have provisions to get your support to you. Pray for our staff’s health, safety, and strength.

We are planning on holding Family Fellowship Week. We are monitoring the federal and state legislation and the capabilities of the host churches. Please continue to monitor your email and http://familyfellowshipweek.com.

Please know that we are praying for you. We are aware that this virus is affecting everyone in our missions family to some extent. Please let us know if there is any way we can assist you during this time.

Click below to view a message from Bro. Jeremy Lockart about the coronavirus. Click here for a transcript of that message.

Tax Impact of COVID-19

Extended Deadlines: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the US Government has extended tax filing deadlines for all individuals until July 15, 2020. Please click here to read information from our tax attorneys on how this change may affect you personally. We recommend that you still speak with your tax preparer about the ability to file as soon as possible if you expect to receive a refund.

Families First Act: In addition to the extended deadlines, our CPA has informed us that the recent Families First Act released on March 18 may have implications and benefits for those who are self-employed. All of our US-Citizen missionaries fall into this category. Our CPA’s advice was to recommend that you speak with your tax preparer to discuss how the Families First Act can benefit your personal situation.

Doctrinal Agreements

If you have submitted your doctrinal agreement statement, your new card for 2020-2021 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.

Family Fellowship Week

In Mark 6 we have the record of Christ sending the apostles forth into ministry. After their journeys, they returned and reported to Him about what they had done. Christ’s first response was an invitation for them to come apart and rest, as they were so busy they had not time to even eat. This is one of the goals for our annual Family Fellowship Week. We realize that you are busy with the work to which you have been called. We seek to provide an opportunity for you to come apart and rest, in an environment where you can be physically rested and spiritually refreshed. If you will be in the US and have not yet done so, please contact Rebekah Tolley to register for the week. We hope to see you in Kinston, NC, June 15-18. If you are planning a furlough in 2021, now is the time to add the date to your calendar for next year! This meeting always begins on the third Monday of June. Current information is available at https://familyfellowshipweek.com.

Quarterly Reports for Foreign Non-Profit Organizations

If you have gone through the process to have your foreign ministry certified with our CPA, the first Quarterly Report representing January to March of 2020 will be due on May 1. You should have received an email with details about how to submit the report. If you have questions please contact Naomi Torberson.

If your ministry has been chartered and established as a non-profit organization, we recommend getting a bank account in its name and then going through the process of certifying it as a Foreign Non-Profit Organization with our CPA. This process takes several months and costs around $400. The purpose is to show that your ministry meets IRS standards to be considered a public rather than a private charity. With this status, funds for purchases such as land may be able to be sent directly to your ministry, thus eliminating your personal tax liability. Please note that there are limitations to this option. If you are planning to raise funds for the purchase of land or buildings, it would be advantageous to have this step in place before funds arrive in our office for such a project. Please contact our office for more information.

Travel to and from the United States

US Citizens should be aware of the REAL ID Act and how it may affect your airline travel within the United States. Click here to view the latest information from the Department of Homeland Security. As a result of COVID-19, the current effective date has been moved to October 1, 2021. Missionaries may wish to update their driver’s license to obtain the REAL ID while they are in the US on furlough. Otherwise, plan to have your passport with you for all domestic travel.

Non-US Citizens: In advance of planning any personal or ministry travel to the US, please contact Laura Cmaylo to discuss the visa and financial implications involved with Stateside travel so you and our office can be fully prepared.

New Schedule for Uplift Calls!

We are nearing the 3 year anniversary of our weekly Uplift meetings! We are excited about the feedback we receive from our missionaries, and our staff looks forward to this time of connection. To better accommodate various timezones, we are changing our normally scheduled Third Thursday meeting to Third Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Eastern. While the Friday morning calls are typically geared towards those on deputation, everyone is welcome to join at any time. Meetings take place on the following schedule each month:

Every Friday at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time
First Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Second Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fourth Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time

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Prayer & Dates: March 2020

March Prayer/Praises and Special Dates

Click the link above to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for March. Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

 

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From the Memo Board: March 2020

Dates to Know

March 15 – Please register for Family Week by this date, or let us know if you are unable to attend.

March 16 – Please contact John O’Malley by this date with any feedback on changes for our National Missionaries.

April 1 – February Financial Reports will be due.

May 1 – March Financial Reports will be due.

May 2 to 13 – Prayer letter services will be suspended; please see more information below.

June 15-18 – Family Fellowship Week in Kinston, NC.

Celebrating Fifty Years

Scripture is full of illustrations where God instructed men to come together for the purpose of remembering His goodness to them, and specifically, to annually memorialize great deeds He had done. These times of remembrance were often times of gathering, celebrating, and even feasting. In 1971, God answered the desire of Pastor Wingard’s heart and enabled him to start World Wide New Testament Baptist Missions. That first year, Calvary Baptist Church in New Bern, NC, hosted what would become the first annual Family Fellowship Week. This summer, we will again gather at the 50th Annual Family Week, where we will recount God’s blessings of the past, and look forward with anticipation to His blessings for the future. Please make plans to join us at New Testament Baptist Church of Kinston, NC, from June 15-18. Full details are available online at familyfellowshipweek.com.

Microsoft Excel

We request that all users complete their financial report template using Microsoft Excel rather than Apple’s Numbers or other programs. Although Apple’s spreadsheet application does export to Excel, doing so removes many key features that our staff relies on to review the reports. Similarly, Google Docs is not structured to handle many of the formulas in the template and often creates problems with the figures. If you need to purchase a copy of Microsoft Excel for Windows or for Mac, we can obtain these for you at a discounted rate. If switching to Excel creates a hardship for you, please contact us. If you have any questions, please let us know. We appreciate your assistance in this area!

Changes in Ministry and Your Financial Report

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 meal allowances and lodging costs they do not usually see when on the field and may be using a borrowed vehicle, which must be recorded differently from a vehicle they own. We suggest that you click here to review our checklist of commonly overlooked expenses and make sure you are claiming all allowable deductions. If you have questions about your financial reports, please contact Naomi.

Prayer Letter Services

Due to staff vacations, our prayer letter editing services will be unavailable from May 2 to May 13. Please submit your letters to [email protected] anytime before 4:00 PM EST on May 1, to be sure it is sent out in time. Letters received after this date will be edited on May 14, when our normal processing schedule will resume. Please schedule your upcoming prayer letters accordingly. Thank you for your help with this!

Birth Announcement

Benaiah William Tyndale Folkers was born on February 18. He weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Benaiah is the first son of Seth and Kaitlin Folkers and joins his older sister, Atarah, who is 18 months. The Folkers minister in Cameroon, where they assist with mobile Bible College training. Pray for them as the country is in much turmoil at this time.

See the Harvest

WWNTBM has partnered with Ambassador Baptist College to lead a missions trip to Utah this summer for young people ages 16-30. We realize that many small churches do not have the resources to provide opportunities for their youth to see missions first hand. If you know of someone who would benefit from this trip, please direct them to our website at seetheharvest.com.