World Wide Missionary List 2016
Click the link above 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 Files Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then “World Wide Missionary List 2016”. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. . . . Rejoice in the Lord alway; . . . I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Nehemiah 8:10, Philippians 4:4,13)
Neither group receiving these words could possibly have expected them.
The one was listening to Nehemiah, the other was reading from Paul. These two peoples had never met, no more than the two leaders. They lived in different centuries and continents.
Nor were their situations the same. One was a huge gathering of Jews who had heard the razor sharp truth of the Law and were convicted to tears. Having come face to face with their sin, they were shattered, and as one large body they cried.
The other was a congregation reading a strange letter. The writing told them of the apostle’s imprisonment and of harsh criticism from those who should have been his friends. Surrounded as well by their own set of difficulties, these believers could not have predicted the contents of the epistle.
But both peoples were in great anxiety and needed encouragement. The builder had spoken in the Old Testament; the evangelist had written in the New.
Yet their message was the same: Be joyful! Be strong!
In that order.
In the case of Nehemiah, we see the immediate effect on the people. After repentance, they obeyed and were invigorated as a result. In Paul’s situation we are not given the response of the Philippians, but are allowed to see the truth worked out in his own life. He first speaks of rejoicing in everything and then pens the famous verse, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.”
The key is in the joy.
We often think of joy as a gift from God, and it is.
But it is much more than that. It is more than just a passive virtue, something that merely comes to us. According to Scripture, there is an active, transitive, energetic, and powerful aspect of joy. It is easier to see if we switch the noun into its verb form, as Paul did.
In other words, “Rejoice!” Or, “Have joy!” Or, “Be joyful!”
Christian joy (is there any other kind?) is a potent force that is every believer’s privilege.
Do I want to be spiritually strong? Do I long for power in my war against sin? Would I like to see victory in the battles of my mind?
One missing ingredient may be simply a change of attitude. Repentance is necessary, but so is the joy that should follow on its heels! Some never get past the sadness of their sin.
God loves to hear His people rejoice. It speaks of confidence, of faith, of wisdom!
One of the greatest military victories ever won by a Jewish king came to Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. A multinational, bloodthirsty horde of enemies invaded from the east and Judah was facing swift extermination. But the king humbled himself before the Lord and obeyed His very odd instructions. As they headed out to the battle site they began to rejoice. A choir made up of two Levite families started singing and praising God.
For some unknown reason an argument started between the enemy factions. It turned ugly and ended up with them slaughtering each other. A secular observer would say, “Coincidence.”
We know better.
Who of us doesn’t face things that threaten to discourage us and flatten our hopes? Maybe we’re spending too much time letting the difficulty rule our thinking. What if God has not changed and sometimes He’s just waiting for us to shift our focus and start rejoicing?
Dear Father, to choose joy when the going is rough and complicated is never my natural choice. Remind me quickly and help me throw off my sour attitudes. Amen.
January 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 January. 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.
A few days ago, Darleen and I had the pleasure of visiting with Pastor and Mrs. Wingard. It was a blessed time. Sometime during our visit Pastor Wingard gave me an article to read on church planting. It was encouraging to read an article by someone that actually has something good to say about these days. There seems to be a resurgence of church planting in America. This is wonderful news indeed.
I have observed in recent years that our Lord is calling some dedicated servants into His work. We are closely associated with young families who are on deputation to raise support for worldwide ministries they are burdened for; however, that is only part of the story. God is also raising up some amazing young pastors for America, pastors who are deeply concerned about reaching people for Christ both home and abroad. These are men who see beyond their borders.
There is no doubt that we have lost many churches that at one time stood at the front lines of battle and did a great work for our Lord. It only seems to make sense that we need to reproduce good ministries in other places. There will always be churches closing and compromising, and it might be that a few of them can recover. More than likely the answer is to start new churches more rapidly than we lose them. This is not only applicable in America, but also in the entire world.
How marvelous would it be if a real revival of reaching people with the Gospel broke out in our churches today? I am not advocating numbers for the sake of numbers, but might I remind you that the book of Acts has a great deal to say about reaching one, two, three thousand, five thousand and multitudes. But it is not enough to simply reach them. They will need to be baptized and taught. This will require establishing a New Testament church, because baptism is a local church responsibility. It is one of only two ordinances committed to the church.
We have little to no idea exactly what the future holds. However, we know from church history that our God has done great things in difficult times. These are not days to hesitate. These are not days for fainting. We desperately need a generation of Christian soldiers that will rise to the occasion. Let’s go after sinners with the Gospel of Christ and see the ministry as a long term service for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe you are in a dark and dismal place today. Perhaps you think that no one knows your needs or even cares that you have them. Let me assure you that the One who put you where you are does indeed know, and He cares. Prepare your heart for God to do an amazing work in and through your life.
In His Service,
Danny A. Whetstone
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
Jimmy Watson was recently r
ecognized 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.
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.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Rarely do I watch a large volume of news anymore. This morning has been the exception, primarily because of the events of recent times in Paris, France. There are so many uncertainties in the world today. Perhaps it is not so new, but it seems that it is, at least in its intensity. What are you facing today that occupies your attention? Physical problems, spiritual problems, financial problems and international problems are on every hand. Oftentimes, it seems to be overwhelming. How much more for the Apostle Paul. He was thrown out of most of the towns that he preached in. However, that was the least of all the things that he faced. Now he takes time to ponder all that the Lord is preparing for us in the future. His conclusion was that these are “light afflictions” when compared to the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” that is in our future.
This is Paul’s advice to the believers in Philippi in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” A vacuum is rarely a good thing. The natural tendency will usually be to think on the temporal. It requires purpose of mind and heart to overcome the natural. We will think, but we can make choices about what we think on. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). I wish that the doing of this was as easy as typing it in this note! This requires diligence on our part. We often rush through life hoping to outrun the thoughts that haunt us. We will never be fast enough to be successful in that race. Sometimes we must be still and purposely push out the thoughts that have invaded the vacuum with the things that are eternal.
Stop! Take a moment to ask yourself, “What am I constantly thinking about?” Would our Lord be better served if we replaced those thoughts with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report? I suppose that some are so made that these come naturally, but most of us probably have to think this way on purpose. Life is generally not easy. It was not in Paul’s day, and it certainly is not in ours. The Lord wants us to be victorious. That victory will be initiated in our thoughts.
I am encouraged and blessed by your continued faithfulness. Let us, by the grace of God, live victoriously on purpose. It certainly will not happen otherwise.
In His Service,
Danny A. Whetstone
By Stephanie Germano
It is so amazing to me how God is always working in our lives, even when we do not realize it! When I was a senior in high school, God made it very clear to me that He wanted me to be a missionary. I was very nervous, but also very excited.
My parents, however, wisely told me that getting to a foreign field was not just something that would happen overnight, but it would take much time and preparation. My mother even jokingly said that it could even take as long as ten years. I chuckled to myself because I thought, “Surely it would not take that long!”
A year later, I had the opportunity to attend Crown College in Powell, TN. It was there that I met my husband and began to develop a burden for the Dominican Republic. After graduation, Timothy felt that he needed some additional training before heading to the mission field. He prayerfully searched for an opportunity to serve.
The Lord opened up a youth pastor position in Downingtown, PA, at Faith Community Baptist Church under Pastor Roland Venable. It was there that we both began to grow and learn many lessons about the ministry. The Lord allowed us to serve there for three years before He laid it on our hearts to begin the next chapter. Faith Community became our sending church as we set out on deputation.
After a wonderful two years of ministry on the road we were excited to finally head for the Dominican Republic. We were held up, however, with some visa and container paperwork. This process took an additional two months. At first, we were discouraged, but then God opened our eyes to see the valuable lessons that He was teaching us as we waited on His perfect timing.
The day came when we were finally able to buy our tickets! The week before we left, I was talking to my mother on the phone. She gently reminded me that our first day in the Dominican was the tenth anniversary of when I was called to be a missionary! Wow! It really did take ten years! All the while God was quietly, yet meticulously working in my life.
Although I still do not feel very ready, I take comfort in knowing that He will use each obstacle I face to prepare me for the next step in the path He has for me to take. If it were not for the lessons He had taught me in college, I would have never been ready to be a youth pastor’s wife. If it had not been for the lessons I learned as a youth pastor’s wife, I would have never been ready for deputation. Looking back on the ways He has shown Himself mighty to us in the past will help us look forward to the future as we began our ministry.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6.
Oh praise His dear, sweet name!
The Germanos arrived in the Dominican Republic for their first term on October 28. Pray for them as they begin language studies and settle into their new ministry.
December 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 December. 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.
Perhaps many of you read this post by Nikki Brown, but in case you missed it, I thought it worth using in Headquarter Happenings. Paul often shared his hardships. He never did so to get pity. He did it to encourage others. I believe Nikki’s post will do the same.
In His Service,
Danny A. Whetstone
Shock
by Nikki Brown
Culture shock. The very words that haunt most any person that may be moving away from a familiar environment. Physical ailments, separation distress, or emotional outcries may all play a part in this cruel “shocking” attack.
I’ve been told that culture shock comes and goes in waves. Sometimes you feel as though you can finally call this new place “home.” You almost mentally breathe a sigh of relief and pat yourself on the back for conquering the challenge of living in a different place. Other times, (usually right after that sigh) it hits you like a 100,000 lb. elephant, and then that elephant finds comfort in sitting on top of you for as long as he possibly can. Yep, it’s that bad and seemingly almost impossible to get rid of.
Culture shock also has many different faces. There are times it takes no shame in rearing its ugly head and makes its obvious appearance. Language barriers, poor or no reliable medical care, corrupt government, weather, and critters are good examples of things that can trigger a feeling of culture shock. Unfortunately, on the other hand, it can also creep in slowly and not as blatantly, but effects you very deeply. Maybe a hurtful word from a national, a picture of a family get-together back home, or an upcoming holiday season would be good examples. Either way, it’s attack is very real.
The effects of culture shock can also vary from each occurrence. While you may be “laughing it off” at one point, during a bad case of culture shock, that same event may leave you incredibly angry, upset, or even sad. It’s hard to tell what you may actually feel, but usually it’s not something you’re willing to write home about.
How do you deal with it? When do you get to a point when culture shock doesn’t come around any more? Why doesn’t anyone seem to understand what you’re going through? Well, all I know is that the answer is God. God helps me to deal with each attack of culture shock. God lets me know that no matter how long it may last, He will give grace. God understands when everyone else doesn’t.
I’ve been told by missionaries who have been on the field more than 20 years that they STILL experience culture shock from time to time! Doesn’t that sound crazy? No. Not to me. Not to them. While they have been living overseas all that time and learning to adapt in that country (learned the language, working in that culture, making lifetime friendships in that same country), they still get that slap in the face every once in a while letting them know that they are from a different country.
So, I’d like to share with you just a few things I’ve done/am doing to help me cope with this unforeseen attack.
1. Reading God’s Word.
This is by far my greatest help! I find peace, comfort, encouragement, and help by reading the Bible. In college, God gave me a verse that I still quote most often to this day. Psalm 27:13 “I had fainted, UNLESS I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
2. Talking about it.
Now, this is not always an easy thing to admit to someone, but it is most important to have an accountability partner. For me, the Lord has blessed me in giving me a few very close friends, including my husband, my BFF (who also serves as a missionary on a foreign field), and a close friend that serves as a missionary in Cambodia. Each of these people provide a source of support that help me make sure I’m not checking out of the work here.
3. Reading encouraging letters.
Most of our letters come in the form of emails, text messages, or Facebook posts. Either way, I have a few that I often return to over and over again to remind myself that we do have faithful friends back home praying for us. Two weeks ago, we received 52 emails from a Sunday school class that had read our prayer letter that day! How encouraging is that? Just yesterday, I received the sweetest text from my daddy just saying I was on his mind and he was praying for me. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. All of these things were a great help to me.
4. Singing songs (in English).
Tonight, after a long day—well, really a long week….ok, who am I kidding—it’s been one of those MONTHS….Matt and I sat down together at the piano and just sang some songs. The truths revealed in many great hymns are such a blessing! Music is a great gift from God that He has used many times in my life.
There are many other things I’m sure people can do to help them continue on in their fight.
Don’t worry, this post is not some cry for help or even a plea to go home. I REALLY DO love being here. I would not want to be anywhere else other than where God has us—and Cambodia is definitely the place God has us! We are more than blessed, too! God has made our lives so wonderful, and I believe it’s because we have just committed ourselves to serving Him. His grace is sufficient!
