National Association Delegates Endorse Mission Funding Plan

Antioch, TN—“I move we receive the report, refer the budget, and endorse the funding plan.” With these words, International Missions’ Board Chairman Danny Williams asked the delegates to give their support to a historic change in denominational missions funding at the National Association of Free Will Baptists in Charleston, West Virginia. Delegates responded with an overwhelming endorsement of the International Missions Board’s restructure plan for funding missions.

General Director James Forlines shared a timeline of events leading to this decision during his report to convention delegates. Forlines recounted the most important steps, including a pivotal strategic planning session with all mission leaders in December of 2005 and the many regional meetings in 2008 to listen to state leaders and pastors. “As a result of over 10 years of work, tens of thousands of miles, and hundreds of meetings, the board was ready to vote on April 29, 2008, at 1:46 in the afternoon. The vote was unanimous. The excitement was palpable,” Forlines told hundreds of delegates.

Following the report, delegates asked questions and expressed their opinions about the plan. Many people characterized the debate as civil and representative of the way issues should be handled. In the end, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of endorsing the new plan. Oklahoma’s Director of Missions Brad Ransom declared, "I was delighted with the vote of approval. I especially appreciated the cooperative spirit in which the comments from the floor were made. The real winners in this are our missionaries who deserve our support! They give up so much to do what God has called them to do. The least we can do is figure out a way to help relieve the pressure of the financial responsibility of their accounts. I believe the new funding system will do just that."

Following the session, senior missionary Bobby Poole rejoiced, “We were very pleased. Geneva and I believe this is a major step in the right direction. I am thrilled missionaries will no longer have to ask for money for themselves only, but will be able to tell Free Will Baptist people about the entire missions team.”

“I was relieved when the funding restructure was passed. Ever since I joined the Mission we have talked about the need for changes in the funding system,” stated Debbie Griffin, missionary to Japan. “The home office has worked so hard to come up with a good plan. I am excited to see it put to work.”

Kristi Johnson, missionary to Spain admitted, “I actually cried as I realized they (delegates) were standing in support of missions and missionaries around the world. I was proud to be a part of our denomination and honored to be one of the front-line workers they were so overwhelmingly supporting.”

The target date for implementing the plan is January 2010. Mark McPeak, Deputy Director of Stateside Operations explains, “We will consistently communicate details and instructions to our churches and people in the 18-month transition period. Changing from a system that has been in place for a generation will present some challenges. But the early feedback has been excellent and most people seem eager to participate.”

James Forlines’ speech to the delegates and additional information on the new funding plan are available at www.fwbgo.com.