I entered their world... I ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (The Message) 2006
I entered their world... I ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (The Message) Sometimes a single thought grabs my mind so that my skin starts to tingle with anticipation. That happened as I was reflecting on this year s Free Methodist World Missions theme Enter Their World. What if every single Free Methodist in the world purposed to live their life as Jesus did when He entered our world? Or what if they purposed to live as Paul did when he said, I ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life 1 Corinthians 9:22-23? Wow! What a difference that would make! There are now nearly 750,000 members in our worldwide Free Methodist family. Average weekly worship attendance could easily top 1 million, especially if we count those in creative access countries that cannot be officially recognized. That s a formidable network of witnesses. This year s annual report tracks many of those who are walking right now in the footsteps of Paul, entering their world with the message of Jesus. Our purpose in Free Methodist World Missions is to further catalyze that effort that broken people may find full health in Jesus, that communities may know the shalom peace that only comes through His love, that every person on planet earth may have opportunity to know Him personally. Dr. Art Brown, Executive Director
through Mobilization Seventeen new extended-term missionaries were appointed to enter their world. The newly improved FM Expeditions Web site (www.fmexpeditions.org) was re-launched. This site includes information on both short and extended-term missions, as well as providing a wealth of information and resources for those exploring a missionary calling. Intentional contact was begun or maintained with over 600 potential cross-cultural workers, as well as 1,200 individuals with a high degree of interest in supporting the cause of missions. Ten young people with strong future missionary potential participated in an eight-week church planting effort in Chile through the DREAM program, led by Campus Mobilizer Thad Roller (DREAM stands for Dream Really Extreme About Missions). Participants explored their callings to cross-cultural missions and gained needed field experience for future endeavors. Lives were touched for Christ during this experience. VISA (Volunteers In Service Abroad) Ministries served 919 people this year and helped send 68 teams into shortterm missionary service. VISA s fourth GSI (Global Studies Intensive) was held in Egypt the first two weeks of January. Thirty-five Free Methodists attended, representing Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the United States. Training for two IMPACT Teams, for collegians and teens, was held both in Indianapolis and in Thailand. Once fundamental truths of Christianity were addressed and reviewed, team members learned about missionary life, Buddhism and other cultural information related to ministry in Cambodia and Myanmar. Following ministry, the teams returned to Thailand for additional debriefing and exposure. The largest stateside VISA TLT (Team Leader Training) was held at the World Ministries Center in April with more than 40 people attending. The three-week long New Missionary Training took place at Aldersgate Christian Camp in Turner, Oregon, this past summer. All new extended-term missionaries also attend a fourth week of training/orientation at the World Ministries Center in Indianapolis. Through lifelong learning/training and mentoring led by the Missionary Care and Development office, we are working to avoid unnecessary attrition and provide increasing levels of care for our missionalry team. Defining baseline expectations for missionaries from precandidate stage through retirement has been an additional emphasis this year as we continue a purposeful approach in developing our FMWM team. Rev. Eric Spangler, Director of Mobilization
through Development (Communications and Finance) In 2006, worldwide Free Methodists supported the ministry of more than 100 North American missionaries and multiple international missionaries and mission work in 72 countries. For the North American church, 64 new missionaries were approved and over $1.5 million of new money was mobilized for overseas kingdom work in just the last five years. It has not been without financial struggles and an enormous amount of stretching on the part of FM supporters. But just think of the kingdom impact on a needy world! We have endeavored this year to build more direct relationships between the church and the mission field. We have invited conferences, local churches and individuals to partner with specific missionaries and field ministries through multiple avenues, including prayer and financial support. We have utilized new technology and faster means of communication to better link the home church and overseas ministry. - Missions Today, a monthly e-letter, now reaches over 1,000 pastors, local missions mobilizers and conference leaders, keeping them abreast of missions news and current giving reports. - Our Web site is always updating and improving. One of the newer features is streaming of resource video segments. - Several missionaries have created blogs to regularly connect with their supporters. Links to these blogs are provided on the Web site. Our mission in both communications and finance is to more powerfully engage the church in specific FMWM ministries so that a deeper passion for the lost around the world can develop. And maybe, just maybe, our passion can grow to resemble the passion of Jesus Christ laying down all to see one more soul saved for eternity. Enter their world through International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) In January, sponsorship of a school in Managua, Nicaragua, was started. The Iguaçu Falls School, Brazil, began sponsorship in February. A new grade was started at Light and Life School in Kericho, Kenya. In 2006, ICCM received the largest single gift in the program s history. ICCM provided funds for a leadership development youth camp in the Philippines and a youth camp in Kenya. The India FMC began a new mission district named Child Care. India boys presented Christ to 3,962 in person-to-person contacts. The Bangalore Hostel in India was completed. ICCM reopened sponsorship at two Paraguay schools, Luz y Vida School in Encarnación, and Juan Wesley School in Asunción. Children at Basurahan city dump in Butuan City, Philippines, are now being sponsored through ICCM. Ann Van Valin, Director of International Child Care Ministries Warren Hawkins, Director of Development
in Africa and the Middle East The Malawi church has been in decline. God met with us during a Conference on Renewal in July, and there has been a marked difference in attitude. Anticipation is high for the new missionaries Ryan and Jen Willson and Ryan and Katie Bartlett appointed in 2006, who will be arriving in Malawi early next year. The re-opened Malawi Bible School, now called Great Commission School, has the largest enrollment ever. The campus has been totally refurbished during this past year while the school was closed. Facilities are now in good condition, ready for the new training program to open. The Middle East has recently seen the baptism of 25 new members, in a dangerous war torn area, and the ordination of four new pastors. A Free Methodist church has been planted in a new area, and great opportunity lies ahead. The Cockrams, a Canadian couple serving under VISA Ministries for two years, have arrived in Ghana. The Cockrams local church, as well as the Canada General Conference, is working hand-in-hand with FMWM to help the work develop in that country. The Liberia FMC has come out of a long civil war intact, in spite of so many difficulties. Several hundred FMs are worshipping and witnessing in that country. A new program has been initiated in Egypt. The Sugarcreek FMC, OH; Impact Middle East; Greenville College; and FMWM are working with the Egypt General Conference to provide training to leaders in Egypt and the greater Middle East region. It seems that at least tentative peace has come to Burundi. Frank and Carol Ogden, serving with VISA Ministries, are in Burundi for approximately three months, helping to train new medical people and to be an encouragement to the church. Jim and Barb Stillman, from Tanzania, have joined the Ogdens for a short time to do maintenance and nursing at Kibuye. The Janesville FMC, WI, sent a team to Uganda to help build a new church. The Uganda FMC is a mission project of the Kenya FMC. There are two or three churches now growing in Uganda. Several FM leaders in Africa this year have been through intensely trying times. We praise God for His grace and ministry to several who have had serious, deep needs. A new generator has been sent by friends and the Spring Arbor FMC, MI, to Hope Africa University in Bujumbura, Burundi. This will be a valuable asset to the school. Ossea Jeremia Malamane was chosen as the new bishop for Mozambique, upon the retirement of Bishop Muvile. Henry Church, Africa Area Director
in Asia A literacy program for rural and tribal women was launched by the Agape Conference of the Indian church. Three hundred centers were established with 10-15 women in each class. In one year they learn to read the Bible. Two children s hostels were completed in India. The hostel in South India includes children from families affected by the tsunami. The second hostel is in Bangalore. The English congregation in Ipoh, Malaysia, has planted a second congregation among Chinese-speaking peoples. The three-year-old English congregation is also close to purchasing property. A multi-national task force met in Seattle, WA, to strategize the relocation of the Mumbai Ministry Center (India). The Thailand Mission District inaugurated a retreat and renewal center, known as Zion Land, on ten acres, two hours north of Bangkok. Two events have been held at the center: IMPACT team (VISA Ministries) orientation and a family camp. International Child Care Ministries is now being established in Myanmar. The triennial Asia missionary retreat was held in Phuket, Thailand, in March. Forty-five Asian and North American missionaries participated. Inspirational speakers were Bishop John Gollapalli of Hyderabad, India, and Rev. Larry Walkemeyer of Long Beach, CA. In October, the Philippine General Conference commissioned and sent a missionary to Cambodia to focus on reaching Vietnamese refugees. Free Methodist church membership in Asia grew by 12 percent, to total just under 160,000 in 14 countries. Ten new English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers were sent out, bringing the total of teachers to 23. An advisory board was created to develop and extend this effective tool of evangelism. Ten persons in central India were selected to attend an intensive training program on Christian Micro-Enterprise. Enter their world in Europe Scott and Paula Dunn have begun ministry in Arad, Romania, working with the Emanuel Christian Center, which recently affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. The Budapest Ministry Center (Hungary) is being developed as a combined worship center for the Budapest church plant and as the European office of FMWM. A team from the Pacific Northwest Conference made a significant contribution to the progress of the work. The Oaza Children s Homes in Arad, Romania, celebrated their tenth anniversary in September. Over 30 children, who have either been orphaned or abandoned, are now off of the streets and are receiving loving, Christian care. The Letters of Hope program in Ukraine is now reaching over 800 children with Bible studies by correspondence. The House of Hope transition home in Rivne, Ukraine, now assists eight girls, aged 13 to 19, in making the transition from institutional care to independent living. Tania Gonçalves was officially approved as an international missionary with FMWM. She will work with newly appointed extended-term missionaries Mike and Carrie Hamley in Italy. Four regional leadership conferences were held in 2006 a Francophone conference in Belgium, a Latin Europe conference in Portugal, a Balkans conference in Greece, and a Central/Eastern Europe conference in Ukraine. The Renewal Christian Center of Solihull, England, (affiliated with the Free Methodist Church) led by Pastors David Carr and Richard Taylor, conducted a three-day Power Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria. Michael Long served as the facilitator. Over 8,000 individuals attended at least one of the seven sessions, in which God s presence was felt in a wonderful way. Joel Louisdor was appointed as local pastor of the Haitian congregation of FMs, located in Cergy, France, just outside of Paris. Jerry Coleman, Europe Area Director David Yardy, Asia Area Director
in Latin America The first Uruguayan Free Methodist elder, Pastor Gacía, was ordained in Paso los Toros, and the first six Venezuelan elders were ordained in Maturín, Venezuela. The Caracas, Venezuela, church jumped in attendance after reconditioning their new property. Even though they have been in their new building just a few months, they are also ministering in a dangerous housing area near their church. This was a year of milestones in Costa Rica: Patrick and April Barrett, were the first extended-term missionaries assigned to the country, the FMC was legally recognized by the government, a court case was settled favorably, our financial records were reported and accepted by the government. In addition, the church grew. The Haitian civil unrest began to settle down, permitting four missionaries to return in the fall. Two meetings with Haitian church leaders were celebrated in Miami. FMC Latino leaders met in March for a great time of going deeper into FM identity and personal development of our top leaders. The first FM missionaries were assigned to Peru. Garry and Pat Cruce will be working out of the capital, Lima; J.R. and Becky Crouse are in Tarma; and Tanya Metzler (serving through VISA Ministries) is now in Tacna. Amigos de Ecuador, a micro-enterprise incubator fund to help Ecuadorian FMs create jobs, was established. Latin America now has 27 extended-term missionaries, up from 15 just a few years ago. Chile welcomed the Max and Kristin McGinnis family, and Mexico welcomed the Brian and Laurie Yost family. Both families have jumped into language and culture study. Together with Dominican leadership, ways are being explored to renew FM work in the Dominican Republic. In September, 65 FM leaders gathered in Managua, Nicaragua, for three days of sharing, learning and prayer at the fifth annual Central American Leaders Retreat. David Roller, Latin America Area Director
I entered their world... I ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (The Message) Our Mission To serve Free Methodists as together we make disciples of Jesus Christ among the peoples of the world Our Vision Multitudes becoming disciples of Jesus Christ as Free Methodists plant hundreds of healthy reproducing churches around the world 1. Every local church sending...... to the ends of the earth 2. Every disciple ministering...... in God s chosen place 3. Every missionary supported...... financially, emotionally and spiritually 4. Every ministry interconnected...... for maximum Kingdom impact Our Goals By the grace of God and in partnership with the worldwide Free Methodist Church: 1. There will be one million Free Methodists in the world by 2015. 2. We will help mobilize 300 new Free Methodist missionaries by 2010. 3. There will be Free Methodist churches in 250 of the nearly 500 million-plus cities of our world by 2010. 4. 125 new Free Methodist churches will be established each year worldwide.;