Ministry Month:  AUGUST

THE CONVENTION OF ORIGINAL FREE WILL BAPTISTS

August is a significant time for Original Free Will Baptists, as it's designated as Convention Promotion Month. This annual observance highlights the vital role of the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists (OFWB), which was established in 1913. The Convention unites member conferences and churches, fostering fellowship and ministry across the denomination.

The roots of the OFWB Church in America stretch back to 1727, when Paul Palmer, an English General Baptist, founded the first Free Will Baptist Church in Chowan County, North Carolina. This historical lineage connects Original Free Will Baptists to a rich spiritual heritage tracing back to the English General Baptists.

The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists was founded with a clear purpose: to bring together various conferences and churches, serving as a powerful tool for both fellowship and ministry. This commitment is encapsulated in the Mission Statement of Original Free Will Baptists: "The mission of the people of God called Original Free Will Baptists is to glorify God.  Therefore, we strive to know Christ, build His Church and make Him known to all people as we continue to seek His will."

Over the years, the Convention has served through a diverse range of ministries and commissions to fulfill this mission, including the following in alphabetical order by category:

Denominational Ministries:

• Christian Education Ministries

• Church Finance Association

• Church Planting and Renewal (Home Missions)

• Cragmont Assembly (Cragmont Camp and Retreat Center)

• Free Will Baptist Children’s Home

• Free Will Baptist Press Foundation (Cross & Crown)

• Minister’s Program

• OFWB International (Foreign Missions)

• Retirement Homes

• University of Mount Olive

Ancillary Ministries:

• North Carolina Foundation of Christian Ministries

• OFWB Woman’s Auxiliary

Commission Reports:

• Chaplain’s Commission

• Historical Commission

• Commission on Youth and Student Ministry Leadership (Currently, Student Ministry Connections Task Force)

Affiliated Group Reports:

• Camp Vandemere

• Carolina Bible Institute

• Ministerial Association

Expanding Our Support for our DeNOMINATION AND OUR MinistrIES

Beyond these established ministries, the Convention is dedicated to providing comprehensive support to our churches, conferences, and ministries throughout the year. We understand the evolving needs of modern ministry and offer a suite of services designed to enhance your reach and efficiency:

• Data management: We organize and streamline our denomination's vital information, making it easier to connect with each other and manage records.

• Website development: We maintain a powerful online presence with a recently launched, modern website design, tailored to our denomination.  We encourage churches and ministries to share their unique goals and needs with us so that we can help communicate those throughout the denomination. 

• Weekly newsletters: We keep our subscribers engaged and informed with consistent, compelling weekly newsletters that share ministry updates, spiritual insights, and upcoming events.

• Denominational resources: We provide access to a wealth of resources, from theological materials to administrative guidance, all designed to support growth and effectiveness throughout the denomination.

We are just a call or email away! Our team is ready to assist with these services and any other needs you may have, empowering your church or ministry to focus on what matters most: glorifying God and making Christ known.

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The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists can be contacted as follows:

(919) 299-4553  *  assistant@ofwb.org  *  www.ofwb.org

PO Box 29 (Physical Address: 124 North Center Street)

Mount Olive, NC 28365