Dr. Fred Moritz - Executive Director

Dr. Fred Moritz came to minister at Baptist World Mission in 1981 as the assistant to Dr. Monroe Parker. In 1984 he became the executive director of BWM. He functions as CEO as prescribed by the constitution of BWM. He also serves as field director for missionaries in Canada and Eastern Europe.

In Dr. Moritz’ words: “I have been greatly blessed by being part of a ministry that reaches far beyond any influence I could ever have. Add to that the blessing of working with wonderful servants of the Lord on our board, in our missionary family, and in our home office staff. My favorite things about my role in this ministry are the constant variety of the work and the privilege of helping missionaries.”

Dr. Dennis Walton - Field Director for Asia & South Pacific

Dr. Dennis Walton came to Baptist World Mission in 1998. He has many administrative responsibilities as he serves as the assistant to the executive director and as BWM's development coordinator. He is also involved in preaching, teaching, and otherwise sharing the ministry both on the field and in the United States.

In Dr. Walton’s words: “I hope I never get over being excited about the places I go and those with whom I work in the task of proclaiming the Gospel to those from ‘every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation’ (Revelation 5:9). The joyous times of fellowship and ministry with the missionaries are never-to-be-forgotten experiences. Meeting and forming lasting friendships with national Christians and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord is a delightful part of my ministry.”

Dr. Jack McLanahan - Field Director for Mexico & the United States

Dr. Jack McLanahan joined Baptist World Mission in June of 1997. He came along with several missionaries who merged with BWM from another agency. Dr. McLanahan was given the position of field director for Mexico and the United States. This work involves the supervision of missionaries in this part of the world. He provides help, encouragement, and counsel to these missionaries. He also approves their requests for help, funds, equipment, etc. Dr. McLanahan also represents Baptist World Mission in churches and schools as the Lord opens the doors. He provides accountability for the missionaries to their sending church and all supporters.

In Dr. McLanahan’s words: “It is a joy to visit our missionaries and to observe how God is using them. I love to hear the blessings of God upon their lives and ministry. I have the blessing of working with Dr. Moritz, the executive director, and the godly staff that God has brought together. It is a joy to see their love and dedication to God’s call upon their lives to serve the Lord and the Baptist World Mission family.”

Dr. Ron Brooks - Field Director for Western Europe & the Middle East

Dr. Ron Brooks began at Baptist World Mission in 1986 as a church-planting missionary to Germany. Since January of 1991, he has served as the field director for Western Europe and the Middle East. Dr. Brooks provides encouragement and accountability to the missionaries under his care. He also has administrative responsibility for these missionaries. In addition Dr. Brooks travels as a representative for Baptist World Mission in various conferences and on college campuses.

In Dr. Brooks’ words: “One of the greatest blessings is being able to minister with these dear missionaries. My favorite thing about this ministry is for my wife and me to be with these missionaries on their field of service. This is a blessing and encouragement to the missionary, the national believer, and to me. I consider missionaries the real heroes in this day of selfishness and materialism. Another blessing is to be able to preach about the needs of missions in local churches and on Christian college campuses.”

Mr. Steve Anderson - Field Director for Africa & Field-Replacement

Steve Anderson, along with his wife, Martha, came on board with BWM in 1997 as furlough- replacement missionaries. They replace BWM missionaries who come back to the States for furlough by keeping their work growing in their absence. In 2002 Steve was appointed as the field director for Africa. As the Lord enables, they are presently serving in both of these capacities. The Andersons spent three terms in West Africa prior to serving with Baptist World Mission. That experience has given them a real love for the continent of Africa and its peoples, as well as a burden for its great spiritual needs.

In Mr. Anderson’s words: “It is a thrill to visit the missionaries on the fields, to see them serving in their respective ministries, to be an encouragement to them and to the national believers, and to provide a liaison with their supporters. I also tremendously enjoy representing the Mission in local churches and on college campuses.”

Dr. David Cummins - Deputation Director

Dr. David Cummins came on board in 1997, and he serves as the deputation director. His responsibility is to challenge, train, and encourage missionaries from the time they are appointed as a missionary until the time that they leave for the field of God's appointment. This includes the oversight of our annual Orientation, Family Life, and Personal Evangelism Seminars. Dr. Cummins sends a weekly e-mail to the deputation missionaries who are in “Deputation University” bringing them up to date regarding their financial progress in getting to the field.

In Dr Cummins’ words: “While assisting these missionary appointees, we have developed almost a ‘family’ relationship with many. This has resulted in occasional visits overseas to assist in their actual ministries. The majority of our Mission family has come through the Deputation Department during the past eight years. Thus we feel a personal relationship, and our prayer list continues to grow as we become ‘team members’ in the work of worldwide evangelism.”

Mr. Michael Williquette - Business Director

Mike Williquette came to Baptist World Mission in May of 1997. Mike is the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Mission, overseeing those who process contributions coming into the organization as well as those who send out payments for the Mission or our missionaries. His duties also include creating missionary field budgets, approving missionary expense reports, teaching missionaries in financial sessions held twice each year, and creating and maintaining our web site. Mike has been blessed to have become friends with BWM missionaries. He typically is found saying something funny and making people laugh.

In Mike’s words: “I am blessed knowing that missionaries are praying for me. Some of my favorite things include teaching the finance sessions for missionaries, as well as designing computing solutions to help make missionary and staff lives more available to minister to others.”

Judy Moritz - Executive Assistant

Judy Moritz began serving with Baptist World Mission in June of 1981. She serves as the Executive Assistant. Some of her responsibilities are reading, replying to, or forwarding email requests that are sent to the general office address each day. She also keeps several computerized lists current. As a technical editor, she proofreads various documents sent out by BWM. She also “proofs” the missionary prayer letters and sends them to their printer/mailer. In addition, Judy is the editor of the “Inter-Com,” a monthly newsletter sent to the missionary family and board of trustees. Judy is also the plan administrator for our group health insurance.

In Judy’s words: “The blessings of working at BWM are too numerous to list! The main blessing, however, is the people who make up BWM. The Lord brought each one here in such a special way. We are a team assembled by the Lord! We work hard and are able to enjoy each other as we serve the missionaries the Lord has brought to us. We laugh, cry, and pray together. It doesn’t get any better than this for a place to work (minister)! My favorite thing about BWM is the missionaries who come to serve with us. What an honor to help them and then visit them on the field to see how the Lord is blessing.”

Beth Prahl - Administrative Assistant

Beth Prahl came to BWM in September of 2004 to serve as administrative assistant to Dr. Fred Moritz. Her responsibilities include setting up speaking engagements for Dr. Moritz; transcribing any outside correspondence he may have; proofing prayer letters, sermons, book reviews, articles, etc.... Corresponding with the missionaries whom Dr. Moritz serves as field director, as well as preparing the booklets of information for the BWM board members to discuss at the annual and spring board meetings sum up many of her responsibilities.

In Beth’s words: “One of the blessings I have experienced in moving from Wisconsin to Alabama to work at BWM is the privilege God has given me of meeting faithful servants whom He has called to serve Him on a foreign field. After meeting them, reading their prayer letters, and doing various things for them in the office, they become like family to me. I am also able to pray more specifically for them. Another blessing is being able to work in a Christian atmosphere and knowing the common bond that my coworkers and I have in Jesus Christ. I cannot thank Him enough for bringing me to a place to serve God’s choice servants worldwide.”

Anita Knighten - Administrative Assistant

Anita Knighten joined the Baptist World Mission home office staff in February of 2000. Her duties include serving as administrative assistant to three field directors: Dr. Ron Brooks (Western Europe and Israel), Dr. Dennis Walton (Asia and the South Pacific), and Mr. Steve Anderson (Africa). Anita also maintains the missionary database, the crisis management files, and the archives. She assists with proofreading all types of correspondence as well. Anita sorts the mail each day and helps the donations entry clerk open and sort the incoming contributions.

In Anita’s words: “Baptist World Mission is a happy place. Our business director sings and hums around the office, as do some of the administrative assistants; the donations entry clerk whistles, and lunchtime is a riot of laughter much of the time. After working in the secular world for many years, there is certainly no comparison. Prayer time is always a blessing. Every morning we gather around the big conference table in the Parker Room to pray for missionaries’ needs and for one another. Sometimes Dr. Moritz has an important thought to share with us (sermon ideas, a Bible thought, or even historical facts about the mission). I am so glad God brought me to BWM.”

Frances McLanahan - Administrative Assistant

Frances McLanahan, along with her husband, joined our staff in 1997. Frances serves as administrative assistant to her husband, Dr. Jack McLanahan. She takes care of her husband’s secretarial work and helps with answering the phone. As she and her husband travel to visit missionaries, Frances is a big encouragement and help in their ministries. She also travels with her husband as he represents BWM in the States.

In Frances’ words: “It is a blessing to serve the Lord and our Baptist World Mission missionaries. I have the privilege of not only working in the office but also traveling with my husband to visit our missionaries in the USA and South America. I enjoy gathering special things to take to the missionaries just to give them a ‘taste of home.’ Serving with BWM is the fulfillment of a desire to be involved in missions that I have had since I was a teenager.”

Talitha Koeper - Deputation Administrative Assistant

Talitha Koeper began working as the deputation administrative assistant in June of 2006. Her duties include aiding the missionaries from the time they request an application to the time they leave for their chosen field. Some additional duties are typing correspondence for the deputation director, processing applications for short-term (Mappers) and long-term missionaries, assisting missionaries while on deputation (an average of 2-3 years) with their deputation questions, and planning and organizing our annual Orientation Seminar and Family Life Seminar.

In Talitha’s words: “Having worked at Baptist World Mission during breaks from college, I already knew the thrill of helping missionaries every day. But working full-time as deputation secretary has helped me develop an even greater appreciation of missionaries. The Lord has given me the unique opportunity to minister to His choice servants during an important time in their missionary career--deputation. Missionaries on deputation have special needs and burdens that I am privileged to meet and share. I really enjoy being a part of the Baptist World Mission family!”

Beth Anne Arrowood - Financial Assistant

Beth Anne came to Baptist World Mission in August of 1998. She serves as financial assistant to Mike Williquette, Business Director. Beth Anne's responsibilities range from getting the mail from the post office each day, to balancing the Mission's monthly bank statement, to book sales, to ordering office supplies. A big part of her job is the processing of monthly expense reports from the missionaries. Beth Anne's newest responsibility is that of planning and organizing our Annual Meeting each year. She says she loves details, so this is “right up her alley.”

In Beth Anne's words: "There are so many blessings that come with working at BWM. I enjoy getting to know the missionaries. They are such an encouragement and blessing to me personally. Some of them have become my dearest friends. I also enjoy working in a Christian environment with a team of people who are united in our cause and goal of getting the Gospel around the world. One of my favorite times of the day is prayer time. We meet together each day to pray for the needs of the missionaries and office staff. We also eat lunch as a group each day. This is usually a time filled with laughter. We do enjoy ourselves! I couldn't ask for a better place to serve or better colaborers. I love being a part of the BWM home office staff!"

Carilee Lind - Staff Accountant

In May of 1998 Carilee Lind came to work for Baptist World Mission as the staff accountant. Along with answering financial questions, Carilee spends a good portion of her time sending funds to missionaries. Our missionaries are given the option to receive a check, a direct deposit, or a wire. Two times a month are set aside for sending funds, as well as sending money throughout the month in case of emergencies. In an attempt to assist the missionary, Carilee takes care of paying many bills for them directly from their BWM account. Some of her other duties include home-office payroll, home-office bills, tax reports, financial reports, and budgets.

In Carilee’s words: “Working at BWM has allowed me to experience many blessings. It is a joy to work with dedicated individuals who believe that what they do is not just a job, but a ministry. This leads to a wonderful work environment and daily Christian fellowship. Each morning we spend time in prayer. Often times we laugh together, but best of all we pray for one another. My position allows me to see first hand that people are sacrificing around the world in order to assist in the spreading of God's Word. I cannot help but rejoice in God's goodness when I have been praying for a missionary's finances and a few hours later I see God provide.”

Beth Weaver - Donations Entry Clerk

Beth Weaver came to Baptist World Mission in December of 1997. She is our donations entry clerk. She enters the contributions received and makes sure they are allocated to the right accounts. She also keeps the missionary support database up to date. Beth is responsible for producing and mailing the contribution receipts, and she handles all requests for information regarding missionary support status.

In Beth’s words: “It is a blessing to work in a Christian environment and to work with and get to know our missionaries personally. Since I came to work at BWM, I have seen many prayers answered. I have also witnessed the Lord working in the lives of our missionaries and staff. Working at Baptist World Mission is a great privilege. I appreciate the opportunity the Lord has given me to work here all these years."