WCF Bulletin

July 1999

Refined Focus for WCF
Training Workshops Program
New Video Programs
Partnership Projects
Website Inquiries

Refined Focus for WCF

Each WCF director meeting starts with a consideration of Scripture. At our Spring meeting, Galatians 6:1-10 was the selected text. Verse 10 reads: "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith". Based on this exhortation, the directors decided that the Foundation?s first two objectives of Service to the Brotherhood and Charitable Works should be combined into Helping the Household of Faith.

WCF?s services and resources are increasingly being utilized by a growing number of brethren outside North America. The directors have, therefore, decided to expand our third objective of "Preaching the Truth" to "Preaching the Truth to the World".

Given this wider scope of activities, it made sense to modify our logo to reflect a global opportunity. Having a website on the Internet has prompted inquiries (for literature and seminar offerings) from Germany, India, Pakistan, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. So the enhanced logo is meant to indicate the willingness of WCF to offer its resources to the rest of the world

Training Workshops Program

Brethren from all over the continent responded to our mail survey. The results are published on a separate sheet. Based on the response, one thing is clear. There?s a real demand for workshops focused on equipping individuals/ecclesias with the skills and tools that will enable them in the doing of "good works", for the glory of God and for the benefit of the Christadelphian community.

Three new workshops are now available for Brothers and Sisters to bring to their area:

Readers are reminded that these are WCF-sponsored workshops. That means the travel expenses of the facilitators and costs associated with facility rental will be covered by WCF, if needed.

New Video Programs

Three new, innovative video programs are scheduled to be completed this year:

  1. God?s Land of Promises for You - designed along the lines of The Middle East and Your Future series, this tape will become the 5th WCF ?video leaflet? produced by Bro. Steve Johnson. Shot in Israel in March, the program presents God?s "great and precious promises" against a backdrop of some of the significant biblical sites in the land and around Jerusalem. Bre. Paul Zilmer and Norm Fadelle team up once again to explain the significance of OT and NT Scripture as it pertains to the various locations. Informal dialogue and hi-tech graphics make for easy listening and viewing for relatives, friends and contacts. Target release date: September.

  2. Good News in Israel - also shot and produced by Bro. Steve Johnson, this program features recent Christadelphian preaching efforts being conducted in Israel. The video focuses on the work spearheaded by Bro. Duncan Heaster and supported by both ?on site? and ?back home? co-laborers. Intended to encourage more Brothers and Sisters to get involved in mission work, the video discusses various preaching methods, shows leafleting activity (both planned and providential), and highlights comments from newly-baptized members of Christ?s family. Target release date: October.

  3. Bible Truth in Ireland - this will be a third program in the series God?s Family Around the World. In conjunction with Bro. Alan Eyre, who provided vital background material, Bro. Steve Johnson (and crew) spent a week in May with the Christadelphians in Ireland. Besides providing a glimpse into the lives of the Brothers and Sisters, the video features a number of testimonials on how and why these brethren were converted, and how they continue to promote the Truth. Target release date: December.

Partnership Projects

When it comes to a worthy project requiring financial support Christadelphians are always cheerful givers. When shown a genuine need (e.g., a charity case) or given specific details on the purpose and expected results of a sizable expenditure (e.g., fund video production equipment), Brothers and Sisters find a way to contribute, as they are able. It can be time, material, money, and sometimes "beating the bushes" to raise cash. Because we have been blessed by God, and everything we have belongs to Him in the first place, it?s simply a matter of being good stewards with what He has entrusted to us.

In the past, WCF has tended to be reactive, i.e., provide money when a charity or resource need presents itself. In this matter, WCF has proven itself to be very responsive (e.g., within 24 hours, it had written out a check for $6,000 to satisfy a time-critical appeal by a Brother in Canada). Going forward, WCF intends to be proactive and project-oriented (e.g., provide ?start-up? money in advance for specific undertakings and encourage Brothers and Sisters to make up the rest of the money.) In short, WCF is looking for funding partners.

Here are four projects for which WCF is soliciting contributions:

  1. Bible Basics in Georgian & Estonian - the cost is around $6,000 to have Bro. Heaster?s book translated, printed and distributed in these foreign languages. WCF has provided matching funds of $3,000, and is looking for another $3,000.

  2. Video duplication & distribution - the cost will be around $7,000 for all three of the new video programs. WCF has already absorbed all production costs, and has contributed $2,000 towards the expected duplication and distribution expenses. An additional $5,000 will be required.

  3. Video equipment upgrade - the cost is an estimated $23,000 for new hardware and software. WCF has already received $8,000 in donations. There is need for $15,000 more. The proposed, detailed cost/benefit breakdown is available upon request.

  4. Training Workshops startup - the cost for facilitator travel expenses and resource material production for conducting each of the three new training workshops at a hosting ecclesia will be about $4,400. WCF is committed to underwrite all expenses. The hosting ecclesia(s) may want to contribute toward the expenses.

Checks should be made out to the Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation, earmarked for the project(s) of choice, and sent to:

WCF Treasurer
Ray Pratt
335 North Western
P.O. Box 86
Deland, IL 61839.

For Canadians, to satisfy Revenue Canada requirements, send cheques to the:

Ossington Ave Ecclesia
967 Ossington Ave.
Toronto, ON M6G 3V5

earmarked for WCF.

Website Inquiries

In the month of June, the WCF website experienced a flurry of ?hits?, largely due to the offer of a free booklet (John Thomas and His Rediscovery of Bible Truth) and the networking of friends who passed along the news of a ?freebie?. The 110 requests for literature broke down as follows: USA (90%), Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Far East (10%).

E-mail discussion on Bible topics has begun with a man in Russia and a woman in India. Addresses of the inquirers in Asia and the Far East have been passed on to brethren working in those regions. Clearly, there is great potential for preaching and teaching Bible Truth on the Internet, including sharing contact names.

Readers are invited to give us your feedback on the website. Ideas are particularly welcome.