Iranian Brethren come to Illinois!
Update on Eastern Europe & Asia program
Continuance of Eastern Europe & Asia program
A Bond of Faith video
WCF Projects update
Resource Center and Website update
Tape Catalog Supplement
WCF Director update
How you can help

Iranian Brethren come to Illinois
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10)

The Iranians begin arriving in the U.S.

Imagine that one day you see your photo published in the newspaper with the notice that you are now an infidel and that any who might find and kill you are "doing Allah's work." Upon further investigation you learn that your family is behind the public pronouncement. Not long after, Iranian religious police attempt to run you down with their automobile on a Tehran side street. You manage to jump out of the way but do some lasting damage to your knee. Then imagine that one of your friends, one of a group of people who have accepted the gospel and been baptized through your instruction suddenly goes missing. Your inquiries lead to the local police station where your friend was taken for interrogation. That's where the trail ends. Your friend?our brother in Christ has "disappeared." You suspect the worst and, from what you know of religious persecution in Iran today, you're probably right.

Meanwhile other members of the group are experiencing increasing levels of harassment from family and friends. A plan is formulated to flee to Turkey and appeal to the United Nations for refugee status. At the appointed time you, along with your seven Brothers and Sisters in Christ, board a bus as tourists and make it safely across the border. An official appeal is made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Finally, after a year and a half of waiting, during which harassment from the Turkish police becomes routine and more and more vigorous, you receive notice that you are being granted refugee status and can enter the United States.

You arrive in the U.S. with only the couple of suitcases containing your clothes, books and a few odds and ends from your former life in Iran. You've left behind well-to-do comfort complete with good job, nicely furnished apartment, late model automobile, and excellent prospects for material success?hat most would call, from a worldly perspective, "the good life." All this you've given up?or the pearl of great price.

This greatly summarizes the experience of a few of our Iranian Brothers and Sisters in Christ who have con-verted from Islam. Three adults of the original group that fled to Turkey along with two children are resettling in Illinois. WCF is underwriting their living expenses during this process. The adults are enrolled in English language classes and are seeking employment. The girls are enjoying school where they, too, are learning English. One of the children has special needs and has been scheduled for an intensive evaluation to determine a course of treatment. At nine years, she is still unable to walk.

Adjusting to life in the United States is challenging. Finding food that is familiar is difficult and the language barrier is a constant hurdle. But these are small things. Overall, our Brothers and Sisters & their children are doing well and are extremely grateful for the blessings they continue to receive. And they continue their outreach work in spite of their personal set-back, at every opportunity inviting the people they meet to attend their newly-adopted ecclesia. They also continue working with more than sixty contacts and keep up pastoral work via the Internet with the more than forty believers now living in Iran.

Furniture was donated by several ecclesias to furnish several apartments.

Before:

After:

They serve as a constant reminder that God is at work in the world, spreading the gospel and that we need to be diligent in our efforts to preach in spite of the difficulties. We must also be constant in our prayers for those who are still in Iran and other countries where there is no religious tolerance until the day comes when all the earth will worship together in spirit and in truth.

An official welcome to their new ecclesia

story and photos by Steve Johnson

Update of Eastern Europe & Asia Program
Since the Eastern Europe and Asia (EE&A) preaching and teaching program began to be funded by WCF in April 2003, the periodic Carelink messages have reported 131 baptisms in 15 countries. In that same context, 37 Brothers and Sisters have received pastoral visits & welfare assistance. Virtually all of the allocated $110,000 was invested across the areas of (1) preaching initiatives, (2) follow-up, (3) pastoral work and (4) welfare. The housing project in Tukums, Latvia required another $15,000 to get the building refurbished and remodeled to allow a number of Brothers and Sisters to move in.

"New homes" for brethren
photo source: Carelink

Special circumstances require special involvement and assistance. Brethren around the world prayed and rallied around the plight of our new Iranian family members. The outpouring of time, energy and money demonstrated the loving care God has "put into our hearts". WCF directed over $100,000 to this special need.

Continuance of Eastern Europe & Asia Program

map source: CBM Handbook

CBM fieldworkers for the EE&A area have identified twelve countries and several projects that will receive funding in the next six-month period, per the WCF project plan. A total of $94,000 will be allocated to Romania for preaching initiatives, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Russia, Hungary & Bulgaria for follow-up activity, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Caucasus & Hungary for pastoral work and Turkey & Hungary for welfare.

The Pan European Bible School will be supported & property + a building will be purchased in Romania.

A Bond of Faith Video

And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15)

In June this year, the 5th in the God's Family Around the World series was released for distribution to ecclesias in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. Subtitled "Scenes from a Russian Bible School", it features a number of fascinating stories on how God has worked in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters who have come out of the wreckage of the USSR. It demonstrates the realities of starting life all over, and how faith in the Lord Jesus Christ conquers all.

Here are some viewer comments:

Our ecclesia loved the Russian Bible School video, we showed it as a special afternoon family activity - LM, United States

Everyone was very moved by the video. Everyone had to wipe away a few tears! We need a wake up about the reality of living faithfully in other circumstances - MS, New Zealand

wonderful to 'meet' some bro and sis from there, see their incredible & inspiring faith - a real boost to our faith and motivation to go and emulate their preaching example. thanks for all your hard work in making the video - J&SP, United Kingdom

WCF Projects Update
Four projects were proposed & funded at the April 2003 WCF meeting, and several more were introduced at the November meeting. Here's a recap:

Bible Basics in North America
Coordinated by Sis Mary Warner, this project included mailing free WCF video tapes to contacts visiting the unfailinglove.org website, the development of which was also funded by WCF. This project is now regarded as complete.

Preaching/Pastoral work in Israel
Bro Jesse Warner took the lead on this Israeli project, which included coordination from a distance (e.g., newspaper advertising in Arabic, Russian and Hebrew) as well as personal visitation to the brethren in their various locations and homes.

Gospel of Your Salvation (online)
Conceptualized by Bro John Pople, this Internet approach to preaching the Good News utilizes a web site that entails 25 connected articles. Starting from a common point, four distinct yet integrated subject areas can be browsed depending on the inclination and answers of the viewer. Plans call for a project launch in June, 2004.

Fieldworker Camcorder Usage
Camcorders were issued to various fieldworkers around the world, who have been taking and sending in video footage of local events, which is then transformed into clips suitable for viewing on the WCF web site. This effort has shown excellent results and will continue to be promoted. New projects funded by WCF

• China Mission Work - pastoral visits lead by Bro Jack Fallon
• Chinese Literature - translations directed by a UK brother
• Preaching to Iranians - Internet approach run from Illinois
• India Facilities Construction - managed by Bro. Tim Galbraith
• Republish Diaglott - coordinated by Bro Franklyne Ross
• Life Solutions - website content development by Bro Joe Fordham
• Mentoring Program - prototype development by Bro Joe Fordham
• The Christadelphian Story - DVD idea by Bro Russ Brierly

Welfare
WCF continues to address welfare needs in the USA and Canada. Due to the sensitive nature of these requests, details are not published. If the reader knows of a monetary need that is not being met by other resources, please contact any WCF Director.

WCF Web site and Resource Center Services
As the WCF webservant, Bro Trevor Brierly maintains the functionality, content and quality of the website. One new information option is "Fieldwork News", which features reports, pictures, and video clips as submitted from workers in the various mission areas (e.g., Eastern Europe, India, Ecuador). Trevor also improved the data quality and search capability of the Tape Library. Sisters: check out the new workshop offering: Love is a Verb by Sisters Linda Reding & Beth MacAdams.

This year began a new service of offering Bible School talks on CDs; now any order for audio tapes can be put on CD. WCF is assisting the Bloomington ecclesia with a planned expansion of their building space, which will continue to house Resource Center materials and WCF operations.

WCF Director Update
Brother Bobby Morrissette, one of the original WCF Directors, has elected to retire at the end of 2003. His wise counsel, gentle spirit and long-term commitment have proven invaluable over the past 27 years. Thank you, Bobby, for such service. The LORD bless and keep you, now and forever.

How You Can Help
You can personally support WCF projects by prayer, volunteering your time and expertise, and ordering WCF resources (video programs, audio tapes, Discover Your Bible booklets).

You can financially contribute to WCF through cash donations, stock transfers, charitable trusts or the designation of your United Way contribution (USA only). Contact WCF Treasurer Ray Pratt by phone (217-664-3511) or regular mail (335 North Western, P.O. Box 86, Deland, IL 61839) or e-mail: rbpratt@mchsi.com

Newsletter Archive
FOCUS ON 30th Anniversary—Fall 2005 (PDF)
December 2004 (PDF)
December 2003
May 2003 (PDF)
December 2002 (PDF)
December 2001
January 2001

Fieldwork News Archive
• Allen and Tara Laben report from India—3
• Allen and Tara Laben report from India—2
• Allen and Tara Laben report from India—1
• WCF Brethren Visit Romania and Turkey, March, 2005
• Exploring Cambodia—Early Preaching Activities
• Pastoral Visits and Bible School in Jamaica, December 2004—January 2005 [1.1 MB PDF]
• Basic Bible Teaching in Joliet, Illinois

Bulletin Archive
August 2000
December 1999
July 1999
December 1998
April 1998
December 1997
November 1997