WCF Bulletin

WCF Seminars are the focus of this newsletter.

WCF Seminar Update 1998 - a summary of all the offerings sponsored by WCF, along with the step-by-step procedure on how to arrange for a seminar to come to your ecclesia.

The ecclesia in Seguin, TX and the COGAF church in Miami, FL have already hosted "God?s Blueprint for Living", while a Rhode Island ecclesia has requested a customized version of "Resolving Conflict" for its April gathering.

Over the years, WCF has promoted a number of workshops and study days developed by various brethren. Their material was developed independently of WCF, and always initially for a local need. But when it became apparent that others in the Brotherhood might benefit from the seminar material and presentation sessions, these brethren had their offerings promoted and sponsored by WCF. The seminars have addressed important areas such as family, marriage, discipleship, the ecclesia, public awareness, and training. Since this service began 15 years ago, dozens of ecclesias in both fellowships across North America have benefited. However, the time has come to promote a robust, training workshop program.

Based on an assessment of the problems facing our Christadelphian community, we need to take corrective action immediately. Prompted by what Scripture teaches, one such action is to get the necessary training to help ourselves and others. As men and women of God, we need to be "equipped for every good work". Such readiness demands getting and keeping competent in the skills which enable us to face and overcome the "wiles of the devil". To that end, a number of Brothers and Sisters decided to develop and conduct an ambitious workshop entitled "Scriptural Wisdom and Practical Help in Surviving Troubled Times". Held in Toronto, Ontario in June 1993, the workshop dealt with subjects such as substance abuse, sex, stress, workplace challenge, care of the aged, marriage building etc. For many, the fact that such issues were being openly discussed meant that these sensitive yet real-life problems were finally being addressed.

But the workshop lasted only a day -- hardly sufficient time to get into the subjects, much less receive any training. More time needs to be allocated to the subjects. More opportunity needs to be given for individual participation and training exercises. More material could be produced to assist in skills development. More Brothers and Sisters could get involved in the planning, materials development, coordination etc. So why not expand and build on the Toronto workshop idea? That is the thrust of the third WCF enclosure, A Proposal for Christadelphian Training Workshops. Please read it.

You are invited to get involved in this program idea. Here are some of the many activities being considered, each of which will need the doing by some individual or team or ecclesia:

1. participating in initial concept meetings [one already scheduled in Rhode Island]
2. developing workshop outlines and content
3. developing resource material
4. developing multi-media visual aids
5. performing word processing, desktop publishing
6. coordinating manual publication and distribution
7. designing and maintaining a website
8. being a session facilitator
9. being a ?test? ecclesia for the initial workshop
10. being a financial contributor

If you are interested in any one or more of these roles or want further information, contact Norm Fadelle, 815 Chippewa Dr., Elgin, IL, 60120; (847)742-8350, nfadelle@juno.com.

Having recently completed the "Fields Ripe for Harvest" video program (sponsored by the CBMA) concerning the brethren in San Salvador, Bro. Steve Johnson has initiated a new video program for WCF. The subject will deal with how the Truth came to and has spread on the island of Jamaica. Here's an excerpt from Steve's progress report:

We did what many Jamaicans have never done...traveled the entire perimeter of the island. The nine day visit included stops at ten of the thirteen ecclesias in Jamaica. Faith is very much alive and active in this tropical paradise in spite of extreme social and economic pressures. The Jamaican brothers and sisters are active preachers and continually share their faith with others in their communities with regular Bible classes, CYC activities and Sunday Schools. The results of their efforts are witnessed by a number of recent baptisms, two the week before our visit and two scheduled for the week after our departure.

One of the highlights of our visit was the time we spent with Sister Evonne Langley in Port Antonio. A debilitating disease has left her unable to use her legs. In spite of her infirmity, she remains a strong and dedicated disciple, a tremendous example to her brethren. Sis. Evonne recorded a moving and powerful exhortative message for all her brothers and sisters around the world.

Another exciting trip we took was with some brethren who are spearheading the development of 65 acres in the interior of Jamaica into a year-round Bible camp facility. Their enthusiasm was catching and it was easy to see the great value and blessing a property like this will be to the brotherhood on the island.

The video crew worked twelve to fourteen hours a day, bouncing around Jamaica's notoriously rough roads, experiencing and videotaping a dimension of the island never seen by tourists. It was truly an awesome journey, meeting and being befriended by the generous brothers and sisters we met in every ecclesia. Post production is now underway on a program that will, our Lord willing, help our community realize that we are a worldwide fellowship, that we need to care for each other, that there is much work to be done and too few laborers ready to enter the vineyard. Release is planned for the end of May, 1998, God-willing.

 

WCF depends on donations to continue its work. If you are interested in supporting the WCF projects such as its seminar services, the proposed workshop training program or the new video tape about the brethren in Jamaica, please send your tax-deductible (US & Canada) contributions to George Booker, 2500 Berwyn Circle, Austin, TX, USA 78745, or Alan Ghent, 4829 Owl Circle, Mississauga, ON, Canada, L4Z 2P7.

WCF has been exploring the possibility of greater involvement in helping our Brothers and Sisters in Jamaica. Such work would assist the work of the Christadelphian Bible Mission (UK) and would be administered through the Welfare Committee of CBM (Jamaica). It would call for the receiving, holding, and passing through of funds earmarked for cases of special need in Jamaica. WCF did a similar work during the special Jamaican hurricane relief in 1988. This new work would be of a more ongoing nature, and would provide opportunity for individuals and ecclesias in North America to participate more directly.