The White Fields Concept
Inception of the Preaching Project
In November 2003, Bre. Tom Thorp and Kyle Tucker attended a preaching focus day in
the UK in an attempt to determine how WCF could best assist in integrated
Christadelphian efforts to preach the Gospel. The question was asked several times:
“What was the greatest barrier to preaching the Gospel?” The consistent
answer: “Manpower.”
The White Fields Project takes its name from John 4:35 where Jesus likens the
missionary field as ready being white and ready for harvesting. And the reported
shortage of manpower reminds us of his comments: “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is
plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew
9:37–38)
Mission and Objective The mission of the
WCF White Fields project is to create and maintain a program whereby financial
obstacles are removed from serious and committed preachers of the Gospel so they can
join in the harvesting process.
Candidates
A good candidate for the White Fields Project is a brother or sister
in Christ who would otherwise be unable to go into the mission field
without financial assistance. Applicants should present:
- evidence of a long term preaching commitment (a year or more)
- evidence of a willingness to do whatever it takes to be effective
in the mission field:
- to learn the language of their target country
- to live a modest lifestyle in accord with the local economy
- to live up to the scriptural attributes of a deacon (e.g. 1 Timothy
3)
- evidence of a well designed preaching plan, which should:
- explain their goals and objectives
- explain a time frame of operations
- explain their qualifications and experience as a preacher
- make good use of existing support structures (e.g. demonstrate
a plan of cooperation with any locally operational Christadelphian
Bible Mission brethren and programs)
- make good use of their existing skills, such as existing proficiencies
of language
- three letters of reference from brethren in good standing who can
commend them as fit for the work
- (in cases where work is planned to be in conjunction with CBM) a
letter from the CBM linkman for the target country, ratifying support
for the intention and agreement of the outlined plan.
Funding Philosophy
The White Fields program offers funding to cover the following types
of expenses:
- Existing ongoing financial commitments which would otherwise prevent
a missionary entering the field (although each case is considered
on its own merits in this regard)
- Modest living expenses at the preaching
location
- Incidentals such as appropriate clothing and medical procedures
for living in that location
- Travel expenses
White Fields funding is not designed to clear outstanding debts, or compensate for income that would have been earned during the time spent
preaching although again, each case is considered on its own merits and
within the framework of its own relevant circumstances.
Reporting
Each candidate receiving funds will be asked to provide regular reports
of their activities, the frequency of which will be determined as is
appropriate for each individual case.
Selection
The selection committee is the WCF Directors
board. The committee reviews
all applications and selects those candidates according to the criteria
broadly outlined above.
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