| Leader's Letter |
Advance in times of crisis In recent months many western countries have been facing
economic meltdown. Governments are seriously concerned as banks falter and
hundreds of billions of dollars are pumped into their economies. People are anxious as they see their savings
shrink and a very uncertain future
unfolding. Some think this may be the worst crisis since the Great Depression
of the 1930s.
So that does this mean for missions like WEC? We don't have any guaranteed income or a strong financial base in human terms. So as we face today's economic crisis, should we scale down or draw back in some areas? Our WEC statement on faith says " our expansion and outreach are not controlled by 'fixed budgets' and closed doors but rather by the 'exceeding great and precious promises' of God in His Word." I believe it important for us to state again that God is not limited by circumstances. He delights in doing the extraordinary. We want to declare afresh our trust that God will supply all that is needed as we obediently serve Him in reaching out to the remaining unevangelized peoples of this world. WEC has thrived in challenging circumstances and economic crises. It pushes us more deeply into God. We aren't any better or more spiritual than other organisations, but situations like these create an opportunity for a new level of faith and total dependence both personally and corporately. Interestingly WEC has grown significantly in previous times of crisis. During the Great Depression of the 1930s WEC sent out many workers and opened new fields. An excerpt from "Faith on Fire",(p.41) shows what happened in 1933. "During 1933 applications were received for four new fields - Colombia, Arabia, Central Asia and Spanish Guinea. They were part of the new faith target of fifteen workers for that year. Again it was a swaying battle of faith against unbelief. Grubb recounts how he was preparing a magazine article announcing the faith target of fifteen, but was unwilling to send it to the printer without a final seal of £100 towards it. He set a deadline of 11am. The time came, but no £100. As he was about to scrap the article Colonel Munro came over to his office waving a cheque for £100! The fifteen (ten men and five women) came forward, and were equipped to go by the anniversary date, 16th July."
Even though the beginning of the 21st century is very different from the early days of WEC, we believe that our core values and objectives of reaching the remaining unevangelised are the same. We are sensing it is time for WEC to take some new bold faith steps for the Kingdom. We need a new generation of workers who are willing to risk all for Jesus and go to the hard places of this world without any guarantees apart from the promises of God and the presence of His Spirit. Trevor Kallmier |
As I read the stories of the early WECers, I am inspired by
the way they pressed on in faith - often in seemingly impossible
circumstances.
