April 01, 1985 by

The Lord can use all we have to offer.

Time 

Do you have time to offer? Time to pray for Hidden Peoples, pray for mission awareness among American evangelicals; pray for strategic. organizations like the US Center for World Mission and the people who work here? Time to volunteer on the missions committee of your church, volunteer in your area to promote the work of the Center, volunteer at the USCWM in Pasadena for a few weeks or months. Time to work full time as a representative in your area or work on staff in Pasadena?

Talents  

What gifts and abilities has God given you? Have you thought of using them directly for the work of His kingdom? Do you know that missionaries come from all walks of life and serve in many different capacities? Are you aware that mission agencies, like the USCWM, can use all kinds of talents    secretarial, managerial, editorial, financial, theological, pastoral, clerical, manual, etc?

Treasures  

Are you spending your financial resources on yourself or investing them in the Lord's work? Do you know missionaries that need financial support? Obviously, you know of the financial needs of the Center, but did you know that most of our staff are under supported, some drastically? If you are praying for the work of the Center, one of the best ways that you could help is to support one or our staff members. Do you know people who could serve full time as an area representative or on staff in Pasadena if they had prayer and financial backing? Could you provide all or a substantial portion of their support? Perhaps you know others whom you could approach to join you in the financial support of that person.

What are the needs of the USCWM?

Prayer: Ours is a spiritual warfare, but it surfaces around physical and interpersonal issues. More than receiving financial gifts, we need to work together harmoniously and productively. We need more staff, and they need adequate financial support.

Volunteers

Mission renewal does not occur without people at the grass roots who are giving selflessly of their time to promote missions awareness in their own areas. There are projects and activities which can be accomplished at the Center by volunteers who come one day a week, come during their vacation, give three or four months, or being retired .  can give more time. Write the Personnel Department for more information.

Staff Members  

Much can be done in your local area by a full time USCWM representative. In Pasadena, we have many pressing needs, the most critical being secretaries, typists, managers, a librarian, and writers. However, we also need accountants, graphics technicians, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, university faculty, food service workers, maintenance workers. Call (818) 7971111 anytime for more information about our candidate process and how you can serve.

We need some manual labor!

If you or someone you know has experience as a home handyman or is skilled in one of the building trades and is seeking a place of service for the Lord, please read on. First, welt explain our situation and then discuss how you can help.

In the last issue of Mission Frontiers we reported that we were given a two year extension on our mortgage payments for both the campus and the off campus housing. That was totally unsolicited and unexpected. Yet, we are very grateful at how God answers prayer. However, as is often the case, our Lord reaches us lessons through gifts and unanticipated events.

The lesson we are learning is how to be better stewards of the assets he has entrusted to us. That lesson is being thrust upon us by the cost of the twoyear extension    the interest rate on the off campus housing has increase4 by $10,000 per month.

This has forced us to take a hand look at how we have been maintaining our properties, how much we've been spending on maintenance, and how to make very limited financial resources stretch.

Our 130 rental units on 84 residential properties ate expected to provide iaouslitg for our staff and generate sufficientrental income to cover operational expenses. However, the houses are old and in poor condition, which means that considerable repairs are needed to prevent further deterioration and to meet modem housing codes.

The additional $10,000 per month in mortgage payments restricts our ability to afford the necessary maintenance. Our already meager maintenance budget has now been reduced to less than $5,000 per month for materials and labor.

To stretch those dollars as far as possible, we need long term volunteers who are retired building trades workers or home handymen. We also need younger experienced workers who can raise missionary support to serve on staff as groundskeepers, custodians, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, etc. The more volunteers and supported staff we have in the Physical Plant Department, the fewer employees we will have to pay wages to out of rental income. Consequently, we can accomplish more repairs with our limited resources.

Others may give their treasures so that you can give your time and talents. Pray about at and discuss this possibility with your pastor and friends.

Is God challenging you to use your time and talents for the Lord in service at the USCWM in the area of maintenance? Call or write the Personnel Department for information about volunteering or candidaring for staff.