September 01, 1986 by Ralph D. Winter

Lest We Take Credit

Dear Friend,

This is a special issue of MISSION FRONTIERS part of the wonderful help of a single donor in Chicago who has funded the Last $1,000 campaign. Outside workers have developed much of this particular issue. I have had very little to do with it.

Thus, I must confess my funny feelings as I have just now paged through the final copy going to the printer. We normally are trying to tell all the good things which God is doing in the world. We do not normally trumpet our own virtues, our own achievements. Indeed, even in this issue I hope it is plain that I, as the General Director, am mainly a spectator (or a janitor) in regard to all the amazing and wonderful things which are going on in this place.

Lest you fail to sec how indebted we actually are to others over whom we have no control, let me illustrate:

We have to thank the Africa Inland Mission for the Browns, working in the Institute of Tribal Studies.

We have to thank SEA International for the Calls who work in graphics.

We have to thank the Overseas Missionary Fellowship for the Heimbachs, who have been with us for now eight years (not yet retired, Ernie was formerly the Home Director for North America of the OMF, and here is the chairman of our entire division of Mission Strategy).

Then, the Zwemer Institute of Muslim Studies for their entire staff (from 10 missions) and their amazing array of labors which have assisted at least 38 other missions).

We have to thank the Global Mapping Project, its board and its staff for their decision to work here in this atmosphere, and in relation to our computer center, etc. And their staff comes from various missions.

We have to be very proud but yet are unable to brag about the amazing exploits of the Caleb Project, which in turn leans on the help of at least five standard mission agencies as they supervise four vans fanning out across the campuses of America  expecting to deal face to face with 25,000 students this academic year (and signing up for mission service about 40 per week!).

Do you see? We really can't take credit for all these things that are based in this amazing place.

What CAN we brag about?

The Central Staff of the USCWM does produce the Global Prayer Digest which is now used by 36 organizations plus 200 radio stations. Our Central Staff supervise the nationwide "Perspectives" extension course network, which deals iwth at least 500 students a week, who are working on a 200 hour serious level.

They supervise grad students in 28 countries. They run what may be the highest quality M.A. program in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

They are now generating the new monthly video Missions update.

And, oh yes, they operate this place for the benefit of everyone else. That means cutting lawns, maintaining a hundred buildings, etc.

Meanwhile we both receive personnel on loan from many agencies. We lent a key couple for nine months as the Midwest Center was getting started. We lent dozens of our staff for many days to the Asia Missions Association when it met here (and in the Pasadena Civic Center). We lend the editor of the spectacular International Journal of Frontier Missions, etc.

They tell me I've run out of space. But I must tell you who are praying earnestly about our current financial situation that something very wonderful has happened.

In the past three months, we seem to have been literally bombarded by unexpected expenses. Shockingly higher insurance than anyone could have anticipated - in the tens of thousands of dollars. The totally unforeseen rupturing of the nine 100-foot trusses in the roof of the Mott auditorium, occasioning expenses that will mount to $96,000 by the end of December (new permanent steel reinforcing of the WWII wooden frames). Then the urgent need to buy the last little piece of a two-block square so as to guarantee redevelopment.

The Global Prayer Digest which is now used by 36 organizations plus 2(X) radio stations.

Our Central Staff supervise the nationwide "Perspectives' extension course network, which deals with at least 500 students a week, who are working on a 2(0 hour serious level.
They supervise grad students in 22 coontries. They run what may be the highest quality MA. program in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

They are now generating the new monthly video Missions Update.

And, oh yes, they operate this place for the benefit of everyone else. That means cutting lawns, maintaining a hundred buildings, etc.

Meanwhile we both receive personnel on loan from many agencies. We also lend our people to other agencies. We lent a key couple for nine months as the Midwest Center was getting started. We lent dozens of our stall for many days to the Asia Missions Association when it met here (and in the Pasadena Civic Center). We lend the editor of the spectacular International Journal of Frontier Missions, etc.

'They tell me I've min out of space. But I must tell you who are praying earnestly about our current financial situation that something very wonderful has happened.

In the pest three months, we seem to have been literally bombarded by unexpected expenses. Shockingly higher insurance than anyone could have anticipated in the tens of thousands of dollars. The totally unforeseen rupturing of the nine 1(0 foot trusses in the roof of the Moti auditorium, occasioning expenses that will mount to $96,000 by the end of December (new, permanent steel reinforcing of the WWJI wooden frames). Then the urgent need to buy the lass little piece of a two block square so as to guarantee redevelopment.