We first heard of World Missionary Press because Jay and Vicky Benson met a missionary who is a member of our church and faithfully prayed for her. The missionary was so grateful for their prayer support that she suggested we contact World Missionary Press to see how we could support this wonderful ministry.
Our church began sending groups of volunteers in 2013. This summer we made plans to send three groups in June, with each group serving for three days. Our groups have a nice mix of adults and youth, and they always have a really wonderful time serving together.
[Volunteer groups from Hope Community Church travel about three hours and stay several days. They have blessed us in ways beyond the multitude of tasks they have performed to help the work of WMP move forward by providing some memorable chapels in which they have shared music, memorized Scripture passages, prayers, and powerful testimonies. We praise God for the encouragement that these faithful volunteers bring! Volunteers are a vital part of the WMP team.]
Retirement of Fred and Betsy Eiler
WHO WILL EVER FORGET the enthusiastic presentations—and yes, the personal challenges—of Fred Eiler as he and his wife Betsy served as field representatives of World Missionary Press? For 18 years they have shared their passion for God’s Word in churches, on radio and TV programs, and wherever God led them. As a beloved ministry-couple, they have endeared themselves to us with their warmth and energy.
Many have been praying earnestly for Fred and Betsy since mid-April, when Fred went through open-heart surgery. When Betsy sent an email to the team, updating us on what they had been going through in the weeks since then, she recounted, “He actually had four blockages, but one was in a very precarious place and could not be stented. The surgery went well, and five days later Fred was sent home for a month of recovery and two more months of rehab.” During this time, Harold Mack and various other staff handled their scheduled appointments in area churches.
After discussing with Harold and Marie the realities of Fred’s situation, including his turning 74 in June, Betsy wrote,
We have decided to retire from the position of Field Representatives for World Missionary Press. We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers as we have traveled over 320,000 miles for WMP in the past eighteen years. We will miss so many of you, and you will always be our friends. We have watched your children grow up and have even been invited to their weddings. We have shared many a delicious meal, have stayed in your homes, and have been part of your families. These are memories we will never forget. We do of course pray that our paths will cross again here, and if not, on the other side.
Love and blessings,
Fred and Betsy Eiler
We will certainly miss Fred and Betsy in their role as WMP field representatives! If you would like to hear some of the stories Fred told about how God has used His Word to impact lives, write for his DVDs about “Stones of Remembrance,” available free of charge, or go here to view them online.
Volunteer representatives to serve as “Ambassadors”
Some time ago, WMP president Harold Mack put feet to his vision of developing a network of volunteer representatives by forming a WMP Ambassador Program advisory board, which included Fred and Betsy. The concept is to reach out to churches (starting with the more than 2,000 churches already connected with WMP) to identify individuals willing and able to share brief videos, newsletters, e-mails, or other information about WMP with groups within their church (such as Sunday-school classes, men’s and women’s groups, prayer groups, missions committee, etc.) and to supply them regularly with fresh information for sharing about WMP. This Board has already been helpful in discussing program goals, varying levels of possible involvement from churches, as well as how to connect with, screen, and train
prospective ambassadors, determine what resources they will need and how best to supply them, and build relationships with them.
In answer to specific prayer, God supplied the need for an actively-involved WMP
Ambassador Coordinator. Joe Chadburn joined us in March. Joe and his wife Tamie had recently moved into the area when one of our staff (who is married to Tamie’s brother) invited them to attend WMP’s Anniversary Dinner last October. They were deeply moved by what they heard and interested in becoming involved. As a former pastor who also has business experience in managing customer relationships, Joe seems divinely prepared for this
particular role. He is well-versed in using social media and the software tools needed in building and maintaining a network of relationships. Joe is a humble man of God and has already begun connecting with pastors and individuals interested in sharing about WMP.