Report Update: 3 October 2011
- 1. Office & Meeting Room Electrical Rewiring
Our #1 need currently is the complete rewriring of our main office and meeting room. The cables are about 40-50 years old. Our electrician says it needs to be done as soon as possible to minimise the risk of fire. We are having to close some lights and sockets down to make sure the lines aren't unnecessarily burdened which is particularly hard in the Swedish winter when it is so dark. As the office is a hub of activity and as we are having a lot of circuit-breakers activated because of this problem, this is causing major disruptions to the ministry. So this is our most urgent need. Electrician's estimate cost for repair: SEK 50,000 = US$7,300 = UKŁ4,700 = €uro 5,000 (as of 3 Oct 2011 approx. exchange rates)
- 2. Conference Centre Masonry Repairs
Having had the whole building facade rennovated in 2008 at huge expense (thanks to a bequest) it was very depressing to have ice destroy sections of the newly done work in the harsh winter of 2009-2010. Each successive winter causes more unnecessary damage as plaster and brickwork crumble, increasing the cost of repair work, making this our second most urgent need. The builder has estimated a repair cost of about SEK 150,000 = US$22,000 = UKŁ14,000 = €uro 16,500 (as of 3 Oct 2011 approx. exchange rates). We think we may be able to secure a builder who can do this 10-15% cheaper but this has not yet been verified.
- 3. Conference Centre Window Repairs
When Yahweh gave us this building to be our home and ministry centre we had no idea how much work would be required on it. Built in the 1920's, the windows are now beginning to rot. Thanks to the hard and dedicated labour of two of our members, what has been done over the last two years is phenomenal. However, at the current pace, it is going to take us about another 5 years to complete the work. Even so, there are many expenses that need to be met which are not always possible: paint, wood, glass, etc. So we appreciate any help we can get, whether labour or cash for materials. The picture above shows the work that was done this (2011) summer over several months done almost entirely by our Swedish Rep.
- 4. Audio-Visual Equipment
One of our goals has been to produce audio sermons and teaching materials on CD-ROM, DVD, video, and cassettes in addition to the free printed materials available on the NCCG.ORG website. There was a time, around 1986-8, when we produced audio-cassettes but duplication of them was very inefficient and costly as we lacked the proper equipment, and this operation was discontinued after the ministry relocated to Norway in 1988. Cassettes and videos are still very important in Third World countries where we are ministering even though these are bulkier to post and therefore more expensive. Cassettes really are not wanted in the West, though. As we are able to help congregations acquire better equipment the hope is to provide materials on CD-ROM and DVD.
We know that this is a part of Yahweh's will in the same way we knew going on the Internet was since revelations for both were received. The effectiveness of our Internet ministry is well-known but not so well known is a vision seen in 1997 which was published in the Olive Branch as chapter 452 which reads:
"As I awoke on the morning of 10 May 1997, I saw a vision of a large mansion house [the current NCCG headquarters in Sweden, found a month later and purchased in August of that year] which had three arched doors evenly spaced out. Out of the right-hand door came what looked like a meandering river, only the body of water was shaped like a tube. As I stared at this unusual phenomenon I noticed that the 'river' was in fact a never ending stream of computer CD-ROMs which were moving out of the house towards me. When the vision closed the only interpretation I could give was that the production of CD-ROMs would be one of the three home industries engaged by Kadesh-biyqah, and I supposed that these CD-ROMs would contain the Olive Branch and/or perhaps other church literature" (vv.2-6).
Nearly 14 years on, we believe that the time for the fulfilment of that revelation has come so that our literature can be more widely and effectively propagated, especially if the Internet comes under dictatorial control and censorship against believers. We have already obtained a simple camcorder with which to make films though this is not of good quality. Our goal is to now obtain a minidisk recorder with microphone and equipment for transferring the audio-date on these to cassettes and CD-ROMs. It is hard to say exactly sum is needed at this stage as there is a wide range of hardware available. To upgrade this to produce audio-visual media will, of course, require a much larger sum for the purchase of a high-quality PC on which to make data transfers to CD-ROMs, DVDs and Videos. We would also appreciate any advice anyone might have to so that we can purchase equipment best suited to our needs.
- 5. Annual Heating & House Repair Costs
By the grace of Yahweh we managed to get our old oil heating system replaced with geothermal heating a few years ago and all costs covered. Though our faith was stretched at times as deadlines approached, Yahweh was true to took care of our needs. We are hoping that the new system will mean a cost savings of about 40% which will be a major improvement. However, electrical costs are still extremely high and continue to soar so we still need support to make ends meet on our current budget. The winter time is the hardest. We still hope to one day get solar panels and so generate our own electricity during the summer. Obviously the amount of consumption depends on what kind of winter we have. 2009-10 was a hard winter that was not only expensive but caused house damage too (see above) which remains unrepaired. February is the coldest month of the year with the temperatures sometimes falling as low as -35°C. Our greatest needs are therefore in January and February but it is tough from about November to April. This is the time we most need help. At other times of the year we are able to manage.
- 6. Literature Production
There has been little in the way of printed material production now for the last six years owing to the grave financial situation we have found ourself in and the prohibitive cost of shipping from Sweden. Now that we have invested in a new photocopier we wish to resume production, especially for evangelism. The costs are, however, high, not least because of the postal rates here in Sweden. Until we are able to print and distribute abroad, we must use the local postage facilities. Donations not specifically assigned to the items above will in most cases be used to finance publishing and postage of tracts and magazines.
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