The EBI Vision

Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2000

Exciting End to a Busy Year

Now that we are actually into the year 2000, we can look back and see that things were rather hectic for awhile. Construction on our building was completed. Everything was moved from the old building to the new one. A couple of us made a quick trip to Venezuela. And through it all sales remained strong. In addition, the new year already shows signs of a very busy first quarter!

New Building Completed

Most of the remodeling of EBI’s new building was completed by the middle of October. The third week of October a team of men from the First Baptist Church of Wellington, Ohio came down to help us move everything but the heavy equipment. This included hundreds of boxes of books and a multitude of miscellaneous items. After several long days, the new warehouse shelving had been assembled and filled with our inventory. The shipping room had twice the number of shelving units as before, and they were filled with our working inventory. The print shop was piled with items that had not found a home yet.

On November 13, a professional equipment mover, with the help of the staff, moved the heavy equipment – three presses, a binder, a folder and a pallet of paper. All was moved without any mishaps or injuries. Praise the Lord. Within a few days, the print shop was up and working, producing as though it had always been there.

We are now in the process of getting our old building ready to sell. Pray that it will sell quickly so we can pay down our mortgage on the new building.

Fiscal Year 2000 Starts Off Well

In the midst of the remodeling project and then the move, many of the staff were occupied with getting everything ready for the move. However, sales for the new fiscal year continued strong. This resulted in a need to reprint several titles. The most urgent reprints were completed just before the presses were shut down. As soon as the presses were running again, more reprints were completed, as well as one new TEE book. Shipping was able to keep up with orders, even though there were days when the packing was done in one building and then packages were transported to the other building to complete the shipping procedure. (All United Parcel shipments are now done using an automated system that prints the shipping labels and also connects us electronically directly to UPS. This computer system remained in the other building until we could get all the necessary hook-ups in place.) Our hats are off to Bernice Hilliker for keeping that whole process flowing smoothly.

First Test Results Back on the Doctrine of Christ TEE Book

The first edited copy of this new TEE book came back from one of our test sites in December. We anticipate others will be sending in their results soon. Pray that we will be able to complete the final edit by late winter and have the book published by spring.

Trip to Venezuela

It is not very often that our staff gets to meet with those who actually use our publications. So when two of our staff were invited to go to Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, they jumped at the opportunity. EBI’s director Gary Hilliker had been invited to speak at the anniversary services (five of them) of the Bethesda Baptist Church. He was instrumental in starting this church many years ago. EBI’s business manager Marv Stephens was invited to present two sessions to the Bible institute students on leadership, as well as participate in the anniversary celebrations. He also gave his testimony at another Baptist church in the city. All of these groups use EBI materials and expressed their appreciation for them. They also expressed the pressing need for Sunday school materials for children. This has been echoed by many throughout the Hispanic world. EBI has this project as a high priority item on its “To Do” list, but until additional staff are available, we will be unable to proceed. Pray that staff will be found who are also burdened for this need and will be willing to work on this project.

Ministry Enrichment Opportunities

The Ministry Enrichment Fund has been officially initiated by a commitment from the Climbers Sunday School Class of Southside Baptist Church in Sebring, Florida. (The class committed to purchase three basic libraries for three active pastors who were recommended by one of Southside’s missionaries in Peru.) Each library consists of 23 Bible study books and can be purchased for $150. In addition, each pastor receiving a library agrees to contribute $20. EBI will handle all shipping, and the sponsoring missionary will see that the deserving pastor receives the books. We would encourage other Sunday school classes, mission groups, summer vacation Bible schools, churches or individuals to become involved. See the reverse side for details. If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity, or want more information, please contact EBI using one of the means listed at the bottom of this newsletter.

Ministry Enrichment Library

Library content:

1. Wiersbe N.T. commentaries (12 volumes)*
2. Elemental Theology, Bancroft
3. Old Testament Moody Bible Commentary
4. New Testament Moody Bible Commentary
5. Complete Bible Concordance, Denyer
6. Vine’s Expository Dictionary
7. The Student Bible Atlas, Dowley
8. The Charismatics, MacArthur
9. How to Prepare Bible Messages, Braga
10. A Guide for Organizing and Conducting a Baptist Church*
11. Doctrine of the Local Church, Jackson*
12. Biblical Basis for Baptists, Brown*
(* EBI publications)

Qualifications of recipients:

1. A pastor active in the ministry
2. A Baptist by his demonstrated ministry
3. A national, having demonstrated need (need, not age, the factor)
4. Recommended by a cooperating missionary
5. Able to contribute $20 towards a library (may come from pastor’s church)

Ministry Enrichment Fund:

1. Approximately $150 per recipient plus shipping.
2. Covers all costs, except $20 from recipient.
3. Funds to be raised from churches and individuals.
4. Missionaries to assist in soliciting funds from churches.
5. EBI to solicit funds through The VISION and special meetings.
6. Administered by EBI.
7. Recipients to be chosen by EBI from recommendations submitted by missionaries.