Volume 3, Issue 1, March, 1998

Update on the Building

The building fund continues to grow. Currently, the total amount given has risen to about $40,000. Praise God for this amount. Several churches have indicated that they are planning to give toward the fund this spring. The new building remains at the top of our prayer list. It is our goal to have all the necessary funds committed before we move forward on the purchase. Pray that God will move in the hearts of churches and individuals to provide the remaining $120,000 within the next few months.

EBI Board Meeting

The board and staff met in joint sessions on February 3rd and 4th. As EBI continues to grow, the board becomes more and more important as a partner. With this in mind, a presentation entitled “What’s a Board Member to Do?” was made during the opening session. It outlined the nature and duties of the board and each board member. Another presentation, “Creating a Spiritual Heritage for the Hispanic World”, opened discussion for the closing session. This paper defined the term spiritual heritage and reminded us of the mission of EBI. It encouraged each one to become involved in the work of meeting our mission.

The normal reports were given. Several items are of special interest. 1. Total sales for 1997 were nearly $115,000, up from about $92,000 in 1996. 2. EBI remains debt free. 3. Eleven new projects were completed, plus seventeen reprints and several projects for Bibles International. 4. Growth has made the need for additional staff more urgent.

In addition to the reports, the board initiated several actions. The most significant was the formation of additional committees within the board to assist in staff recruitment and fund raising. (One of the first positions we will be looking to fill is for a translator who would be able to locate in the Sebring area and be available for editorial consultation on a regular basis.) The board also took action to make some constitutional changes to strengthen the board’s membership. During the first afternoon, the board toured the new offices and dedicated a plaque honoring those who have given of their lives in service to EBI. The first two names to be placed on the plaque were Charles Cook and Mildred Schwartz.

The Year in Review

As we look back at the last year, we find that many of our goals were met or exceeded. For that we praise God. Some of our goals had to be put on hold because they required involvement with individuals outside EBI. However, several still need our prayerful attention. We have begun to use e-mail to expand our efforts to maintain a close relationship with those in active ministry in Spanish-speaking countries, but a web page is still in the future. The growth of the Committee of 1000 has slowed, so renewed efforts in that area are needed.

In addition to the purchase of the building, the biggest challenge for this year will be the installation of a new accounting system. Our current system is old and will not meet our needs beyond this coming fiscal year. To update this system, it will require the purchase of at least one new computer and new software. We are in the process of evaluating our software options. Once that is done, a new computer will be purchased and the conversion from our old system to the new will begin. We would like to run the two systems side by side for the next year to make sure we have all the “bugs” worked out. Pray for wisdom in the choice of the system and for the finances to purchase the computer and software.

Volunteers Honored

Volunteers are so important to the success of EBI. On February 24th we honored our volunteers at a luncheon put on by the staff. Each was given a certificate of recognition and a small gift for his contribution. Two couples received special recognition. Dwight and Margaret Louderman have been spending about five months in Sebring for the last seven winters, working in the print shop every day. Harold and Kitty McClintic joined us in January for two months, helping wherever needed. Most of the others come in whenever we need help assembling a project. We praise God for each of these friends and the thousands of hours they have given to the work of EBI.

New Publications

The twelfth and final quarter of the Junior High Sunday school lessons will be going to the print shop very soon. The first quarter of the Junior Sunday school lessons is back from the translator and is being edited. The second book of the Old Testament Survey TEE series is in the print shop. New Adult Sunday school lessons are in all stages of development. A new Christmas program is being edited for publication this spring. Three Junior High and one Adult set of lessons have already been printed during the first two months of this year.

Office Needs

From time to time we get requests for a list of smaller items that are needed in the office. Our current needs include:

1. Color printer for the office — $400
2. File cabinet for the print shop — $300
3. Additional phone for the office — $100
4. White board for the meeting room — $75
5. Printer stand for the office — $100

If someone would like to take on one of these items as a project, EBI would appreciate it.