Carelinks | “Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel...” Mark 16:15

A dear sister, who raises funds for Carelinks through market stalls, shares some ideas: “If you are like me, you read each Carelinks newsletter and get really excited about all the valuable work being done. Perhaps you want to share in these efforts by contributing financially, but maybe you are on a budget and funds are tight, or maybe you, like me, think “I really should help out with this effort....but I'll do it later”. We all have good intentions, but unfortunately too many of us procrastinate and think “when I get a raise, I'll make more and then I can give more”, or “when I retire and downsize, I won't have so many expenses and THEN I'll give more” (I'm speaking from personal experience here!). Giving more can always be out there in the future somewhere never NOW when it is needed.

There is something very interesting in Exodus 36 regarding those Israelites who were asked to donate materials to build the tabernacle. Many gave willingly again and again, but no doubt there were some who had good intentions and planned to do it, but it was put off until tomorrow or next week. Eventually the time came when there was no more need for donations. Moses announced one day, “Don't bring any more”. There had been a window of opportunity to be generous and give, but there was also a day when the opportunity to give no longer existed. Just imagine the procrastinators who finally got around to digging out their pieces of bronze, scarlet cloth or gold jewelry and showed up only to be told, “We have enough, but thank you anyway” and they took their treasures back to their tents. Every time they saw the Tabernacle they would know in their hearts they had not contributed anything at all to its building! I found that terribly sad and a stark warning to myself that I’d best get busy and do my donating NOW while it is needed. A day will come when I will no longer be here or Jesus will have returned and the opportunity will be gone.

Not everyone may have a lot of cash on hand especially in these difficult economic times, but there ARE ways to raise funds. Here are a few ideas for fundraising which you can do individually or as an ecclesia:

1| Have an individual or group “garage sale”, “yard sale” or “rummage sale”, whatever it is called in your area, with all proceeds going to Carelinks. The more people who donate items, the bigger the sale and the more money you are likely to raise. Pick a good weekend (near the first of the month is usually considered best), put up lots of signs and, of course, PRAY for the effort, I bet you’ll get good results!

2| Have a bake sale “auction” or “silent auction” at the hall with proceeds going to Carelinks ...you just might get someone to pay $25 for a batch of delicious homemade cookies if they know it is for a good cause. Even ten or fifteen donated items COULD possibly raise a couple of hundred dollars! A similar “auction” could be held for all sorts of donated merchandise. I’ll bet almost everyone has at least one or two nice things sitting around the house or yard that you don’t really need or use - a lamp, a framed print, jewelry, a piece of furniture, a beautiful potted plant, etc. Make it into a fun event with refreshments. If it is organized and given with prayers it will be profitable.

3| Sell items on Ebay or Craigslist (or by putting ads in your local paper). I know someone who paid for 2 years of college for her child by selling items she picked up at garage sales on Ebay! Vow to donate a portion or all of your sales to Carelinks.

4| Setting up a booth at a local flea market is a great option. Almost every community has one or more markets, some weekly and some once a month. Normally you will have to pay booth rent and possibly table rental which cuts into the profits, but the flea market provides the advertising and you get a larger crowd. This could be an even better option if several went together and set up a booth (selling plants, or crafts or collectibles or just nice “junque”) with all proceeds going to Carelinks.

5| If you are blessed with “valuables” such as antique furniture, jewelry or other items of value, decide to sell something (or some things) and donate the proceeds to CARELINKS. Don’t ever forget, what we’ve been blessed with isn’t really ours, it all belongs to God. We are just custodians of it for a while and are supposed to be good stewards of what He gives us. Trust me, you won’t miss things when they are gone and the joy of sharing in the work far outweighs an empty spot on a shelf or on a wall.

So lets all get busy and be creative - there are lots of ways to raise funds and every bit helps! Lets share in the work of building the present day “Tabernacle” before it is too late!”

Here are some of the wonderful preaching initiatives that are taking place around the world. May we all be inspired by the efforts of these diligent brothers and sisters.

AUSTRALIA - Sydney

We had a request for 32 of our NEV Bibles with commentary by a hotel in Sydney who wanted to put one in each of their rooms. We were pleased to oblige and John Thatcher duly delivered them all and gave the Managers a Bible Basics for good measure, pictured below. We were then approached by the CEO of the company which owns the hotel, explaining that he is very impressed with the Bibles, and would like copies for the rooms of three retirement / care homes which he also operates! This makes us wonder whether other hotels could be persuaded likewise... in your areas?

Bro Thatcher with his willing young helpers, Evia and Daniel, handing out New Testaments on the streets. Below, students browsing through the NTs.

Sis Cardia distributing invitations to join our house church in South Croydon

UNITED KINGDOM - Dorchester

For over 15 years every week Bro Peter and Sis Margaret Woodall, pictured above, have hired a market stall offering free Christian literature in the Dorchester Market. Bro Peter and Sis Margaret said: “Apart from the locals it is a regular stop for UK tourist coaches and overseas visitors. Lots of literature is taken and particular interest is shown in the children’s section. They enjoy the sticker books and some letters of appreciation from parents have been received. Once the children get interested the parents show more interest in the other literature. Seems a children’s section could encourage more interest in others literature displays. Often those who browse and take literature are reluctant to talk. A few just want to have an argument and we don’t encourage them as they can get very heated and put other people off.”

A big thank you to all who donate to enable us to print this literature and get the Word out there for free

Bro Peter and Sis Margaret Woodall beside their stall in Dorchester Market

UNITED KINGDOM - Totton

Bro Paul Hoskins writes: “I have three tables at the Totton Car Boot Sale, and one table is for the gospel literature, with a little standup notice to say that everything on that table is FREE. There are some childrens activity packs which Sis Joyce Cousins prepares for me, Glad Tidings magazines, “Introducing Bible Basics”, a Carelinks Ministries Mug, a Bible, and a few other items. The A-Board itself has rather a lot of detail this time, covering a number of weeks topics in our Bible Hour programme. A few people stop to read the A-board and ask questions about it but not many. The A-board also goes outside the door of the nearby Community Centre while we have our meetings.”

Bro Paul’s car boot stall at Totton

USA - Ohio

Bro Jay baptized himself after an extensive study of our material, and was accepted as a member of the Toledo, OH ecclesia. Our brother manages a gas station but in his spare time is distributing our literature and NEV Bibles and trying to start a Bible study group. Our brother reports: “I set up a table at Owens Community College (Toledo Area Campus, Ohio). I’m passing out flyers, Bibles, pocket New Testaments, Bible Basics, and talking with students... Two Christadelphian sisters from Michigan have expressed interest in helping me evangelize”. It’s pretty hard to do this kind of thing alone and to be so self-motivated; may our brother inspire us all to witness the more.

Bro Jay is pictured above with Sis Emily, left, and Sis Trudy, right from Michigan

Bro Jay has also produced a bumper sticker for his car - a great idea we can all copy

AUSTRALIA

Bro Colin Green has copies of the NEV Bible and Bible Basics beautifully packaged in his Chocolate shop where customers can take them for free.

Bro Mike Flaherty has made a ‘Tiny Free Library’ box which is positioned next to his home where people can take and share a book. Inside are copies of our literature.

SOUTH AFRICA

Mobile literature stand for outreach work

A Sister in Christ