A VISION TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION, NOW

You all know that we are commanded by Jesus to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The technology to do so is now in place. All we need to do is execute a plan. This plan must be bold. I have a vision for this plan that I pray is directly from God, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am personally unworthy to be the leader of this task but so is everyone else I know. Not one person, called by Jesus to serve Him, is worthy or without sin.

The Scriptures repeatedly refer to the followers of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, as "saints". Do you feel like a saint? I doubt it and neither do I. Let's not dwell on how we "feel" but let us look to taking the kind of action that would be taken by a saint. That is what I am asking you to do. To join me in the greatest "work" that could be imagined; to preach the gospel to the whole world. This is a task that will demand our greatest effort. This work comprises the most significant evangelical movement in history. It is a work that the Scriptures say must be completed before Jesus returns.

The tasks to accomplish this mission has five parts and the total budget will be closer to a billion dollars than a million dollars. But, the assets we have are gifts from God and we certainly will be held accountable for how we have allocated them. Charitable work is good and most of us are already involved in good, charitable causes. But, ask yourself what the outcomes will be of our current efforts. If the answers are improved health for the world's population, fewer hungry people, less violence, a cure for some devastating disease, homes for the homeless and so on, then these are certainly worthy efforts and should be sustained. To take part in fulfilling the Great Commission is also a worthy goal and if the outcome is to set the stage for the return of Jesus and to see millions of people exposed to the Gospel and many converted, then it is among the highest of goals. It will also, if we are to sustain current efforts, require an extra effort on our part. I would say a "sacrificial effort" but in truth most of us do not truly suffer from unmet personal needs.

Allow me to pose a question. Which of the following parts of this world evangelism project do you want to either fund and/or to lead? You will need to have access to the Internet to think through the implications of each project and to have some vision of utilizing the technical advances that have been made in the past 20 years.

The Sola Scriptura Project

This site,The Sola Scriptura Project, has received hundreds of thousands of visitors over the past 9 years. This web site was developed, by myself, led by God, I pray, to present teachings of selected topics using "The Word" only, without commentary or interpretation. Most people visit this site to study a particular topic, to prepare themselves for teaching a topic or to simply drink in the Word, undiluted.

This is what I think the Lord wants us to do. First, the site needs to be expanded for world-wide use by having it available in all of the major languages of the world. We can not fulfill the Great Commission in English only so translations are needed. There are several notable organizations that are highly skilled and experienced in performing translation tasks. They would be employed to develop a "link" on the current site that takes the user to a version that they can read in their own language.

Second, each of the topics must be recorded, digitally. These CD ROMS, in all major languages, would allow persons who do not have access to the Internet to listen to the topics. The cost of recording each topic in each selected language is not excessive and that part of the task, when completed, will not have ongoing expense, other than to produce copies. This is, however, a critical task. The recordings need to be made by "believers" whose voice is believable, persuasive and pleasant.

Third, many people do not have CD players available to them. We would need to finance the audio equipment required to transmit the recordings to people (villages, communities, and organizations) who need this assistance.

Fourth, the digital recordings can be transmitted via satellite radio, short wave transmission, and AM and FM radio. A charitable trust fund would need to be established to generate the income to initiate and sustain such broadcasts until the Lord returns.

Fifth, each topic should be made available in print or as a CD for purchase (or as a gift), in every major language. The packaging and marketing of this product is a task that needs attention, now. In the case of sales, of any kind, from any part of any of these projects, all proceeds would be deposited directly in the budget of the charitable trust that sponsored that activity. If it is not yet obvious, no individual would ever receive any payment, of any kind, except as an employee or resource employed to execute the task.

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The "Got Eternity" Project

The Got Eternity Booklet was developed by myself over the past several years and has been mailed to 1.3 million households. The mailings were by zip code. This booklet is a bit of a window on my personal views. If you do not like most of what I had to say in the booklet, you probably should not get involved in any of the projects. We need to have consensus on that which is of pivotal importance.

This "booklet" needs to be translated into all major languages. This task is similar to the one above where the topics on this web site were translated and perhaps the same person(s) should be responsible. This too, could be a closed end task (when it is over, it is over).

One of the more "creative" tasks in this list of things that needs to be done is to develop a distribution plan for the booklet. What I have done to date is to simply print it and mail it as funds were available and the recipients did not volunteer to receive it, it just showed up in their mailbox. The results have been mixed. The booklet elicited all sorts of reactions from complete disgust and anger that anyone would have been so presumptuous as to send them an unsolicited entreaty, to heartwarming responses that made sending the booklets a total blessing to my family and to the persons that received it. Even in the case of hostile reactions, we have heard from persons who were initially angry and who now want a copy of the booklet sent to some relative or friend.

The budget to send out millions more of this booklet is about $.22 per copy ($220,000 per million). The expenses are made up of two items, printing and postage. One alternative is to simply continue with this course of action by expanding the mailing, dramatically (world-wide).

There is another course of action that may work, either in tandem with the mailings, or as a separate effort. One could make arrangements with any organization that has a world wide presence, to place the booklets in public places within a community. That eliminates the cost of postage and it makes the recipient a "volunteer". It would require a plan to be developed wherein the members of an organization in a local community were to identify places where the booklets could be displayed in a "take one, they are free" format and those same persons would then be responsible for replenishing supplies as displays were emptied.

It seems that simply distributing the booklets would be enough to make things happen but it has been my experience that the recipients need some coaching in understanding the implications of much of what was presented. To that end, I would recommend that the "Got Eternity" project include a community wide follow up opportunity for the recipients to safely come and receive teaching on the points presented in the booklet. I say "safely" to imply that recruitment by a particular organization to bring new converts (and contributors) into their fold would be a red flag to some persons. Therefore, the follow up meetings, advertised in local papers and in the locations of the booklet displays, should invite interested persons to come to a public place such as a library meeting room, a gym, etc. for a seminar(s) to discuss the content of the booklet and to respond to questions. The seminars would be led by a local caring, competent Christian discussion leader who is completely comfortable with the Scriptures.

The Jew #1 Project

Please go to the web site, www.jew#1.com . I developed the content for that web site at the turn of the century (2000 A.D.) when many were looking to a doomsday scenario due to computer failures, world-wide economic failure, etc.

I feel, after quite a bit of research in the field of Eschatology (the study of end times), that the end of the world and the tribulation that includes pivots on God's relationship to Israel. I decided that, as to timing, it relates specifically to the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. I then set out to establish some "assertions" that defined my beliefs and expectations. This list of 34 assertions then required explanation or some sort of "defense". What followed became a book entitled Jew #1. This book is now available on Amazon.com and you can read an abstract of the book on their site.

The book is directed to Jews who are either interested in the roots of their faith or who look to the coming (Christians say, return) of the Messiah as an event which will occur. It is hoped that Jewish readers and Christians interested in the relationship of Christianity to Judaism will see the chapter Has Israel been on hold 2000 years? as a window on the history of our mutual interests.

As to the effectiveness of the book, time will tell. It is definitely written in a spirit of love and admiration for the Jews and all that they have been given by God and that which they preserved for the gentiles (The Holy Scriptures), but it is also controversial in that few Biblical scholars seem to agree what events will lead up to the seven years of pending tribulation, what events will transpire during those seven years and what events will follow Armageddon. Gentiles are attracted to the book simply because the topic of "end times" interests them greatly.

The book needs to be marketed to the world. The task would be one of public relations and advertising. Fulfilling the Great commission can not be fully addressed if the Jews are "left behind" in our planning. You will find, in the book, complete respect for Judaism and Jews as well as a plea for their understanding of what is about to transpire as the Temple is rebuilt. All proceeds from the sale of the book would go directly to the Sola Scriptura Project.

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The Billboard Project

This project will enter into long term (perpetual renewal) leases for signs that are located in very high traffic count areas.

The billboards which are leased will be converted to huge electronic signs which are commonly seen at new stadiums and arenas. The billboard will have the functionality of a computer. It will be possible to "program and re-program" the screen as often as desired via satellite links using existing technology. The messages, and images will be powerful (mostly God's Word) and constantly changing.

The entity leasing the billboard to the project will agree that the billboards can be reconfigured at the Project's expense and that all capital improvements made to the billboard become the property of the entity leasing us the billboard if the lease is ever terminated.

The funding of the Billboard Project would come from a separate trust established by a donor(s) for this purpose. The investments of the trust will perpetually fund the leases until the Lord returns. Some individual billboards may be sponsored by other contributing entities, as well.

The Board of Directors of the Sola Scriptura Project would approve the content posted on each billboard. The Project would have its own management and operations team, supported by the trust funds contributed.

The Family Bible Study Series  (Core Christian Values Project)

If we are going to evangelize the world, we are going to do so at a time when moral and spiritual values are in a steep slide. The Core Christian Values Project is an effort to have families learn, from the Scriptures, one core value at a time and to come to some consensus at the family level of what it is they agree is an eternal value, based on God's word. This core value would be presented in a format that places the family in a discussion group. In most cases, the father would lead the family through the study and guide them to understanding the Biblical foundation of the core value. The language of the one page study would be simplified but the insight to be gained would be more "meat" than "milk".

The primary purpose of this project is to help families and individuals critically think about Christian core values. For the most part, this kind of inquiry now is delegated, outside the home. We send our children to school, church, kid's clubs, and athletic activities and to the homes of friends, but who is taking the responsibility for teaching our kids core values? Do the persons who have the most contact with our kids have the most influence? Probably, but that does not have to be the case.

This project should help children and parents focus on what is eternally true. In truth, the parents probably need this teaching as much as the children they would presume to teach. The objective would be to "gain consensus" about those core values that are Biblically based and to have that consensus result in enlightened behavior patterns for the whole family.

The lessons can be viewed by going to the link Family Bible Study. Additional lessons are being continually added. The Core Value Lessons need to be packaged for distribution. The Bible offers so many specific teachings about core values that this could be an ongoing project for some time. The funding would pertain to translation, printing and distribution costs and the proceeds would go directly to the Sola Scriptura Project.

In conclusion, if you decide to participate in carrying out any or all of these tasks, thank God for your decision. Just as none of us feel we qualify for the title of "saint", none of us feel worthy of this calling. It is not our "worth" that matters. We go forward in confidence that God can use anyone to fulfill His will, including persons like ourselves. This is one of the most important tasks one could possibly undertake. If we make progress, it needs to be in His strength following His will. Make your decision a matter of prayer. Do you feel God wants you to get involved? Seek His will in all things. God knows our hearts and our motives. We are sinners saved by grace and we want to serve Him because we love Him. It is our great privilege to stand in His presence and say these words.

Bruce Caldwell
President, The Sola Scriptura Project

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The Sola Scriptura Project is a California Corporation, tax exempt charitable foundation 501(c)3. All donations will receive confirming emails which will serve as your receipt for tax purposes. Please include an email address in your response. If that is not possible, please include your mailing address and a receipt will be mailed to you in cases where the donation exceeds the IRS requirement of documentation for donations in excess of $250. Every penny donated will go to distribution costs only, paid to unrelated third parties. There are no administrative fees.