The Urantia Book Fellowship
Annual Report of the Outreach Committee
July 2003
2002 was a slow year for the Outreach Committee. As the chair I offered to forgo funding for my committee in deference to greater financial concerns within our organization. This was a challenge for a committee that is used to a modicum of funding. Sadly, all nonprofits were hurt in 2002 by the ebb of finances in post 9/11 America but Outreach Committee still accomplished a lot in spite of low funds.
In 2002 we did manage to help support several noteworthy outreach efforts including a couple of book exhibits in small spiritual expos. One such show was put on and managed by committee member Thomas Orjala in Spokane, WA. Although we could not provide the monetary support we usually provide for shows like the one Thomas did, we did have a ready supply of first edition Uversa Press Urantia Books to provide for these kinds of outreach efforts. Without funding, these books became our primary resource and we surely put them to good use. In fact, it may have been our best outreach effort ever.
I have always believed that books sitting in a warehouse are of benefit to no one. I have also felt that although the angels are very good at leading people to the book even they have a hard time leading people to a warehouse. The decision to get the books out of the warehouse prompted the angels to present us with several excellent projects to get them into the hands of interested persons. Bless their hearts!
The seraphim guard you; they do not seek directly to influence you; you must chart your own course, but these angels then act to make the best possible use of the course you have chosen. (113:5.4)
The New York Firehouse Project
Soon after deciding to put these books to good use, Nick Curto, a dedicated member of the New York Society's Outreach Committee, called us with an idea about sending one book to all the New York City firehouses. Nick explained that he had had a very meaningful spiritual conversation with a fireman and felt that perhaps, since fireman do often have time on the their hands, the firehouse libraries would be a rich soil in which to plant The Urantia Book. Nick provided us with addresses and one book each went out to 215 New York City firehouses.
Outreach Committee member Jo Ann Wiedman is owed a great deal of gratitude and appreciation for this effort. She mailed out these books and hundreds more with love and dedication, at a time when huge and distracting professional changes were taking place in her life. Heartfelt thanks go to Nick and Jo Ann! It's indeed a privilege to serve with such loving and dedicated individuals!
The Interfaith Minister Project
Almost immediately after Nick called with his idea we got an email from Les Jameson, yet another dedicated member of the New York Outreach Committee. He wanted to send books to interfaith ministers. He had an email list of interfaith ministers and workers in the Northeast. He composed a letter and sent it out to the list. Soon we were receiving dozens of email requests for books. Most of the ministers who requested books expressed how they had always wanted to read it and how thrilled they were to finally be able to have it. Each person also promised to place the book in his or her organization's library. Les, of course, kept a list of everyone who received a book so that he could follow-up with them. Nearly 100 books went out for this purpose. Many thanks to Les, whose boundless energy for service is always inspiring!
The Puyallup County Fair
Next we got a call from Don Lee in Seattle, WA. Don and the Seattle area readers were doing an exhibit at the Puyallup County Fair. The fair was schedule to last for nearly two full weeks and it is no small task for a group of readers to arrange for volunteers to be at the booth full time, especially during the workweek. Yet, under Don's leadership, they pulled it off without a hitch, and are planning to do it again this year. We sent plenty of books and literature to Don and friends for this purpose and they placed well over 200 books at this event. Kudos to Don and the Seattle readers!
Books To Congressmen and Senators
About the same time as we heard of the Puyallup Fair we got an email from another wonderful reader in Omak, WA. Her name is Rebecca Bratrude and she explained that God was guiding her to send books to all US Congressmen and Senators. She asked if we could help. With a chuckle I asked her how many books she would like. We ended up sending her 200 books for this purpose. This sweet sister single handedly sent a book to each and every congressman and senator in the United States. Thank you Rebecca, your efforts are truly those of a second miler!
International Requests
In addition to the above domestic shipments of books, we also sent numerous cases abroad. Several cases went to JJ Johnson in Pakistan. JJ has always done such amazing outreach work and he continues to quietly go about our Father's work. Because of JJ there are currently two Urantia study groups in Pakistan. Thanks JJ, for years of quiet and effective outreach service!
Following is an excerpt from a grateful Urantia Book recipient in Pakistan:
Good Morning in the name of Jesus Christ! We want to inform you that we received the book and have started to study it. It really it is a wonderful book! Thank you!
Evangelical Door-to-Door Church
PakistanMany additional books have gone out to various African groups at Norman Ingram's request. Norman continues to amaze us with his stalwart dedication domestically and abroad. Norman was also the recipient of many books that he placed from his bookstand on Venice Beach. Thank you Norman!
All in all, last year we placed 1,100 books in the libraries and with individuals.
Outreach Committee is deeply grateful for having had this wonderful service opportunity. We offer heartfelt thanks to our Fellowship for blessing us with the task of getting these books out of the warehouse and into the world and for graciously providing the funds needed to ship them. With special thanks going to the Angels who no doubt helped us find all those willing recipients and made our job so much easier!
Additional Outreach Committee Efforts
In addition to the book distribution project Outreach Committee also updated the Study Group Directory and is working with David Kantor to keep it up to date online. We will be publishing this directory only online in the future. Doing so will save paper and printing costs and allow interested individuals to print only those portions of the directory they need.
In Faith and Friendship,
Paula Thompson
The Outreach Committee of The Urantia Book Fellowship
Paula Thompson - Chair
Thomas Orjala
Robin Jorgensen
Robert Buselli
Brian Smith
JoAnn Wiedman
Les Jameson - Adjunct