October 22, 2003
We are happy to announce that the church in Maryville, TN will become Tom Langley’s sponsoring congregation as of January 1, 2004. At that time, Tom will begin working with WEI full time. This will broaden our base of operation and allow WEI to work more closely with churches in the eastern half of the nation.
For the past fourteen years, WEI has been under the oversight of the Metro Church of Christ in Gresham, Oregon. During this time, God has used WEI to teach people about Christ in 170 nations.
Two years ago, the Metro elders commissioned Bill Morgan of Louden, TN to develop a transition plan for WEI — a plan for grooming a younger man to take my place when I get too old to serve as President, and a plan for restructuring the WEI Board to include church leaders nationwide. Bill presented a proposal to the elders, they approved it, and the transition plan has now been implemented.
On October 6, 2003, a new WEI Board of Directors was formed. This new Board consists of the following: Richard Ady, founding president of WEI, Douglas Davis, retired sales executive and elder of the Metro church in Gresham, James Fox, retired attorney, former elder, Knoxville, TN., Randall Harris, sales executive and elder of the church in Maryville, TN, and William Morgan, retired financial executive and former elder, Loudon, TN. When Tom Langley returns to the U.S., he will become a member of the Board as Executive Vice President and will be groomed to become President at a time deemed appropriate by the Board.
I will continue to be sponsored and partially supported by the Metro church and will work under the oversight of the Metro elders. Tom Langley will be sponsored and partially supported by the church in Maryville, TN and will have an office in the Maryville church building. But WEI itself will be under the oversight of the new Board — a Board made up of elders and former elders.
The WEI office in Gresham will remain as it is. We will continue to recruit teachers, lead summer campaigns, write and ship materials, assign students to teachers, send out newsletters, work with Bob Patterson on the WEI web site, and encourage Bob and Jan Towell in the Internet ministry.
God is broadening our horizons and making it possible for us to share the Good News about Christ with people in more countries than ever before.
We continue to need your financial support, your prayers, and your encouraging notes and emails. Please help us keep WEI in the black.
