WEC International USA
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Expansion 10 is a time-phased architectural project specifically designed to meet the present and future needs of our growing WEC USA Sending Base.
Reaching the World
God is Moving
From five continents and 50 countries, God continues to lead nearly 100 missionary candidates to WEC sending bases for orientation every year. Besides evangelism and church planting, their contributions may also include medical relief, Bible teaching, agriculture, work with children in crisis, substance-abuse programs, construction and more. Getting them to, and keeping them, overseas is the mission of WEC's 16 sending bases worldwide.
We are Growing
WEC's USA sending base, Camp Hill, is experiencing God's movement firsthand. During the last ten years the number of short-term missionaries increased substantially with the development of WEC Trek. WEC Korea is growing rapidly and sends as many of their workers to us for orientation as we can accommodate. A passion for missions is rising among Latin American churches, and many steer recruits our way. For workers sent from non-English speaking countries and sending bases, WEC's English requirement is challenging. We helped address the issue by opening an English school. We grew in other areas, too. The development of WEC USA's Member Care Team now draws WECers from around the world to Camp Hill for training and counseling. Our Mobilization Team added needed staff, and the number of sending-base volunteers is on the rise. But one vital element of our sending-base ministry did not grow—our facilities.
The purpose of the WEC USA Sending Base is to recruit, prepare, send and care for missionaries; also to mobilize Christians in the USA for missions in culturally-relevant ways through church nurture, prayer and providing missions resources.
- In the last six years the number of American missionaries serving with WEC grew from 225 to 270.
- In the last five years 123 missionary candidates received orientation at Camp Hill (including Koreans).
- In 1985 our WEC USA Sending Base had 24 staff. Today we have 55.
- 20% of the people who take a short-term mission trip with WEC Trek become long-term missionaries. Half of those join WEC.
Space is Tight
Like other WEC sending bases, WEC USA trains and cares for our members in the context of a community where our staff live and work. But with an average occupancy rate of 90%-plus, we have had to set a lower limit than we would like on the number of people we can accept for sending-base staff, member care, English school, WEC Trek and candidate orientation. Too often in recent years we have been forced to say, "No, we just don't have room for you and your family." It's a good problem to have—but not for long. We need to make room for these people so they can get to the work God called them to do.
Making Room
Background
Purchased by WEC USA in 1952, Camp Hill is an 128-year-old, 27-acre estate 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, PA. The property includes a 47-room stone mansion (now housing, public dining and meeting rooms), a barn and stables (now offices and class rooms), garages (now maintenance shops) and a squash court (now housing). In 1973 we built a nine-unit apartment building for families. A larger apartment building was added in 1985 to house singles, couples and retired missionaries.
Objective
The objective of Expansion 10 is to increase Camp Hill's capacity from 146 to 198 beds and to renovate existing buildings to comply with current building codes and new energy-efficient standards.
Phases
Each of the nine phases can be incrementally completed, and the next phase will begin when funds become available.
Before we construct or renovate any buildings we must first address the unique architectural and engineering challenges of our 128-year-old buildings, and our need to comply with current building codes.
Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh Townships will require that we discontinue use of our private on-site water supply and waste management systems and connect to their systems. Upgrading our gas and, possibly, electrical services will also be required.
Constructing this 12-unit apartment building will provide much-needed family housing. It will also allow us to proceed with planned renovations to the Hillside and, later on, Garden Apartments as residents move out of their existing apartments to newly-constructioned ones.
Hillside has served us well for 25 years, but times have changed, and we do not need as many efficiency apartments as we used to. Our plan is convert a number of efficiency units, a dorm room, a storage room and a classroom into one-bedroom apartments.
Our plan is to erect a pre-fabricated 36'x72' enclosed metal maintenance building and 36'x36' covered parking/storage area, allowing us to renovate our existing garage/shops space for a new use.
Maintaining the architectural style of these 100-year old buildings, we plan to renovate this complex into needed offices and classrooms for our Training Team (English school, WEC Trek, Candidate and Missionary Kid Departments).
The 36-year-old Garden Apartment building is in need of some tender-loving care. Proposed renovations will provide much-needed maintenance and make this structure code compliant and more energy efficient.
This new apartment building will top off our housing needs by adding four more apartments; one three-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.
Each year Camp Hill hosts an annual business conference for WEC USA. Attended by our sending-base staff, retirees and any WEC USA missionaries on furlough in the US. We also host mission-awareness events for various audiences. The increased options and flexibility provided by a larger space will help us do a much better job hosting.
How You Can Help
As we begin phase one the most important help we need is for you to pray that God would continue to guide our steps as He opens and closes doors to accomplish His plan, not ours. Pray, too, that He will provide the necessary funds each step of the way.
During phases three through nine we will welcome the help of qualified tradesmen and contractors. We’ll keep you posted as to what types of help we need, and when. If you feel you have expertise or skill that would be useful during phase one, and you want to offer your help, please feel free to contact us.