I think Madam Zerby Karen is getting desperate...

from MM - Tuesday, December 28, 2004
accessed 1603 times

I think ppl r starting to have a real need for Computer ppl, specialy ppl with some knowlage of
Linux, ads Unix..... ha.... poor girl....

WS Personnel Want Ad

Stephanie (for the WS shepherds)

Dear Family,

Lots of love and many warm greetings come your way with this note. We pray that you're having a wonderful year, full of the Lord's joy and blessings through the power of His love and the keys of the Kingdom.

The reason we're writing is to let you know that we have some urgent, specific needs for new personnel. During this unprecedented time of restructuring, our WS Homes and members have been doing all we can to stretch and grow right along with the rest of you. Over the past months, we've been making some pretty major changes in our modes of operation, and we're determined--as we're sure you are--to do all we can to accomplish the great tasks our Husband is calling us all to. But in order to keep up and better meet the ever-growing needs of you, our wonderful Family, we desperately need more help.

Life in WS is a specialized calling, and it's not for everyone, but we trust that as you read this ad, the Lord will be speaking to the hearts of those of you who are needed, and that you will take the plunge and pray about whether it's His will for you to apply. Even if the Lord isn't calling you personally, we greatly appreciate your prayers for us, for the specific personnel that will help WS to become all that is needed in order to meet the needs of the Family of the future.

Following is a brief list of some of the personnel that are needed in WS at this time:

* Childcare helpers and Teachers:
Men and women who feel called to teach and train and win the hearts of our children, and to inspire them to want to give their lives to Jesus.

* Handymen:
Each of our units is different, and each has specific needs regarding handymen and/or vehicle repair.

* Secretaries:
More than one of our units need people with secretarial skills, including the FED/CP IBCs and the Web team.

* Pubs / Text people:
People who have experience and/or the aptitude to work on any of the various pubs. The most important need for a text person is a clear channel, and the willingness to hear from the Lord about everything. Editing skills are of course very helpful.

* Computer programmers:
At least three of our WS units are in urgent need of programmers for the various teams based in their Homes, including the GP pubs team, and also the FED/CP team. One of the computer teams wrote this explanation of what kind of person is needed: "We need people with experience in, or the aptitude to learn the following: C/C++: Java; Net Programming; Shell Scripting and System Integration; Cross Platform (i.e.: Linux/Windows) Development; Web Application Development; XML and Document Systems Related Work.

"Experience in these areas is a plus, but when it comes down to it, all you need is programming aptitude as well as a desire and ability to learn. If you're familiar with Linux and Unix, or have done some system administration, then that's even better. You'd be working in a small development team, in order to come up with various programs, and solutions together with others. We've got many projects going, ranging from distributed/online applications, network security systems, to open source development, all of which need help. We're working on some pretty cutting-edge stuff, so if you have a burden and feel that you'd be able to help, don't hesitate to write in."

* Computer technicians:
This position requires general trouble-shooting skills, along with some hardware knowledge, as in building computers from parts, and diagnosing hardware and software problems, etc. Networking skills are a plus, and any scripting or programming skills would also be very useful. You'd be working with others in a team, as well as with the users themselves, so you'd have to have the gift of helps, and a desire to serve. Much of this job involves routine maintenance of servers and workstations, so attention to detail and the ability to not get bored with the mundane is important.

* Layout people:
You don't need to be an artist to do layout, but you do need to be artistically creative in some way. You'd need to be able to take an idea or a concept and translate that into something visual, something that will help to paint the picture of what the Lord is saying through His Words. Generally someone who thinks in pictures, or who can easily visualize an idea or concept in their head, will have a certain measure of creative talent. You don't necessarily need to be well versed in the programs we use, but you would need some computer knowledge and aptitude, and be willing to tackle and learn the technical aspects. If you have samples of things you've done along these lines, it would be helpful to send them in.

Most of the above positions involve a lot of very mundane and repetitive work, without much variety, and with basically no public recognition for what you do. So in order to remain happy and fulfilled, you'd have to be willing to put forth the spiritual effort needed to keep the vision for what your behind-the-scenes work is helping to accomplish, and to stay close to the Lord by obeying the Word, striving to hear from the Lord about even the most routine aspects of your life and ministry, and determine not to allow negative, worldly influences to get in and mar your channel.

If you strongly feel that the Lord is laying it on your heart to apply to WS, but you don't think you could fill any of these exact positions, please don't be afraid to write in anyway. Recently one young man applied, saying that he probably didn't have any of the gifts or talents or training that WS needed, when in reality, he was exactly what one of our Homes had been needing for a very long time. So, please take it seriously, stop and consider it, and of course pray about it, and if the Lord confirms to you that it's His will for you to apply, then please do so without delay.

Along with asking for more help, we also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank each of you who have at one time or another, stepped out by faith and sent in an application. We've tried to get back to each one of you as soon as we could with an answer, and we hope we haven't missed anyone, but if at any time we failed to send you a response, it was definitely an oversight, and we're very sorry. We know it's not an easy thing to apply, and we admire and appreciate you who have been willing and have had the courage to do it.

Even if, for whatever reasons, we couldn't bring you at that time, we've loved hearing from you and getting to know you. Each of you is very special to the Lord, and to us too, and you always will be. We love and pray for you and for your Homes, and keep you very close to our hearts. And you never know when we might need to call on your help. Just recently, for instance, the Lord led us to bring to WS someone who had first applied over four years ago.

It's often very difficult for us to be able to fully explain the reasons why we can't bring someone to WS, especially via a long distance note. If you're someone who has applied to WS in the past, and you received a note explaining that we couldn't take you, and it was never clear to you why, you're probably wondering why we're now sending out yet another want ad asking for more personnel. If that's the case, we pray the following will help.
* * *

(Excerpt of letter to a recent applicant:) As you can probably guess, there are many, many factors to consider when praying about bringing someone to WS. Each unit, in each location, faces myriad challenges in regards to forming a winning team and Home. Not only does each unit need to be able to fill the various personnel needs of the Home itself, but they must also have the right amount and mix of personnel in order to make sure that each department and team based in that Home can effectively fulfill its own specific mandates to the Family.

Then, not only is each department faced with the challenge of finding the right mix of personnel, but before we can bring in the people they need, the Home must of course have enough room for those new personnel to be able to live and work efficiently. Finding adequate housing for each WS unit is always a big challenge, and an important prayer request--just as it is for other Homes and offices.

Another factor is that each of our Homes must deal with the specific visa requirements and restrictions of the particular country they're based in at the time. In today's world, with things becoming tighter and many governments becoming stricter, this is becoming an increasingly bigger challenge for each of our units. We know that these situations aren't unique to WS. Many other Homes and offices the world over are regularly faced with similar challenges, and more. These are just a few of the many facets that have to be taken into account when considering new personnel.

But not only do we have to think about our own needs, and the needs of each of the various WS departments and teams and Homes, we also must take into account the needs of the person who is applying, the needs of their children, if they have children, and the needs of the field they would be leaving as well, all of which are of course just as important to us as our own needs.

There have been many times when we've wanted to bring someone to WS, but when prayerfully considering them, the Lord showed that regardless of how much we needed and wanted them, and regardless of how much they wanted or were willing to come to WS, it just wasn't His highest will, at least not at that time. In some cases, even though they would have been a tremendous blessing in WS and a great addition to any of our Homes, it just wouldn't have been a wise investment to have them here behind the scenes, when their specific gifts, training and experience, or perhaps their language skills, background or nationality made them exceptionally needed as a witness and strong pillar on the field.

Something people often write and ask is whether or not we accept families in WS. The answer to that is of course yes, if it's the Lord's will, and the timing and all the conditions are right. We love families, and we love children. But again, there are many factors to take into account, and when children are involved, the needs of those children are paramount. As you can probably imagine, because of our unique situation and the need to guard our security, it can be quite a challenge to give our children the experiences and opportunities most children want and need, especially once they reach a certain age.

When discussing and praying about all these factors, and others as well, it can sometimes seem like a gigantic puzzle, and very difficult to know what to do. We're very thankful that our wonderful Husband is able to see the big picture, and then reveal His will to us! He's the expert at putting all the pieces of the puzzle together in just the right place, and at just the right time. It's His puzzle after all, His chess game, and we're all His chess pieces. He knows where each of us is needed, and what will be best in the future--not only for each WS unit and the work, but also for each Family member (including you)--much more than we do.

We love you very much, and pray that the Lord will open just the right doors of service for you. You're in our precious Husband's strong and loving arms, close to His heart of love, and that's a very special place to be!! So fight to stay there. As He promised in a recent message, "My brides who hold to the Word, use the keys, and maintain a trusting spirit will remain in a protective bubble that will keep each one safe, well cared for, and in My perfect will during this transition into the era of obedience, the restructuring of the Family, and the resultant changes. I hold each one in the palm of My hand, and will lovingly care for each of My children. I have a place of service and blessing for all who give their hearts and lives to Me, and this restructuring will not change that. I will care for and provide a blessed place of service for all My children" ("Forward, Always Forward!" ML #3479:18). (End of excerpts of letter.)
* * *

Dear Family, we hope the above explanation doesn't discourage any of you from applying. We just wanted to share it with you so that those of you who we've not been able to bring would be assured that it wasn't at all because of you or anything personal. You might have met nearly all the conditions just perfectly, and been just the kind of person we would have loved to have, but because of perhaps just one of the above factors, or others which we weren't able to explain, it wasn't the Lord's time or will.

If after reading this and praying about it, the Lord gives you the go-ahead to write in, please send your letter of application, with a brief explanation about yourself and your experience, to Stephanie, at questions@wsfamily.com.

And thanks to all of you for keeping us and our needs in your daily prayers, just as we pray for you and your needs. The Lord told us to write and explain our needs for personnel in faith, knowing that where He guides, He will always provide, so thanks for praying for us--not only for the personnel that we desperately need, but also, as we explained above, for adequate housing. "The keys open the full floodlights of Heaven upon you and your loved ones and your needs, whatever you claim them for. And nothing can withstand the floodlights of the love of Heaven."

Much love and prayers,
Stephanie (for the WS shepherds)