WFTI and PSLI Report - Ed Bontrager 6-9-2024

Good afternoon. I received the distinct honor of sharing two of these reports,

so here goes. The first is a summary a bit of what's going on

with WFTI, and I have written this in the format of a letter of

inquiry. Dear WFTI. I've heard some about WFTI, but have never attended.

Could you answer a couple of questions for me? Number one? What

exactly is WFTI and when does it happen. WFTI, or Western Fellowship Teachers

Institute, or WOOFTI as some have affectionately called it, is for teachers and

board members. It's really a school where and board members become students for four

days during the first full week of August this year, that'll be August six

through nine at Halsey Mennonite Church, who provides leadership for WFTI. WFTI is

planned and led by a five member board. The current members are Conrad Smooker,

John Smooker, Dan Weaver, Kent Krupp, and myself. WFTI is

coming of age. First year was August of two thousand and eight, and

at that time it was under the leadership of Nolan Bechdel, Delbert Burkie,

Jonathan Krupp, James Martin, and Dan Weaver. Thanks Dan for sticking at

it. I think he's had a break in there. What do the teachers

and board members study during those four days, Well, the vision of WFTI

is to, quote from the program, provide an organized way to edify,

encourage and equip Christian school teachers and school board members to give spiritual nourishment,

provide academic excellence, and exercise proper administration in the educating of our children.

End quote. During those four days, speakers address many aspects of teaching.

Here's a sampling of topic titles from last year twenty twenty three. Golden Rules

for Teachers, The Privilege of teaching Teachers, Coffee balancing, incentives with discipline,

Elementary math, Middle grades, math, Upper grades math, evaluating a

struggling student, Music rudiments, purposeful debate, first aid, art with Intention,

procedures, Honey for a Woman's Heart. And if you're a first year

teacher, there's a whole series of workshops just for you. So do quite

a few people attend. Well. In wfti's first year, there were sixty

eight people that registered, and that did not include children. The sixteenth year,

which was last year, we had two hundred and eighty seven registered that

did include spouses and children. The two hundred eighty seven people last year represented

thirty two states, two Canadian provinces, and Romania, Oregon, californ Ffornia,

Missouri, Montana, and Texas, where the five top states represented,

accounting for a little over half of the attendance. This year, so far

we have around two hundred registrations. There is a teachers institute being started in

the Midwest and we expect that to affect our numbers probably a little. Probably

see a little drop all right. Who speaks at WFTI. Well, teachers

and board members make up the majority of the speaker list. Last year we

had around twenty seven speakers. Generally, we invite a keynote speaker, usually

a seasoned veteran, and this man shares daily in the morning Assembly and a

few other workshops as well. Last year this person was Mervyn Showalter from Pennsylvania.

Some you might recognize his dad's name, Lester show Alter, and it

was obvious to us that Mervin had definitely inherited his dad's love for science.

Finally, what are some keys to wfti's success. Well, I believe The

main key to wfti's success has been and continues to be the blessing of God.

God has given ongoing vision for the work, and also you an interested

fellowship. You provide support, funds, personnel for the event, prayer and

that makes all the difference. Thank you for your support. You may wonder

about the financial state. As far as I know, there are still some

funds needed for the upcoming event in August, so if you want to know

more about that, feel free to check with your local may Onward to the

PSLI report. This was prepared by Jonathan erb. The vision for PSLI,

or Pacific School Leadership Institute, was born of a growing realization that our school

administrators and school board members need a place to receive encouragement and teaching, both

from instructors and from each other. In November of twenty eighteen, the Ministry

of the Western Fellowship voted to proceed with a school board related meeting, and

they tasked the Western Fellowship Teachers Institute or WFTI that board with planning the new

event. As the generations come and go, it is becoming harder for us

to remember the provocations that moved our forefathers to start their own Christian schools.

As we forget to the impetus that motivated them, we also give up the

purpose and vigor that burned within them. The mission statement of PSLI is to

reinforce purpose and vigor for Christian education. PSLI is intended to remind us of

the reasons for our schools and reinforce how worthy they are of our staunch commitment

and hard work. The target audience for PSLI is primarily board members, but

it also includes church leaders and head or principal longer term teachers. The first

year of PSLI was Fall of twenty nineteen and there's been four meetings so far.

It's always the third Thursday evening and Friday in October, and it's held

at the Waites Lake Bible Camp. Lodging is also now available at the camp

during the event. Attendance has been steady, with approximately one hundred and thirty

to one hundred and fifty being served at the meeting at meal time. Event

begins with Thursday supper and an evening session Thursday and concludes about four pm Friday.

This year, for the first time, the event will continue through Friday

evening. Typically, most of the Western Fellowship congregations have someone there, and

a number of other church groups have been attending also. The current board is

Paul Baer from Cataldo, Jeff Friesen from Legrand and Jonathan RB from Hamilton.

The PSLI Board is advised by the WFTI Board and has an annual recap meeting

shortly after the event every year. This meeting also includes discussion about projections for

the next year. L I board takes those suggestions and advice, as well

as the feedback from questionnaires given at the event and their own ideas, and

creates a program in contact speakers for the next year's program. Your prayers and

attendants are always welcome, including your encouragements and cautions.