The Trust was founded in 1993. It was officially registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. The Trust was founded to support the Lord’s Work in Central and Eastern Europe that was the burden of a number of believers from the Cardiff Area since 1969. The aims of the Trust are set out in its Trust Deed.

They are:

• To organise and distribute material aid to Christians in Central and Eastern Europe
• To obtain Christian Literature for distribution in Central and Eastern Europe
• To support evangelism in Central and Eastern Europe
• To support evangelism in Central and Eastern Europe
• To support other activities, which the Trustees believe will be for the furtherance of the Gospel in Central and Eastern Europe

In 1969, Peter, Roger and Susan Brind, Malcolm and Linda Horlock and Robert Baker went to what was then Czechoslovakia, to take material aid to believers in the Prague area. That visit taught them that, while material aid was and still is important, the most important needs were spiritual. What the believers needed and asked for was personal fellowship and friendship, bible teaching and training. The result is they, and now we in the Trust, work to support believers in what is now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. This support is through visitation, material aid, literature, camp work and bible teaching. In the communist era this included help with various aspects of a clandestine literature work.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent collapse of communism it became clear that big changes in the way the work was organised was necessary. It became possible to send large quantities of aid, openly organise bible teaching camps and retreats and to support evangelistic as well as bible teaching projects. A number of believers from the South Wales area felt called by the Lord to get involved in the work and it was decided to formalize the structure in a Trust, which we called the Philadelphia Trust. We chose the name, as brotherly love was a key aim.

What does the Trust Do?

The trust was set up to ensure that all the gifts given for the work are handled efficiently and that where possible the benefits of trust status can be used to recover tax paid on taxable income.

The Trustees and Associates of the Trust meet regularly and support each other through prayer, help, support and advice. We also work together on a number of projects – particularly the International Bible Teaching Camp that is organised for two weeks every summer and is now based in either the Czech Republic or Slovakia.

We have worked with the Bible Centre in Hungary to develop a distance learning institution. Currently, there are 10 students in the first year, all from Hungary or Romania. We believe it would be beneficial to develop this teaching, learning and training institution as a resource for Central and Eastern Europe.

The trust does not direct any of its trustees or associates in the work they do for the Lord. It does not take any financial responsibility for the work that trustees or associates are involved in without prior agreement of the trustees.

All trustees are “tentmakers” in that they either are or have been in secular employment in the United Kingdom and fund their own living costs. The trustees also make considerable commitments of both time and money into the work that God has called them to. The trustees spend up to 6 months in a year in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the considerable amount of preparation and planning that are required to discharge their responsibilities. (A calendar of planned visits and activities is available on the website under Calendar of Activities.)

What are the Plans for the Future?

The key to any work is to do what God wants us to do. We as individuals and as a Trust have had a number of requests.

• To continue to develop camp work in a number of countries. That is bible teaching camps, youth camps, children’s camps and English Language outreach camps.
• To do more visitation of assemblies for Bible Teaching when invited to do so by local assemblies.
• To assist with building projects as the Lord enables. We are only prepared to do this when we see a real commitment from the local believers to do what they can.
• To develop the work of the Postal Bible School into as many countries as possible. This is dependent on there being local exercise.
• To develop bible teaching tools for use throughout Europe.
• To continue visiting the believers and help with need where possible.
• To develop teams of workers to help with English Language and Children’s Camps.
• To run seminars for elders, business people etc as the need arises.
• To be open to what God wants us to do.