Reflections of Bill Bloom

A Special Edition of the FHD by WCFS Superintendent Gary Cox

Our dear friend and long-time WCFS dad and board member, Bill Bloom, went to be with Jesus on May 28. The following is adapted from remarks Gary shared at Bill’s funeral on June 7.

Operation Christmas Child, Charlotte

Bill’s Passion for Ministry

I knew Bill as a friend and ministry partner for over 25 years at our church and homeschool ministries WCF/S. Bill was on our church or school board for

many years. Furthermore, my wife, Sally and I share 5 grandchildren with Bill and Marcy. (Our son Timothy is married to their daughter Kristina.)

Bill always had a deep passion and commitment for ministry. One of those ministries was the Operation Christmas Child. For many years, he co-led an annual outreach to the youth at our church and school with my wife Sally and me to process shoe boxes at the OCC distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each year we would take an afternoon and visit the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. After one such visit, he and I had time of reflection about evangelism and our ministry.

Here’s a snapshot of that conversation, as I wrote it down, that reflects Bill’s passion for serving the Lord.

A special farewell to Bill and Marcy as they retired from the WCFS School Board in February 2022

Bill’s Visionary Brainstorming

Billy Graham was a herald. Heralds selflessly broadcast seed generously and widely. They network with people using technology to leverage every opportunity.

They create an intensive saturation with a somewhat impersonal effect on the hearer, thus creating privacy of reflection so that seed can be planted or watered or harvested.

How do we apply that to our ministry? If you don't change, you die! Address the world in small groups.

What painful necessities can we provide for to give Hope and healing? Design small group outreaches to nurture and network.

Scatter the seed with the widest possible swath. Use every means to herald and broadcast the good news of God’s provision through Christ in difficulty and hardship.

Education is the best way to get the gospel transforming lives, for it is one condition that lasts a lifetime. Transformed lives have faith enabled through transformed minds.

Education can be said to be the venue in which God delights to give believers the kingdom out of His good pleasure! Seeing His pleasure in the midst of a trial opens believing eyes to the Treasures of opportunity the trial brings, and so God’s lesson begins!

Bill’s favorite picture

Bill Still Speaks Ten years ago in January 2012, Bill wrote a letter to our Homeschool families. …Here’s an extract:

“The above picture is my favorite picture. It reflects how Marcy and I raised Kerin, who is now raising four of our grandchildren.

It is the passing on of our God given heritage to our children. I trust that is your desire to pass on your God given heritage to your children and grandchildren, too, – especially in regard to homeschooling.

For me, the picture also reflects what the WCF/S ministry has been all about for the last thirty years, “Treasuring God’s Design For The Family”. …I thank each one of you for your part and count it an honor to be traveling this same road with you in raising the next generation of Godly seed. I thank God even more for His leading …in this ministry. God has directed and opened doors [in ways] …that only He could do.

…In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, God calls us to teach our children and then directs us to be prepared to pass on this heritage (see vs 20). [Our present] ministry has come to a fork in the road. It is time to start to pass the baton over the next … [few] years [asking] God to raise up … mentor[s] …to carry on this ministry for the next thirty plus years.

[Join us] as we pass the baton onto the next generation of …homeschoolers.”

That’s the Bill Bloom I knew and served with at WCF/S. “Through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). I close with the verse he closed that letter:

“Fear not little flock, it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)