Frequently Asked Questions
The W.H.E.E.L. (Welfare, Health, Empowerment, Education, and Local Community) Fund is organised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church Central Jamaica Conference to help meet the high demand for welfare and other local church needs.
No. Members are still expected to return tithe and offering. However, WHEEL is based on the concept of gift-giving in the Bible (Acts 4).
You will contribute to WHEEL through the use of the tithe envelope at your local church. WHEEL is now a line item on the envelopes.
10% of WHEEL contributions remain within the local church at the time it is remitted to the Conference. However, the 90% that is sent to the Conference is not used by the Conference. All WHEEL funds are made available to the PDAC (Parish Development Action Committee) for disbursement.
The PDAC is the Committee established in each of the 3 parishes of CJC which manages the orderly development of all church facilities and is an effective agent of health, education, welfare and disaster relief resources in the interest of the church and the community The PDAC which was previously known as the PAC (Parish Action Committee), will manage the disbursement of the WHEEL fund.
Requests to the WHEEL funds should be addressed to the Chairman of the PDAC.
Based on its acronym, the WHEEL fund will be used to address the following types of requests: Welfare. Requests to address the basic needs of the poor. These include food, clothing, housing, etc. Health. Requests to deal with the filling of prescriptions and other medical expenses. Education. Requests to assist with school fees for tertiary and secondary students. Empowerment. Requests to assist the local churches with their evangelistic programs. Local Community. Requests from local churches to assist with the purchase of land, church buildings and equipment.
Funeral expense would generally fall under Welfare. However, the Conference recommends that each church/member takes advantage of the current CUNA Insurance program to deal with funeral expenses.
The Central Jamaica Conference’s Treasurer is ultimately responsible for all funds. However, the WHEEL fund is managed by the PDAC in the respective parishes.
There is no set amount. Each member is expected to contribute what they can afford. Persons can contribute as little as $50.00, $100.00, $500.00, $1,000.00. The idea is to be consistent and to give based on one’s ability.
No, they are not. The WHEEL fund is established to address needs that are brought to the attention of the church.
WHEEL was launched in March 2015.
No. You do not have to be a member of the church in order to contribute to the WHEEL fund.