Indigenous Outreach International

Missionaries Support At-Risk Child

2009-09-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

I received word today that the missionaries supported through Indigenous Outreach (who receive and average of $60 each per month) not only support 5 indigenous ministers from within Ethiopia, they have collected amongst themselves to support an at-risk child through the TLC (True Light Childcare) project.

Asenaku Wube (center wearing blue sweater) is pictured with some of her indigenous supporters.

"What amazes me," said Patrick Beard, IOI Executive Director, "is that the missionaries did this completely on their own. It was their idea. It both humbles ad encourages me greatly."

The TLC project serves over 100 at-risk children (children who come from poverty stricken families, some of which are orphans). Supporting a child for $20 per month provides education, clothing and food assistance as well as participation in a Bible club program. Sponsors are asked to add an additional $5 to their monthly gift to help defray administrative costs of the program. "We believe in (the TLC) program so much that we will send the $20 per month at our cost so that 100% of the gift benefits the children and families served," said Patrick.

Go to www.ioiusa.org to find out how you can join with fellow believers from Ethiopian and America to support children in Ethiopia.

A Mission to Share: Indigenous Outreach International celebrates 10 years

2009-09-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

photo by Aaron Hardin
story by Tracie Simer
The Jackson Sun Friday, September 25, 2009

More than 12 years ago, Patrick Beard and his wife, Lana, moved to Ethiopia to become missionaries. Their dreams were ended when they had to return to the United States because she had a complicated pregnancy.

"I came home sick and beaten," he said. "I just knew our missions career was over."

However, he soon had a vision to help native missionaries and pastors like the ones he met in Ethiopia. That vision became Indigenous Outreach International, which celebrated 10 years of ministry Thursday night at Union University.

The ministry now supports 38 missionaries in Ethiopia, two in Brazil and one in Germany. The organization also provides a child care service to meet the needs of 100 poverty-stricken children in Ethiopia, Beard said.

After six weeks, the ministry was supporting seven missionaries for about $250 a month, Beard said.

"Indigenous Outreach International was born in suffering, carried out in simplicity and grounded in ancient roots," he said. "It's simple, really - we saw brothers in need, and we had compassion. We're simply doing what the apostle Paul did when he helped out young missionaries and churches."

Steven Kennedy, missions coordinator for the ministry, said the celebration was a way for people to learn more about what the ministry does and hear about its progress.

"We wanted to make the Jackson area aware of what this ministry is doing," he said. "Scripture says that good news from distant lands brings joy to the heart. We want to encourage (people) that God is working around the world and using people in Jackson to help around the world."

Beard shared the stories of a few missionaries who receive support and who have started their own ministries. Future projects include opening a cafe in Ethiopia to help raise funds and creating training centers for missionaries there, Beard said.

"God has done some amazing things," he said. "I hope we can continue to help others in need."

Kennedy said that aside from financial support, Indigenous Outreach International also offers technical, educational and prayer support.

Visit www.jacksonsun.com and share your thoughts.

- Tracie Simer, 731-425-9629

Church in Agemba Receives Land Grant

2009-09-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

In 2004 the village of Agemba was bulldozed down by the government due to a legal misunderstanding. The church there had built a building and was excited about serving the Lord in this new village, but when the village was bulldozed so was the church building and the believers were dispersed.
They have been meeting in rented space and struggling to pay the rent as it keeps being raised on them. The church applied for compensation for their land and building which was lost, and the Oromo government gave them twice as much land as they lost in compensation for the building.
The church has already been raising funds for a new building. Praise God for this good news and pray that He would provide for these dear ones that as they have sown in tears may they now reap in joy. v

Press Release on SPARK Outreach in NI

2009-08-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Team Outreach at Castelcroft Square

Some of the teams doing outreach on a rainy afternoon by singing hymns, painting faces of children, and talking about Christ with those that pass by

Stephen teaching at morning session for the team

SPARK 09 Ballymoney Media Release – no embargo
SPARK – The Good Samaritans of Ballymoney.

Last week saw the impact of the SPARK programme in Ballymoney. A group of youth Christians from the partner churches, going out into the community and being good Samaritans to that community by way of acts of practical Christian kindness.

Area Co-ordinator Keith McIlroy was full of praise for the faith and enthusiasm expressed by the youth people involved. “We have had a tremendous response to SPARK, with teams involved in projects ranging from; litter picks, some serious garden makeovers, painting garden sheds to youth clubs, helping with summer schemes, and being the official partner in the Borough Council Oxfam appeal.”

Keith went on, “ I would like to thank all the churches and individual Christians who supported us by prayer, donations and food. We could not have done it without you. Thank you in the name of Jesus.”

The spiritual needs of SPARK were ministered to by youth pastor Stephen Kennedy, mission co-ordinator of Indigenous Outreach International, Jackson, Tennessee. Stephen delivered the morning bible readings to the team and was on hand to provide counselling, and was very clear on SPARK’s ethos “ Spiritual nourishment and good teaching is an essential part of discipleship. Everyone does good works, be they Buddhists, Moslems or atheists, but Christians should do good works only because they are walking close to a living personal Saviour ”

Stephen concluded “ We pray that the communities and individual lives of the residents in Ballymoney have been touched by the love of Christ this past week. And that the young team members have grown in grace and discipleship through His service. If your life has been affected by SPARK, then please let us know through this newspaper. The peace and grace of Christ be to you all.”

END

Further Information - DR S J WILSON – 07513 86 35 38

Slowly by Slowly now on sale!

2009-08-10T12:00:00.001-07:00

Available at Xulon Press , http://www.bishopbeard.com/ and Barnes & Noble

Welcome our newest team member

2009-07-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Russ, David, Elizabeth, Jerry, and Meredith Cooper

Greetings brothers and sisters,

As the newest member of the IOI team, I wanted to take this
opportunity to introduce myself to you and thank you for the
support that you give to this ministry. May God bless you richly for the sacrifices you continually make.

God has been preparing me for some time to join with Patrick and Stephen in this great work. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in management, I began ministry in the local church. For 17 years I have served as a youth minister, associate pastor, pastor, and most recently as the administrator at a church-owned retirement center. During that time, God also gave my wife, Meredith, and me a heart for missions and we were blessed to be able to go on several short-term trips. We believed God was preparing us to work in missions after retirement, but in His providence He has allowed us to live the dream now.

My family moved to Jackson from Shreveport, LA the first week of June, and we are settled in and enjoying life in Tennessee. Meredith started a job about 2 weeks ago at the Tennessee State Veteran’s Home (she’s a nurse), and our children Elizabeth (14) and David (10) will be starting school in early August. My mother lives with us as well, and has been a huge blessing to our family and to the ministry of IOI.

As school gets ready to start in Ethiopia, we are faced with some needs that are beyond the ordinary. The TLC project supports 100 children, but only 62 of them are currently sponsored. School
expenses (tuition, uniform, etc.) are $65 per child for the entire year. If you would like to help with these expenses, simply enclose a check in the envelope and mark it for school expenses. We look forward to the day when all of the children are sponsored and these expenses are covered.

Thank you again for your continued support of IOI!

Serving together,

Russ Cooper
Financial Director
russ@ioiusa.org

Tangible Ministry in Ethiopia

2009-05-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

By Stephen Kennedy
Mission Coordinator
The emergency assistance fund was established last year as we heard of the tangible needs of some of the ministers in Ethiopia. In January we left $390 USD with Negash to use for meeting emergency needs for the missionaries. On behalf of all the ministers who received help in tangible ways, he wrote last month, thanking from his heart all who gave. Below is what all was able to be done for less than four hundred dollars.
Aid for Merkebu, Seyefu, Gelana and their wives on the occasion of them all having children born into their families. Yerga and his family received some help toward a new house. Kaleb received an MRI to see if surgery would be able to help reduce the pain in his hips as he walks. Awash Buni Church was given assistance toward buying a house church near the main road. Chaka’s wife was helped with some medical expenses. Mellese was able to go to the eye doctor and get glasses.
After all of this there is still more for Kaleb to return to the doctor and to help Matteows who will see a doctor next month.
I was amazed and very encouraged by how much was done with so little. It is a blessing to serve these dear ones in Christ not only with a little monthly support but to also come alongside of them in times of need. We continue to have the emergency assistance fund available for the brothers and sisters in Christ that He has yoked us with in love.

Cafe Ministry Planned for Addis

2009-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

A plan is developing to open a coffee shop, guest-house and English language reading room in Addis Abeba for the purpose of outreach ministry and discipleship, as well as a means to facilitate future teams through IOI.
A similar ministry in another part of Addis facilitates over 1,000 students per week and many students have been converted.
We are currently seeking investors for the coffee house venture. The estimated cost of this phase of the project is $20,000.00 US.
There is a need for a team that will go to Ethiopia to establish this ministry. There will also be future opportunities for interns to teach ESL.
You may receive a pound of Ethiopia coffee for donations to this ministry through www.BishopBeard.com. Donations go toward the establishment of the café ministry in Addis.

Missionary Profile - Belaynesh

2009-05-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

Belaynesh was born in 1972 in a rural agricultural region of Ethiopia known as Eastern Gojame Mota.
While in the eighth grade, she made a profession of faith in Jesus after hearing the gospel from her older sister, who had become a believer after moving to the south of Ethiopia. Some years later, Belaynesh was baptized by a visiting evangelist who helped to start a church in her region.
Her conversion and membership in the evangelical church caused her to receive persecution from family members. Her uncle is an Orthodox priest and he threatened her to change her mind concerning faith in Christ or he would kill her.
While having many Christ-exalting traditions, some rural Orthodox priests remain ignorant of the gospel and oppose the preaching of salvation by faith in the evangelical sense. For many of the Orthodox, the church and its traditions are the means of salvation and the way that faith is received. Belaynesh was unable to remain in the Orthodox church and was forced to leave home.
She moved to Bahir Dar and the adjustment to city life was difficult. She gained employment as a teacher and joined a fellowship of believers.
“God spoke to my heart during that time in Bahir Dar,” she said, “that someday I would become a bible lady.” Two years later she moved to Addis Abeba to pursue the calling of ministry.
The first years in Addis were financially difficult. “I struggled with life,” she said. “My physical and spiritual well-being was under attack”
During this time of loneliness and desperation, she often thought of how she could have remained home and married a wealthy man. “For sure I would not have the peace that I have today,” she said. “Jesus saved me because He loves me. This I know.”
Belaynesh served several years in Addis in ladies ministry and evangelical outreach. She said during this time, “God brought me out of the darkness by using my sister as a witness. In the same way I need to be a witness to my people.”
In 2005 Belaynesh was married after years of praying for a godly husband. God sent her a husband that not only is a fellow believer but also a minister. They are now able to minister alongside each other. Belaynesh meets often with women in their home for prayer and bible study while her husband is working on a new church plant in Badessa, where they moved just over a year ago.
Belaynesh and Teferi (her husband) now have two little boys and praise God for His provision and faithfulness. Belaynesh shared that Badessa is a strongly Islamic area and is a place of great persecution and sectarian violence. Belaynesh asks for prayer that God’s Spirit would move, bring men to faith and repentance in Badessa, and also for the “ongoing fellowship, unity and love for all attached to this ministry until the end of time.”

Bread Ovens to be Provided

2009-05-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

It is our desire to not only send enough support to help families eke out an existence. We want to minister holistically, to improve the whole economy of life for our brothers and sisters.
With this in mind, Arlene Norton has begun raising funds to purchase ovens that will allow mothers of TLCP supported children to bake local bread and sell it. This will enable these families to add to their very small income with a business that is not based on ongoing support.
Arlene has already raised $1000.00 of the $3000.00 goal which will be enough to purchase every mother in the program an oven who desires one.
Pray that Arlene can meet this goal and that God will use these ovens to feed His own.

Churches supporting the new SPARK Outreach Programme

2009-05-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

BALLYMONEY, NORTHERN IRELAND, UK
Published Date: 13 May 2009 (Ballymoney Times)

CHURCH leaders gathered at the Mayor's Parlour in Ballymoney last week for the official launch of the SPARK 09 Outreach Prgramme.

Press officer, Dr. James Wilson, thanked the Mayor, Councillor John Finlay, for hosting the launch.

He said: "I am absolutely thrilled that so many of the Reformed churches in Ballymoney have opted to support the initiative."

I first came across SPARK whilst working amongst the communities in Ballymena, and was impressed how it motivated young Christians to get out of their confounded holy huddles and get out amongst the people, showing the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in their community; loving compassionate, kind, humble - loving their neighbour in practical ways."

The SPARK programme will effectively run from Monday to Saturday, August 10 to 15 and will involve projects such as: litter picks, free face painting, free games, free gospel concerts, night time coffee bars and free football coaching by the highly-acclaimed FIFA approved Coaching 4 Christ team.

The teams will be drawn from local churches and the teaching pastor for the week will be Stephen Kennedy from Indigenous Outreach, Jackson, Tennessee.In his reply, Cllr. Finlay congratulated the Ballymoney churches on adopting SPARK.

He said: "One hundred and fifty years ago young men from Ballymena carried the spark of the '59 revival to Ballymoney."As Mayor of the Borough and a committed Christian, it is my sincere prayer that the actions, deeds and witness of these young people will, indeed, be the spark mightily used by God in transforming lives and reviving our churches again."

April Newsletter

2009-04-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

It is both an honor and a privilege to share with you some of the news and needs associated with the ministry of Indigenous Outreach. As a supporter of this ministry I know that you are interested in how the funds you give are being used. It is my hope that you will be encouraged to share this ministry with other so that we might have the blessing of helping even more poverty stricken churches, missionaries, orphans and widows.

RUSS COOPER
We have been praying for some time now that God would raise up a co-worker to partner with us at the office here in Jackson. With proposed projects in Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, and a growing number of individuals being ministered to the need for additional ministry staff is evident. Russ Cooper has answered the call. He plans to move with his wife Meredith and their two children from Shreveport to Jackson in June. Russ has served as a pastor in three Louisiana churches and he also serves as the administrator for Calvary Baptist’s senior care facility. Russ will be the Financial Director for IOI. In addition to accounting and fund raising responsibilities Russ will be involved in discipleship both at home and abroad. Please pray for the Coopers in this time of transition.

OFFICE
Due to the addition of Russ on staff and the needs associated with ministry growth we are now in need of a larger office space in Jackson. For years we have had the privilege of utilizing donated office space. We have an opportunity to purchase an office suite for $65,000 which would meet our needs for years to come. Please join with us in prayer that God would provide.

CHILD SPONSORS NEEDED
Over 100 at risk children are being ministered to through the TLC Project. This is a project that is dear to our hearts as we have witnessed with our own eyes the transformation that is made in the entire family of the children ministered to. In addition to spiritual training children served through TLC attend school, receive food aid and clothing. We are in URGENT need of 38 sponsors who will give $25 per month to change the live of a poverty stricken child.

TRANSFER DOUBLE FREQUENT FLIER MILES—NWA & Skyteam
A unique and painless way to give to IOI is by donating your Northwest Airlines frequent flier miles. Now through May 31 you may donate your frequent flier miles from Northwest to account number 921561605 (in the name of Patrick Beard) and Northwest Airlines will double your gift! These miles will be used to purchase ministry travel. www.nwa.com

PRAYER ALERT
Are you a prayer warrior? Are you on our weekly PRAYER ALERT email list? Would you like to join with us in regular prayer and have the joy of sharing in answered prayers? Log on to www.ioiusa.org and follow the link to “Get Involved” and “Prayer Worker”. (This site currently only works with Internet Explorer - we are working on it).

New Logo

2009-02-20T18:07:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Ben Williams of BW Creative for our new logo!

Sanctuary Village Update

2009-02-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

We were recently notified that the Ethiopian government has ceased all NGO registrations for the time being. This means that our progress in acquiring land for Sanctuary Village has stalled. There is no indication when the process will resume, however progress in the discipleship ministry continues.
Fikadu has been spending his days doing research and proposal writing in preparation for the resumption of the official paperwork process.
A plan is developing to open a coffee shop and guest-house in Addis Abeba for the purpose of outreach ministry and discipleship, as well as a means to facilitate future teams through IOI. This company may also serve as a vehicle that provides local funding and a legal entity for the establishment of Sanctuary Village.
All funding given to date for Sanctuary Village construction is being held in an account, and will not be used for the coffeehouse ministry. Therefore we are currently seeking investors for the coffee house venture. The estimated cost of this phase of the project is $20,000.00 US.
Proceeds from the sale of The Bishop’s Beard Coffee will go toward the establishment of the coffeehouse ministry in Addis. www.BishopBeard.com v

Patrick's Paragraphs - Confident Giving

2009-02-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

In the weeks since my return from Ethiopia I have been doing a bit of soul searching concerning how it is that we raise funds. I witnessed such great need in Ethiopia that I came home burdened to be more active with the raising of funds. The ministers we support have been in hardship with over 100% inflation this past year, and we are lacking enough sponsors for the childcare project that does so much good.
I visited with many missionaries supported through IOI and some of the children served through the TLC project. To say that they have been good stewards is an extreme understatement. Two of the indigenous missionaries had even neglected their own health in order to minister to the needs of their families and fellow church members.
In the Didache (an ancient pastoral) we are taught that a prophet that asks for money for himself is false. However, it is considered good practice for a true prophet to ask on behalf of others. We see this example in Scripture when the Apostle Paul seeks funding for the poor church in Jerusalem. (2 Corinthians 9)
A series of false prophets and programs have plagued the American airwaves over the past four decades. Charlatans have pronounced curses over Christians who do not give, all the while promising riches to those who do. We have learned of ministries that send only a small percentage to the poor while keeping the majority of funds for “administration.” Many have grown cold and sarcastic as we have watched and maybe even at times been victims of these swindlers.
The fact is that God does not need our money, nor does He require that we give Him our money so that He can bless us. The requirement for the Christian is that any giving be generous and cheerful! (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
I can in clear conscience appeal to you today on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Ethiopia, and the ministry of the True Light Childcare project. Indeed it is my joy to share this opportunity with you today, and it will be my joy to be the conduit of this blessing to the Church in Ethiopia.
In closing I want to thank those who join in this ministry of blessing by giving to the CORE fund in order that all the designated giving goes to directly benefit the ministers and families in Ethiopia.v

January Mission Team to Ethiopia

2009-01-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

January Team to Ethiopia and Bible Conference

Patrick and I just got back from Ethiopia after taking a team of seven brothers from the states to see the work there. The team members were; A C Curtis and his son Jon, Ted James, Skip Purdy, Steve Foglesong, Claude Wilson and David Mondt. It was a joy to see how the Lord put this team together and how each were a vital part of what the Lord had us do while there.

The week began with attending Kebebush's wedding. She has been supported by IOI for almost five years. It was a great blessing to see the answer to her many prayers for a godly husband.

Monday through Wednesday found the team along with Negash, Fikere, and myself in the countryside, visiting the new churches planted in the Oromo region. We saw nine different villages and churches that the Lord has planted in each of these. Patrick and Fikadu met over these three days discussing the progress of Sanctuary Village being registered with the government, and looking at the land we would like to use for the village. Many exciting things are going on with Sanctuary Village, pray that the Lord would bring it to pass.

Above was our mode of transportation, keep in mind there were 10 of us in there which made sure that we were all very close by the end of the trip.
At each of the locations in the countryside Negash asked us to "bring what ever word the Lord has given you from the scriptures". Pictured is Steve giving a word of encouragement to the church at Tulobolo, which is where we slept that evening.

After returning to Addis we had the annual Bible Conference for the IOI missionaries. The theme was based off of 1 John 4:1-6 and dealt with testing the spirits to see if they be from God. It was a good conference and our time with these brothers and sisters was a great joy, reminding us of why we do what we do, in short we love these dear ones in Christ.

After finishing the conference and meeting with all the missionaries we spent a few hours showing the team the wonderful work of the True Light Childcare Project. We played with the 102 children, distributed Christmas gifts brought for them, and then visited some of their homes. Above is a picture of some of the homes that we visited with a crowd of beautiful children holding our hands.

We praise the Lord for the time He gave us in Ethiopia and for the team that He put together. Doing this ministry is truly a joy because we are again reminded of how much we believe in what God has given us to do. May He continue to be so gracious as to use us to bless these dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Peace of Christ to you all

By the grace of Christ,
Stephen
Missions Coordinator

Prayer for Laborers

2008-12-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

In these past days I have had strong mixed emotions. With Negash in town Stephen and I have traveled more miles than I care to count, and we shared about the ministry of IOI with hundreds of people. This is a direct answer to prayer, but it also brings a new set of challenges.
When we prayed for a multiplication of the ministry it was because we believe that what we are doing is truly a ministry from God. We want to raise up 300 new missionaries in Ethiopia, continue to support current ministers on a greater level and send out 70 Ethiopians to neighboring nations to share the Good News in places we often cannot go. For this to happen there will have to be an increase in resources and already we are seeing it begin to happen.
We have a great need now for help in these ripe fields.
I recently got a call, “Why don’t you guys answer your phone?!?” The simple answer is that we have not been in the office to answer it. As the work of sharing about the ministry has increased and the paperwork involved with growing the ministry has increased we simply do not have enough time to do it all. Granted, these past eight weeks have been unusually busy, but there seems to be a little light at the end of the tunnel as the annual Bible Conference is just around the corner and the Spring Speaking schedule begins in February.
In addition to teams to Ethiopia, we need help here at home as well. I believe God will raise up laborers and provision for all the dreams He has given us. Will you join us in praying that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers?

Fruitful Fall Visit

2008-12-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

This fall has brought many blessings and many events that have helped to further the ministry of IOI.
We have been blessed to have Negash Gemeda (National Coordinator for IOI in Ethiopia) and his wife Becu with us for the past eight weeks. They traveled to ten states and spoke about the ministry of IOI in Ethiopia.
This was Negash’s third visit to the United States, and Becu’s first. In addition to speaking at church meetings and other gatherings, they had opportunity to visit with friends and extended family. They also visited with the leadership of two sister ministries (The Oromo Project and Mission ONE) that work alongside IOI in Ethiopia.
While in Fort Myers, Florida the Gemedas, Patrick, and Stephen were able to visit with the ministry of ECHO and a couple of former missionaries to Ethiopia. While at ECHO, the group learned some techniques that may be very useful in the future ministry of Sanctuary Village.
The Gemedas, Ecki and Nadine Breitenmoser (missionaries in Bremerhaven, Germany supported in part by IOI), and Dr. James Wilson (IOI Contact for the United Kingdom) joined with several board members and wives for a weekend meeting at Pickwick State Park to discuss the current work of IOI in Ethiopia and the possible expansion of the ministry. They were hosted in part by Patrick’s father Bobby Beard who took the group on a fishing excursion.
Dr Wilson has recently been in Ethiopia for the purpose of surveying the work of IOI, assess the Sanctuary Village proposal and investigate the possibility of youth teams from Northern Ireland serving as volunteers. Currently the ministry of Exodus 360 (a Northern Ireland ministry) is seeking leadership for a possible team to Ethiopia this summer.
In addition to speaking in churches and small gatherings Negash, Patrick and Stephen were invited to the campus of Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia where they made many contacts with students.
As the holidays approach, it brings an end to our busy season of sowing. We pray for good fruit to come.

100 for 200 for 300

2008-12-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

Over the next 12 months we are searching for 100 churches, Sunday school classes, organizations and individuals who are willing to give $200 per month to help us raise up 300 missionaries in Ethiopia.
We have had a very encouraging beginning in the initial stages of our promotion of the Sanctuary Village project. In seven years we hope to have completed a village that is a place of ministry and a training center to send out missionaries across the Horn of Africa.
Already the Sanctuary project has been shared publicly at a banquet in Tennessee, and in meetings in Texas and Louisiana with some positive results. In addition to seeking larger one time gifts to help us meet the seven year budget for Sanctuary Village, we are simultaneously trying to increase the regular donations to the General Fund to help meet the growing needs as the ministry multiplies.
Our hope is that we will be doing ten times more ministry in seven years. For this to be possible we must increase regular monthly donations by four times current levels.
If our goal is met by August 2009, total regular giving will have doubled and we will be well on our way to seeing Sanctuary Village established and an expansion of the entire ministry in Ethiopia, Germany and Brazil.

Update on Lauren

2008-11-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Lauren!

I have not written much about her lately, but her recovery has been very slow and there has not been much to tell. However, in the past couple of weeks she has really seemed to be her old self, minus the hip displacement. She is eating well and I think maybe even gaining some weight. Her hips are still somewhat tender, or sensitive, but over all she is doing really well. She has returned to her therapy schedule (minus the horseback riding for now) and she is making marked improvement in many ways.

We remain hopeful that she will be able to walk, or at the very least have some level of mobility in the future.

Please continue to pray for Lauren and her complete healing. Praise God for so many answered prayers so far. Pray too for Lana as she continues to try to balance all of her responsibilities while she battles UC.

Yours in Christ,
Patrick

Mission to Ethiopia

2008-09-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings in the name of Christ.

Dr. James Wilson from Northern Ireland and I just returned from Ethiopia after having an encouraging and challenging visit with our brothers and sister there. Dr Wilson was there to observe the work “on the ground” as well as to see about the logistics of bringing teams from the UK to Ethiopia to work alongside our ministers. I was sent to meet with the missionaries and see how they are doing personally and with the ministry. I was also to chronicle our time there with photos and video footage.

Dr. Wilson and I thought we would do more observing than hands-on ministry, but the Lord had other plans. We went to watch the ministers, but ended up laying hands on them and praying for their needs. We went to hear of the work, but ended up speaking words that were given from the Lord for the building up of the saints. In short, we went with good plans, but the Lord had good works which He had foreordained that we should walk in them. I am glad that God had better plans for our days in Ethiopia because even though we accomplished many things we thought we needed to do, we also were able to be vessels used by our Lord for honorable uses that we could have never foreseen. As I think of all that we were able to see and do, I am reminded of the psalmist saying “bless the Lord, oh my soul, let all that is within me bless his holy name.”

There were many things that I heard while meeting with the missionaries which were of great encouragement, and I look forward to sharing them with their supporters in updates which will come soon. There were two things which I heard over and over as I sat and talked with each minister. These two were encouraging but also an exhortation or a challenge to continue boldly with the task the Lord has given and so I would like to share them with you.

First of all, there was a desire by the ministers to remind us that the ministry of IOI goes much deeper than financial support. The missionaries there have been meeting weekly for prayer and sharing of burdens, along with giving and receiving counsel. One minister said that the money seems insignificant compared to the fact that he has gained brothers and sisters to minister alongside of him. He no longer ministers alone, struggles alone, or carries the good news alone. He is part of a body; he has those who know the burden and uplift him as he walks.

Second, I heard the missionaries saying that they wanted to see the ministry expand and for many others to receive the love and support in the ministry that they receive. More ministers having the blessing of others bearing with them their financial burdens as well as the fellowship and accountability of being a part of the IOI group is a great desire.

Hearing these things encouraged me that we should continue on with what has been given to us. This is a good work and the church is being built up, so we should desire to see more benefit as the missionaries do. So the question is how? I believe by striving for what has already been our burden to see Sanctuary Village built, and Lord willing, 300 ministers will be raised up alongside of those already in place. A place where fellowship and the bearing of one another’s burdens is part of life. We long to see what the ministers long to see. As we embark on this ambitious project, we believe that it can be done if God will give us 100 partners who give $200 per month to raise up these 300 over the next seven years. Please pray with us to this end that the Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills will give us what we need to do what He has called us to do. He has done this in the past and we believe He will continue to do so in the future. You all are an encouragement to us. May the blessings of our Lord be with you. The missionaries send their greetings in Jesus name.

Peace of Christ to you all.

By the grace of Christ,

Stephen A. Kennedy
Mission Coordinator

Mayor's Reception - Coleraine, Northern Ireland

2008-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor David Barbour, hosted a reception in the Mayor’s Parlour for Aghadowey man, Doctor James Wilson, who is departing on Tuesday for Ethiopia. Doctor Wilson has been commissioned by Indigenous Outreach International, a Tennessee based missionary society to conduct an independent review of an ambitious project called Sanctuary Village.

‘Sanctuary Village is indeed an innovative project’, Doctor Wilson explained, ‘ It aims to create a missionary campus very much in tune with local village customs and culture, where students will not just be taught Reformed theology, but a wide range of agrarian and practical skills that will enhance the lives and survival of their fellow villagers at this time of drought and famine. One of my tasks will be to assess the potential for local agencies such as Exodus to provide teams to assist the project. More information can be gleaned at www.ioiusa.org

Mayor David Barbour wished Doctor Wilson journeying mercies ‘ It is a challenging task that James has been called to. We would indeed pray that his analytical skills are combined with a Holy Boldness, and that many young Christians from the Borough of Coleraine would follow in this mission to bring the Christian gospel and Christ inspired acts of kindness to the people of Ethiopia at this time of need.’

From the Mission Coordinator

2008-07-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

How Great the Father’s Love

Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the name of Christ.

Chapter three of First John begins by saying “how great the Father’s love for us that we should be called the sons of God”. This great love that God has poured out on us was made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ, particularly in His death, burial, and bodily resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. As John continues this letter he says “in this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us we ought also to love one another” Surely the love of God causes us to glorify Him and will bring much joy as we grow in our intimacy with our Bridegroom for all of eternity, but there is an outworking that even now is made possible because of His loving us. We are to believe on the Son of God, love one another, and keep His commands (1 John 3:23-24). The work of Indigenous Outreach is a work of love. As Patrick and I seek to tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ to these brothers and sisters it is not just because they have less than we do. There are many in the world that have much less than anyone reading this letter, but why these people? Why is our work with them? Our hearts have been tied with these brothers and sisters by the hand of our Lord, and we have been given a passionate love that longs to see these dear ones succeed in Christ. God has poured out His love on us and our overflowing cups must be directed first to brothers and sisters in Christ both here and abroad. God loved us, so we love them. God has given Himself to us, so we give our days to loving them.

There are many amazing things that the Lord is giving us to do, but be sure as you learn of them that you know the motive of all our efforts is to work out the love that God has given us. I know that as supporters of the ministry you have been given a burden of love for these brothers and sisters as well. I would encourage you that your love is efficacious even as God’s love is. There are tangible benefits that our brothers and sisters are seeing through your tangible love. Do not grow weary in doing good; it is a blessing for us to see your love for our brothers, and it encourages us to continue. God bless you all and may His love for His bride continue to work out through us all toward the beloved.

News from the field
Negash sent word to us that recently ten teams of five blanketed the neighborhood surrounding Militar church. These teams did evangelism and handed out tracts. One story from this day came from Negash’s team. The team had three men and two women in it. The two women talked with two young ladies about salvation through faith in Christ. After their discussion, Negash handed the girls a tract entitled “No Greater Love Than This” The girls seemed very interested and said that they would try to meet with some one from the church later in the week. At the end of the day, all the teams met back at the church to close the day in prayer. As they finished praying, these same two girls came running up to them. The girls’ mother had seen the teams in the neighborhood and was very upset about them being there. When she entered the compound and saw her daughters reading these tracts the woman was outraged and told them that they must return the tracts and talk no more about Jesus or else they would be kicked out of the home. The girls then brought the tracts back to Negash and the others. One of them said, “Here is your tract; take it! We have the message in our hearts and minds, but we have to give you the paper back as our mother ordered” The believers were brought to tears and pray that God will give them more contact with these girls and that they might see them grow in the Lord Who burned the good news of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection into their hearts. Please pray for them.

Announcements
My wife, Shelley, and I are excited to announce the birth of our first child Addison Grace Kennedy. She was born on May 31st and weighed 6lbs 15oz. She is a beautiful gift from the Lord and has had a good first month of life on this earth. Her name means “descendant of Adam with grace”. We pray that as she has the blood of Adam in her veins, as we all do, that the Lord would pour His grace out on her and that she would walk with Him all of her days.

Continue to pray for and make plans to attend the upcoming Robin Mark concerts.
Friday, August 1st in Memphis, TN
Thursday, September 4th in Jackson, TN
More details can be found on our website www.ioiusa.org or by calling the IOI office (731) 664-9960

Peace of Christ to you all. By the grace of Christ,

Stephen A. Kennedy
Missions Coordinator

IOI UK in Formative Stages

2008-07-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Dr. James Wilson at the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

Formation of IOI UK
We are currently in the process of becoming a registered charity in the United Kingdom.

A multi-denominational group of Christian men are exploring and pursuing the vision of having a national office for Indigenous Outreach International located in Northern Ireland. Already support has been given by local Christian ministries for the formation phase of IOI UK. We need your prayers very much in this time of formation for the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom and the making of disciples.

Mission to Ethiopia
September 9- 19 - Dr James Wilson, from Drumreagh Presbyterian congregation, Northern Ireland will be in Ethiopia to conduct an independent review of Sanctuary Village, with particular focus on the scope for UK churches providing both human and fiscal resources towards the project. Overseas team service in a mission project is very much part of the discipleship making culture of the evangelical churches in the United Kingdom and the prospect of serving the Lord in creating something as vital as Sanctuary has already generated interest. James would value your prayers as he seeks to combine his analytical skills with a Holy boldness.

For more information concerning the process and our progress contact mailto:james@ioiuk.org?subject=from%20the%20website

Lauren in Recovery

2008-07-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

The cast covers her from her chest to her toes, but she is tolerating it very well. Lauren continues to be joyful and seems not to be in pain at all. She has four weeks left in the cast, then months of therapy to follow. Thank you for your continued prayers!