Zebra Truck in Christmas Parade

Photo by Aaron Hardin, Jackson Sun
The Zebra Truck made an appearance in the Christmas Parade last night in Jackson, Tennessee. The entry won third place in its division, beat out by an antique fire truck. With a sign that read "This Christmas Support a Child in Ethiopia" this vehicle is gaining a lot of attention for IOI and raising awareness about the ministry in Ethiopia.

Within a few weeks we hope to be finished with the modifications to the truck and ship it to Ethiopia to be used in the training program called Sanctuary Village.

Zebra Truck on the Loose!

Bought and paid for! PRAISE GOD!

Plans are for the IOI Zebra Truck to be driven around the mid-South for a few months, maybe coming to a Christmas Parade near you! Then it will be packed in a big crate along with other supplies to be shipped to Ethiopia in early 2011.

After its time as an "awareness raiser" we hope that this Land Cruiser will serve many years transporting people and supplies in Ethiopia.

Thank you to all who have donated so far!

There is a continuing need for funding for Sanctuary Village and transportation costs.

Land Cruiser Purchased for Sanctuary Village

Just a few weeks after sharing with IOI supporters the need for an SUV to be used at Sanctuary Village we have purchased a 1995 Toyota Land Crusier! Supporters responded with gifts of cash and a used Jeep.

In the coming weeks we plan to have the truck detailed, make some cosmetic repairs and have the Sanctuary Village logo applied. We also plan to put a zebra skin graphic on the truck to call attention to it as we use the SUV like a moving billboard here in the USA over the next 6 to 8 months*. Plans are to put lettering on the back window - "Do Something Good... Send this truck to Ethiopia!"

We estimate a need for an additional $12,000 US to ship the truck to Ethiopia. Donors can give money or used cars that we can sell for this project (donors receive a receipt for the full used retail value of the used car donated).

It is our hope that this project will raise enough funds to provide two SUVs for use in Ethiopia and gain more sponsors for the Sanctuary Village project.

*Funds gained from this project may be used to purchase an SUV in Ethiopia rather than shipping this particular truck there if it proves to be more ecconomical.

Tangible Ministry in Ethiopia

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.

Churches supporting the new SPARK Outreach Programme

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."

Mission to Ethiopia

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

From the Mission Coordinator

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