FACEBOOK

Maybe you have noticed that the IOI blog has not been updated since December 2010? But, did you know that we are on FACEBOOK?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indigenous-Outreach-International/330705503101

We are hoping to have Aaron Hardin join us full-time as our media coordinator, but until that happens we do the best we can with communicating the awesome things God is doing. At the moment Facebook has proven to be one of our most effective means of sharing prayer requests and news from the field.

You can also receive weekly prayer alerts and our quarterly newsletter by email. Sign up today at http://ioiusa.org/index_files/Page521.html

Please Pray for Registration

Dear Readers,
I would like to ask you to pray for IOI's work in Ethiopia. For almost 12 years we have supported indigenous ministries and ministers. Until now we have worked through existing churches and organizations like Operation Rescue Ethiopia (the childcare project in Mekele).

The need to register IOI as an NGO (Non Governmental Organization) became apparent a couple of years ago. As an NGO we could own property and import materials to advance the ministry. Registering as an NGO would also provide some legal protection for those involved in the ministry. Also, if you know much about IOI you know we plan to build a model village in Ethiopia where we train students in theology, agriculture, health care and vocation.

After almost two years in process we have been told by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that our application will be rejected. This news has been disheartening, especially since we have funds, materials and volunteers committed to make this vision become a reality.

We have been told that we can be "religious" or "charitable", but not both. Ironically the word "charity" is a Christian idea. In Websters Dictionary the definition is "(Christian theology) ...love for one's fellow man". Many secular organizations have been involved in welfare projects and are even called "Charities" - in many minds charity has been divorced from Christianity. How bizarre that a government institution would try to separate Christianity from charity.

We know that when God closes one door He often opens another. We are confident that the training program will progress, most likely through the churches of Ethiopia rather than a campus. We are also exploring ways to invest in the people of Ethiopia in an effort to help the poorest of the poor work their way out of poverty.

Please pray that God will guide us through this process and that the end of the matter will be far better than the beginning has been.

Yours in Christ,
Patrick

April Newsletter

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).

Update on Lauren

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

Lauren in Recovery

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!

Mid-day of Prayer for Lauren

We have received email and messages from Cambodia, Ethiopia, England, Ireland, Brazil and across the USA as people have been lifting up prayers for Lauren for the past 13 hours.

It is so encouraging to hear from brothers and sisters around the world who are united in prayer for one little girl in Jackson, Tennessee.

"LORD, may you hear the prayers of your children. Although we speak in many languages we speak with one heart in one Body and pray that would would be glorified as your mercy flows from the Throne of Grace."

Day of Prayer for Lauren

Many of you know Lauren personally and you know of her struggles with CP. She is scheduled for major surgery on June 16 for double hip replacement and reformation of both femur bones.

Our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia have set aside Thursday, May 29 as a special day of prayer and fasting for Lauren.

We invite you to join us in prayer.

Sanctuary Village Logo

The Logo is Finished! Next comes the video -- keep watching the website and blog for it.
Now all we need is $1.5 million, a good piece of land and seven years... LORD willing.

Sanctuary Village is our vision to raise up 300 Ethiopian ministers over seven years in an agrarian community where theology, agriculture, basic health care and vocational trades are taught and practiced through a lifestyle of prayer, mercy ministry, study and labor.

The campus of Sanctuary Village will include homes for families, elderly, disabled and singles. Plans include a minor medical clinic, pharmacy, store, primary school, meeting hall, sports field and cafe that will be located in the public areas. Micro-farming, animal husbandry, well drilling and home building will be taught and practiced on the campus in the vocational/farming area. Both short and long term residents would live in the Village.

Theological training programs would be offered in residential and commuting programs. Classes will be taught in ten terms of two intensive weeks over three years. Residential students will have schedules that vary with the growing seasons, but will include daily prayers, vocation and mercy ministry.

During their time on campus residential students will be pared into teams of five in preparation for replication of the ministry on a small scale within existing villages. Ideally each team will have a preacher, educator, administrator, medical tech and an agriculture/vocation tech. These teams would serve as a group of elders for new churches.

Upcomming Events

IOI Jackson Awareness Banquet — May 1 & 2
Woodland Baptist Church, Jackson, Tennessee
at 6:30 each evening — Choose the night that is best for you.
Space is limited! Call Tina Varughese (731)616-3589 for reservations

Robin Mark — August 1 at TLC Church Cordova, TN
More information at www.ioiusa.org or (731)664-9960
Robin Mark — September 4 in Jackson, TN at 7:00
More information at www.ioiusa.org or (731)664-9960

Tangible Ministry to Families

by Stephen Kennedy
Missions Coordinator
Eden Maseresha has been supported through the True Light Childcare Project (formerly Repi Childcare) for the past few months. Eden, like three of the other supported children, lived in a home that was recently bulldozed down by the government. The reason for this tragic occurrence was the severe poverty that these families live in. Buying land in Ethiopia is very difficult and takes a lot of time and money. If they do not have the money to rent or to buy land from the government, many will build what they call “moon houses”. These houses are built overnight in areas of land which are condemned by the government (such as by the garbage dump or by a river bed). Eden’s family lived in one of these moon houses. Since they were there illegally, their home was finally pushed over.
Because of the lack of money, many families who go through losing their house in this way often go and build another moon house out of trash and wait for it to be demolished as well. Supporters in the States heard of these four families losing their homes and donated $75 USD for each family so that they can establish a more permanent home and not live is this cycle of fear. This money was sent to Ethiopia and Eden’s family, as well as the other three, will be getting aid from the church in a tangible demonstration of the love of Christ. This is what we do: demonstrate in deed and truth the love that our Lord has shown us.

Missionary Profile

Kifle Sheferawe

Evangelism/ Prayer
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Member Yehiwot Birhan Church

Speaks Amharic

When Kifle was younger he suffered from a severe sickness. This affliction caused Kifle to be unable to walk or care for himself in the most basic ways. Doctors were unable to find a treatment, so for four years Kifle suffered in this way. One day a believer came by to see Kifle and shared the gospel with him and then prayed for his healing. That day Kifle not only received physical healing but also faith in Christ Jesus. After his conversion, some of Kifle’s family and neighbors came to faith in Christ as well, but his father still remains very opposed to the gospel. This healing bore great testimony because Kifle’s family had tried everything they could. A great deal of money was spent on doctors and witchcraft with no results. Kifle said that the worst part was that “they were waiting on my death every day”.
In spite of the obvious work of the Lord, Kifle’s father despised the change that he saw in those who had become believers. Kifle’s father threw him out of their home before Kifle regained his strength and told him that he had to find his own place to live. Kifle still prays for his father’s salvation to this day.
A Christian family took Kifle in, and for the next few years he was living with different Christian families and growing in his walk with Christ. During this time he saw his fathers hard heart become even harder and all of the family suffered.
Kifle began doing ministry and was recognized by his local church as doing good work. Because of the financial difficulties in Ethiopia, they were unable to help with his practical needs. In November of 2002 Kifle became part of IOI and receives support so that he can do the ministry that he is called to without having to worry about his daily bread. Out of his support Kifle also supports his mother and family because his father is away for now and does not take care of his wife and children.
We recently received a letter from Kifle which was very encouraging. He said that the work in the church is going well and that he is seeing much fruit. The main difficulty is that he is practically unable to have any real relationship with his birth family. In this letter Kifle said that the family he now has with the other IOI missionaries and with his supporters is far greater than the blood family that he has lost. Kifle has never seen his supporters, but he has seen their tangible display of love to him, so he sees them as dear family members in Christ. What a joy to see the words of our Lord fulfilled as those who have lost mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters for the sake of Christ are given more in return.
Please pray for the blessings of the Lord on our brother’s work and that he might see his blood family become spiritual family.
By Stephen Kennedy
Missions Coordinator

Daughter Born

On January 25th Fekadu Assefa and his wife Dagim welcomed their daughter Yamlak as a gift from the Lord. Yamlak is healthy and a beautiful little girl. Fekadu told us that Yamlak means “belongs to the Lord” and together with his name (as the family name) her full name will mean “through the will (or providence) of God”.
Fekadu and Dagim were married in January 2007. Fekadu has been a dear friend and fellow laborer in the ministry for several years. The hope of Fekadu and his family is that they can help establish Sanctuary Village so that the church can be built up in Christ through good teaching and discipleship

Pray for Plans

by Patrick Beard
Executive Director

Man makes his plans, but God orders our days. Often times it is an exercise in futility to make plans. However, we do have many things on the schedule, and only time will tell what is from God.
We have banquets, mission trips, presentations and fundraisers planned for the coming months. In the midst of all the ministry duties we also have some big family events planned for the near future.
Stephen and Shelley expect their baby to be born around May 30th. Stephen is still in the process of raising his support so that he can work with IOI full-time. His needs will be even greater as his wife leaves her full-time nursing position to be a full-time mommy.
My daughter Lauren is scheduled for surgery on June 16th. It is hoped that this surgery will correct the malformation in her hips. The recovery should take six weeks, and the whole family is anxious about the dangers involved.
With all these plans and responsibilities Stephen and I could use all the prayer you could offer. Thank you in advance for your prayer support!

Prayer for Ten-Time Multiplication

We have entered our tenth year as a ministry. Stephen Kennedy (IOI’s Mission Coordinator) and I have begun to pray a radical prayer and ask God to multiply the ministry of IOI ten times.
We really believe in what we are doing.
Asking God to increase the ministry by ten will not cost ten times as much.
Our budget last year was $161,260.31 which supported 25 children, 36 missionaries, mission trips and the administration Stateside. For just over three times as much financial support we could be doing ten times more ministry! This is possible because our costs Stateside would not increase very much.
We could be supporting 320 Ethiopian missionaries, 250 children, 30 Brazilian missionaries, build a discipleship training center in Ethiopia and administrate the mission for just over $500,000.00 per year. That is over 600 families for less than $830 per family per year!
Sanctuary Village Discipleship Training Center
The Church is growing quickly in Ethiopia and we see an urgent need for good training in the countryside churches. Many of the new churches that have been established in the past three years have leadership with little or no training in theology or Bible. I do not want my zeal to overshadow wisdom. There is no quick fix, but we do have a plan.

Our hope is to establish a training center called Sanctuary Village. The idea is to bring people from the countryside to live in a village much like their own village while they learn to grow their own food, learn a trade, study scripture, pray and practice ministry among the poor. In time we believe this ministry will be self-supporting, and need little assistance from us. It truly is an opportunity to invest in the future as we both give our brother a fish, and teach him how to fish.
I have begun to pray for partners in this task that will be willing to invest seven years of sowing to see a harvest that could last for many years to come. I am asking for help to raise an army of missionaries in Ethiopia who will be equipped for the days ahead.
I would love nothing more than to have invested the next seven years into hundreds of Ethiopians who are committed locally-supported disciplemakers. I believe this could happen.
Already we have witnessed ministers who no longer need our support and have directed their sponsorship to others. Over 50% of the churches we work with have begun to support their ministers. The support that has come from America has been a catalyst for change, and an encouragement to our poverty stricken brothers and sisters in Christ.

Beard Family Update

Thank you to everyone who continues to pray for and encourage my family! The past year has been filled with many changes and blessings.
We were blessed with a home that is handicapped accessible and it has made caring for Lauren easier in many ways.
Alice Calvery moved in with our family a few months ago after serving in Germany with the Brietenmoser family. Alice helps with Lauren in the mornings and often helps to tutor the other children in their studies.
Lana continues to struggle with health issues related to colitis, but she has also seen some improvement. Mornings tend to be the worst time of day for Lana, but having Alice around has been a real blessing. Even with her illness Lana continues to homeschool the kids and keep a warm home. On many Sunday evenings the house is filled with young people from the church.
Anna-Margaret is 16 now and working on getting her driver’s license. It seems like just yesterday that she was a toddler, and now she is looking at colleges. Anna is very interested in music and drama, and she has been working some as a teacher’s assistant.
Joy (age 12) is almost as tall as Anna-Margaret. She is becoming a good student, likes astronomy and her dramatic side is flourishing. Although she can be our most emotional child I am seeing God develop a sense of compassion for others through it as she responds to the suffering of others. She and Emma both look forward to soccer season.
Lauren (age 9) still suffers the effects of her disability, and she also continues to have seizures. However, she also continues to have a very joyful countenance, and is the first one to greeting the new day each morning. She is a blessing to our entire family. Lauren is scheduled for surgery in May. Her hips have not formed properly and it is necessary to form hip sockets to avoid future problems.
Kristin (age 9) is really into crafts and making things with her hands. She is a budding artist, and loves one-on-one conversations. Every day there is a new painting, picture or project that she is working on with precision. She also loves nothing more at bed time than to have her back scratched and talk about her day or her next art project.
Emma (age 8 in April) is not a baby anymore, which she reminds us of often. She is creative like her sisters and loves to tell jokes and stories. She observes the world around her and puts what she sees into words. She is very inquisitive and keeps us all on our toes and laughing.
Please do continue to pray for us as a family and for the ministry that we believe God has called us to.

Missionary Profile - Fikadu

In 1970 Fikadu was born in a military compound. His parents divorced when he was only two. He was kidnapped by his father and taken to Addis. Life with his father and stepmother was very difficult.
At seven Fikadu began attending an Orthodox church and desired to enter the priesthood. Because of his stepmother he could not go to church. Seeking revenge against his stepmother, Fikadu began to learn witchcraft but it didn't work. Stopped twice from going down a path of his own choosing, he began to feel God’s leading.
When Fikadu was twelve he saw a vision of injera (Ethiopian bread) coming down from heaven for him to eat. Years later a cousin shared Christ with him, and he believed.
Fikadu was fifteen when his father died, and he began working as a laborer. After high-school he worked odd jobs for food. Soon Fikadu began serving the Lord full time although he did not receive any compensation. “Once all I had for an offering was a pencil, so I gave it to the Lord. I spent much time in prayer because of my needs and eventually IOI support became available,” Fikadu shared. Now Fikadu is physically and spiritually healthy. He praises the Lord for IOI’s support so that he has the food he needs. His extended family still does not support him but God has given him a family in the church and with the fellow ministers of IOI.
Fikadu has been working in children’s ministry for several years but recently he is spending the majority of his time church planting.
Fikadu works closely with Negash who has said, “He is my right hand man.” He has been very instrumental in starting at least half a dozen churches in the Oromo region and in Addis.
Fikadu finished Bible Theological School this summer and has proven to be an able teacher of Scripture. He said that he has been thankful for good teaching from IOI and has been using Dr. Padelford’s booklet “The Mystery of Christ” for teaching and discipleship.
Fikadu often works behind the scenes as a vital member of a church planting team. He has seen many come to Christ in the last two years. He is also thankful for the great peace that God has given him in the ministry.
Fikadu is 37 now and has been praying for a godly wife for many years. He asks that we join him in this prayer and also asks for prayer that he would do what God shows him to do with youth and in the countryside.
Fekadu is a member at Repi KHC, along with Negash and Matteous. He has been faithfully serving Christ for many years and has been with IOI since September 1999.

Orthodoxy & IOI

Over the past few years it has been a prayer that we could begin working more closely with Orthodox believers in Ethiopia. God has begun answering that prayer. On Patrick’s recent trip he and Negash met an Orthodox monk who is clearly a brother in Christ and knows the gospel proclaimed in scripture. Negash is meeting with this brother and encourages him to remain Orthodox. Our mission is to make disciples not to promote a particular denomination. Please pray that more doors open to work with Orthodox believers both in Ethiopia and here in the US.

An Update from Ben

I got an email from Ben tonight and it seems that he and Caleb are doing well.

Ben reported that Negash's home is full of people. They are preparing for Aster's (Negash's daughter) wedding to Ayele (the director of the Compassion International Repi Project). Seems that Caleb and Ben passed on the chunks of raw oxen that were passed around at the feast.

Even though Ben's main purpose of going to Ethiopia is his upcoming marriage to Pepo (Negash's other daughter) he has been involved in some ministry along with Caleb.

"Earlier tonight Negash and Caleb and I went to visit a little boy who probably has HIV" he said. "He was alone at his house tonight because his foster mother was a work tonight. We prayed for him and gave him some of the puzzles that were sent in the IOI tub that Caleb brought. After we prayed for him he said that his heart was filled with joy. The whole experience really made me think about God's work in the world and what is really important to the Lord. I was very thankful for the opportunity to be there and be a small part of that ministry."

Continue to pray for Ben and Caleb as their summer progresses. Pray for good health and safety. Pray that God will do many good works through them both. Pray for Ben and Pepo as they prepare to begin life together as husband and wife (and one of them has to deal with the culture shock of their new home).

Ben and Caleb Arrive in Ethiopia

Ben Hickey and Caleb Burke arrived safely in Addis Abeba yesterday. Both Ben and Caleb plan to spend about three months in Ethiopia.

Ben will be marrying Pepo Negash, Negash Gemeda's daughter. The wedding is set for July 8.

Caleb will be working alongside Negash and other indigenous ministers.

Engagement

My change in relationship status...by Ben Hickey

Most of you know that I went on a mission trip to Ethiopia almost four years ago. I went To be a part of a ministry called Indigenous Outreach International.

The director of the ministry, Patrick Beard, goes to my church. As the name of the ministry suggests IOI supports Ethiopian pastors who are struggling to preach and also make a living. IOI provides funds so that the pastors can devote themselves to preaching and ministry without having to have multiple jobs.

One Ethiopian pastor in particular has been central to the success of IOI. His name is Negash Gemeda and he is the main overseer for IOI. Negash meets regularly with the other pastors, helps them send in reports, and does a lot of preaching and teaching himself. During my month in Ethiopia I stayed with Negash and his family.This was a great time for me.

In some respects living in Ethiopia is much harder for an American. You don’t have western style toilets, you have to filter your water, you have a greater possibility of getting sick, and so on and so on. I was all prepared for the difficulties, but what surprised me was the benefits! In particular the Ethiopian culture is much more people centered than America. Hospitality plays a bigger part of life. For example, if you go to a restaurant that is packed you don’t necessarily wait in line but you can go and sit at someone else’s table. They welcome you and you usually leave having made a new friend.

Living in Negash’s house I got to know his family. He has a daughter who is a few years younger than me. Her name is Abeba. She is a very beautiful person on the inside and out and I developed a friendship with her. When I returned to America we continued to correspond through email and our friendship developed even more. For many years I didn’t really think anything more than a friendship was possible. I could only think about the distance between us, the cultural differences, and the difficulties. Recently though, I have thought a lot about how special she is and how I want to move our relationship past being friends and onward to a deeper level. I talked to Patrick about this and he called Negash to see if she felt the same way towards me. I was very happy to hear that she had the same feelings!! Since then I have talked to the elders at my church as well as my family and many friends for counsel. The overwhelming response is very positive! Also many blessings this year have made it financially possible for me to visit.

Considering my feelings, intentions, and all of the pieces falling into place I bought a plane ticket to visit her in March (over my spring break). I have also been able to call her twice and develop our relationship over the phone instead of email. I know that this might seem sudden to many of you, but it hasn’t felt that way to me. It has been a long process to strip my doubt away and exchange it for faith and even love! (even though here at the end it seems to be happening quickly).

I would appreciate all of your prayers for safe travel and wisdom.