Building Up the Church

by Patrick Beard

Often in America we talk about “building” a church. More often than not our conversations involve brick and mortar, rather than the edification of individuals within the church. Our terminology reveals our error in that we call building a “church” rather than the congregation that has covenanted to follow Christ together.

As Christ ascended from the earth He promised to stay with us by sending His Holy Spirit. His Spirit now lives in the heart of those whom He gives faith in His gospel. He resides within both to comfort and empower all believers as we anticipate the return of Christ, make disciples and edify each other. Our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia are certainly no exception to this promise.
Each week in Ethiopia minister from eleven denominations gather to pray at the IOI prayer meeting. These meetings have led to many deep relationships. Often the diverse ministers gather around a common table to share meals and exchange their joys and sorrows. Each minister, and indeed each believer, has been specially gifted by God to fulfill a unique role in the Kingdom of God. Frequently the ministers will call on one another as they have become interdependent within the greater Body of Christ. This fellowship is just one way that God has used IOI to build His Church.

Our Bible conference this year focused on Following Christ. This following is done as individual parts within a greater body. It is our ambition as an organization to build up the Church as God gives us the resources and ability. Please consider joining with us in 2007 in the way that God directs. v

Ministry of Administration

Addis Abeba, Ethiopia - Amsale has been serving with IOI since the very beginning. For all those years she has struggled with health issues, but she has also had a growing ministry of administration.
Nine years ago Amsale worked as an editor in the publishing department of the Baptist Mission of Ethiopia. Both she and Negash Gemeda (IOI’s National Coordinator for Ethiopia) worked with Patrick, who was Media Center Manager for the mission.
When the mission began to dissolve, due to a change of strategy, and a new businesslike structure was being formed Amsale and most of her colleges were laid off. At the same time IOI was being formed in the USA, and the need for a trustworthy Ethiopian administrator became evident.
When IOI was in the formative stages some opposition was expressed concerning dependency, and poor management of money. Some concluded that sending “American” money to African ministers was a mistake, and simply could not be done in a good way. While the concerns were real and important, our scriptural mandate to care for our poor brothers and sisters took precedent.
The organization of IOI was created with a simple goal of supporting poor ministers in Ethiopia and a simple means of distributing the support. The funds are collected in the US, wired to Amsale in Ethiopia and paid directly to the missionaries, who sign for the receipt of the funds. It all sounds simple enough, but it was a novel idea in Ethiopia where burocracy was the order of the day in in both the national and international organizations that most ministers were familiar with. After eight years we still receive comments from many of the ministers that applaud, “I have received my support on time, every time!”
Amsale fulfills a vital role for IOI as she distributes the funds and keeps meticulous records. Furthermore she performs this same administrative ministry for no less than two other Christian organizations in Ethiopia. She also helps to lead Bible studies for ladies.
Amsale is married to her husband Mitiku, and they have four children. A grow daughter and son, and twin preteen sons. They live and minister in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia’s capital city. They are members of Mulu Wongel Church. v

Ministry Among the Poor

Thanks to a generous gift from a Jackson church the Bible conference in Ethiopia held a special blessing for the ministers supported through IOI. In addition to each minister receiving gifts of special shirts and medicine the ministers also received a Christmas gift of 500 Birr (about $60 US). The missionaries also received the same amount to give away to neighbors or church members who are in desperate need.
The monetary gift was especially timely as food in Ethiopia has increased in cost almost 100% over the past two years. The inflation has been particularly hard on the poorest Ethiopians who were already strapped financially and often go days without eating.
“I have never seen God’s people begging for bread, but I have seen them go hungry,” Patrick said. At the last board meeting of IOI the Board was unanimous in their resolve to increase giving as much funding as possible to help alleviate the suffering of church members of associated churches, as well as using the Micah and Agemba Funds to minister mercy to the surrounding neighbors. “We want to reach people with the love of God by preaching the Gospel of grace and ministering God’s mercy through tangible benevolence. v

Patrick's Paragraphs - Eight Years Blessed

This January we quietly celebrated the eighth birthday of IOI. As a Board we agreed that this year we desire a renewed focus on our primary ministry of supporting indigenous ministers through prayer, financial, educational and technical support.
Eight years ago the list of ministers supported contained eight names. It was a new beginning and everything was new. We developed a simple system of support that has enabled the missionaries to receive their full support each month on time (which is still apparently a novelty in Ethiopia). Over time we added ministers, began supporting ORE (the ministry to orphans in Mekele, Ethiopia), began working with the Breitenmosers in Germany, started building community development projects, sent American volunteers to assist the work in Ethiopia and expanded to Brazil as the Teixeira family moved from Ethiopia to Brazil. Certainly most of these changes proved to be positive as the ministry grew and continued to mature.
This year I hope to see an increase in the level of giving to human needs in Ethiopia, while at the same time being very intentional in our effort to make disciples through theological instruction, mercy ministry and incarnational living. It is my hope that giving will increase both to Missionary Support and the General Fund to enable us to minister more generously. We hope to see the establishment of the new Sanctuary Village as a model for discipleship ministry. I also hope that we can begin supporting indigenous ministers who are working with the Teixeiras in Northern Brazil.
Many events are planned over the next 12 months that I hope will be a benefit to all who participate. Robin Mark will once again be joining us from Belfast, Northern Ireland to present a benefit concert for IOI in Tennessee on Thursday, August 16. An awareness banquet is being planned for the Tupelo, Mississippi area on Friday, September 7. Through these events and a series of Coffee and Conversation meetings we hope to raise enough funds over 2007 to host the largest IOI Bible conference ever on January 22-25, 2008 with VBS for the children, preaching and a variety if seminars to benefit the indigenous ministers we work with.
For all of this to happen we will need more donors and volunteers. It is my prayer that God will give us everything we need to accomplish these plans.v

Ecki's Trip to Ethiopia

German Port Minister Ecki Breitenmoser visited Ethiopia this January. He met with the family of an Ethiopian seafarer, preached at the IOI Bible conference, visited churches in the countryside and met with many of the Ethiopian missionaries supported through IOI.

Fikadu's Wedding

Fikadu and his wife Dagmit had a lovely service. The wedding started in the morning at Negash's home, moved to the Mekane Yesus Seminary and ended at a resort on the Debre Zeit road. It was a joyful day filled with praises to God, dancing and celebration.

Bible Conference 2007 - Addis Abeba

Over 50 missionaries and church leaders attended this year's Bible Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. This year's theme was the command of Christ to, "Follow Me". A banquet was held for the noon meal at Sami's Resturant. This year's guest speakers were Ecki Breitenmoser (SCFS Port Minister in Bremerhaven, Germany), Patrick Beard (IOI Executive Director) and Douglas Merreck (Missionary to Mekele, Ethiopia)

Website Updated

It is long overdue, but it has finally happened -- The IOI Website has been updated! Check it out at www.indigenousoutreach.net and let me know what you think.

Electronic Funds Transfers

(Jackson, TN) Regular donors to IOI now have the opportunity to give on a regular basis through EFTs (Electronic Funds Transfers). This new way of giving reduces paperwork, postage costs and occational ommissions due to a busy life.

Donors simply request a copy of the form (sample below, which you may print from the internet) to be issued by fax or post, fill out the information, sign the form, attach a void check and mail the information to IOI. Within six weeks regular monthly withdrawls are transfered directly from the donor's savings or checking account into IOI's account. When circumstances make it necissary to cancel the service the donor simply gives notice to IOI and the transfer stop within six weeks.

Donors have the opportunity to specify on the forms the designation of their gifts, the amount to be given and the frequency of the withdrawals.

Missionaries to Receive Increase in Support

(Jackson, TN) Inflation has been a problem in Ethiopia and food prices have risen as much as 100% in the past couple of years. Ethiopian missionaries supported through IOI have been receiving $50 per month, but it no longer goes as far as it did in 1999. The Board of Directors has agreed to ask supporters to prayerfully consider increasing missionary support to $60 per month. This change is to be implemented by the end of 2007.
Thanks to support for the General Fund IOI has been able to send 100% of all designated money directly to the missionaries. The General Fund is also in need and regular donations are needed very much.
There are currently 34 indigenous missionaries receiving support in Ethiopia through IOI.

Receipts for 2007

(Jackson, TN) In an effort to be good stewards of time and resources we will no longer send quarterly receipts for donations, unless requested by the donor. We will continue to send out semi-annual receipts in July (January-June giving) and Janaury (yearly total).

2008 Bible Conference Plans

Each year IOI has hosted a Bible conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia for the indigenous missionaries that we work with.

This year's conference ('07) is a one day conference, but next year ('08) we would like to have a four day conference that involves all the family members of the missionaries. We would like to have Bible teaching and preaching, VBS for the children and various seminars for families and individuals. For this to be possible we have started planning now.

The departure from Memphis is planned for January 17, 2008. There is a planned stopover in Europe (most likely Amsterdam) for rest and some brief sight seeing (such as the Corrie Ten Boom House and Museum).

Arrival in Addis will be on Saturday evening, January 19 (Ethiopian Epiphany). The next morning the team will split-up and attend various church services around the city of Addis. Some team members will depart in the afternoon for the countryside for one-day Bible seminars in village churches.

Monday, January 21 would be a day of rest for many of the team members that remain in Addis. Those who have gone out-country will be engaged in one-day Bible conferences. The Ethiopian missionaries would begin arriving in the evening for the conference.

Tuesday, January 22 the Bible conference begins after breakfast with morning worship and prayer. The opening sermon would follow a tea break and be delivered on the theme of the conference, "Holiness - The Fruit of the Spirit". After lunch the missionaries would be have the opportunity to attend elective seminars (based on the giftings of the various team members) and conclude with an afternoon tea break. Late afternoon free-time would be followed with supper, followed by evening worship. (VBS begins after worship time)

Wednesday, January 23 the Bible conference continues after breakfast with morning worship and prayer. The opening sermon would follow a tea break and be delivered on the theme of the conference, "Holiness - The Fruit of the Spirit". After lunch the missionaries would be have the opportunity to attend elective seminars (based on the giftings of the various team members) and conclude with an afternoon tea break. Late afternoon free-time would be followed with supper, followed by evening worship. (VBS continues)

Thursday, January 24 the Bible conference continues after breakfast with morning worship and prayer. The opening sermon would follow a tea break and be delivered on the theme of the conference, "Holiness - The Fruit of the Spirit". After lunch the missionaries would be have the opportunity to attend elective seminars (based on the giftings of the various team members) and conclude with an afternoon tea break. Late afternoon free-time would be followed with supper, followed by evening worship. (VBS continues)

Friday, January 25 the Bible conference continues after breakfast with morning worship and prayer. The Closing sermon would follow a tea break and be delivered on the theme of the conference, "Holiness - The Fruit of the Spirit". After lunch the missionaries would depart for home. (VBS concludes at lunch)

Saturday, January 26 - Sight seeing in Addis Abeba and late evening departure for home.

Arrive in Memphis at about 6:00 PM on Sunday evening, January 27. (There is an option of spending an extra night in Europe in route).

Approximate cost for the trip would be $2,600.00 (depending on airfare and other variables, not including passport, visa and immunizations)

Supporters interested in traveling with us and helping present this conference are encouraged to contact Patrick before September 1, 2007.

Additional funds for this event would be greatly appreciated!