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.

Janaury Mission to Ethiopia

Each year it is our privilege to host a Bible conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. This year the teaching was done by both Ethiopian and Western teachers. Ecki Breitenmoser (SCFS missionary from Germany) and I were joined with Anthony Mathenia (a missionary from Christ Community Church of New Albany, Mississippi) and Douglas Merrick (an American missionary with Last Call Ministries of Shreveport). Mellese, Getachew, Getu, Kaleb and Negash were the Ethiopians who taught.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Holiness—the Fruit of the Spirit.” The topics covered were love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I honestly believe this was our best conference yet, and it was attended by most of the missionaries and spouses supported through IOI.
We also had the privilege of hosting a medical team, that was organized by John McNally (director of a partner ministry that works with local churches to meet needs), that visited with all the missionaries and families at the end of the conference.
My sister, Arlene Norton, also joined the team in Addis after spending a week in Mekele working with the Operation Rescue childcare program. She is making a video about her trip and the child sponsorship programs that are offered through IOI. She has a goal of gaining 100 sponsors for the orphans and at risk children in Ethiopia. If you would like a free copy of the video email info@ioiusa.org or call (731)664-9960.
It was a fruitful trip that ended sadly with the news of Amber Mathenia’s (wife of Anthony) death. Anthony and Amber had been volunteers with IOI before moving to Ethiopia as career missionaries sent by their local church. Amber was killed in an automobile accident just hours before Anthony returned from a trip to Ethiopia where he taught at two Bible conferences.

2008 Bible Conference Funding Needed

We have planned a Bible conference for the indigenous missionary families in Ethiopia for January 2008. The expenses for this trip include renting a location for the conference, transportation to and from the location for all missionaries, food, materials, and medical supplies for family check ups. We are seeking funding for the conference and appreciate gifts of any size. For more information about what we will be doing or how you can help, call the IOI office or email Stephen.

Four Need Support

There are times when the Lord gives us the need for more supporters through bringing new missionaries. There are also times when new supporters are needed because some of those who have supported in the past discontinue their support. At this time we have both new missionaries and a couple who formerly had supporters.
Yerga Berta has been with IOI for almost seven years. He has a wife and two sons. He works in Addis Abeba doing evangelism and church planting. Kebebush Gudeta has been with IOI for almost four years and is a dear sister who is praying that God would give her a good husband. She works in Addis and in the countryside as an evangelist and has a wonderful prayer ministry. This brother and sister have been faithful ministers in Christ and are a true joy.
The other two who need support are new to IOI and working in regions that we have been praying that God would expand this work to.
The first is a Baptist congregation in the northern city of Mekele where the ORE childcare program is located. The pastor of this church is doing full time ministry but the congregation is not able to fully support him on their own.
The other church we would like to partner with is being planted in Debre Tisge which is about 40 kilometers northwest of Addis. This church was formerly opposed by many in the area. New laws in Ethiopia require local governments to give fair treatment to all religions. City officials were seeking to display their progressive thinking and gave the new congregation a plot of land approximately six acres in size which is a large lot in Ethiopia. The church planters involved have recently rented the house of a witchdoctor to use for a temporary meeting place. The church now needs support to be able to build on the land and have a full-time pastor.
You can support one of these missionary families for only $60.00 USD per month. If you are interested in supporting any of these ministries, please contact the IOI office. Please pray that God will provide supporters where there are needs for our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia.

Childcare Sponsorship

IOI has partnered with two childcare programs in Ethiopia: Operation Rescue in Mekele and the Repi Childcare Project in Addis. These two programs seek to take the poorest children and those who have lost their parents to a place where they and their families are able to have their basic needs provided for. The children in the programs are placed in school and receive weekly Bible lessons. Our hope is to care for the physical needs of the poor and orphaned as well as point them to Christ who alone can care for their spiritual needs.
Tom Spencer and Arlene Norton were at the recent IOI board meeting where they gave updates on the work in Ethiopia. Tom is the founder of Jabez Children’s Ministry, which is now the umbrella organization for the Repi Childcare project. Arlene is the new volunteer coordinator for IOI Child Sponsorship.
Recently we have learned that Habatamu, a child supported at Repi, and his whole family have received faith in Christ. They thank the Lord for this program where they heard the gospel and witnessed God’s love in action.
Thanks to the efforts of Arlene, forty new sponsors have recently joined with IOI to provide for children like Habatamu.
If you are interested in supporting a child at $20 per month, or if you would like more information, contact Arlene at (662)610-4056 or call the IOI office.

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.

Patrick's Paragraphs -- Making Progress

“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
I John 5:5

A friend of mine recently said, “When we feel like we are making progress God will show us that we are not.”
On the surface this quote might seem a bit pessimistic, and imply that we cannot make progress as Christians. I have certainly witnessed this brother in Christ making progress for the better part of 20 years. He obviously does not feel like he has progressed much since his salvation, but his walk with Christ is identified by persistence despite his experience.
On the other hand, certainly there are those who feel that they have made progress in the faith. However, if they despise the Church, and have inflated thoughts of their own righteous deeds it might be evidence that they have not progressed as much as they think. In deed they may not know God at all.
One thing I see in common to most men that I admire is their humility and a almost constant feeling that they simply don’t measure up to God’s standards. Throughout history we read personal biographies of missionaries, ministers and saints who felt that they lacked much more than they had in the realm of spirituality. Indeed even Jesus tells a parable about a justified man who has humbled himself prostrate in prayer, while a pious Pharisee stands looking on in thankfulness that he is “not like” the sinful man on the floor.
As I turned 40 this past month, I have reflected on so much of my life that has been wasted, how little evidence that I see of the faith I proclaim. So much of experience seems to contradict the faith that I claim, yet I know that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life. I believe by faith that Jesus is Lord and God has raised Him.
Watchman Nee said, “Faith follows truth and experience follows faith.” Our faith is based on what is not seen, otherwise it would not be called faith. Certainly we should see growing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in our lives. Good works should be our lifestyle. But, rather than looking to our experience, we look to Christ himself.
Do you love God? Do you love His Son? Do you love His Bride? If so, that is progress.

Mission to Ethiopia and Europe

I recently had the privilege of traveling to Ethiopia with Noah and Shammah from Rose Creek Village.
I met Noah a couple of years ago when the Irish band from Rose Creek helped with the Robin Mark Fund Raiser for IOI. Over time we shared our visions for ministry and God knit our hearts together.
One project that I have longed to see come to fruition is Sanctuary Village. My hope is that it will be a place of discipleship and ministry, a model for Christian community in rural Ethiopia where believers share life together and reach out to the lost around them.
I met up with Noah and Shammah in Scotland, and we traveled by train to visit with a Christian community in Northern England.
In Ethiopia, we visited with many Churches that have partnered with IOI. We had a prayer meeting with many of the missionaries supported through IOI. We visited with some of the children and families that have benefited from the Child Sponsorship Program. We had an opportunity to visit an Orthodox monastery, where we met an evangelical monk. And we were able to see much of the beautiful countryside of Ethiopia along the way.
From Ethiopia I was able to visit with the Breitenmosers (missionaries in Germany supported through IOI), hold their newborn baby boy, Joshua, and attend a good board meeting.
It renews my zeal and encourages me to take supporters to Ethiopia. It also encourages the church in Ethiopia. We really can do a lot as we cooperate with local churches to benefit those in need and share the Gospel with those who have never heard. v

Church Aids In Lema’s Need

In the July newsletter the missionary profile was on a dear brother, Lema Kasaye who has been going through a very difficult time recently with the death of his wife and health problems of his own. After telling the story of Lema, we received a response from a Sunday School class in Jackson, TN asking how they could aid Lema in his time of need. The class took up an offering of $450 on the Sunday morning that Patrick left for Ethiopia and delivered the money to him just before his departure. We were not sure of all the needs that Lema had, but Patrick visited with him and, unbeknownst to Lema, left the money with Negash to be exchanged for birr (Ethiopian currency) . After giving Lema the gift, Negash learned that, at the death of his wife, Lema incurred a 2000 birr debt which weighed heavily on him. With this gift Lema was able to pay the debt off the next day and still have 2176 birr to help his family through this hard time. This was such a blessing to our brother and for us to watch unfold. Praise the Lord for His caring for His children even in the needs that no one but they and God know about. Please pray for Lema that he can have the peace of Christ in this time. He has struggled with worry about what would happen to his sons should he die. Patrick has offered assurance to him that they will be cared for, but still remember him when you come before our Lord.

Concert and Banquet

Robin Mark Concert
By Stephen Kennedy
Mission Coordinator
On August 16th Robin Mark presented a concert at First Baptist Church, Humboldt, TN for IOI.. The evening was a blessing in that we had many good conversations about the ministry and about life in Christ with brothers and sisters. We would like to thank again all those who helped make the evening what it was. We are looking forward to what the Lord may have for next year and the possibility of bringing Robin back. Pray that the Lord would give us wisdom in how we can best serve the body and encourage each other in worshiping our God.v

Mississippi Banquet
By Stephen Kennedy
Mission Coordinator
Thursday, September 6th, we had the IOI banquet in Tupelo, Mississippi at the campus of Itawamba Community College. Pastor Alex Lobo, an IOI board member, led the music with his wife accompanying him on the piano. Patrick was able to share about the ministry with the freshness of his recent trip and the give up-to-date reports on ministers and children supported through IOI. Arlene Norton is helping to raise supporters for children’s sponsorship in Ethiopia and was there with an information table. We had a good response and some at the banquet who did not know about IOI are looking into going to Ethiopia in January with the team. We praise the Lord for His blessing on the evening. Thank you to all of the table hosts and the volunteers who did so much work, particularly Tina Varughese and Faye Hollingsworth who coordinated the banquet.

Patrick's Paragraphs - Prophet of the Poor

“He has told you what is good; and what the LORD requires of you to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8

I was reading from the book of Micah recently. Some scholars call Micah the “Prophet of the Poor” because of his emphasis on injustice, and God’s word to the downtrodden. It is fitting that we named our benevolent fund the Micah Fund, but it was named after a little boy who died from complications associated with malnutrition.
I heard an economist on the radio today. He said that poverty would virtually be a memory in about 50 years from now. He sited South Korea and other developed nations that were considered “Third World” countries just 50 years ago. “Industry and technology have made it possible to overcome poverty,” he said.
I hate to be the prophet of bad news, but Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you.” The sad fact is that the world is not getting better. It is true that there is more wealth and prosperity than any other time in history, and the wealth is being spread around to more people. But it is also true that greed is prevalent and sin is in the flesh of men.
We have seen in recent years that democracy nor wealth bring peace. The most miserable people on the planet are some of the most free and affluent. Granted, to be poor in America is considered rich in many nations, but every city in America has neighborhoods where people seem not to be able to afford what many have come to see as necessities.
The Good News is that there is a day of peace coming. There is a day when all suffering will cease. Until that day, we have been commanded to bind up the brokenhearted and set captives free. We have been told to practice true religion and care for widows and orphans. We have received the word from God to love our brothers and our enemies. In doing these things, we will see His kingdom come and His will being done. Those who have been faithful in these small things will see the day of resurrection with great joy.