IOI UK in Formative Stages

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

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!

Robin Mark with WindDance in Cordova, August 1

For tickets go to www.itickets.com

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.

The Video is Finished!!!

Sanctuary Village from Patrick Beard on Vimeo.

Big thanks to Julian Williamson from Bluesland Films for all his hard work on this project!

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.

Maraki Merigold Hickey is born!

Ben and Pepo are parents!

Negash is a grandfather!

Maraki Merigold Hickey was born on April 10 at 8:45am Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
She was 3.5 kg and 52 cm long. She got a 9-10 on the "baby scale". She was delivered by C-section.

Elevate Ethiopia

A special blog has been established for our child sponsorship program that is being coordinated by Arlene Norton. She has posted videos of her recent visit with some of the families we help to support.

http://www.elevateethiopia.blogspot.com/

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