A Mission to Share

photo by Aaron Hardin
story by Tracie Simer
The Jackson Sun Friday, September 25, 2009

More than 12 years ago, Patrick Beard and his wife, Lana, moved to Ethiopia to become missionaries. Their dreams were ended when they had to return to the United States because she had a complicated pregnancy.

"I came home sick and beaten," he said. "I just knew our missions career was over."

However, he soon had a vision to help native missionaries and pastors like the ones he met in Ethiopia. That vision became Indigenous Outreach International, which celebrated 10 years of ministry Thursday night at Union University.

The ministry now supports 38 missionaries in Ethiopia, two in Brazil and one in Germany. The organization also provides a child care service to meet the needs of 100 poverty-stricken children in Ethiopia, Beard said.

After six weeks, the ministry was supporting seven missionaries for about $250 a month, Beard said.

"Indigenous Outreach International was born in suffering, carried out in simplicity and grounded in ancient roots," he said. "It's simple, really - we saw brothers in need, and we had compassion. We're simply doing what the apostle Paul did when he helped out young missionaries and churches."

Steven Kennedy, missions coordinator for the ministry, said the celebration was a way for people to learn more about what the ministry does and hear about its progress.

"We wanted to make the Jackson area aware of what this ministry is doing," he said. "Scripture says that good news from distant lands brings joy to the heart. We want to encourage (people) that God is working around the world and using people in Jackson to help around the world."

Beard shared the stories of a few missionaries who receive support and who have started their own ministries. Future projects include opening a cafe in Ethiopia to help raise funds and creating training centers for missionaries there, Beard said.

"God has done some amazing things," he said. "I hope we can continue to help others in need."

Kennedy said that aside from financial support, Indigenous Outreach International also offers technical, educational and prayer support.

Visit www.jacksonsun.com and share your thoughts.

- Tracie Simer, 731-425-9629

THANK YOU TRACIE, AARON and the JACKSON SUN!!!

My weekend project...

Slowly by Slowly should go to press this week!

I'm excited! The book has finally gone to press and I should have a final copy within a month. Hopefully by August it will be available on Amazon and others.
So much work for 108 pages!

Thank God for seizures

I can honestly say that God has made me thankful for most everything, even cerebral palsy. If Lauren had not been born with CP I would not be living in Jackson, TN and I most likely would not be doing what I do now with Indigenous Outreach (www.ioiusa.org). But, I haven't ever really been thankful for the seizures. They have stolen what few abilities she had.

A few years ago my oldest daughter and I were by Lauren's side as she had a series of seizures. "Please God make them stop at 50."

"Oh LORD, stop them at 60."

"70!"

"Please Jesus - 80? No more, please!"

"90???"

"One hundred. Please God stop them at 100."

She had 101 seizures and then fell deep asleep. My oldest daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and asked, "Daddy, why is God mad at us?"

"He isn't honey. And I know this does not make sense, but He is doing good to us."

"Well, it does not feel good."

It didn't feel good. It felt horrible. I felt like a fool that night, but what else could I do? So helpless. So incapable of conjuring religious zeal. Yet my faith compelled me to make statements that I cannot prove.

A few months ago I complained to my wife that I hated the seizures and the helpless feeling that we have as Lauren suffers through them. "God has made me thankful for everything, except seizures."

We got a card from one of Lauren's therapist. She and her husband have been attending our small church for a few months now. They were looking for a church home one providential day as Lauren had a series of seizures at therapy. "...I thank God for the seizures Lauren had that day, because it gave us the opportunity to talk about your church." This dear family has found a home with our quirky little congregation of believers.

God was so kind to us. He did not have to make me thankful for seizures, He could have allowed me to stay mad - to stay in unbelief. But God is so loving and kind that He gave us a glimpse of His goodness even in the seizures.

I still don't like them, but thank God for the seizures.

It didn't work...

I'm so tired of having hopes dashed. The new medicine that had so much promise to control Lauren's seizures has done very little. In fact, although the number of seizures may be fewer, the types of seizures has increased. I hate seeing her suffer so much.
What we need is a true miracle.
Maybe Lauren's only hope is the Resurrection.
Thank God for Lauren's great attitude and beautiful smile!

A little hope for Lauren

I took Lauren to see her neurologist yesterday and he has introduced a new medicine that he said "could help her to be seizure free"(she has been averaging 20+ seizures per day). It seems too good to be true, but we know that God can use medicine to answer our prayers. So , as you pray for Lauren please pray that the medicine will work, and that she will not suffer any bad side effects.

Against the doctrine of Drunkeness in the Spirit

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-20

It has been some time since I posted on this blog. But, today my heart is troubled and I simply must say something.

A friend recently gave me a web link thinking that I would enjoy the site because it featured self-proclaimed "modern mystics". When I think of mystics I generally am thinking about those throughout history who have had a deep love relationship with Christ, and that relationship is then manifest in the outworking of extreme love. In my opinion Mother Teresa would be an example. A modern mystic would be someone who, in their secret devotions, has a vision or dream that propels them to a deeper relationship with God that is worked out in tangible ministry to their fellow man.

Today I take a public stand against the "charisma" of "drunkenness". This foolishness is nothing new in the world of heresy, and it is demeaning to the holiness of God. Those who promote "Spirit Drunkenness" teach that being filled with the Holy Spirit means that you babble like an idiot, act like an animal and have ecstatic experiences like being "high". Scripture clearly teaches that we are not to be "drunk" with wine, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Someone who is truly "filled with the Holy Spirit" would then manifest the fruit of that Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

As I watched videos of "manifestations" on the "New Mystics" website I was literally sickened. I could not continue to watch as they used the Eucharist like it was pot, or crack. The sensuality of the videos was extreme - to explain to you in detail what they did with the elements would be a sin to even repeat. For those who would defend this behavior I ask you, can you see Jesus acting this way? Would Jesus act like an animal? Didn't Jesus actually cast demons out of people who acted like animals?

God is a god of order, not of chaos. Flee those who bring disorder and disunity over disputable matters! Run from those who preach the Gospel as a means of financial gain, or of self-promotion! Rebuke those who preach drunkenness in any form! Be sober minded for the days are evil!