N. Iraq –  Earlier this month, IM CEO John Cook, left, arrived in Iraq just in time to help Fadi (left), and the team (some are pictured right) prepare supplies and load backpacks for the refugee children. Out of commission is Mryana, who sadly, broke her leg earlier this month.  Please keep her in your prayers.

To view the video John and Fadi recorded (left), visit Indigenous Ministries’s Facebook page.  You can also listen there to John and the team as they were was live on KCMI radio 9/15 in Iraq.   

Thank you to our amazing sponsors and donors who gave funds to make it possible for all the children to receive a backpack!

Majed is a refugee. Although his family still struggles to put their lives back together, he is able to focus on school (which he loves) because he has a backpack,, and of course being with his friends! He also has a growing faith in the Lord.  Thank you, sponsors!

As story after story surfaces, stories mixed with rage and grief of loved ones and friends trying to make some sense of the massive August 4 blast that left 6500 wounded and 171 dead, nothing has been resolved revealing the cause. Protesters have pointed fingers at a corrupt government; Lebanon was already staggered by a free-falling economy prior to the blast. Now, 300,000 homeless and millions of others affected by this blast struggle to regain their lives. This is the time, and a real way to step in with Christ’s love.

Indigenous Ministries is partnering with a sister ministry in Beirut, Lebanon assisting victims of the blast with food, water and clothing, see pics, right. The second level of assistance is to provide half the costs of glass repairs to make homes habitable. Join us in sending a message to the Lebanese people that the Body of Christ in the US cares and is sending in aid.

If the Lord is leading you to help blast victims, you can donate on IMI’s website under “Donate” select, “Beirut Lebanon Blast Aid,” or mail in your check with a memo, “Beirut.”

Background: Beginning in 2003 when GBC was established in partnership with Indigenous Ministries, students met in rented facilities. In 2007, two acres were purchased but construction of the campus did not start until 2014 when the GBC chapel was built, and then in Spring 2015 shipping containers were turned into men’s dorms and the men’s bathroom block.

The dorms were refurbished in 2019, but there were not enough funds to refurbish the bathrooms which were in badly need of upkeep.

The additional year’s wear and tear has made the repairs more expensive than sensible, and the decision was made recently to replace the containers with a permanent building for the men. For those who are wondering, the septic system, built in 2015, is more than adequate.

The facilities are used daily by 40-45 men on the campus for nine months of the year. It is also available for guests on campus each week for church services held in the chapel. There is no women’s dormitory on campus; the women live off-campus.

Cost of this project: $10,000
Funding still needed: $9,000

We are seeking financial partners for this project. This completed project will enable GBC to meet current needs and position the school for future growth. Thank you for prayerfully considering a generous gift to move this very important project forward to completion. Last month we shared that GBC was hoping to re-open in September, but was unable to secure government approval. Eager students arrive on campus soon as the school has been given tentative approval to begin the week of October 5-9. It’s urgent this building be completed as soon as possible. To donate online, donate to “GBC” with a memo, “Men’s Bathroom,” or mail your check with “Men’s Bathroom” in the memo line.

Grace Bible College is a three year Christian college located in central India in partnership with Indigenous Ministries, USA, training national men and women from India with a biblical education for a lifetime of vocational ministry. Additionally, GBC offers disciplines and training in spiritual foundations preparing young people for secular business and academics.
Our mutual mission is to reach nationals through nationals with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While cash does get the most votes as the most convenient way for a nonprofit like Indigenous Ministries to process a gift and put it to good use, there are other gifts which can be used for the Kingdom. They are called in-kind gifts and include time (volunteering), services, food, discounts, vehicles (which we have a need for) stocks or directed funds. In fact, through the years, all of the above have been given to this ministry as well as clothing, books and office computers donated too.

Estate planning can also be a way to include the ministry in your future plans. Indigenous Ministries is a listed beneficiary at Waterstone in Colorado Springs. Waterstone (waterstone.org) is a Christ-centered organization focused on helping set up trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and giving funds. This makes it possible the donation of securities, business interests, stocks or other non-traditional assets to the ministry. As you look at leaving a legacy, consider including IM as we reach nationals through nationals with the gospel.

Can you introduce us to your church leadership? We’d love to meet them and connect our ministries.

Another way to help Indigenous Ministries is to sign up for Amazon Smile and select Indigenous Ministries as a beneficiary of a percentage of your purchases (it doesn’t cost you extra).

Ways to click: Look for our ads on Facebook and Linkedin and “like” them. Watch our Youtube videos; when you do, you support the Christian community. Visit our Facebook page and like it. Like IM’s FB page.

Are you good at organizing 5Ks? Golf tournaments? Are you good at connections? Let’s talk! IM is looking for partners to help raise awareness for the Sponsor a Child Program.

If you would like more information, or are thinking of making an in-kind donation to Indigenous Ministries, please email our office at [email protected] God bless you.

The normalcy of the bustle of a typical day in the beautiful city of Beirut, Lebanon was shattered by an explosion which changed the agendas of 2.1 million people. Their collective attention was diverted with the sound of small crackling eruptions increasing in intensity, followed by a split second flash of light and then a deafening explosion which rocketed across the city splintering glass in every high rise building and shattering concrete structures. At least 170 were killed and some 6,000+ have been injured.

Some people are still missing and over 300,000 people have been left homeless.

 

HOW CAN YOU HELP VICTIMS?

EMERGENCY FOOD: First, we are teaming up with our Lebanese ministry partners as they assist the people through immediate food distribution.

EMERGENCY CLOTHING: Secondly, we are assisting families with needed clothing.

REPLACING SHATTERED GLASS: The third way we will assist through our partnership is replacing glass windows and doors shattered in the blast.  We will provide these families 50% of what they need to replace these items to get their homes habitable.

This is an opportunity to show these precious Lebanese people that God has not abandoned them and the hands that reach out to bless them are from the heart of Christ.

Central India – When the first attempt in July to re-open classes was denied by the Indian government, GBC tried again the first week in August, and again was met with orders to remain closed due to COVID-19. Pray with us that they will receive the government’s nod to resume classes in September.  Registration online has gone well and classes are almost full. Students are excited for the year to begin.

GBC offers three tracks: a three year Bachelor of Theology, two year Diploma in Theology, and one year Certificate in Theology. In partnership with US sponsors, Indigenous Ministries provides scholarships to students for room, board and the bulk of their tuition. Most students are from rural villages and the lack resources to cover full costs.

Thank you to our faithful sponsors and prayer partners who make it possible for this school to continue.  Please continue to keep the students and faculty and staff in your prayers in these uncertain days.

THANK YOU to each one who gave to this worthy fundraiser!  We are thrilled to report that because of your love, care and generosity, $12,735.21 was raised!  We’re able to care for each of the school-aged children in our Child Sponsorship Program in Egypt and Iraq!! Some of the children will be in classes, others will learn at home, and for some it is a mixture.

Due to COVID-19, the giving for this fundraiser was down, but we were just notified that no uniforms are needed this year (unheard of!), and the decision was made to spread the monies so each school age child would receive a backpack and school supplies.  Due to this change and the schools’ requriements, if you gave to this project and would rather your funds go only to your child, or have questions, please contact our office.  We’ll be contacting donors regarding these changes.

Thank you for your very generous donations!!

From Resty Enguerra – I just wanted to update you with what’s been happening since our last Newsletter.

In July we distributed food to each of our sponsored children’s families. This month of August, funds were sent to buy basic food for the 45 Sponsored children’s families.  Promise Land Church and school leaders and volunteers will purchase food supplies i.e. rice, canned and packaged foods and will distribute them to these families and some volunteers.

Last week, Cupang Church funds received the funds to buy basic foods to the families and volunteers. This morning, they sent me pictures on what they purchased with the money I sent them. Each of these food packs contains 5 kilos of rice, 10 small cans of sardines, 2 bags of cookies (for children), a dozen of eggs, 10 bags of instant noodles, 2 packets of vermicelli noodles and some vegetables. Some families that live close to the church dropped by and picked up their food packs and for some, our volunteers delivered it to them.

These supplies will feed families for two weeks depending on the size of the families and how the parents manage it.

We will do these again in September for both areas (Payatas and Cupang) until the situation in the Philippines normalizes. Again these will depend on the fund that comes in.

HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE: If you’d like to help specifically with a gift for the Philippine food packets, write a memo in your check “SEA Food Packets” or give online at indigenousministries.org in the DONATE button, select the SEA dropdown and note “Food Packets” in the memo line.

Children in program (Iraq, Egypt, the Philippines: 844

Children sponsored: 674

Children waiting for a sponsor:   170

Meanwhile, on the two acre campus, routine maintenance and preparations for the return of students continue. Right, two workers add an outcrop to a roof to shield the cook and helpers from monsoon rains.

Thanks to generous donations, we were able to fund a much-needed renovation and freshening of the men’s shipping container dorms last summer and install air conditioners last fall in the GBC library to stay the invasion of mold due to high heat and humid conditions from March to October.

BECOME A GBC FINANCIAL PARTNER

We are looking for partners who understand the value of investing into the education of an Indian national and gift a Biblical foundation for his or her lifetime. Most students come from villages with very limited family resources and cannot attend without financial aid. Current ministry partners faithfully give monthly and pray for this GBC and their student, which God has used in the lives of hundreds of students through the years. Many thanks to our partners!

Suggested donation is $1200/year per student ($100/month). You receive your student’s profile and information so you can pray with knowledge. One time gifts of any amounts given to “GBC” are very helpful.

Engage online at indigenousministries.org or call our office 719-303-3028. Please make checks out to Indigenous Ministries, include a note marked “GBC.”