The Golden Rule, of course.
Jesus said it in Luke 6:31. The Bible references it many times from Old Testament to New. Every major religion includes some form of this ethic. It is so common, so simple.
It is so foreign, so hard.
We could dig deep and examine the selfish condition of the human heart to explore this mystery - why can't we follow the Golden Rule? We could ponder and discuss how it always falls apart in us; how we always get it wrong.
Or, we could take a good, long look at someone who is getting it right.
I recently read Patrick Beard's book Slowly by Slowly. It is a quick read. As in, I read it during the six hour drive from our house to East Tennessee, interrupted many times by three crazy boys in the backseat. It was quick, but it sank deep into my soul. This book is the personal testimony of Patrick Beard, the founder and director of Indigenous Outreach International.
The Beards served in Ethiopia for many months as foreign missionaries before having to return to the U.S. unexpectedly for medical reasons. The vision of IOI was first sparked after Patrick and his family experienced a time of great need while living here in America. Every need was met because the people of God showed their love of God by loving the Beard family. Then, Patrick considered this...
"If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and does not have compassion on him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in words only, but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18
"If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and does not have compassion on him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in words only, but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18
"I was a brother in need, and many American Christians were proving their love for God by loving my family in tangible ways. We have brothers and sisters in Ethiopia that are in great need, and our love for God could be proved by being generous to them." from Slowly by Slowly, page 70
IOI's history and vision is explained in more detail here: (taken from an IOI publication)
Serving in Ethiopia as a foreign missionary the founder of IOI, Patrick Beard, saw many brothers in need. In 1998 the average income in Ethiopia was about $1 per day. Many evangelists, pastors and church planters lived on much less than the average. Sleeping on dirt floors of austere mud huts, and going without meals is normal life for many ministers in Ethiopia.
The vision for IOI was simple. We saw our Ethiopian brothers in need and we in America have the provision they lacked. Giving $50 per month to an indigenous (native) minister would mean that they could rent a home, eat twice a day and often have enough money to cover ministry expenses.
Compassion, not strategy, was the motivator for the foundation of IOI. However, this Biblical command to care for the poor has yielded fruit in unity and propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many churches have been planted, and they are a result of local churches (with support from both local members and IOI) doing missions in surrounding areas.
Today the support levels have increased to an average of $60 per month and we now ask that supporters add $5 to help cover administrative costs. Of the missionaries supported through IOI over half now receive some support from their local congregation. The missionaries also take up an offering among themselves to support even more ministers.
A natural outgrowth of the ministry in Ethiopia has been the support of an indigenous childcare project called True Light Childcare. Some of the children involved in the TLC program are orphans, some only have one living parent and some have both parents, but they are poverty stricken. TLC provides the children school uniforms, educational supplies, tuition, food and a weekly Bible school on Saturdays. Not only is TLC keeping children off the streets, it is leading them to Christ.
Serving in Ethiopia as a foreign missionary the founder of IOI, Patrick Beard, saw many brothers in need. In 1998 the average income in Ethiopia was about $1 per day. Many evangelists, pastors and church planters lived on much less than the average. Sleeping on dirt floors of austere mud huts, and going without meals is normal life for many ministers in Ethiopia.
The vision for IOI was simple. We saw our Ethiopian brothers in need and we in America have the provision they lacked. Giving $50 per month to an indigenous (native) minister would mean that they could rent a home, eat twice a day and often have enough money to cover ministry expenses.
Compassion, not strategy, was the motivator for the foundation of IOI. However, this Biblical command to care for the poor has yielded fruit in unity and propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many churches have been planted, and they are a result of local churches (with support from both local members and IOI) doing missions in surrounding areas.
Today the support levels have increased to an average of $60 per month and we now ask that supporters add $5 to help cover administrative costs. Of the missionaries supported through IOI over half now receive some support from their local congregation. The missionaries also take up an offering among themselves to support even more ministers.
A natural outgrowth of the ministry in Ethiopia has been the support of an indigenous childcare project called True Light Childcare. Some of the children involved in the TLC program are orphans, some only have one living parent and some have both parents, but they are poverty stricken. TLC provides the children school uniforms, educational supplies, tuition, food and a weekly Bible school on Saturdays. Not only is TLC keeping children off the streets, it is leading them to Christ.
The Golden Rule makes so much more sense when you see it lived. Take care of Ethiopian Pastors, brothers, sisters, families, children, as though they were your own Pastor, brother, sister, family, children. They ARE your own. And you are theirs. It is so simple, so profound.
So beautiful.
Coffee will be served at the Marketplace this weekend and every cup supports IOI. The vendors representing Indigenous Outreach International will be selling bags of coffee and various goods that were handmade in Africa as well as items donated by various artists in order to support IOI. 100% of the profits will go directly into IOI's ministry, which goes directly to support pastors, families and children in Africa and other countries to which IOI has expanded. Go to the Indigenous Outreach International website to learn more about this incredible ministry.
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