UIM Connection

I like history. I really do like history! The irony of it all is that I didn't do particularly well in history in school. All the dates and names and places became a jumble of data, especially when the time came for reproducing the information at exam time.

At a recent Native leadership training conference where I was privileged to speak, in attendance was a relative of Jim Thorpe. Now, if you know history, you may or may not recognize the name immediately. If you know sports history, you certainly should recognize the name. For those who, like me, are historically challenged, let me help you out.

Jim Thorpe was of the Sac and Fox tribe. His historical website reads as follows; "Describing Jim Thorpe as a great athlete would be doing him a severe injustice. A better description woud be calling him the greatest athlete of the 20th Century. This label will probably be debated by many,

but Thorpe's accomplishments speak louder than words. King Gustav V of Sweden thold Thorpe: 'Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world'" [http://www.cmgww.com/sports/thorpe/].

The site continues, "In 1904, Thorpe started school at Carlisle Industrial Indian School in Pennsylvania. The establishment offered American Indians the opportunity to gain practical training in over 20 trades, in addition to off-campus employment at local farms, homes or industries. Thorpe began his athletic career at Carlisle, both playing football and running track. He was triumphantly selected as a third-team All-American in 1908, and in 1909 he made the first team. Iconic football legend Glenn 'Pop' Warner coached Thorpe at Carlisle and was able to see the young phenomenon evolve in his pursuant excellence with athletics."

I admire men who have accomplished such athletic achievements. But I admire even more men who have committed themselves to spiritual discipline. The apostle Paul must have admired athletic disciplines, for he drew many such analogies to teach spiritual principles. Jim Thorpe achieved victory wreaths that are perishable. Greater are the imperishable kind (1 Cor. 9:25-27).

Jim Thorpe's relative, now years later, finds himself in Bible school, preparing himself to reach his fellow Native people more effectively with the truth of God's Word.

As a young boy, Luther Roberts was encouraged by his mother to attend a small Sunday school, where he heard a strange, but soul-intriguing message of God's love in Christ Jesus-not a message of animal and ancestral spirits to be feared and idols to be worshiped, but a message of a personal Savior. His heart was drawn to this "good news." At the age of nine, he embraced Jesus Christ as the Savior He is.

Years have passed, and opportunities have come to serve his Native people in many community and governmental ways, but Luther's greatest desire and joy have always been to teach the Bible to his Native people. Though in his 60's, he's enrolled in Bible college and receiving additional training to become better equipped to serve the Lord Jesus Christ among Native people.

Your connection with UIM keeps you in touch with such chains of events, God's providential sovereignty, as past and present unfold the marvels of God's grace at work in the lives of people.

Your connection with UIM is a means of mutual rejoicing in the work God is accomplishing in transforming people from the realm of Satan and sin's mischievous ways to the glorious light and life found in our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for staying connected by means of your prayers and financial partnership. As UIM International's missionaries and Native leaders across Canada, the United States, and Mexico seek to reach and establish local churches and advance ministries proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, your partnership plays a key connecting role. I thank you!

In Christ Jesus,

Dan Fredericks, Executive Director
UIM International

Alpha and Omega Camp

Oaxaca, Mexico

Started in a backyard in 1989 Alpha and Omega camp in Oaxaca City was the brainchild of Oscar and Elena Leon. Working with Gerry Morales, a Zapotec Native from St. Peter's Boxes, Oaxaca, Mexico, Oscar and Elena ministered to four Zapotec villages. In 1990 Oscar brought the children from the four towns together during Christmas vacation. He and Elena housed them in their simple home in Oaxaca City. For most of the 20 children it was the first time away from their villages. This event was so popular that after the second Christmas the "camp" needed to be moved. The camp is now located about an hour north of Oaxaca City though this was the last year for it to be held in that location. Property has been purchased two and a half hours northeast of Oaxaca City.

The primary focus of Alpha and Omega Bible camp has been toward Native Mexican villages. The camp director, Oliver Gallardo a UIM missionary, communicates with all of the Native churches by a personal visit, letters, internet, phone calls letting the pastors know the dates of the camp. The children talk about camp all year. For many it is the only outing they have for the whole year. Their pastors have commented on how their youth have become much more serious about their faith and have shown significant steps of commitment and leadership in the local churches. This past summer there were two weeks of camp a record 120 village teens and 40 village children. These are all native kids who speak various languages. Some of the kids travel in the back of a pickup eight hours to come to camp!

So far there have been teen and children's camps twice a year. Once the new property is developed there are plans to have retreats, family camps, leadership camps and more.

Traveling to camp in the back of a pickup