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If you are in missions, you are on the move! It's a fact of life when it comes to ministry and the Christian life. Jesus said, "Go!"
A quick glance at the Apostle Paul's life and ministry. He was "on the move" when he was arrested by the risen Lord Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus, intending to drag Christians to their death. The risen Savior literally changed the direction of Saul's life, sent him to the Arabian desert, connected him with Barnabas, and launched the first missionary team from the church at Antioch (Acts 13). Missions has been "on the move" ever since!
Paul and Barnabas (along with Mark "as their helper," at least at the start) traveled some 1,450 miles on that first missionary journey. Then, Paul and Silas, along with Timothy (and, at times, Luke) traveled about 2,925 miles on the second journey. The third journey covered approximately 3,900 miles, and then Paul's infamous journey to Rome, another 2000 miles, whereupon he was beheaded in the cause of the Gospel and the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Missions continues to be "on the move" to this very day. In his day Paul traveled by land and sea, all without the modern convenience we enjoy today. Today we travel near and far, by land and sea and air. We travel by car, bus, train, ships, boats, canoes, on foot, horseback, in the mountains and deep valleys---proclaiming the risen Savior!
UIM's team of missionaries utilizes all means of transportation to remain "on the move," to connect with people of North America to bring them the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One key to UIM's reaching the First People groups of North America is the ministry of Rod Beem, a skilled auto mechanic and servant of our Lord Jesus. His ministry saves UIM missionaries, indigenous leaders, and many other servants of our Lord thousands of precious dollars in auto repairs and maintenance and hundreds of hours in "down time."
An auto mechanic and a missionary? You bet! What do you have to keep missions "on the move"? We need skilled servants in all fields. If the church is to be established, we need a force of skilled servants to join the support team of those "on the move" in reaching the nations for Christ.
As you remain connected with UIM International---and this UIM Connection!---you assure that many will hear the message of our Savior!
Be connected! This issue of UIM Connection! can help. Pass the word along! Forward this to others on your e-mail list. Thank you for staying connected!
In Christ Jesus,

Daniel P. Fredericks
UIM Executive Director

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Rod and Ann Beem
Part of the "Go" for UIM Missionaries
For a long time, Rod Beem had a desire toward car repair and auto mechanics. His dad told him once, "You can tear anything apart; you ought to go learn how to put it back together." So, that is what he did. God has gifted him in that area, and he is using that for His glory.
Rod and Ann Beem grew up together and became best friends, but Ann went to a church that preached the Gospel and Rod went to a liberal church that did not preach the Gospel. When Rod was 19 and interested in Ann, he attended church with her and heard the Gospel for the first time. He accepted Jesus as his Savior and, through the Holy Spirit working in his life, he was changed for the better. When Ann was 19 and Rod was 21, they married; this past December they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
 | Ann and Rod Beem |
After attending vocational school, doing a stint in the service, working at a dealership, and teaching vocational education, Rod and Ann met Don Fredericks, UIM's then General Director. Don had come to speak at a mission conference at Salina Bible Church in Salina, Kansas, and was staying with Rod and Ann. The first evening Don asked Rod what he did for a living. When Rod told him he was an auto mechanic, Don said, "Well, you're just what we need at United Indian Missions!" Rod said, "Yeah, right!" He had never heard of an auto mechanic in missions before. Every evening after the meetings at the church, that was the subject at their house. Don told them UIM had had a mechanic, but he was retired; they had a well-equipped shop and maybe that would be where the Lord would be leading Rod. After the mission conference, Don came by the shop where Rod was working and asked him to pray about the possibility.
Later Rod and Ann traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona, to see the shop. Rod was impressed that the shop was well-equipped and inside out of the weather! They were encouraged and thought it was something he could deal with.
They applied with the mission, were accepted as missionaries in April 1985, and moved to Flagstaff a year and a half later after deputation. In 2002, they moved to Glendale, Arizona, where UIM's office had been relocated. They have been there ever since.
In the auto shop Rod takes care of missionaries' vehicles so they don't have to be concerned about problems with their vehicle, finding someone reliable to work on it, and getting it done at a price that is envious because labor is free.

The Bible tells us that the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, and it is not just our missionary preachers that keep the mission going. Maybe the Lord would like to use you in your area of expertise! In Matthew the Lord said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel." He's allowed Rod and Ann to be a part of that "Go" for UIM's missionaries.

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