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Home Sweet Home and the Simplicity of the Ministry
"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:46-47).
Have you ever asked yourself, "How in the world did the Apostles have such an impactful ministry without the aid of all our modern technology?" Or, "How could it be that the Apostle Paul could have accomplished such a world-wide impact simply traveling on foot and by ship powered only by the wind?!" It seems today we are victimized by technology. Hardly a day, or hour, goes by without an activity dependent upon email, cell phone, websites, Facebook, Twitter or the like.
The apostle Paul traveled on foot and by sailing ship, proclaiming the Gospel on islands in the Mediterranean as well as in major cities of Asia Minor and Europe. The ministry for the apostles was not easy, but it was simple. Whether in Paul's day or ours, the ministry must remain simple. The Gospel must be proclaimed from person to person and from house to house as individuals, families, and entire cultures are transformed by its power.
UIM International is connecting people with the Gospel. The hearts and lives of little boys and girls, teen agers, and adults are being reached simply with the Gospel. Young and old alike, from person to person and house to house, are coming under the faithful teaching of God's Word.
This issue of the UIM Connection! features the power and simplicity of person-to-person and house-to-house connections-families connecting with families for the sake of the progress of the Gospel. From house to house, life touch life, the power of the Gospel is having its impact. It doesn't require a large cathedral packed with modern technology to make an impact with the Gospel. It can, and does, happen from house to house, one life at a time. It's simple. Not easy, but simple.
Thank you for your connection with UIM International. I encourage you to forward this UIM Connection! to others, who in turn can know of UIM's ongoing commitment to the simplicity of the Gospel!
In Christ . . . technologically challenged . . .
Dan Fredericks, Executive Director
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Solid Relationships Built
on the Word
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Focus group led by Joe Lin
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In 2005 UIM missionary Phil Maycumber was surprised to receive an e-mail from a young man named Hunter who had come to Flagstaff, Arizona, on a mission trip in 1999 with his church, the Evangelical Formosan Church, to help with a week-long children's ministry. Hunter asked Phil if there might be another ministry project with which his church could assist. Phil's wife, Janelle, had been working with UIM missionary Juanita Fike in a ministry to children in a nearby neighborhood. Hunter's request resulted in an annual summer Bible club and a Christmas Bible club at "Mr. Phil's House," a partnership in ministry to Native American children that has been ongoing for seven years.
This Bible club is unique in many ways. It takes place in a house and
teenagers attend! The ages of the young people range from 4-18. Large group games are planned by EFCEV to assist in learning each other's names and building a sense of "togetherness." ;Phil chooses a theme on which the lessons will be centered, and the EFCEV team works hard to prepare the Bible lessons for the teens and middles, while Janelle works with the EFCEV team to teach the little ones. The teen Bible lessons involve one leader paired with two or three teens for greater effectiveness in discussing the Bible passages. After the Bible lessons and crafts, there are times for "hanging out" and getting to know the children through free-time activities that include basketball, playing in the play house, jumping on the trampoline, or just sitting and chatting with team members. The entire ministry focuses on building a relationship with each one as an individual. Older children remember team members by name and often ask if a certain person is coming back for the next VBC.
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Activity time
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The children have definitely responded, several by believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Each has had his/her Bible knowledge expanded. They have experienced the love of God as the mission team members send letters or keep in touch via Facebook through the year. Janelle and Juanita continue the ministry to the children through a school-year girls' club and teen girl's Bible study. The Maycumber family has been enriched by the extended family of EFCEV, which has become family to them. The "family" circle gets larger each time a new EVCEV team member comes as part of the Bible club ministry. The Maycumbers have enjoyed seeing individuals on the EFCEV team come as students and return for other ministry trips as college graduates or professionals. They've also enjoyed seeing several come as single adults and later being led to marry another who has been a mission team member. As a group, the team members look forward with anticipation to what God will do in them and through them in the lives of the children they have come to know and love in Jesus' name.
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Back l to r : Linda Lee; Phil, Janelle, Wesley, William Maycumber; Daniel Su; Joe Lin; and Stephanie Wang
Front l to r:; Alex Chen; Morgan, Logan, Luke Maycumber; Brian Lee.
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Grace Church Blesses UIM Aviation
Grace Bible Church, Canal Winchester, Ohio, brought funds and manpower to add 3/4 inch tongue and groove plywood to the thin metal floor in aviation's upstairs meeting room and offices. They also installed new carpet and remodeled the bathroom. 
Thank you, Grace Bible Church!  | |
Grace workers along with some of the Tucson aviation families
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