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The Women of UIM
Since the time of our Lord, and before, women have had an essential role in the work of the ministry. That historical and biblical fact is true for UIM International as well. Men are charged with the greater responsibility and accountability for leadership, but without the involvement of godly women, less effective work would be accomplished. As illustrated in Luke 7:36-8:3, the Lord had a special place in his heart for the service of women on His behalf, and many women demonstrated special acts of service unto the Lord out of grateful and devoted hearts of sincere love for the Savior. Culture and controlling authorities seemed to under-esteem, degrade, and subjugate women, while the Lord praised and honored their special service. Many are the examples of the special role women have had in the ministry of UIM over the years. This connection will serve to highlight just a few. We are grateful for God's unique design and place of the special women of God who serve so faithfully in UIM. I invite you to connect with this UIM Connection! Get acquainted with more of the special servants we have and give God thanks for in UIM!
Sincerely,
 Dan Fredericks, Executive Director
UIM International 
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Behind the Scenes
Behind every good organization, there are people that do a lot of the groundwork to keep the organization running smoothly. It doesn't have to be women, but at UIM there are five women who have different abilities and complement each other to work for the betterment of UIM. Each had previous backgrounds that prepared them for the ministry they are doing for the Lord and UIM International in particular.
 | | Juanita Fike with young Native girls |
Earlier in her life, Juanita Fike taught English here in the States and then in Nigeria, West Africa. At the Lord's urging, she studied nursing and obtained a nurse-midwifery certificate. She served on the Navajo Reservation as a nurse-midwife for 10 years and then as a patient educator at a Navajo hospital. During her time on the reservation, she became acquainted with Don and Donna Fredericks. Don was the General Director of UIM at the time and asked Juanita if she would become the Executive Director's secretary. A whiz at writing and grammar rules, she now focuses on writing, editing, and proofreading. She is also involved with Native girls' clubs, assisting elderly missionary ladies, and providing hospitality to individuals and groups in Flagstaff. Even though she questioned the experiences God led her through, He knew what she would need for each position she held!
Lynn David was the accountant for AIM (Africa Inland Mission) in Nairobi, Kenya, when the Lord impressed on her the need to care for her aging parents in Arizona. She needed a job once she arrived, and retired UIM missionary Paul Beverly, with whom she had worked with in Africa, recommended her for the position of accountant.
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Lynn David
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She came with UIM in 2005 and takes care of all the daily accounting. Her job includes automatic electronic giving, handling credit cards, overseeing receipting and payroll, paying bills, and answering the many questions from missionaries and donors.
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Laura Smedley
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Laura Smedley is the daughter of Alfie and Karen Pfeifer, who at one time were UIM missionaries in the printing department. Needing a flexible part-time job so she could still spend time with her family, she applied for the position of part-time account. She opens all the mail and diligently enters the donations that come in for the missionaries. She verifies the credit card receipts and kindly reminds people of those missing. She also helps with payroll and anything else Lynn might need her to do.
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Renae Hodgin
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Communications Manager, Renae Hodgin, is affectionately called "UIM's Mom" by her husband, Mike. After being a homemaker and pastor's wife for thirty-five years, she is keenly aware when something needs to be completed or someone reminded. She informs the mission of prayer requests and items of importance. Some of her tasks are short-term, career, and volunteer applications; updating the directory; overseeing the email newsletter, the UIM Connection!; working with the boards; looking for and writing grant applications, and helping with overall organization.
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Cecelia Light
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Cecelia Light joined the team last December. She also was a homemaker when her husband forwarded her an email about a job that UIM's CFO, Jim Pieters, posted for an administrative assistant for the Glendale office. She cheerfully answers each over-the-phone inquiry and provides support to our accounting, mailing and printing departments. Most recently, she has become involved in the creative-design aspect of our new monthly and quarterly publications, the faithnews and the UIM Family Focus. The question she gets asked most is, "Your last name is really 'Light'?" Yes!
Each woman has individual talents and gifts that the Lord has given her and she works with the others to provide a smooth-running "behind-the-scenes" team. Because of their faithfulness to God and to their position, Executive Director, Dan Fredericks, and the administrative team can rest assured that what they set out to accomplish will be completed.
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Donation Room
Since the 1970's the Native American tribes of the Southwest have experienced God's love through simple gifts provided by ministry partners. Jeanette Heinicke has set up a room at the Glendale office and is inviting churches or individuals to donate new items to fill it. She is looking for Bibles (NIV or NKJV), blankets, quilts, stuffed animals, scarves, hats, gloves, school supplies, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bars of soap, wash cloths, brushes and combs.
Do you have something in mind you would like to donate? Email Jeanette at pjheinicke@hotmail.com or phone her at 623-934-9184. Jeanette has been encouraged with the response she has already gotten and plans to continue to receive donations year around.  | |
Heinicke family
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