Dear Steward

2002 was that kind of year!

A couple years ago when we were planning for 2002 we had no idea that life would change so dramatically. Before the World Trade Tower attack, prolonged economic woes … and before plugged tubing to my heart and an ailing kidney, it seemed rather natural to plan for an aggressive 2002.

The old saying is that “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray”. At several points in 2002 it looked like that would be true for INTERNATIONAL STEWARD. The opportunities for ministry were plentiful, yet the circumstances seemed to war against us.

But, by the grace of God and through the dedication of a wonderful staff and many volunteers, 2002 turned out to be programmatically bountiful for I.S. In capsule form:

-We had hoped to do 12 Workshops—we did 15.
-We had hoped to begin the training of 400 leaders—we started work with 500+.
-The board approved a budget of $450,000—and a “fall back” budget or $375,000.
-Economic slowness hit and income only reached $340,000 … yet through
sacrifice and creativity the program goals were exceeded.

We now begin 2003, again with aggressive plans. In addition to workshops we are planning:

-The introduction of curriculum for seminaries in eastern Africa and India.
-Preparation of distance learning modules for ministry leaders in “closed” countries.
-Introductory and advanced workshop in 12 regions of the world.

We are grateful for your prayer and financial involvement which allows us to capitalize on these critical ministry needs. It is so encouraging to see ministries and leaders unleashed from the hopeless status quo of dependence and poverty affecting their world for Christ.

Asian Outreach
INTERNATIONAL STEWARD held it’s first workshop in Hong Kong this past October. The workshop, hosted by Youth for Christ, assembled 45 pastors and parachurch ministry leaders to learn a Biblical truth not often heard; that we are all called to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. This simple fact, once applied, begins to break the bonds of economic dependence and frees ministries for widespread evangelistic efforts. Board members, Larry Hoff and Dick Crawford, provided leadership to this training effort. Once independent, Hong Kong is now part of China and the gateway for evangelism and ministry efforts.

Opportunities opened during this workshop to take the teaching of INTERNATIONAL STEWARD to mainland China. We are excited about this “open door.” Local giving is essential for the spread of the gospel in this region so hostile to Christian influence. I.S. is now making plans for training Summer 2003. Please pray with us.

Introductory and Advanced Workshops were conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh in November by Chuck Roost, Neil McLellan and Larry Hoff. Bangladesh ministry leaders, despite the abject poverty, have demonstrated some of the most significant progress in funding ministry locally. We praise God for their obedience.

African Outreach
Western Africa was the focus of INTERNATIONAL STEWARD ’s efforts this past quarter for Dick Allen and Brett Elder. Initial workshops in Dakar, Senegal (western-most Africa) and Coutonou, Benin (adjacent to Nigeria) were well received by over 100 ministry and lay leaders. The Lord is moving in these regions where ministry leaders have now begun to challenge their local people in the grace of giving…and God’s people are responding graciously.

Due to escalating tensions in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this workshop was postponed indefinitely. Ivory Coast is an unfortunate example of missionaries leaving the region…and dependent ministries financially stifled at a time when ministry is most noticeably absent.

Demonstrating the Grace of Giving
At the end of one of the workshops in Benin, Pastor Agoss, a local pastor, handed us an envelope and thanked us profusely for the teaching that he had never heard. Inside the envelopes were 20,000cfa ($30 U.S. dollars) with instruction to use it to bless others with this message as he had been blessed. What a humbling experience to receive such a significant and sacrificial sum despite the poverty from which he came.

On the Horizon
The calendar is bursting with requests for workshops and formal course curriculum. As God graciously provides the funding necessary, following are the priorities and targeted months for ministry around the world

60 ministry leaders participated at the August 2002 workshop in Haiti.