Stuart Burns - Imm General Secretary
Begun in 1992, International Miners Mission of the
USA celebrated their tenth year anniversary in October 2002.
IMM's theme for the four-day celebration was from Psalm 66:5, "Come
and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of
men."
As IMM looks back at the ten years of ministry, we are thankful for
the leading of God in ministry endeavors. Sixteen churches and around two
hundred individuals have come along side to help support in prayer and
finances. With that support IMM now given financial support the work in
prayer and finances. With that support IMM presently assists fifteen
indigenous missionaries in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
IMM's first project back in 1992 was to send funds for Bibles in
South Africa. In the following years it continued that project and
extended support to a Christian school in Big Laurel, Kentucky. IMM also
helped put roofs on several churches in Bolivia, the poorest country in
South America. In 1994 IMM made its first trip to Bolivia and soon started
supporting its first missionary, Nicolas Ajhuacho, who is still working
with IMM.
Since that time IMM has given scholarships for students at Clear
Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Kentucky. Ministry in Bolivia
has continued with the adding of seven more missionaries. In Peru, IMM now
has five missionaries and we wait for financial support to add three more.
In Ecuador we have one missionary who works in the Nambija region.
In the fifth year, a missionary was found to work in the mining
area of Mexico. That door has been shut, but we are hopeful that it will
open again.
One of the largest undertakings for 2002 was a video production,
entitled "Out of the Darkness," which focuses on the work in
South America.
IMM is also praying and seeking a means to start an IMM committee
in Australia to reach out to mining areas in the Asian areas as well as in
Australia.
Our celebration was aided by the UK IMM Committee sending five of
their Board members along with two members of the Swiss Committee of IMM.
Altogether nine people came from the U K, three from Switzerland and two
from South Africa.
IMM committee members and their spouses visited Old Salem, North
Carolina on Friday, October 24th for a day of fellowship and
sightseeing.
On Saturday, October 26th, all three boards (U.K. Swiss
and USA) held a joint board meeting.
In addition, a telephone conference call was held with four men in
Perth, Australia who are praying about starting a committee on that
continent.
A public meeting was held at Westwood Baptist Church in Roxboro,
North Carolina on Saturday afternoon. Rev. Gerald Hodges, pastor of
Westwood Baptist Church, gave introductions.
Other pastors participating were Mark Sterling, of North Roxboro
Baptist Church and retired pastor, Jean Herrgott of France. Stuart Burns,
General Secretary for IMM, USA gave a brief history of how the USA
committee came into being. David Shillitoe, General Secretary of the UK
Committee, gave a history for the 96 years of IMM, which began in the U. K
in 1906. Kurt Feurer, President of Swiss Committee, gave remarks from the
Swiss Committee. Pookkattu Paul (missionary in South Africa) and Alan
Turner (retired missionary to Peru) each gave missionary reports.
In closing the meeting Tom Gilliam gave a challenge to support and
to pray for missionaries and the work all over the world.
A barbecue was held at the Gilliam's home on Saturday night. It was
a time for all three IMM Committees and their spouses to fellowship
together and get to know each other.
On Sunday, IMM and their guests visited several churches in the
area. Jean Herrgott who lives in France and is on the Swiss Committee gave
a brief testimony in French at Somerset Baptist Church. Jean's wife,
Jocelyne, interpreted for him. Kurt Feurer spoke briefly and the IMM video
was shown.
Sunday afternoon was time to say good-byes to seven of the European visitors and then on Monday to the remaining UK/Swiss visitors.