Frank Dimmock - December 2017
Life Hurts, Love Heals
Dear friends,
2017 has been a year full of new experiences, blessings and lessons learned. I am thankful that during the challenging times, both personally and for those around me, God has been calling us to trust in him. I am reminded by Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
The newest country in the world, South Sudan, is at the top of the Most Fragile States list. More than two million South Sudanese are living as refugees. They are part of my concern and my ministry as Africa Mission Specialist with The Outreach Foundation.
During my visit with South Sudanese refugees in June, church leaders stated that healing trauma wounds and memories was a priority for all refugees, adults and children. We then began planning to conduct a training of local facilitators to work with children from each of the six camps for South Sudanese refugees in the Gambella region of Ethiopia.
During a ten-day period last month (November), we trained sixteen facilitators and worked with 34 children to address ‘heart wounds’ resulting from their exposure to traumatic experiences. It was a very helpful time for the children and the facilitators, and we have been encouraged to return and expand the training. We are now translating trauma healing lessons into the Nuer language and plan to record the lessons for broadcast and work with oral-based groups.
My November trip coincided with the delivery of 7,500 Bibles in the Nuer language for South Sudanese refugees in the six camps. It was a privilege to share in reaching those vulnerable ones, through the scripture-based trauma healing for pastors and teachers and through providing Bibles in their language. The need for Bibles among refugees is great. (The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan has 30 parishes and more than 120 congregations among the 380,000 refugees.) A companion project, with the Bible distribution, has been adult literacy classes. The ones who received Bibles are SO grateful to those of you who contributed to this effort through your gifts to The Outreach Foundation.
The Outreach Foundation is helping our partners to rebuild hope in South Sudan and to prepare for the time when they will reconstruct their country.
We need your help. Our South Sudanese brothers and sisters pray that you will choose to give generously and be a part of what God is doing to bring healing, restore hope and share love in this part of the world he loves. One way to do that is to join a team of individuals and churches who are praying for the work in the camps, and for peace and rebuilding in South Sudan.
Another way to participate is to support our ministry with your financial gifts to The Outreach Foundation. The annual goal for my support and program funds is $120,000, and we are short of that goal.
Thank you for considering this need and opportunity. Let’s be in mission together.
May God bless you,
Frank Dimmock
How to give in support of Frank’s ministry:
1) Mail your gift designated “Dimmock support” to the Outreach office at the address below.
2) Give by credit card by calling the office at 615-778-8881 or online HERE.
3) Use the website above to set up automatic recurring deductions from your checking/savings account through a process called Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Read more about Frank Dimmock's ministry HERE.
