RON & Linda Severns

Missionaries toEthiopia
P.O. Box 2187
Port Orchard, WA 98366
206-275-0108
' Ik
RON & UNDA SEVERNS
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter
October 1993
Dear Friends,
What a summer it has been for
Linda and me! We went to Africa
with three goals: to invest our
lives in the lives of seven young
people who thought the Lord
might be calling them to
missionary service and wanted to
see what that was like; to visit the
people we worked with in Kenya
from 1980 to 1988; and to get a
preview of what our work will be
like in Ethiopia. All of those goals
were accomplished. Let me fill you
in with stories.
Our seven interns and some of
their host families.
We worked with four young men
and three young women who spent
their summer learning the Maasai
language, teaching VBS and
Sunday School classes, sharing
their story of what Jesus means to
them, and helping the
missionaries in any way possible.
Some have decided that they will
probably be more effective
ministering in a local church at
home. Others believe that God is
specifically calling them to
cross-cultural ministry. Most of
them are still seeking the Lord's
specific guidance. Linda and I are
pleased with those results and
proud of our interns and their
work.
Brian is the one who most
definitely felt God calling him to
cross-cultural ministry. He said he
would be happy to stay in Kenya,
except that his mom probably
wouldn't be very happy with him if
he didn't return to the States.
When CMF missionary Tim Ross
took the interns to a village Bible
study, that desire was confirmed
by a traditional Maasai laibon or
prophet. The old man pointed to
Aaron, our only African-American
and said, 'You can tell that he is a
Maasai because he is black like us,
he shaves his head, and he has his
ear pierced like us."
Then he turned to R.C. and
said, "He comes from
Illinois and that sounds
like a Maasai word that
means a good place, so he
must be a good man."
"Nowthis one..." looking at
Brian,"... this one is
different. We can
understand his Maasai very
well. He will come back and
be a savior for the Maasai
people."
Jesus said, "The harvest is
plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into
his harvest field." ,
There's a long way and a
lot of work between a
summer internship and a
lifetime ministry in another
culture. Please pray with
us that Brian and others
will persevere to the
harvest.
"New friends are like
silver^ but old friends
are golden."
When Joshua Ngomea saw my
crutches he was unable to control
his emotions and began weeping, a
totally un-Maasai thing to do.
I attempted to comfort Mary, the
widow of David Lemeria who had
led in evangelism in our area.
Meshach asked me if we would be
returning to Kenya. I told him
that Linda had gotten her nursing
degree and of the need for nurses
in Ethiopia. He replied that they
had heard of the problems in
Ethiopia and added his blessing to
our decision to go there.
How do I describe Ethiopia?
It's beautiful. A two-hour
helicopter ride over majestic
mountains, deep valleys, and
tremendous waterfalls took us to
the area where we will minister.
During the rainy season it is
beautiful country, but we learned
a whole new meaning for the word
"remote."
It's a challenge. Linda's nursing
skills were stretched far beyond
what she learned in school or
experienced in a hospital here in
the States. Economically it will be
challenging: $100 bought only one
sackful of groceries, and
margarine sells for $8.00 a pound.
It's exciting. We met a man who
was imprisoned for his faith but
released when too many prisoners
accepted Christ. We worshiped
with a church that has had to
Communism has fallen in Ethiopia
as well as in the Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe. People are
looking for a new faith in a
changing world.
meet in secret for 15 years. They
really know how to praise God!
There is a new responsiveness to
the gospel as old restrictions are
Ron will work with church leaders
encouraging and equipping them
for outreach to unevangelized
areas, much as he did in Kenya,
As a nurse, Linda will work to
meet some of the physical needs of
the people.
raised. Our colleague Ray Giles
writes of preaching to a crowd of
2,000 people. God is at work in
Ethiopia, and it is exciting to be a
part of what He wants to
It's opportunity. From 1977 to
1992, the church grew from about
4,000 people to 20,000 to 40,000
people. Can you imagine your
church growing from 40 to 400
without a trained pastor, or
Sunday school curriculum, a
limited number of Bibles, and
many members unable to read
anyway?
Imagine the need for Bible
training and help for such a
church. Imagine also a situation in
which there are only 40,000
Christians at most in a population
of half a million. That is our
Christian Missionary Fellowship
P.O. BOX 501020
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46250-6020
Address Correction Requested
immediate target audience.
Beyond that, there are 15
to 20 million Oromo people
who are unreached.
Imagine the need for
evangelism and church
planting. This is the
opportunity that pulls us to
Ethiopia.
The number one
question we are asked
these days: "When will
you go back?'
ASAP. As soon as we are able to
I secure partners who will
help supply the
financial needs of
ministry in
Ethiopia. As soon as
we are able to
collect, pack, and ^
shipthe things we ^
will need to set up 11
house and two 11
clinics. As soon as ^
I we have the prayer H
partners needed to H
uphold us in this
venture.
But when will that be? We're
saying "early next year,"
recognizing that is vague but
acknowledging our dependence on
God and His people and His
timing. ASAP.
Ifyou are in a position where you
can help "as soon as possible" be a
little bit sooner, we would love to
have your partnership in prayers
and/or finances. Please fill out the
coupon below to let us know of
ways you can help.
Your partner in ministry,
Ron Severns
The house at Haro where we will
live looks nice on the outside, but
will need extensive repairs inside.
It has been used as a granary for
the past several years.
YES, Ron and Linda,
I want to bo a partnor-64n your ghaHenging-and-eyci^ng-mHHStry-in-
Ethiopia. With God's help, I
Commit $10; ^$20; ^$25; $50; other $ ea'
month, beginning (date).
Am enclosing $ for your one-time expenses.
Will send $ , by (date).
Will faithfully pray each week on (day).
Name
Address
City, State, ZIP
Make payable to Christian Missionary Fellowship,
P.O. Box 501020, Indianapolis, IN 46250.
mission services
eOITORiaL 0^^"^
p 0 BOX 2^27
kmoxville
TN 3790 1
NooproHiOrganiuiioD
U.S.
Permit No. 2975
Indianapolis,Indiana
Ron & Linda Severns
Missionaries toEthiopia
P.O. Box 2187
Port Orchard, WA98366
206-275-2975
PC
RON & LINDA SEVERNS
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter
December 1993
Dearest Familyand Friends,
At this busy Christmas season, I pray that you might be
able to take time topause and praise the Lord for His
rich blessings. The fact that we have sucha hectic
schedule of shopping, parties, and activities shows how
truly blessed we are.
And blessed we are. Ron and I have spent most of the
time since we came back this summer from Africa
speaking tochurches and sharing with them God's plan
for the Ethiopian people. We have met so many
wonderful peopleand are excited about howthe Lord is
working in their lives.
Areal highlight and blessing in October was how our
home church inPort Orchard, Washington, stepped
out in a mighty way and pledged togive over 40%of
our monthlysustaining support in a faith covenant
commitment! What a wonderful act oflove and faith in
the Lord! We are excited to see how the Lord honors
those commitments so that the Ethiopian people might
know ofGod's love and forgiveness. We love the people
at Port Orchard, and thank the Lord for giving us such
a super church to call "home."
God has given us otlier church and individual partners
who also see the vision and have undertaken the
challenge to spread the love of God. We love and
appreciate them all and their giving to us.
Wecurrendy have 85% ofour monthly sustaining
support pledged. Praise the Lord! We are confident that
God will raise up churches and individuals who will also
give to our work among the Oromo people of Ethiopia.
Weneed over $50,000 for our one-time outgoing
expenses, which include travel, furniture, vehicle,
outfitting, equipment for the clinics, solar equipment,
house improvements, and field preparation.
Our departure date depends on whenour monthly
support and one-time outgoing support comes in.
However, we have seta tentative departure goal of
March to May.
Besides our financial support, we need prayer partners
~ people who will feithfiilly uplift us and the Oromo
people in prayer.
At this Christmastime, would you pray about whether
the Lord is leading youto give finances or time in
prayer so that the Oromo people might beable to
celebrate Christmas: the birthday ofourKing.
Have a blessed Christmas, and maythe NewYear be
onefull of peace andwonder at God's great love.
Blessings,
Linda Severns