Dear Friends and Partners of FAME,

We continue to be humbled by your support of the ministry of FAME through prayer. It is such a blessing to have so many of you praying for our ministry partners, board of directors, volunteers, scholarship recipients, FAME staff, and other people and items. What a comfort to know that you are approaching God’s throne of grace on behalf of the ministry.

This month, please partner with us in praying for our partners in India as they are facing their hardest days yet with Covid-19. Some of the information we have received recently from our partners include:

• Currently, the reported amount of COVID cases is above 350,000 every day. And these are just the reported numbers.  We know that the real situation is much worse.  On top of this, there is a national shortage of medication, oxygen, medical equipment, and hospital beds. (CICM)
• …. our biggest concern is for oxygen supplies for patients in critical care units. Of the 200,000 deaths so far in India up till now, most people are simply unable to make it due to lack of proper care. Even more saddening is the fact the death count in India does not even include people dying in their huts, homes and villages who are unable to be admitted in hospitals. Hospitals are out of beds. We are out of Hospitals. Families desperately vie for oxygen supplies, as people attempt to care for their sick while Hospitals are unable to admit patients anymore. (NICM)

Please pray for the safety and strength of our partners and that they can be a light of hope in this dark time. Pray also that our partners will be able to receive the funding and supplies needed to be able to help those that are in such great need of medical care.

Other people to pray for this month include our FAME scholarship recipients who are studying to become medical professionals in their home countries. These bright Christian students hope to use their education so that in the future they can share the love of Jesus through the healthcare they will provide. Currently, FAME is providing scholarships to 7 international students.

Also, during the last week of May, continue to pray for some additional countries where we are not currently working, but where we pray opportunities may open for us to share the love of Jesus through medical evangelism. You can use the book or website, Operation World (www.operationworld.org) as a resource.

Blessings in the coming month.

Click here for the May Prayer Calendar

P.S. *If you would like to Give to help your FAME Partners in India, go to www.FAMEworld.org/give and choose “Emergency Relief” in the dropdown.

“For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (MEV)

Download Your An Estate Plan is More Than A Will below after this two minute read:

Wells Fargo knows money. Gallup knows research. In November of 2020, these two entities studied 1,709 Wells Fargo investors and learned:

•  Just 1-in-3 investors had a written will.
•  Only 4% of investors had complete estate plans.

Surprising? Perhaps — especially if we consider the universal truth in Hebrews 9:27, “It is destined for people to die once”. This 2020 research is just another study in a long line of studies that indicates many Americans do not have valid, up-to-date estate plans.

To be fair, most of us do not have the Hezekiah advantage either. Remember that good King of Judah? 2 Kings tell us that he did “what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

Hezekiah’s advantage was that during a bad illness, God sent Isaiah the prophet with an unmistakable message, “Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” (2 Kings 20:1 ESV) OK, at that point any of us would probably call for a lawyer and witnesses!

The November 2020 research went on to show that higher income did not necessarily mean increased estate planning, but older age did. Only 30% of investors under age 50 had wills but for those over age 65, more than 4 of 5 had wills.

While not covered by the Gallup study, what would be interesting to know is how many Christian stewards have up-to-date plans. My sense is that if you live the giving life you may see an estate plan as your final act of stewardship and generosity.

Where to Focus

People avoid estate planning for many reasons. Perhaps the most common is that they prefer to not think about what will happen when they die. Unfortunately, when an individual dies without planning, the family will pay a price. Government lacks no imagination when it comes to taxes, procedures, and fees. Simple transfers of ownership are often complicated and costly when they must be made without proper advance planning.

So rather than focusing on the negative, let me suggest that you think of estate planning in a new light — dare to dream. Creating an estate plan can be an exercise in fulfilling desires and impacting the world beyond our lifetimes.

For example, Marvel Comics editor, Mark Gruenwald, requested that his body be cremated, and his ashes mixed in the ink Marvel used to print their comics. If you have a Squadron Supreme paperback collection, there may be a bit of Gruenwald on each page.

Perhaps you wish to execute a more edifying plan. Because a Will is a permanently, recorded public document, through your Will you can inspire others with a statement of your faith, or share an important life lesson. In a world where people are fond of researching their ancestry, a Will can be a tidy way to leave a message for future generations.

While focusing on thorough, thoughtful planning, also consider creating Powers of Attorney to appoint someone to care for financial matters and healthcare decisions when you cannot personally make your wishes known.

Focus beyond the negative. Look at Estate Planning — whether a Will, Trust, Powers of Attorney, or other documents — as important tools to make your living desires known, and to leave the legacy you dream of.

May We Help?

If you would like more information about the documents that make up a complete estate plan, we have created an eBook which you may find helpful, An Estate Plan is More Than A Will. Download your free copy today and then contact Jeff Coon jcoon@fameworld.org or call him at 317-358-2480 if we can help.

©2021 CDF Capital Foundation

This year, with your help, we will be ready for her!  Who is she?  This 2-minute read will tell you…

Imagine being on a heart monitor and IV after surgery, finally resting, and learning you are going to be okay…. and then the steady beeping of the monitor stops!  You open your eyes and the lights on the medical equipment supporting you- go OUT!  As you feel your heart rate increase “Bang!” your door bursts open and a nurse begins to quickly wheel you out of your room and swiftly down the hall.  “Why are you moving me?” you ask.  The answer, “Auring!”  Who is “Auring?”

More Typhoons cross the Philippines than any other region in the Pacific.  Usually, 20 typhoons form and 8 or 9 hit land July through October.  Thirty-five Typhoon Names are ready for 2021, from “Auring” to “Zoraida.”  Auring is the Typhoon that could potentially hit a FAME partner Hospital on the North Coast of the Philippines.

Why were “you” being wheeled swiftly down the hospital hallway? Because many years ago, the Hospital acquired a small Generator just for Emergencies.  As the hospital expanded, and the Philippines National Energy Grid became outdated, only portions of the Hospital have Electricity when the power goes out!  They have to move patients from:

• Pediatric Respiratory
• Dialysis
• Heart Monitoring
• COPD and Asthma

All of these patients are at risk many times each typhoon season!

BUT this repetitive CRISIS COMES TO AN END THIS YEAR!

With your partnership, FAME has sent half of the funds for a New Generator which will adequately power the full hospital if needed!

The down payment has been made, the generator is ordered and should arrive BEFORE the height of the 2021 Typhoon Season when Auring, Bising, Crising, Dante begin to knock out power to this delicate Power Grid!

This FAME Partner Hospital is 100% Filipino-led and 99% self-funding for daily operations – an example of Sustainability!  Chaplains at this hospital boldly declare the gospel to EVERY patient who enters!

Can you partner with FAME with a gift to “Projects-Use as Needed” that will bring Power to the Philippines?  Power for Healthcare and Power for the Gospel?  The total balance remaining is $20,000- can you give a gift of 1%?  Or $200?

As you can imagine, children in the Pediatric Respiratory department and anyone who has to move during these power outages are very unsettled!  You can bring hope and healing to those who may have heard the gospel for the first time during their hospital stay – you are a life bringer!

Thank You!

Click here to make a difference in the Philippines!

Dear Friends and Partners of FAME,

It is such a blessing to know that each month, and each day, we have so many faithful partners who pray for the ministry of FAME. Whether it be the FAME staff, board members, volunteers, missionary partners, scholarship recipients, or ministry visits for which you are praying, please know that we are grateful to you for coming alongside us in prayer.

This month, the FAME Board of Directors will be meeting to discuss the upcoming fiscal year and plans for the ministry. Please pray not only for God’s direction during the board meeting on the 17^th, but for each of the individual board members in the weeks prior to the meeting.

Pray also for many of our FAME partners for whom we have provided grants for sustainable healthcare projects. As many of these clinics are now under construction or soon will be, please pray for the safety of the workers and that no obstacles come up that would delay the progress. Pray also for the hearts of the people who will be treated at these hospitals and clinics, that they will be open to the Good News of Jesus Christ and that they too will know the hope that we have in Him.

Lastly, please pray again this month for some countries (continuing this month in Asia) where FAME is not currently working, but where we pray doors may open and partnerships may take place so that the love of Christ can be shared through medical evangelism. You can use the resource Operation World (either the book or website www.operationworld.org/countries-alphabetically.) to learn more about these countries and how you can pray.

Here in Indiana, spring has definitely arrived as the flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and the grass has returned to a rich green. Recently, I read a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that helped me see the blooming of spring in a new light.  He said, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”– Martin Luther King Jr.

May you each be reminded of Christ’s love for you through the blooming of spring and may you have a blessed Easter, as we celebrate the risen Christ!

Blessings in the coming month.

Click here for the April Prayer Calendar