Pharaoh was the most powerful man on earth.  At his word, individuals were honored or crushed.  With his whims, fortunes could be bestowed or removed.  Yet, this king’s dreams were troubling his spirit.  He needed an answer. Now!

Enter a young man named Joseph.

Current residence: the main jail in the capital city.

Current occupation: prisoner-in-chief.

He was trusted by the jailer explicitly to run the inside operations. You know the rest of the story (or can read it in Genesis 40-41). Joseph was called to stand before Pharaoh.  God gave Joseph the interpretation of the king’s dreams, including guidance for surviving the coming natural disaster.  Impressed by the young man, Pharaoh commuted his jail sentence and put him in charge of the national famine survival plan. In minutes Joseph transitioned from prison garb to the finest garments of the era including gold jewelry and the king’s own signet ring –a symbol of the power of his office. Following the plan God revealed to him, Joseph instituted the ancient Egyptian version of the flat tax.  20% of all the produce of the land was stored safely in the king’s grain bins to meet the needs of the coming famine. I wonder what Egyptian farmers thought of this tax.  Was it fair? Too high?  Too low?  Just right? Taxes seem always to be a topic of discussion, debate, and even dissension.  What should be a Christian’s viewpoint toward paying taxes? As stewards seeking to live the giving life, we are obligated by conscience and Scripture to obey the tax laws of our land, as long as they do not cause us to disobey God.

In 2021 you can lawfully, and in good conscience, reduce your taxable income to zero by giving to charity.  If you are interested in avoiding federal income tax through charitable giving this year, we would welcome a conversation about how this limited tax opportunity might work for you.

Download our Guide to 2021 Short-Term Giving Opportunities!

Or Contact Jeff Coon today- he’s giving you his cell phone # 317-675-7373 so you can speak to him or he will direct you to partnership experts at the CDF Foundation.

Meet Ivole, she has been using flip flop sandals to protect her hands as she travels her village for many years…  UNTIL you helped her!  Ivole lives in Kinkole, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has NEVER walked her whole life.

Sometimes help and hope are medical intervention and treatment – but sometimes mobility is the life-changing solution.  Last month a shipment of medical equipment and supplies arrived at a brand new clinic in the DRC and care for patients has already begun.  Some of the items shipped from FAME were the Personal Energy Transport (PET) Carts – and our FAME Partner, Dr. Jonas immediately had one assembled for Ivole.  Not only is she mobile for the first time in her life, but she is also able to do her job in a much better way!  How wonderful!  Here is what Dr. Jonas said when we spoke to him this week, “Her family was amazed to see their daughter empowered and transformed by the practical message of the love of God to their daughter and their whole family.” 

What an amazing message of Good News we are able to share with your partnership!   Thank you!

 

 “My wife Denise, and I were traveling North on a 5-lane ultra-busy highway here on Indy’s Southside- when all of a sudden a delivery van was coming directly toward us!  It kept coming and crossed another lane of traffic – I pulled over into a wide driveway as the van passed our car.  We saw the driver slumped over and I ran, opened the door; the driver came to enough to follow my instructions as I ran alongside, he put his foot on the brake and I was able to get his van into Park.  Meanwhile, my wife had called 911.  While I was still getting the van into Park and asking the driver the first couple of questions- I looked up and saw a First Responder vehicle approaching.” –Jeff Coon- FAME Director of Development

35 seconds after Denise placed the call, the First Responder Vehicle was exiting the Facility doors.  Granted, this event occurred only ¼ mile from the Fire Station – but it dramatically reminded me of the stark contrast between the Access to Healthcare here in America compared to the majority of the world’s most vulnerable.

In Kenya, FAME partner, Community Health Partners, has 9 clinics surrounding the famous Maasi Mara National Game Preserve.  The ambulance there drives on the worst roads I have ever traveled -and I’ve traveled some terrible roads around the world!

Not only has their ambulance faced terrible roads, been stuck time and time again- but recently the ambulance lost its front bumper and grill from a lion attack! It is time to help them replace this life-saving vehicle.  Even with this vehicle it often takes 2 hours to arrive – but without an ambulance, LIVES WOULD BE LOST.  And especially important, is that this partner shares the gospel with their patients – without the gospel SOULS WOULD BE LOST.

This is one of your 2021 Sustainable Projects in the Reeves Project Fund.  Gifts to this fund are touching thousands of lives!

One of our Reeves Project Fund projects in Ghana will be the focus of our Night of Hope Banquet which is on October 22nd – Please join us if you can, or support the event if you live too far away to join us!

Thank you for your partnership in bringing Access to healthcare to those who have such limited access around the world.

Bill Warren
FAME Executive Director

P.S.  Jeff reports that the delivery driver who blacked out was unhurt, treated, and released!  But what a great reminder of the global need for what we all take for granted!

You are invited to our

50th Anniversary Night of Hope Banquet! 

If you DON’T LIVE near Central Indiana – look below how you can participate! 

If you DO LIVE near Central Indiana please come join us

October 22nd!

Click Here to RSVP and to purchase Tickets

As we travel, we often have many of you say, “I wish we could come to the Night of Hope Banquet!” 

We wish you could also, and we wish we could have 100 events around the country so we could spend time with many of you; but of course, the Central Indiana event makes the most sense.  But here is what we would invite you to do.

1. Wouldn’t it be fun to have 250 “tickets” covered by people who love FAME but can’t join us at the event?  That would mean that 100% of the tickets acquired by those who DO attend would go toward the Ghana Clinic project!  If you’ve ever catered a meal for a large event, you’ll know that the $30 per person covers the meal with only a portion leftover.  You can go to the same RSVP Button above and choose “Sorry, I can’t attend, but I would like to show my support by making a donation”.  If you do so, just look at the ticket cost options, and type in a donation level to participate!
2. The program will be Live Streamed – information will be on our Facebook page of how to watch the program portion that evening! 

We are excited for our walk-through-History of 50 years of Impact with FAME!  We also are excited to have Enoch Nyador of Ghana Christian Mission join us – wait until you see the video of him from 1988 when Bob Reeves first visited him after Phase One of the Ghana Clinic at Makango was first constructed!  

Whether you come in person or sponsor those who do;
THANK YOU for your Partnership with FAME!

Dear Friends and Partners of FAME,

Thank you so much for your continued partnership in praying for the medical ministry of FAME. We find great encouragement in knowing that people all around the world are praying for the ministry and our mission partners.

This month we ask that you pray for our FAME Board of Directors, as well as the semi-annual board meeting that will take place on October 23. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as decisions are made regarding the ministry for the remainder of this fiscal year and beyond.

Please pray also for our Annual Night of Hope banquet taking place on Friday, October 22. This year’s event will be raising funds for the Reeves Project Fund, in honor of FAME’s first Executive Director, Bob Reeves and his wife Rosella. The first $40,000 raised will go toward a healthcare project for Ghana Christian Mission (GCM). Enoch Nyador of GCM will be the guest speaker for the event. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at www.fameworld.org/2021-night-of-hope.

Other items of prayer for the month include various volunteer groups, for whom we are so thankful; church and mission visits that Executive Director, Bill Warren will be making; Community Health Evangelism Training (CHE) here at FAME (for more information about the training visit www.fameworld.org/sustainable-projects/che); Mission Partners; and FAME Staff.

Thank you once again for your prayers and may our prayer for you be as Paul expressed in Ephesians 1:15-21 (NIV).

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

Blessings in the coming month

Click here for the October Prayer Calendar

One healthy, cared-for baby born in Haiti was born safely just after the August Earthquake.  Her name in Creole is “Dieufely” which means “God made her.” What a beautiful name and moment of hope for this family after such a trying time.  

Healthy, cared-for babies are born at one of your FAME partner hospitals nearly every day, and because of you, they have the equipment and supplies for first-class care.  As a matter of fact, 436 babies were born there in 2020 and because of you, the mothers are going to have even better care than ever before! 

 A hospital in Ohio was completing some upgrades to their nurseries. After receiving new bassinets, they donated their gently used ones.  These used bassinets are beautiful and arrived this past Monday at this hospital in Haiti!

FAME ships medical equipment and supplies every week. The needs are great, but the response from people like you has been even greater! 

 Barry Reed, FAME’s Director of Mission Resources 

Our Monthly Partners can be assured that their consistent partnership allows FAME to send help and hope to mothers who don’t know Jesus and those who do.  One of the most popular little girl names in Haiti is “Jesula” which in Creole means “Jesus is here.” 

Because of you, more and more of the world know that Jesus is here through your impact through Medical Evangelism! 

If you would like to join with others to be a FAME Monthly Impact partner Donate Now and choose “recurring donation.”

This Week: 

…Binita, who is now safe in an orphanage, needs medical care just like all the other girls in this  FAME partner orphanage.   Binita is being well cared for in this undisclosed Asia orphanage- but they need a real clinic.  FAME, on your behalf, has agreed to acquire 22 basic clinic items.  They need these ASAP and the cost is only $2,129.00. You can help!

This Week: 

…the scaffolding was removed from a new hospital on the Northern India coast, preparing it for the next stage of construction.  Because of your generosity linked with one generous FAME partner church- this project is fully funded and on schedule to open in 2022!

 

This Week: 

…the partitions are being installed in a beautiful clinic that just sent a request for me to come to a grand opening and dedication as soon as travel is possible!

This Week: 

…a FAME short-term medical team has been serving villages on the Amazon River in Brazil – treating families cautiously in remote villages.

 

 

This Week:

…you have made an impact on thousands of lives!

Unloading a shipping container of life-saving medical supplies for Charles Selby Memorial Hospital. Aparri, Philippines

 

You received a “Thank You note” from the Philippines because YOU are FAME!

We were overjoyed last month when we received the CONTAINER full of supplies and equipment. After all the struggles, sacrifices, and prayers, we are here giving thanks to our almighty God for using FAME to help the hospital most especially to all people who come to seek help. It’s a great help for the operation of the hospital most especially at this time of the pandemic.

Everyone felt ecstatic from your good works and unending love to Filipino people most especially to all of us here in Aparri.

Words will never be enough to quantify our gratitude because of your love and generosity in serving God’s ministry. You are the oil that keeps our engines running. We are able to help others because of your prayers, unending support, and kindness.

Every story has a story on each end!  This funny pink shipping container was loaded in Indianapolis in April with volunteers from central Indiana churches and our faithful volunteers.  The story here in Indianapolis is that we could not have shipped to 43 countries last year without the hard work of our volunteers (and staff Barry Reed and Tyler Lightholder).

In the Philippines, they serve the underserved in a region that is hours and hours from other healthcare options for thousands of people!

This Thank you note is to FAME -which really is YOU!

Partners from Fair Haven Christian Church and FAME Staff loading the container for the Philippines

Some wonderful Volunteers from Garrett Church of Christ!   Can I tell you about a couple of our partners?  First is Dorothy Bare. Jeff Coon met her just before the pandemic in Joplin, Missouri.  Dorothy and her husband, Dr. Garland Bare were Medical Missionaries to Thailand beginning in the 1950s before FAME was even a dream. When Jeff met her last year she said, “Garland and I said many times, ‘If only FAME had existed when we were just getting started in Thailand’. God provided the medical equipment and supplies we needed in miraculous ways – but he and I are so thankful FAME exists for medical evangelism now!” Garland passed away in April of 2017, and Dorothy has been a partner with FAME for many years; what a legacy they have in the world of Medical Evangelism.

One of those first men involved with FAME in 1970 was Dr. Richard Crabtree, who still attends  FAME Board meetings as an emeritus board member, Dr. Crabtree said this in March of 2021 about those early days. “Evangelism has been central every day for FAME. Bob and Rosella Reeves kept FAME focused on our purpose just as we are focused right now!  Medical Evangelism is the most powerful tool I’ve seen for a mission to open the door for the gospel and church planting.”

“I value our partnership with FAME because serving is an essential part of discipleship. FAME helps us make disciples through hosting service teams at their warehouse. Through partnership with FAME, we sponsor dynamic global healthcare projects and send teams to serve the least of these on short-term mission trips.“ Riley Weaver, Global and Local Impact Minister, Plainfield Christian Church, Plainfield, Indiana

Would you consider being a monthly or consistent partner with FAME?  Or if you are a MONTHLY or CONSISTENT partner, would you consider telling us why YOU partner with FAME?  Send your reply to jcoon@fameworld.org! Global Health is NOT Predictable – but our Monthly Impact Partners ARE! If you would consider being a Monthly Impact Partner, go to our Donate Page to make your donation and mark “recurring gift”! Thank you for your partnership!

Thank you so much for your continued partnership with FAME through prayer. Our mission partners, scholarship recipients, volunteers, board members and staff are blessed by your devotion to prayer for the ministry.

This month, we ask that you keep in mind those in other parts of the world that are experiencing extreme crises. Whether it be the recent earthquake in Haiti, the crisis in Afghanistan, the unrest in Myanmar, the continued Covid outbreaks worldwide, tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean and southern US, worldwide hunger, and the list goes on, prayer is most definitely needed now all around the world. Recently, I came across some encouraging scriptures when visiting the website for World Vision that speak to people in crises and how God is with us throughout these critical times.  Pray not only for the people affected but for the Christians that are working in those areas that the love of Jesus will be shown.

• “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” —Psalm 57:1 (NIV)
• “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
• The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
• “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” —Psalm 46:9 (NIV)
• “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” —Psalm 72:12-14 (NIV)
• “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Another item of prayer for this month is a short-term mission trip that will be taking place September 12-26. This team will be serving with Central Brazil Mission on a 1-week boat trip along the Amazon River. This team will be traveling on the “Frances Ann” and will be docking at multiple remote villages along the river to treat both the physical and spiritual needs of the patients they will be seeing. Please pray for the trip participants that are going on this trip and for the people they will be treating.

Also, this month, please join us in prayer for five new FAME Scholarship recipients that are all studying to become medical professionals in their home countries. These scholarship recipients are sponsored by a FAME mission partner, are enrolled in a medical study program where they are studying to become a doctor, nurse, or midwife and will then serve with that mission partner after graduation for 1-2 years. We are thankful for our wonderful donors who give to the scholarship program and who helped to make these new scholarship grants available.

Other items of prayer include some returning volunteer groups for whom we are so thankful, various conferences that FAME staff will be attending, and visits to some FAME partner churches. Thank you once again for being a Prayer Partner!

Click here for the September Prayer Calendar