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Impact Media
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November 1999, No. 4
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Summer
News Bytes
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we always say that
summer can never be too long. That's because,
around here it never is. On the other hand,
autumn in Portland has broken forth with all of
the splendor and color that God designed it to
have. And there is much to report concerning IMM2.
Let's start with an update on older news, then
bring it up to the present with the more recent
and encouraging happenings. ---Jim Au
Board of Director Search
Over the past year, IMM2 has been in the process
of seeking out new members to fill the presently
inactive Board of Directors. As of this writing,
at least four additional members are needed to
meet the requirements of IMM2's bylaws. So far,
while several individuals have been invited to
join the board, the current director count still
remains at two, just four short of the required
six. Please pray that the Lord will provide the
right men and women. We especially need a capable
and enthusiastic chairman.
Raising Support for IMM2
IMM2's financial support tapered off slightly
over the summer. This is considered seasonally
normal for nonprofit organizations. Since our
support base is still fairly small, this has been
particularly hard on IMM2's staff of one. Several
things have kept me from completing this task
which I committed to one year ago: the loss of my
father, Dr. Kitman Au, last spring, update of the
Global Focus presentation, original work on the
Issachar presentation and the proposal for
Western Seminary. Nevertheless, I am again
turning my attention to support raising this Fall.
Please pray that I may find eager, new supporters.
A Partnership that Didn't Develop
Last March, Western Seminary officials approached
me regarding a potential working relationship
that they apparently desired to establish with
IMM2. Their ongoing needs included a video
instruction program which they pioneered in the
1980s, and an Internet- based seminary program
which they are presently developing. With
assistance from my wife Trudy and Richard Reves
of Servants, Inc., I penned a detailed proposal
in which I sought to form the basis for a truly
mutually beneficial relationship between our two
organizations. Late last August, I met with these
same officials and they announced that we would
discontinue any further development of this
strategic partnership. The
reasons stated were some likely changes in
Western's future direction. What we lost from
this pursuit was: office space for IMM2 on
Western's beautiful Portland campus, a brand new
media studio facility at Western, and lots of
time and energy that went into writing the
proposal.
Issachar and the Unreached Peoples
In 1997, I committed to Issachar of Seattle, WA
to create a visual presentation which would
accompany their seminar entitled "The
Issachar Effect". This effort has required
long telephone conversations with their president
Andrew Low, a personal friend of mine for over
thirty years, and trips to Seattle, working
interactively over long hours with Issachar's
staff and board of directors. Following a big
push in September, the presentation is now
complete and ready for the first seminar to be
held in early 2000. Issachar's mission is to
challenge and train church leaders to target and
evangelize the world's more than seventeen
hundred unreached people groups. One distinctive
that sets Issachar's efforts apart from those of
other church mobilizers is their focus on
empowering lay and business professionals to take
a lead in their church in reaching unreached
peoples. For more information, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX.
Advancing Our Youth Focus
Now here is something completely new. I have had
a desire and burden for many years to communicate
truth to young people in a way that integrates a
sound world missions emphasis. I am finally
getting my feet wet in this vital area which
could easily become a major focus later on.
Exactly what is happening?
Just as any well trained missionary new to his or
her field assignment would do, I am immersing
myself somewhat in the culture and interests of
young people. Previous years spent in youthwork
at various churches coupled with my present
efforts have given me many significant
experiences which are helping me to comprehend
their values and decision making patterns. My
recent wanderings include a four-day camp-out at
Tomfest, the nation's only alternative Christian
music festival, frequent attendance at a youth-led
church in Portland, and building one-on-one
relationships with several young people. My
purpose in these efforts is to both understand
the general worldview
that today's youth possess, and to assess how we
might build a trustworthy bridge between theirs
and a thoroughly Biblical worldview, centered on
relevant, personal involvement in world missions.
Late last summer, I was introduced by Richard
Reves to family therapist Lisa Collett, M.A., who
produces a cable television show called "24/Seven".
In talkshow format, Collett openly dialogues with
at-risk teens about their problems in the hopes
of raising community awareness of this situation.
Show topics have included substance abuse, gang
involvement and other destructive patterns. While
around ten shows were taped live in 1998, only
two were edited for broadcast on cable access
television. Collett was seeking for some way to
get the remainder of the shows edited for
broadcast. As her many attempts to obtain an
underwriting grant for this did not succeed, I
engaged IMM2 to assist her with the editing
process, also adding graphics and music to give
the show a higher profile and visual impact. In
the process, I have already learned much about
this devastated segment of youths in our society,
and realize the necessity for incorporating this
knowledge into IMM2's long-term youth and
missions strategy.
IMM2's First Media Intern
God has answered a request that was put forth one
year ago: for IMM2 to take on, train and
supervise a student intern from a local Bible
college in media ministry. Nathan Willard, a
senior Communications major at Multnomah Bible
College, contacted me several weeks after I had
manned a booth at the college's student
ministries fair. From my very first meeting with
him, I have been impressed with his eagerness to
learn, creativity, quiet devotion to the Lord,
and personal concern for missions. His initial
project is a short movie that will guide him
through the basics of digital video production.
Afterwards, he will be able to contribute more
directly to IMM2's work. Pray that his internship
will be productive, not only for IMM2 project
development, but also for his growth and
understanding of where God will have him to serve.
Dream to Reality: IMM2's Beginnings
(Snapshot 4) So how did Scott Powell, honorary
member of the IMM2 Board of Directors and pioneer
missionary to India serving United World Mission,
share his thoughts and encouragement with the
other seven board members at that first IMM2
Directors meeting in May 1996, when in fact he
was located in Madras, India? Two months prior,
Jim Au made a personal sidetrip to visit him and
his wife Brenda while on a volunteer mission to
consult with graduating Bible college students
near New Delhi. During the visit, Jim taped Scott's
address to the board and replayed it for them
during their meeting, along with slides of Scott
projected from a laptop onto a television screen. |
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