Oakdale Emory - United Methodist Church

We support our missionary, Blake Wood, and his ministry, Impact Middle East with outreach to Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt.  Blake conducts a variety of programs including: church planting, pastoral training, and interfaith relations.  Oakdale Emory plans to provide ministry teams tosupport the work of Impact Middle East on an annual basis.

Here is an update from Blake, as of April 15, 2008:

I want to briefly update you on a few things.  Please use these notes to guide your prayers for us.
 
1.  I am on my way to Egypt, Jordan and Iraq (April 13 - April 29). 
2.  Lori and I have a new addition:  Zayn Richard Wood (D.O.B. 2/28/08). 
3.  We, as a family, are now making plans to return to (and will reside in) the Middle East at the end of the summer.  There are two major needs associated with this return for which we are praying: (A.) a 'family assistant'  for September 2008 - May 2009; and (B) funding so that our children would be able to attend an English language school.
4.  Our IME DVD, which has four segments ranging from 3 minutes - 11 minutes each, will be ready to be shipped in early May.  There is no cost for the DVD.  It is a great tool to get the word out about what God is doing through IME.  If you would like a DVD to share with your church, small group or friends, please send me your mailing address.
5. IRAQ (Baghdad) -- Our pastor recently had the window in his car shot out and also had to close the church for a few days when things were particularly tense in Baghdad.  Our church continues to grow and minister despite the instability of Baghdad.
6. JORDAN -- The government has recently begun to crack down on Evangelical churches and missionaries.  Our pastors and people there are feeling the pressure.
7. EGYPT --  We are continuing to advance our strategy for planting House Churches in  many of the thousands of towns which are without a single church of any kind. 
8. N. IRAQ (Kurdistan) -- I will be meeting with the governor of Dohuk in about 10 days.  We have legal registration and land.  We are expecting to 'break ground' this Spring on our first Ministry Center in Iraq.
9.  We are grateful that the Lord has raised up a key new ministry partner, Fred Reikowsky, who will be coordinating short-term ministry teams coming to the Middle East.  Fred has recently left the pastorate to commit his full attention to the ministry of IME.  He has 'stepped out in faith' because he is convinced that this is the Lord's will for him and because he has seen first hand the impact IME is having in the region.  I am praying that the Lord will raise up financial partners who will come alongside Fred and will fund his ministry via IME. 
10.  Finances are in the black through the first quarter of 2008 but needs and opportunities are always present.  We are grateful for every gift.  Gifts can be sent to:  IME, PO Box 142, Sugarcreek, OH, 44681.  On-line giving will be available on the new website in a week or two.
 
** The new website (www.impactmiddleeast.org) is about a week away from being up and running.
 
*** My "updates" will have a new look and will be more regular starting in May.  Keep an eye out for these. 
 
Thanks for your prayers, gifts and interest in this ministry.