All Nations International Helps

We have worked with our friends in All Nations/Sommer Haven Ranch for over 30 years. This Southern California-based ministry has worked with disadvantaged people since its inception. We had the privilege to watch this ministry develop into many areas. It is a hard-working group that does a good work but almost always could use extra help. We make it a practice to visit them regularly. Sometimes our visits last for a few days but several visits have lasted a few months. Part of the ministry is a large food distribution to the poor (Sommer Haven Ranch). All Nations International trains churches, ministries, and individuals to minister to others. This multi-faceted ministry encourages and assists many needy ministries, which include several ministries in impoverished areas overseas. On occasion they have made trips to help us when we were short of people to accomplish a given task. Part of our Katrina Project was with their team; they also visit the same area of Uganda to assist our Ugandan friends. This is the link to their site.

Astronomical Observing from a Biblical View (AOBV)

This is the one of the newest projects for CHRISTWORKS MINISTRIES and one that was a surprise. It has promise to be useful for many groups and is likely to grow over time. As founders, we (Roland and Linda Beard) have always enjoyed God's creation. We have hiked, biked, canoed, and walked many beautiful places over the years. About 10 years ago we began observing the heavens as a hobby. Having observed many sky objects for a few years, we began sketching those objects and using both observing and sketching as an outreach tool. We naturally began teaching astronomical observing while showing how the heavens show God's glory and point to Jesus Christ.

We needed a curriculum that centered on practical observing from a Biblical view. While we found many courses on astronomy, very few were from a Biblical view: the premise that God created all things - including the heavens - from nothing and quickly, as Genesis indicates. We also could not find courses that were observation-oriented or practical. As a result, we began developing a practical observing-based course that incorporated sketching the observed objects and used the Bible as the premise to understand and appreciate observations. Development of the outline for the course began in 2007.

The curriculum is designed to use simple observing tools that do not require electrical power, computer-based skills, or expensive observing equipment. A chief aim was to ensure it would be fit for impoverished areas where children and schools have little equipment, no power, and few resources. As we took these steps, companies and some vendors gave us equipment and materials that would be suitable for our purposes. In late 2007 we introduced a summary of the draft curriculum to a multi-church seminar group in Haiti. In 2008 the draft curriculum was introduced to a Ugandan ministry for application in a village school. Both projects were successful; other ministries expressed interest in the project. As a result, parts of the web site are designed to support this project as some of our friends overseas and in the United States begin to use the curriculum. We are excited to see where the project will go, but we anticipate that it will go to many ministries in need. The information sheet on AOBV is here. An introduction to the curriculum (the first lesson) is here.

Like most of our projects, this AOBV is home-based. The 4^th Day Observing Site is the name of our personal observing site in our backyard. The ministry uses the facilities and equipment when we do outreach sessions at our home or when we teach others how to use the equipment or employ the curriculum. We have a mobile observatory so we are able to take the equipment and curriculum to train other Christian ministries that are interested.

Many of the inspirational stories and lessons on the home page are derived from our observing sessions. Two of the galleries are designed to have sketches of objects from students and teachers as they begin to observe. An observing contest has started in the Ugandan school we have assisted that is expected to show some of the results of the first application of the curriculum as children and teachers begin to learn to observe God's created heavens. Depending on the doors that open and the support for this project, we intend to take equipment kits and curriculum to ministry schools in other impoverished areas.

Pictures of activities at the 4^th Day Observing Site are in the Home Galleries and sketches that we produce to inspire and teach others are here.

Chinese Church

We assisted a Chinese-American parent with a child's education several years ago. Periodically we held meetings in the parent's home. A close friendship developed but we had no idea it would lead to a pastor visiting us one evening. His request was simple: please come help us teach English using the Bible and help us with children. This began our history with the Chinese Christian Church of Charlottesville. For several years we did children's programs and conducted Bible studies. In simple terms, the project encourages believers, introduces the gospel to unbelievers (typically Chinese scholars at the University of Virginia), and works with children. The press of other projects has limited the size of our effort, but studies and some preaching continue. As long as we are present in the Virginia area and are available, we continue this project. In short, we encourage our Chinese friends to have a reasonable expectation that as they walk as Christians they can expect to increasingly know their God, His word, and establish a pattern of good works that are motivated by faith. We teach the gospels and similar books to believers and unbelievers like a person would study and watch a scene of a play. The method is especially helpful when English is a second language and when unbelievers have had little exposure to Christianity.

Disaster Emergency Project

The devastation along the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Katrina led to the mobilization of thousands of churches and ministries to assist in the areas that were heavily damaged. Our experience in overseas regions and the trips to Katrina persuaded us that we should be prepared to address disaster emergencies on a small scale. We began receiving training and getting equipment that could be used in small local emergencies. Likewise, we could use the same kits to assist larger ministries or churches if the need arose. The same kits contain equipment that are useful in impoverished regions overseas, where living conditions are similar to disaster conditions in the United States. We maintain the equipment kits and use the kits when the need arises.

Food Distribution

One of our first emphases and functions was distributing food to the poor. We learned how to set up a food run and how to assist and minister to those that were hungry. At one time we regularly had local people who needed food come to our home, where we would share the gospel with them and give them food. Eventually we were receiving trucks of food and distributing to almost 30 churches or groups using temporary facilities at a school. As needs changed and our direction changed and the food distribution function decreased. We currently provide food on an emergency basis to families but the function in our area is being executed efficiently by larger ministries with facilities. It became more important to us to address the extreme conditions for education, encouragement, and growing food in overseas regions where some of our extended friends were living. We encourage people who have a desire to be involved in food distribution to the poor. It is a wonderful way to serve the needy in a practical way and demonstrate the love of God.

Haiti Project

In the midst of preparations to send a container to Uganda we became acquainted with the founder of Cry of Compassion, an Ohio-based ministry that primarily assists impoverished areas of Haiti with practical medical helps. The same person also conducts medical missions to Uganda. In 2007 we went with Cry of Compassion to Haiti to help with the medical work but also to hold a seminar on observing the heavens from a Biblical view. As a result, we are always looking for materials and resources that might help Cry of Compassion but we have also established a friendship with a Haitian church. This project is new but we believe we will be returning to conduct an additional seminar or assist our friends in Cry of Compassion, which currently is a home-based ministry like CHRISTWORKS and is spearheaded by a faithful lady. The link to their site is here.

Home School Support Group

Education assistance has been one of the CHRISTWORKS' primary functions. Early in our history we found that working with needy people invariably puts you in contact with needy children who need assistance with education issues. We have maintained a Home School Support Group because of continuous education-related needs by parents or children. While we no longer have regular students on a daily basis, we often must use diagnostic testing for children to find out where education gaps remain, help parents with child education issues, or provide some educational materials to address a particular problem. Many of the materials or practices we employed at home we now use in other countries. We are currently in the process of organizing many of the educational materials we used locally so they may be sent to other ministries who need them.

Katrina Assistance Project

Like many churches and ministries in the US, we found ways to assist people in the devastated region. There were two open doors for us to use: one opened to a church in SW Alabama and a second to a medical emergency team. We also partnered with Advancing Native Missions by taking contributions and medicines to both locations. While the project is completed, many ministries still visit and work in the hard hit areas because the rebuilding will take years. It was our privilege to participate in this effort.

Uganda Project with N.E.E.P.U.

N.E.E.P.U. is the acronym for National's Effort to Eradicate Poverty in Uganda, which was founded and remains directed by our friend, Gertrude Kabatalemwa. We have known her for about 20 years but did not begin helping this work until a few years ago. The ministry, which is located in a poor village area (Nyamabuga) in Western Uganda, consists of a school (about 500 students) and church. The work is multi-faceted as it seeks to provide education for children (about 20% are orphans), make disciples in the church by raising up young people, and present the gospel in various ways to the school children. Aids and malnourishment issues are significant in the region, so our helps have included assistance to help establish a farm, education materials for the school, teaching for the teachers and church leaders, and simple encouragement. Gertrude reaches to other villages and churches through local conferences and crusades. We have visited the ministry 3 times in the last two years. Further information is available in a presentation located here. In the future we expect to send more materials but also make periodic visits to encourage the brethren and conduct more training.

Pine Ridge

The project name is actually the intended recipient of the helps: the Lakota Sioux on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The 555 ministry in White Clay, directed by Bruce BonFleur, has a variety of projects (practical and spiritual) to assist those in need.They also have some interworking with another ministry called Helping Hands. There is plenty of work to do and the needs are extreme by US standards. Life expectancy on the reservation is in the high 40s; substance abuse is rampant; unemployment is high. Christ is the answer, of course, but must involve practical helps along with the love of God. We entered into their work in 2009 by providing some quilting machines for the Lakota women to use in a developing cooperative and are remaining in contact with ministry workers to monitor how the equipment begins to be used and people are trained.