Slowly by Slowly

by Patrick S. Beard

"Slowly by slowly an egg will walk." - Ethiopian Proverb Growing up in a small Mississippi town Patrick dreamed of being a missionary to some exotic far away place. Through a series of disappointments, illness and heartbreak he was compelled to follow a narrow path. This would-be adventurer was being called to die to himself and live in Christ. This book is the story of the death of a dream and the birth of a vision that would become a new ministry born in suffering, carried out in simplicity and grounded in ancient roots. In a day of innovation and strategy this missionary implores us to rethink what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and calls to those who will join in a journey that takes place one step at the time. "Conformity to the image of Christ is not a prayer for a moment; rather it is a lifetime of faith and obedience that happens slowly by slowly." - Patrick S. Beard "Patrick Beard is an emissary for the missionary heart of the Gospel. He combines a passion for discipleship with great creativity and vision to impact the unreached of this world. I am happy to endorse his endeavors with Indigenous Outreach." - Robin Mark, Worship Leader and recording artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Born and raised in Mississippi, Patrick S. Beard is the founder and director of Indigenous Outreach International. He and his wife Lana have served as missionaries in New York and Ethiopia. They currently live in Jackson, Tennessee with their five daughters, Anna-Margaret, Joy, Lauren, Kristin and Emma.

108 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2009

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Beard went to Ethiopia as a missionary with the IMB around age 30. The IMB kept him in a fenced-in wealthy American community. Thankfully, at night, real Ethiopian pastors would come get him and bring him with them to minister to the poor.

When his wife had a dangerous pregnancy, he moved back to the USA. His child had special needs that required him to stay in the US. He decided to start a missions organization called IOI to obey I John 3:17, "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

IOI financially supports local pastors in Ethiopia who would otherwise go without the basic essentials of life: food and clothing.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I attended Patrick's church for a few years, I know people involved in his organization, and I've heard part of his testimony before. But reading his book made a big impact on me. It's a short read, but there's a lot to learn from his honest, open account of his journey. I liked the point he made about not distinguishing the "American church" from the "Ethiopian church" or any other church. We are all one body and we must love and serve each other.

[Mona Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read; shared with my husband.