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About Us . . . Who We Are
Sequoia Ministries International is a Christian,
non-profit organization that exists to strengthen and equip individuals
to reach their God-given potential through such avenues as evangelism,
discipleship, education, community development, leadership development
and other benevolences that promote healthy growth and purposeful living
to the benefit of others and to the glory of God.
We do this primarily through partnerships.
SMI identifies and selects Christian ministries or service projects
to come alongside and to assist in a variety of ways on the grass roots
level. Our assistance begins by forming a partnership, which can be
either short term or long term. After the partnership is formed, particular
projects are selected and SMI then invites others, from anywhere in
the world to help. For example, this would mean that you can help an
African orphanage buy food this month, or help with an evangelism outreach
into an unreached people group, or assist a single mother in a slum
to get vocational training, or help drill a borehole for water in an
area where people are literally dying of thirst, or take part in supporting
an underground church somewhere in the world.
Why do we call ourselves “Sequoia Ministries International"
?
Giant Sequoia trees are the largest living things on earth. They are
also among the oldest living things on earth. The Giant Sequoia's enormous
size and endurance can be largely attributed to their intrinsic ability
to withstand hardship and disease. Their efficient stewardship of resources
and their incredible resistance to outside destructive forces enables
them to keep growing and producing for hundreds, even thousands of years.
The Giant Sequoia does not live alone, it is part of a complex association
of other living things, and its continued existence depends on interdependent
relationships. In short, the Giant Sequoia thrives and survives through
developed partnerships.
Sequoia Ministries International aspires to resemble its namesake, the
Giant Sequoia tree, in that we continually pursue healthy partnerships,
maintain efficient stewardship of our resources, develop strong resistance
to destructive forces and become a long lasting and reproducing ministry
whose legacy can be a model for generations to come.
What’s in a Name ?
“Sequoia” means “remnant” or those who remain long after their forefathers
and “keep the faith” so to speak. We at Sequoia Ministries International
believe the Christian community worldwide is the “remnant” of God’s
people on earth today, responsible to fulfill his purposes of sharing
God’s love with others. In this way, we hope to also reflect our namesake,
the “Sequoia” in that we will be found a faithful remnant, honoring
and upholding all that pleases God.
To discover more about the Giant Sequoias, see
"Learn
more about Giant Sequoias"
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About
Us . . . What We Do
In
a nutshell, Sequoia Ministries International networks and partners
with people all over the world. SMI has a growing list of projects
that everyone is invited to support and help in some way. These
carefully selected projects fall into the following three categories:
Strengthening the
Church, Children and Youth, Helping the Needy.
I.
Strengthening the Church
- Leadership Training
- Material Development
- Evangelism
- Underground Church Support
- National Worker Partnership Program
- Deaf Ministry
- Give-a-Bible and/or other Resource Materials
II. Children and
Youth
- Children’s Homes
- Primary & Secondary Student Helps
- School Development Projects
- Youth Ministry
- Children’s Ministry
III. Helping the Needy
- Water Development
- Medical and Dental Assistance
- HIV Awareness and Assistance
- Literacy Training
- Disabled Peoples Ministry
- Vocational Training Scholarships
- General Benevolence
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About Us . . . Who We Work With
Ministry
Supporters - SMI Supporters are individuals or groups
who would like to help support one or more of out projects. There
are four ways Sequoia continually needs help: through prayer support,
financial support, volunteer support, and/or networking support.
For more information about how you can help support the work of
Sequoia Ministries click here > “How
You Can Help”.
Ministry Partners
- SMI partners with Christian ministries and service projects
that God leads us to, who have an effective and established work
that is meeting a need, show evidence of high accountability and
good stewardship, are actively empowering others, who have indigenous
work (locally established with national workers), who have committed
and capable leadership, a growing expertise in their field, and
an obvious passion for what they do.
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About
Us . . . Unique Ministry Strategies
Carefully Selected Projects
- SMI carefully selects each of their projects using a screening
process incorporating high ethical and ministry standards. Our
criteria for selecting and adopting a project includes, but is
not limited to: need, project feasibility and effectiveness, measurable
and attainable goals, strategic objectives, realistic budgeting,
financial sustainability, strict reporting with regular receipting
and accounting, periodic assessments, history of good working
relations, evangelically compatible.
Partnering - The work of Sequoia Ministries is
dependent on the collaborative efforts of partners and supporters
worldwide. SMI works with literally thousands of people and each
person plays an important role in the growth and success of each
project.
Investment Opportunities - SMI provides a service
to each supporter (investor) allowing them to confidently invest
in excellent and cost effective international humanitarian projects
that are held to the highest ethical standards.
Designated Giving – Sequoia Ministries allows
for anyone to “earmark” their contribution(s). Donations can be
designated to the SMI General Ministry Fund, or to specific SMI
Projects. The General Ministry Fund allows SMI to allocate your
donation where it is most needed that month. SMI Project contributions
go directly to support the designated project. To learn more about
SMI Projects, see the pull down menus above.
No Administration Fees Taken Out of Project Contributions
- Each supporter should know that 100% of their project contribution(s)
will be used solely on the designated project(s) of their choice.
All administrative and operating costs of SMI are underwritten
at this time. Therefore, SMI does not retain any portion of a
project contribution for administrative or operating costs.
The Bottom Line is Growth - SMI has a serious
commitment to empowering others and promoting healthy growth throughout
our ministries. We are not in the business of simply maintaining
a work, rather we seek to grow a work and its workers.
Practical Teaching – SMI looks for a particular
teaching method when involved in any training or teaching ministry.
This method is not new, rather it is over 2000 years old and was
in fact the teaching method of Christ. Often Jesus taught his
disciples through personal small group teaching and spent large
amounts of time in “hands-on” ministry where they did not just
talk about God’s teachings, they used them in real life situations.
SMI is convinced that this method of teaching is the most effective
and life transforming teaching method. Therefore, we look for
training projects that not only have classroom teaching time,
but also incorporate hands-on learning outside of the classroom.
We call this “Practical Teaching”. This allows the learner to
gain exposure and confidence through experience increasing their
potential for life application, learned problem solving and long
term success.
Reproducing Teaching - SMI is actively involved
in developing Teachers and Trainers for local training projects.
SMI also supports projects that develop Trainers of Trainers (TOT’s),
that is teaching Trainers to teach others to be Trainers. In so
doing, the number of opportunities for trainings at the local
level grows dramatically, and the result is an exponential growth
of those receiving affordable training.
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About
Us . . . Core Beliefs (Statement of Faith)
Sequoia Ministries International
bases its work on the following core beliefs.
1. The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and only authoritative
Word of God.
2. There is one God who exists eternally in three Persons, the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was born of
a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and atoned
for sin through His shed blood and death. He was bodily resurrected
from the dead, He ascended to the right hand of God the Father,
He now acts as our mediator and advocate, and He will personally
return in power and glory.
4. Salvation of lost and sinful man comes through understanding,
repentance of sin and personally entrusting in Christ as Lord
and Savior. This results in regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
5. The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers and enables them
to live a godly life.
6. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected from the dead;
the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life and the lost unto
the resurrection of condemnation and eternal punishment.
7. There is spiritual unity of all true believers in our Lord
Jesus Christ and all are members of His body, the Church.
8. The ministry of evangelism is a responsibility of both the
church and each Christian.
9. Christians must dedicate themselves to holy Christian living,
service of the Lord and His daily authority over their lives.
10. In matters of daily living, we must have concern for the hurts
and needs of our fellowmen.
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