MAY 2023

We are speaking up for those that cannot speak for themselves…

May 2023

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8,9. NIV

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27  

These scriptures are not new to you, I have used them many times in my writings and my preaching! They are very special to me and these three scriptures, two from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, are like fire in my bones, they are what gets me out of bed in the morning, they are the reason I have left my family for 55 years and why I eat bugs, worms, dog, cat, rat, snake, monkey liver, fish eyeballs and many more missionary delicacies and culinary delights. They are why I sleep where I do and go where I go, missing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, etc.

By now, I’m sure you have received our wonderful color brochure and report on JMICF Christmas Orphan Project. If not, you can pull it up online HERE. If you would like a hardcopy brochure, please contact our office to request it by US mail.

As you know, I have been dedicated to third world missionary evangelism for 55 years now, having gone to live in the jungles of Panama with an Indigenous tribe that didn’t wear clothes and we lived “wildcat style, no catch, no eat” at the age of 18. If I shot something, we ate, if not, we didn’t. One hungry day the hunting was so poor that after not finding any normal game, such as pigs, monkeys, parrots, or McCaw birds, I heard a woodpecker pecking repeatedly on a tree. I tracked the sound, found him, and shot him. In a few minutes his friend showed up and I shot him too. They were too small to eat meat from, but I put them in boiling water with some greens, roots etc. and made woodpecker soup and thanked God for the protein.

In all those years, ministering in nation after nation, it became common for pastors or missionaries to take me and show me their orphanages and the precious children that lived there. Each one touched my heart and I always tried to give them an offering to help, bless the kids, and the work of the Lord. Eventually we were given, or I should say we took, an orphanage in India where the ministry that operated it was not treating the kids right, but still raising money saying they were taking care of them.
 
Overtime as humanitarian crises happened around the world i.e., hurricanes, typhoons, floods, famine, earthquakes, disease and so on, we would also go in to help and send money to help.

But as the years passed, more and more governments of nations would not let us in to help as a ministry. I would respond to a desperate situation, but the government would say, “Who are you?” When I would respond that I’m a minister, a missionary, many would refuse me entry, saying they don’t need ministers, that they are still digging bodies out or searching for people.

I told them I came to help do that, but I was still refused at times. So about 18 years or so ago, Jackie and I were led of the Spirit to start a Humanitarian Organization. A legal 501(c)(3) CHARITABLE Organization. I printed cards saying that I am Terry L. Mize, the president, and CEO of an NGO (non-governmental organization) and I have come to help, and I have money! That has always worked. So JMICF (Jackie Mize International Children’s Foundation) was born. We began to be able to help more orphans and widows as the Old and New Testaments tell us and as Jesus Himself tells all Christians we must do.

About 12 years ago at Christmas I texted a handful of pastors who are my ministry partners and close personal friends. I asked them to help me provide Christmas for orphans as they get forgotten at Christmas. I was only thinking one orphanage in India, three in Romania, and two in Jamaica. Ones that I always help. Just ask your church congregation for $1.00, no pressure. If there is any money left over, I will send it to Haiti or Mexico I told them. Wow, it was an overwhelming success with abundant funds, so we included three orphanages in Haiti and two in Mexico, plus we helped several widows and some missionary kids. Each year this has grown and been greater in both money amounts and in scope than the year before. Thanks to our great partners and our great God! Also, Renee deserves a huge Thank You! Since Dean and Jackie left us for Heaven, and Renee and I married, she has really taken a major interest in JMICF and has helped to grow it tremendously.
 
Even in the last three Christmas seasons with the pandemic going on and shutting down our world, JMICF has increased each year. This last Christmas we gave to 40 orphanages in 29 countries (that is more than we reported on the brochure because the money kept coming in and we kept sending it out). We have helped many widows with such things as putting roofs on their homes and digging water wells in many countries. I love this because water is life! We have bought four vehicles, a tractor, and a plow for one orphanage in Africa, plus, plus, plus!!! Thank you all so much!

Even though our government allows charities to spend a large percentage on their organizational expenses, such as staff, offices, equipment, travel, fund raising etc., (and there are certainly expenses) we determined when we started years ago that as long as we could, we would pay all expenses of JMICF out of my ministry TMM (Terry Mize Ministries), and we have done exactly that. Every cent that is given to JMICF goes to where you send it, not a penny has been spent on expenses. To God be the Glory! I have so much more to say about this, but I have run out of space. We love you. Its an honor to represent you in both areas, Terry Mize Ministries; teaching, preaching, and healing around the globe and JMICF; giving children and others a future and a hope as God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 NIV.

We are speaking up for those that cannot speak for themselves…

Your Ambassador to a sin sick, troubled world,
Terry L. Mize