Flowingbrook Ministries Inc.                 

 August 2 018 Ethiopia Mission's Team

FRIENDS OF THE HONEYCUTT HOUSE RENOVATION FUNDRAISER

Prince Albert Honeycutt was the first recorded African American to settle in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.  He came to Fergus Falls 1872 and became a minor celebrity. According to the historians in Otter Tail county he helped found the North Star baseball team, making him the first African American professional baseball player in Minnesota. His legacy and fame went far beyond Fergus Falls. Honeycutt worked a variety of odds jobs and opened his own barbershop on Lincoln Ave downtown. He was also a volunteer firefighter. Due to the river flooding during that time he used his horse and buggy to get people from one side of town to the other and started what might have been the very first taxi service. Being the first African American to run for Mayor of Fergus Falls, it amazed the community when he received 130 votes.  His original home in Fergus Falls is now in the process of being restored and registered as a national historic site. Upon completion the house will be a memorial and museum in his honor.  Please consider donating to this great project as we work together with our community to complete this endeavor. Flowingbrook Ministries is the proud owner of his house and looks forward to sharing his legacy with the public.  Please go to our website: www.flowingbrookministries.com to give or send to our winter location: Flowingbrook Ministries P.O. Box 7154 Sebring, Florida. 33872, you can also use Cash App $FBM612.  For more information call Lynette Higgins-Orr at 218-731-0298   Thank You

As the world is dealing with the crisis of the pandemic of the decade, In the small impoverished country of Ethiopia attempting to recover from years of civil unrest; the pandemic is simply one of many hardships to overcome.   In Jimma, Ethiopia; Pastor Sefu Ejigu, responsible for overseeing several Christian church plants in a southern village shared by predominately Muslim neighbors, has had his world turned upside down. He along with his wife Beletech, his and sons and daughters are being forced to dismantle their home.

  The Ethiopian government has exercised the right of imminent domain ( a process used by most governments to seize land and property in order to use the area for public use) giving this pastor,  seven days to tear down their home and thirty days to evacuate the land it stands on in the midst of monsoon season. They have no home, no toilet, no kitchen, no shelter.  The tin previously used for the roof and doors of their home now form a small partition raised for privacy in an open field.  Using a tarp stretched over tin and fabric stretched over tree limbs Pastor Ejigu and his family huddle together trying to determine their next steps. 

The nights are pitch black in Jimma; the wind is cold and the rain driving.  There are no streetlights and the live wires strung from a power source providing intermittent electricity to their home will come down with the mud and stick walls.  The streets of Jimma are made of red mud cleared of native bush; thanks to the rain they are now so many tiny streams running together to form larger pools of mud. Warmth obtained by constructing a fire in a pit is fleeting tonight.  Unlike other countries where the government may provide low market value for the home and land it seizes; there is nothing.

For the last two years Flowingbrook Ministries a local Christian organization and their team of supporters have partnered with Pastor Ejigu to share the tangible love of Jesus by bringing clothes, school supplies and other necessities to Jimma, Awassa and surrounding villages.  Last year members of Sebring YMCA helped the ministry meet their goal in preparation for their second journey to Ethiopia

Heartland Christian Academy and the children of Awassa and Jimma exchanged friendship banners which was a delight to both.   Now the one lending help and guidance to many in Ethiopia is in need himself.  This family must immediately find a home.  The need is urgent.    

Flowing Brook Ministries (FBM) a 501c3 tax exempt organization is launching a fund drive in the effort to assist Pastor Ejigu and we need your help.  Please consider joining our efforts.  You can donate by sending your monetary gifts to FBM at P.O. Box 7154 Sebring, Florida 33872 or go to our website at www.flowingbrookministries.com.   A gift of any size is deeply appreciated; thank so much for your generosity.