Africa Inland Mission - USA

AIM U.S. was contacted recently about a Craigslist housing rental scam in which individuals claiming to be serving with Africa Inland Mission have a home for rent, and request that potential renters wire them a down payment. Craigslist has been notified of the fraudulent listings, and offers the following guidelines to avoid such scams:

• DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
• NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
• NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
• AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
• DO NOT RENT HOUSING WITHOUT SEEING THE INTERIOR, OR PURCHASE EXPENSIVE ITEMS SIGHT-UNSEEN - in all likelihood that housing unit is not actually for rent and that cheap item does not exist.
• DO NOT SUBMIT TO CREDIT CHECKS OR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR HOUSING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET THE LANDLORD/AGENT IN PERSON.

AIM U.S. has relocated its Headquarters from Pearl River, NY, to Peachtree City, GA. The new facility, pictured above, was selected after a year-long search in multiple U.S. cities. It was chosen both for its proximity to Atlanta’s international airport and its ideal office accommodations that are well suited to AIM’s ministry needs. The move will enable funds previously tied up in high-cost office and housing facilities to be used more directly for ministry and the area provides staff with affordable housing options. Praise God with us for His guidance in this process and His provision of this new headquarters.

The new mailing address for the AIM U.S. office is:

Africa Inland Mission
P.O. Box 3611
Peachtree City, GA 30269-7611

AIM missionary Richard Bransford, M.D., of Kijabe, Kenya, is the recipient of the 2010 Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine.  Presented by the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation, in association with Pfizer Inc, the award is part of the Excellence in Medicine Awards program and is presented to a physician who has dramatically improved health care for an international patient population. 

Dr. Bransford will be recognized on Monday, March 1, 2010 at the Excellence in Medicine Awards Ceremony in conjunction with the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C.  The award recipients are honored for their altruism, compassion, leadership and integrity. 

Bethany Kids, a ministry established by Bransford in 2001, annually performs over 1,000 operations on children suffering with hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and other debilitating conditions.

“Dr. Bransford is the definition of true selflessness,” said AMA Foundation President Richard Hovland.  “His lifetime devotion to caring for children in places such as Kenya, Sudan and Somalia has transformed the lives of so many.  By establishing Bethany Kids at Kijabe, his efforts will leave a permanent mark on Kenya.” 

The AMA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation, is the philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association and is committed to improving the health of Americans through support of quality programs in public health and medical education.  Some of the AMA Foundation’s current programs include grant programs for free clinics and healthy lifestyles projects, medical student scholarships and health literacy initiatives. Visit www.amafoundation.org to learn more.

Pearl River, NY - Africa Inland Mission and Columbia International University (CIU) have entered into a partnership program providing a specialized financial aid offering for AIM missionaries, employees, and all dependent children of AIM employees and missionaries.

The partnership provides a 35% discount for tuition at CIU. Generally students who receive the 35% discount are not eligible for additional CIU scholaships and grants, however State and Federal aid may be used to reduce the remaining student portion of tuition, room and board.

To learn more, contact Andy Hornberger at AIM: 845-735-4014 or CIU's Office of Student Financial Services at: 803-807-5036.