Serving the "Hidden" Church

I-TEC supports the Great Commission by assisting the "hidden" church in its journey toward independence under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

One of the great barriers that has prevented indigenous churches from growing to maturity is their continuing dependence on the welfare of outsiders. A native church that relies on the leadership, technology, and financial support of foreign missionaries rarely can stand on its own when that support is withdrawn.

We are convinced from the Scriptures, however, that goal of the Great Commission is to establish churches that are self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating.

A Focused Ministry

At I-TEC, our focus is on enabling indigenous churches to overcome the technological and educational hurdles that stand in the way of their independence.

Missionaries have long understood the value of technology, and they have employed every available tool to preach the gospel -- from the machete to dental equipment to airplanes. But advanced technology is often impractical for use by a native church, where even the lack of electricity may be a concern. We aim to bridge that technology gap by equipping the indigenous church with technology suitable to their needs -- technology that they can use and maintain with minimal outside support.

Projects Past and "In Process"

Our projects have included a portable dental lab, which is now used by a "stone age" tribe in the Amazon jungle to fill teeth. Another is one its way to Timbuktu We have acquired portable, solar-powered radio transmitters for the Amazon jungle, so that believers can share the Good News with neighboring villages. We have trained indigenous church leaders to use a computer to draft their own governing documents for their church. Soon a group of people first reached by a missionary pilot forty years ago will support their own missionary pilot.

Working with Ecuador's Waodani Indians

Only a generation ago, the Waodani Indians of Ecuador's Amazon rainforest (formerly called "Aucas") used stone axes to cut down trees. Today, a small number of Waodani Christians are confronted with a complex political and technological environment that threates the very survival of their culture and church. More than 2,000 tribes around the world face a similar crisis.

I-TEC founder Stephen Saint grew up among the Waodani Indians , who were served by his aunt, Rachel Saint, until her death in 1994. A graduate of Wheaton College, Saint has launched several successful businesses and has worked as a missionary in West Africa, Central America and South America. At the request of the Waodani elders, he returned to the Amazon in 1995 along with his family. The vision for I-TEC grew out of his experience among the Waodani.

While the Waodani people were the initial concern of I-TEC, our mission includes the other hidden people groups around the world who will benefit from similar support.