About
International Evangelism Center
The International Evangelism Centre (IEC) is primarily a Bible school founded in 1983 by Bishop Eliudi Issangya in the village of Sakila, Tanzania. The bishop started out as a farmer with a small piece of land, but he had a strong vision for spreading the gospel to his village, to his country, and to all of Africa. The school began on a one-acre site, where four small buildings were constructed and classes began with 20 students. Today, the campus has 14 acres and many buildings housing dormitories, classrooms, and a large seminar hall. Presently, there is a need to upgrade the school facilities and technology as well as improve the existing dormitories and add new ones. A Student Centre is also on the wish list, providing a library, computer lab, and multipurpose lounge.
At the Bible school, students are immersed in a rigorous schedule of prayer, classroom teaching, and evangelistic outreaches to communities in the area, as well as stewarding the needs of the physical campus. The training, meals, and lodging are free; the students are only required to get to the campus on their own to begin studying.
The graduates have taken their training and their faith to surrounding countries, creating a spiritual “ring of fire” in East Africa. The work has also spread to South Africa and the Congo, where schools of evangelism now train Christian workers in those nations. International Evangelism churches have been established to support the alumni who have begun new Christian works following their graduation.
Each year In the month of June, many of the graduates return to the original campus for a seminar, where the word is preached and encouragement is received to carry on the work that was begun at the Bible school.
Bishop Eliudi’s vision of a significant means of spreading the gospel through trained Christian workers has become a reality, impacting not only Tanzania but also Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, and Congo. This is the fruit of the original vision God gave him while he was still a poor farmer in the late 1970s.
IEO FOUNDER
Bishop Eliudi Issangya
founder and president of the International Evangelism Center (IEC). He is a highly respected citizen of Tanzania who has been honored with the title of “Bishop” by the Tanzanian government for his work to improve the lives of people, not just the people in the village of Sakila and country of Tanzania, but also in the surrounding countries.
When he was 22, Eliudi attended a six-month intensive Bible school and earned a pastoral degree from the San Diego School of Ministry in 1979. While he was there, the Lord gave him a vision to start a similar school in his own country.
He established the IEC Bible school in his home village of Sakila in 1983. When he was a young boy, elephants and snakes were still part of village life. Even now, Sakila is a lush area established in the crater of an extinct volcano where there are spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. The village has primarily been a farming area where families subsist with a cow or two, chickens, and by planting corn and beans, but with the establishment of the school of evangelism, medical clinic, and K-12 Christian school, the community has experienced growth and a larger number of jobs. Villagers are very friendly and welcome Westerners who come to minister and serve.
Eliudi and his late wife, Hellen, have six grown children and seven grandchildren. Hellen passed away in 2010, and Eliudi married his second wife, Lucy, who had also been widowed, in 2011.
A book with further details of Sakila village life, Eliudi’s family and childhood, and the establishment of his ministry is available for purchase.
U.S. Board Members/Staff
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Shirley Bedsole
PRESIDENT
Jim and Shirley Bedsole are native San Diegans. They have been pastors for 47 years in the San Diego area and have ministered extensively on the mission field in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Europe. They have three children and 11 grandchildren.
It was at the beginning of the Bible School ministry in 1983 that Pastors Jim and Shirleyfirst visited the International Evangelism Centre in Sakila. During that time, they taught in the Bible school and preached in the churches. Upon re-turning home, they continued their passion for the ministry in Tanzania.
After serving many years on the Advisory Board, they served on the IEO Board as President and Secretary. It was later in Sept. 2023, Jim passed away, leaving Shirley tocontinue in ministry and also now serving on the board as President.
Shirley is also a gifted musician/songwriter and in 2008 created a CD, “Njoo Yesu” (Come Jesus), with lyrics in Swahili. Every year, all Bible school graduates receive Shirley’s CD as a gift. They are so excited to have a beautiful collection of praise and worship songs in their native language.
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Kristi Savage
VICE PRESIDENT
Kristi Savage was first introduced to Eliudi Issangya as a 9-year-old girl when her parents had him over for dinner. Hosting him every Christmas at their home in Mariposa, CA became their beloved family tradition. Kristi’s first husband, Guy Spurlin, and their son, who they named after Eliudi, went to Tanzania to record music in the late 90’s. Young Eliudi traveled back at age 18 and lived with his namesake for about 6 months. Guy passed away in 2003, and 12 years later Kristi married Vaden Savage. He and Kristi, along with her son Eliudi, his wife DeeDee, and their daughter Adelae embarked on a wonderful trip to see the ministry firsthand and celebrate 40 years of ministry in Tanzania.Kristi says, “We are all looking forward to what God has in store for the future.” Kristi currently works as a certified health and wellness coach. She studied at Merced College and the University of Phoenix. She was on staff at New Life Christian Fellowship, where she received her ordination for ministry. She has also been a worship leader for more than 20 years. Prior to working at New Life, Kristi owned her own business in downtown Mariposa for 10 years. In her free time, she can be found hiking, swimming, reading, and spending time with her husband and their evergrowing family with eleven grandchildren so far.
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Vaden Savage
TREASURER
Vaden Savage, our newest board member, is now serving as treasurer alongside his wife, Kristi, who has stepped into the vice president position. Vaden is the son of an Assemblies of God pastor and was raised in Wyoming. Supporting missionaries and serving in ministry was a fundamental way of life for his family. He and Kristi have hosted Bishop Eliudi at their home on Christmas for many years and have joined in numerous events to raise funds for ongoing needs in Tanzania. Vaden has operated several businesses and runs a vacation resort as general manager.In 2023, the Savages and Spurlins were invited to be a part of IEO's 40th anniversary celebration in Sakila. At that time, the seed was planted to consider an increased role in the ministry. With the decision to move IEO’s U.S headquarters back to Mariposa, Vaden naturally joined his wife on the IEO board.
Vaden's prayer is that he and the other board members can effectively honor their labor, continue the legacy of this missionary partnership, and expand as the Lord guides this ministry.
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Crystal Garvin
SECRETARY
Crystal Garvin is originally from Montana and has lived in North Carolina with her husband, David, and their three sons since 2006. She and her parents first met Bishop Eliudi in 1990 and were the host family for Eliudi’s daughter, Rogathe, while she attended high school in Helena, MT. Crystal returned home with Rogathe and visited Tanzania for a month in 1994. David and Crystal later visited Sakila for 5 weeks in 2002. They began sponsoring one of the first orphans at ChristHope Orphanage when it opened and have taken on sponsorship of more orphans since CHO expanded. They and their three boys have been committed to supporting and praying for IEO and CHO for several years.Crystal joined the board in 2017. In July of 2018, she traveled to Tanzania with her family, and she returned in October with the rest of the IEO board members. She oversees the website and social media aspects of the ministry and has assisted with media management and fundraising.
Crystal also runs a home-based business with dōTERRA Essential Oils and enjoys teaching others how to take care of their health naturally. In 2018, she obtained a matching grant from the dōTERRA Healing Hands Foundation to add a cooking school and dining hall at Crower Trade School, and in 2019 Healing Hands approved another matching grant, this time to build a wall and playground at CHO.
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Jan George
ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER
Jan George became part of the ministry in Tanzania in 1987 when God sent Bishop Eliudi’s oldest son, Godwin, from Tanzania to Oregon where Jan and her husband, Roger, raised and helped educate him in the United States. In 1990, they made a trip to Tanzania with Godwin for two months. During that time, the Lord showed Jan many things, including the need for good medical help. As a nurse, she helped many precious people in the village of Sakila with their health needs. When Eliudi realized how badly the village people were hurting medically, he asked Jan to help him establish and register their first clinic with the government.
Since then, Jan has been privileged to be a part of the IEO ministry. She has worked in many different areas and worn many different hats. Today she is a member of both the IEO and NHIH (New Hope International Hospital) U.S. boards, by which many major decisions are made to aid in the work in Tanzania. She is now heading up ChristHope Orphanage on the U.S. side by finding and communicating with sponsors and taking care of CHO financials, correspondence, and newsletters. God gave Jan a vision many years ago for African missions, and she praises God that He continues to fulfill that vision!
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DeeDee Spurlin
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/BOARD ADVISOR
DeeDee Spurlin is nowserving as the board’s administrative assistant and advisor. She first met Bishop Eliudi when she was 12 years old at the home of Lloyd and Bonnie Hobby, one of the first families to support and host him. Her parents had a passion for missions and eventually moved to a small village in Mexico where they served as missionaries for several years.
DeeDee has served in ministry and missions in Australia and Thailand and on church staff on the California coast. After she moved back to Mariposa, she married Eliudi Spurlin (Kristi’s son and Bishop Eliudi’s namesake). They served as youth pastors for their first few years of marriage. Now Eliudi works full time, and DeeDee homeschools their 10-year- old daughter, Addie. She is also going to back to school to become a registered nurse and hopes to be able to go oversees and serve in healthcare.