Friday, October 31, 2008
Nairobi Reflections 2008
Keith Ham, leader of the Nairobi Urban Poor Outreach team (NUPO) in Kenya, recently took a break from his hectic schedule to look back over a year of unbelievable blessings and amazing growth for the team’s ministries. Here are a few of the highlights he shared with their supporters:
• At the end of 2007 four Hope Centers had been opened: Pangani, Kosovo, Bondeni, and the Academy (boarding school) in Joska. More than 1,200 families attended a huge Christmas celebration and took home food baskets. The HIV/AIDS outreach delivered Christmas hope and joy to many of those house-bound with AIDS, and the microenterprise department was in full swing, making regular loans to small businesses. “Everything about the faithfulness of God was all around us,” said Keith.
• However, 2008 began with a jolt of ethnic violence, the like of which had only been hinted at during all the Hams’ years in Kenya. They were “up country” at the time of the outbreaks, and returned to a Nairobi that was fraught with torment and pain.
• A supporting church had committed together to have a “Different Kind of Christmas” by encouraging its members to share some of their holiday funds with the Bondeni Hope Center. The church more than doubled its goal of $60,000. When it became apparent that the NUPO team would need to offer emergency food to the internally displaced people in Mathare due to the ethnic violence, the church sent the money immediately so the team could begin offering help. Another church raised $50,000 for food and shelter on one Sunday. With the help of these churches and others, the team never ran out of money to feed people and help many families move out of the refugee camps into ‘safe” dwellings. The team was even able to pay a few months rent for these families and help them furnish their homes.
• During this difficult time period the team was amazed at the people’s incredible openness to the Gospel. Every single day people were turning to Christ. Two more churches were planted, and ‘seed’ Bible studies established for the next churches to be planted.
• Two more new Hope Centers opened in 2008: Madoya and Mathare North. Plans are underway to open two more in early 2009. At last count, there are more than 2,3000 children attending school, receiving spiritual nurturing, food and clothing and giving the team access to their families through the Hope Centers.
• God continues to bring short-term teams of people who want to be involved on all levels of the work here: evangelism, leadership training, construction, working with children, medical clinics, etc. Two families have affiliated with CMF as permanent members of the team and another family is on the way.
• The HIV/AIDS program has also grown tremendously in 2008. The ministry is focusing on post-test clubs, where the members provide spiritual support and physical encouragement to one another. Hospice care is also available for those who are close to death.
• The micro-enterprise loan ministry now has more than 500 clients who have taken out small business loans. All the new business owners belong to accountability groups where members help one another with their challenges, both physical and spiritual.
• At the end of 2007 four Hope Centers had been opened: Pangani, Kosovo, Bondeni, and the Academy (boarding school) in Joska. More than 1,200 families attended a huge Christmas celebration and took home food baskets. The HIV/AIDS outreach delivered Christmas hope and joy to many of those house-bound with AIDS, and the microenterprise department was in full swing, making regular loans to small businesses. “Everything about the faithfulness of God was all around us,” said Keith.
• However, 2008 began with a jolt of ethnic violence, the like of which had only been hinted at during all the Hams’ years in Kenya. They were “up country” at the time of the outbreaks, and returned to a Nairobi that was fraught with torment and pain.
• A supporting church had committed together to have a “Different Kind of Christmas” by encouraging its members to share some of their holiday funds with the Bondeni Hope Center. The church more than doubled its goal of $60,000. When it became apparent that the NUPO team would need to offer emergency food to the internally displaced people in Mathare due to the ethnic violence, the church sent the money immediately so the team could begin offering help. Another church raised $50,000 for food and shelter on one Sunday. With the help of these churches and others, the team never ran out of money to feed people and help many families move out of the refugee camps into ‘safe” dwellings. The team was even able to pay a few months rent for these families and help them furnish their homes.
• During this difficult time period the team was amazed at the people’s incredible openness to the Gospel. Every single day people were turning to Christ. Two more churches were planted, and ‘seed’ Bible studies established for the next churches to be planted.
• Two more new Hope Centers opened in 2008: Madoya and Mathare North. Plans are underway to open two more in early 2009. At last count, there are more than 2,3000 children attending school, receiving spiritual nurturing, food and clothing and giving the team access to their families through the Hope Centers.
• God continues to bring short-term teams of people who want to be involved on all levels of the work here: evangelism, leadership training, construction, working with children, medical clinics, etc. Two families have affiliated with CMF as permanent members of the team and another family is on the way.
• The HIV/AIDS program has also grown tremendously in 2008. The ministry is focusing on post-test clubs, where the members provide spiritual support and physical encouragement to one another. Hospice care is also available for those who are close to death.
• The micro-enterprise loan ministry now has more than 500 clients who have taken out small business loans. All the new business owners belong to accountability groups where members help one another with their challenges, both physical and spiritual.
Labels: Kenya, Nairobi, Urban Poor
¶ 6:42 AM Thursday, October 30, 2008
Come “Get Your Hands Dirty!”
CMF Executive Director Doug Priest is serving as president of the 2008 National Missionary Convention, which opens in just three weeks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Main speakers for the event, which runs from Thursday evening, Nov. 20, through Sunday morning, Nov. 23, include Florence Muindi, Mark Moore, Doug Priest, Ash Barker and Fernando Soto. Dozens of interesting and challenging workshops will be available, as well as a huge display area featuring hundreds of organizations and ministries, including CMF. Look for us under the big blue banner with the CMF logo and stop by and say hello! For more information about registration, housing, and a complete list of workshops and other events visit the NMC website.
¶ 8:48 AM
Friday, October 10, 2008
New field opens in Germany
After several years of planning, CMF Globalscope opened a new field in late September with the arrival of Beth Jarvis and Chris and Stef Coleman in Tuebingen, Germany.
The three will spend their first months in Germany studying at the Goethe Institute, an intensive language school, and interacting with German people and culture. After the class work is completed, they will begin their ministry to students at the University of Tuebingen, a prestigious, well-known university. Their plans include completing some renovations on a building that they are sharing with the European Evangelistic Society so they can open a campus house. The house will serve as a base for getting together with students, holding Bible studies, starting small groups and building relationships.
Beth Jarvis, 27, is the team leader. Beth is a graduate of Atlanta Christian College and recently completed her master’s degree at Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn. Chris Coleman, 25, graduated from Georgia Tech and his wife, Stef , 23, is a graduate of Agnes Scott College. The Colemans spent one year in classes at Emmanuel School of Religion. The three will be joined soon by an additional three teammates: Chandler Creel, who plans to leave in 2-3 weeks; Tyler Crawford and Lindsay Hunter, who are still raising support.
After several years of planning, CMF Globalscope opened a new field in late September with the arrival of Beth Jarvis and Chris and Stef Coleman in Tuebingen, Germany.
The three will spend their first months in Germany studying at the Goethe Institute, an intensive language school, and interacting with German people and culture. After the class work is completed, they will begin their ministry to students at the University of Tuebingen, a prestigious, well-known university. Their plans include completing some renovations on a building that they are sharing with the European Evangelistic Society so they can open a campus house. The house will serve as a base for getting together with students, holding Bible studies, starting small groups and building relationships.
Beth Jarvis, 27, is the team leader. Beth is a graduate of Atlanta Christian College and recently completed her master’s degree at Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn. Chris Coleman, 25, graduated from Georgia Tech and his wife, Stef , 23, is a graduate of Agnes Scott College. The Colemans spent one year in classes at Emmanuel School of Religion. The three will be joined soon by an additional three teammates: Chandler Creel, who plans to leave in 2-3 weeks; Tyler Crawford and Lindsay Hunter, who are still raising support.
Labels: Campus Ministry, Germany, Globalscope
¶ 6:39 AM 
