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The CMF churches received their own registration with the Kenya
government in 2006. Called Community Christian Church, it consists
of 80 Maasai churches and 43 Turkana churches -- about 9,500
people, all under Kenyan leadership. Pastors can now be licensed
to officiate at weddings and funerals, and speak on behalf of
their local church. Land and church buildings can now have title
deeds under the Community Christian Church name. It is a big
leap forward in empowering the churches to stand on their own.
Maasai:
Dan & Connie Crum, Lynn & Dori Cazier, and Joe Cluff
completed the process of selecting and ordaining local church
elders and pastors in Maasailand, with over 100 now in place.
Selection of future leaders is now up to the Maasai themselves,
and several places have already chosen more leaders. Joshua
& Ruth Barron recently joined the team to work with leadership
development. New stone church buildings are being built every
year. boards of directors -- mostly Africans -- are being set-up
to oversee various ministries started by CMF. The training center
at Ewaso Ngiro is making progress toward sustaining itself as
the property is being developed to host more conferences, seminars,
and retreats. And communication has greatly improved among the
church leaders as many of them now “chew the news”
via their cell phones!
David & Dr. Suzie Snyder serve in medical ministry among
the Maasai, where the 9 CMF clinics are treating tropical diseases,
immunizing children, and continually confronting the HIV/AIDS
crisis. AIDS is an unfolding drama, and the Kenyan staff and
administration of the CMF clinics are doing all they can to
address the needs of patients, their families, and their communities.
The CMF-Maasai Health Centers in partnership with the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) provide antiretroviral treatment services.
The CDC also helps with AIDS education, additional personnel,
and clinic improvements. Helen Tak focuses on HIV/AIDS education and related ministries.
Turkana:
Kip & Katie Lines oversee the Turkana Bible Training Institute
(TBTI) in Lodwar, at which Kip teaches week-long classes for
this two-year program. In December 2006, TBTI had its first
graduation of 25 church leaders. The real fruit will be seen
in the years to come as these men lead their churches fulltime
and plant new churches. Katie also oversees 4 CMF medical clinics
in Turkana, which give important services to the rural areas.
Lynn Pottenger’s literacy program provides support
to the church as men and women learn to read and study the Bible
in their language.
In meeting the needs of our hungry Turkana brothers and sisters
in the Lord, Gene & Melba Morden have installed 24 clean water hand pumps, 11 windmills for irrigation of garden plots, and 5 solar pumping systems for irrigated gardens. They will
continue with this development work as it strengthens the Church
and opens many doors for the love of God in Christ to be given.
Urban Poor:
Keith and Kathy Ham partner with Kenyans from the slum communities
in serving the poor of Nairobi. The team uses Community Health
Evangelism (CHE), a proven program through local churches that
assists the urban poor and brings transformation through available
resources, training, microenterprise, optimism, and faith. The
Hams specifically work with the Mathare Family Hope Center,
which provides education, clothing, and adequate nutrition to
the poorest children in the Mathare slum -- one of the worst
slums in Africa.
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