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Author: danl

A Forty-Year Legacy of Caring for the Maasai

Written by danl on . Posted in Kenya.

John Sankok faithfully leads an extensive medical ministry in Kenya that includes eight clinics run by local Christian health professionals. These clinics treat tropical diseases, immunize children, and combat HIV/AIDS. The Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health facility addresses the unique health challenges faced by women and infants in the region. Known as Community Health Partners, this ministry now supplies more than 80% of the area’s primary healthcare needs. Below, John reflects on CMF’s long history with the ministry.

“One generation commends Your works to another.” Psalm 145:4

CMF began this work in the late 1970s and early 1980s with village-to-village evangelism and church planting among nomadic pastoral communities in Southern Kenya. Teams moved with the people, sharing the Gospel in hard-to-reach areas with deep-rooted cultures and traditions.

As churches were planted, the need for healthcare became clear. That same mission of love expanded beyond the church tent. CMF helped build a strong primary healthcare system for these communities. Clinics, maternal care, and newborn support grew from the foundation of local churches.

More than 40 years later, the fruit is visible. Thousands of mothers and newborns have been impacted. Lives have been saved, families strengthened, and hope restored in places that once had little access to care.

Today, CMF is a recognized leader in evangelism, church planting, and healthcare among nomadic communities in Southern Kenya. The name stands for faith that moves, churches that serve, and healthcare that reaches the last mile.

Hundreds of churches are now led and planted by empowered local leaders. What began with CMF missionaries from the U.S. is now carried forward by pastors and leaders raised from within these communities.

For 40 years, CMF has moved with nomadic peoples, bringing the Gospel, healing, and hope. Through churches planted, leaders raised, and communities transformed, CMF continues to fulfill its call—making disciples of all nations, one family at a time.

Father, we thank You for obedience in the 1980s. Seeds planted in the wilderness, among deep-rooted cultures and hard-to-reach places, have become forests of life. For those who are empowered, give us Your strength and will to continue watering the seed and passing on the faith to the next generation. It has been a model that has worked for four decades of faith in action.

Want to help support this life-giving ministry?

Dr. Angela Meipuki is a licensed physician who enables CHP to treat complex cases, respond to emergencies, and ensure patients receive quality, compassionate care. She also strengthens the clinical team—mentoring staff and ensuring excellence throughout all of CHP’s clinics.

Sustaining a licensed, full-time doctor on staff with CHP is essential! Click here to help fund her work.

Sent, Together: Inside CMF’s Mission Formation Training

Written by danl on . Posted in Uncategorized.

This June, CMF welcomed 11 missionary recruits to Indianapolis for a week designed to prepare them for the road ahead. Mission Formation Training brought together individuals and families preparing to serve in Ethiopia, England, Ivory Coast, Mexico, and South Asia—many of whom will depart in just a few short months.

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Globalscope Celebrates a New Partnership in Kenya

Written by danl on . Posted in Globalscope, Kenya.

CMF’s international campus ministry, Globalscope, is excited to announce a new partnership with Ukarimu Ministries, an established university ministry serving students at Daystar University in Athi River, Kenya. This step reflects CMF’s ongoing commitment to walking alongside students as they grow in faith, leadership, and service around the world.

Globalscope exists to welcome, reach, disciple, and develop university students—equipping them to follow Christ and influence their communities for the Kingdom. Through partnerships with trusted, locally led ministries, Globalscope strengthens existing work rather than duplicating it, coming alongside those already engaged in fruitful campus ministry.

Ukarimu Ministries—named after the Swahili word ukarimu, meaning hospitality—embodies this vision in deeply relational ways. The ministry walks closely with students during formative seasons, offering mentorship, discipleship, and a Christ-centered community where they are known and encouraged. Much of this happens at Ukarimu House, a gathering place and home for student interns.

Through fellowships, small groups, mentoring, shared meals, and one-on-one conversations, students experience more than programming—they experience belonging. For many, Ukarimu House becomes a “family away from home,” where spiritual growth and everyday faith intersect.

The Orunga Family

Ian and Stella Orunga lead this ministry, investing deeply in students through relational discipleship and leadership development. Ian, a Daystar graduate with a background in Management Information Systems, also coaches field hockey and leads a sports outreach through a local church. Stella, with a degree in Purchasing and Business Logistics, is passionate about student care, discipleship, and worship. Together with their two young children, they cultivate the Christ-centered community at Ukarimu.

Kami Burns Reed, Director of Globalscope, shared her excitement about the partnership:

“For years, Globalscope has dreamed of being part of campus ministry work in Kenya… Each time we explored starting something, we saw that many ministries were already doing excellent work, and we didn’t want to duplicate that. Through connections in the campus ministry world, we learned about Ukarimu and heard firsthand how being part of a fellowship like Globalscope could bless them. I’m excited for them to connect with other Globalscope campus ministers around the world—we all have so much to learn from one another.”

This partnership also opens the door to deeper collaboration within CMF’s work in Kenya. Kami shared her hope:

“I dream that Ukarimu can partner with CMF’s other strategy areas—whether that’s welcoming MOHI graduates as students at Daystar or raising up leaders who serve in churches, clinics, and ministries across Kenya. CMF missionaries have already begun building relationships—BJ Leonard is mentoring Ian, and Sam Loibor-Mongi has led a Discovery Bible Study with students, introducing this impactful approach.”

As Globalscope and Ukarimu Ministries move forward together, the vision is clear: that students would encounter Christ, grow in faith, and be equipped to live out the Gospel wherever God leads. This partnership is a reminder that impactful campus ministry is built on hospitality, relationships, and faithful presence—and that God is at work among students around the world.

 

 

How you can be involved

This new partnership with Ukarimu Ministries creates fresh opportunities to invest in university students in Kenya. If you’d like to learn more about serving with this ministry through Globalscope, we’d love to connect and help you explore the next step. Email us at mobilization@cmfi.org to start the conversation! Truly invest in these students by supporting this ministry here.

From Everywhere to Everywhere: Launching EuReach’s First Global Internship

Written by danl on . Posted in Globalscope, Reach, Spain, Uruguay.

What might it look like for young adults across Europe to step into God’s mission—not just locally, but globally?

This August, CMF is taking a meaningful step toward that vision with the launch of EuReach, a European adaptation of the long-standing REACH internship program. Designed specifically for students connected to Globalscope ministries across Europe, EuReach invites young adults to spend the month of August serving alongside CMF teams around the world.

And in its very first year, three students have said “yes.”

These pioneering interns will travel from their home ministries in Europe to Montevideo, Uruguay, where they will serve with La Ruta, CMF’s Globalscope ministry there—building cross-cultural relationships, growing in faith, and experiencing life and ministry in a new context.

Meet the EuReach Pioneers

Isabella Portela | Valencia, Spain

If you ask anyone at EnVivo Valencia about Isabella, they’ll likely mention the same thing: she brings light into every room she enters.

Since becoming involved in EnVivo in 2023, Isabella has become a natural connector—someone who not only builds community but invites others into it. Her heart for service and generosity has drawn dozens of fellow students into the ministry, and this year she stepped into deeper leadership as part of Las Raíces (The Roots). Recently, she was recognized with the ministry’s Servant Leadership Award.

As a jewelry design student graduating this spring, Isabella is marking this transition with a step of faith—choosing to serve in Uruguay as a EuReach intern.

“I have a strong desire to get to know the culture more deeply and to meet university students from different contexts… I am passionate about my Christian faith and hope to be a connection point between the students I will meet at La Ruta and God.”

Anna Lopez | Salamanca, Spain

Anna, a second-year Art History student at the University of Salamanca, has quietly become a key part of EnVivo Salamanca’s ministry life.

Whether helping lead worship, preparing meals, or hosting prayer gatherings, Anna’s behind-the-scenes faithfulness has made a visible impact. Recently, those walking closely with her have seen something even deeper taking shape—a growing sense of calling.

As one staff member shared, “Her heart is on fire. God has been stirring in her a desire to do more in ministry, and this opportunity couldn’t come at a better time.”

EuReach offers Anna the chance to explore that calling in a new cultural context, expanding her understanding of how God might use her in the future.

Noah | Maastricht, Netherlands

For Noah, EuReach represents both a return and a next step.

Currently completing a master’s degree in social and health psychology at the University of Maastricht, Noah has spent the past year discerning a growing call toward missions. Previous short-term trips sparked that interest—but also left him wanting a deeper, longer-term glimpse into missionary life.

This August, he’ll find it.

“I want to pursue missionary work after graduation, but I don’t yet know what that will look like… I’m hoping this internship will help me better understand what life as a missionary can be and how God is leading me forward.”

Having already fallen in love with South America on a previous trip, Noah is eager to return—this time with a deeper purpose.

A Vision Bigger Than One Summer

EuReach is being led by longtime CMF missionary Sophie Bentley, who, along with her family, has been serving in campus ministry in Spain since 2004. After helping launch EnVivo Valencia in 2015, Sophie has seen firsthand the potential of students whose faith is activated through global experience.

And for her, this first cohort is just the beginning.

“EuReach opens so many possibilities. This year we’re launching with our sister Globalscope ministry in Uruguay, but in the future we’d love to send young adults from all over Europe to CMF ministries all over the world—from everywhere to everywhere.”

The vision extends beyond campus ministry alone. From marketplace initiatives in Mexico to children’s ministry in Kenya to church planters in Ethiopia, the long-term dream is to create pathways for young adults to explore how their unique gifts can serve God’s mission in diverse contexts.

“Our hope is for this program to grow each year and for young adults to be inspired for life-long service. We want them to see missions as a creative, dynamic way to transform lives and bless their communities—wherever God takes them.”

The Beginning of Something New

Every movement starts somewhere. For EuReach, it begins with three students, one summer, and a willingness to go.

As Isabella, Anna, and Noah step into this pioneering experience, they carry with them not only their own stories and callings—but also the seeds of something that could impact generations of European students to come.

And this is only the beginning.

You can help send these interns to Uruguay by giving here!

Beyond the Classroom: APU Students Experience Mission in Brazil

Written by danl on . Posted in Brazil.

CMF was founded by a group of college students with a passion to impact the world through creating dynamic Christ-centered communities. A heart for the next generation continues today as CMF remains committed to providing meaningful missions experiences through short-term trips, internships, and residency opportunities for young adults around the globe. One of the ways we pursue this mission is through strategic partnerships with universities that share a passion for equipping and sending students into impactful cross-cultural service.

Through a partnership with Azusa Pacific University (APU), 11 students and one staff member from APU’s Office of Service and Discipleship recently spent 10 days in May serving alongside CMF missionaries, Jordan and Jaime Shelton, in Piancó, Brazil. Throughout their time in Brazil, the APU team engaged in a variety of ministry opportunities centered on relationship-building and community engagement. Their primary areas of service included sports outreach, teaching English, serving in local schools, worship ministry, and community service projects. During sports outreach activities, the team used soccer and handball as tools for connecting with boys involved in CMF’s local soccer ministry. Through games, conversations, devotionals, and prayer, meaningful relationships were formed that extended beyond the field.

The team also participated in English-language outreach through ESL classes at Missão Ágape, a local community center serving children and teens ages 5–17, as well as through classes at SIBAPI, a local partner church serving adults ages 18 and older. APU students led interactive games in English, answered questions about language and culture, and shared about their personal lives and faith journeys. These moments created authentic connections and lasting memories with the communities they served.

In addition to outreach ministries, the team helped lead worship during a young adult gathering and a local church service. They also participated in a hands-on service project by painting the walls of the first floor of the SIBAPI gym, which is currently being developed into a Community Sports Center. This project helped move the facility one step closer to welcoming children from Missão Ágape into a safe and engaging environment for sports ministry and discipleship.

Partnerships like the one between CMF and APU reflect the shared desire to mobilize the next generation through transformative missional experiences. As students step into cross-cultural ministry opportunities, they not only serve communities around the world but also grow in their understanding of God’s global mission and their place within it.

CMF teams across the globe remain committed to facilitating impactful opportunities for universities, churches, and young adults who desire to learn, serve, and participate in God’s work among the nations. We are grateful for APU’s partnership and for the ways these students served faithfully in Brazil.

If you know if a college group or university who would be a great fit for serving on a CMF team, please contact Mobilization@cmfi.org for next steps.

What If Your Skills Are Exactly What’s Needed?

Written by danl on . Posted in Ministry Opportunity.

Around the world, God is at work—on university campuses, in clinics, in community centers, and in neighborhoods where hope is growing in visible and tangible ways. And in many of those places, there’s a common thread: a need for people willing to step in, serve faithfully, and use the gifts God has already given them.

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One Cake for Many: A Lesson in God’s Abundance

Written by danl on . Posted in Chile, Globalscope, Kenya, Missions of Hope.

Mary Stephens has spent several years serving with our Globalscope campus ministry in Viña del Mar, Chile, where she helped launch and build the El Oasis community. Shaped by her own cross-cultural experiences in Peru and Chile during college, Mary has developed a deep love for relational ministry and creating spaces of belonging.

While recently exploring other CMF ministries, Mary spent time with our partners Missions of Hope International in Kenya. In this reflection, she shares a simple yet profound moment that revealed God’s abundance in an unexpected way.

We arrived safely in Kenya and quickly stepped into life with Missions of Hope International, learning about their work among communities facing deep poverty. Over a couple of days, we visited schools, met staff, and spent time with students—receiving far more hospitality than I was prepared for.

One afternoon, a small group of us headed into a school auditorium. I wasn’t entirely sure what we were there for. Earlier that day, we had led an activity for about thirty 10th-grade students, many of whom came from difficult circumstances. So, as we walked in, I assumed we might be doing something similar again.

But this time felt different.

There were about 50 or 60 students seated in rows, some dressed in colorful, almost costume-like outfits. There was a quiet sense of anticipation in the room. As we were invited to move our chairs closer to the front, it started to feel like we were part of something special—maybe even a performance.

Then I noticed it: a white pastry box on a table, slightly too small for whatever was inside, with foil stretched over the opening. It looked like cake. But why was there a cake sitting in front of a room full of students?

A few minutes later, the principal stepped forward and welcomed us to a farewell ceremony.

The pieces began to fall into place.

Students performed dances for us. One student offered a speech and a blessing. Then more singing and dancing—and before we knew it, we had been pulled in to join them, laughing and moving together in the same joyful rhythm.

And then the cake.

The principal uncovered it—a beautifully decorated cake, the kind you might expect to serve 10 or 12 people. As soon as I saw it, my mind began to fill in the next part of the story. I imagined the teachers handing slices of cake to our group while the students—many of whom rely on school meals for daily nourishment—watched from their seats.

I think that thought came from everything I had been experiencing. For the past day and a half, I had walked through places marked by deep need. And yet, everywhere we went, we were met with generosity. People welcomed us into their homes. They prayed for us. They offered tea, food, songs, questions, and laughter.

Students who could easily say, “I have nothing,” kept offering what they did have—over and over again.

So, I expected the same pattern to continue: we would receive, and they would watch.

But that’s not what happened.

Instead, the cake was cut into small, bite-sized pieces. First, the teachers handed pieces to us. Some of us received them on forks, others in our hands, and we all laughed together in the process. Then, just as quickly, the plates were placed into our hands—and we were invited to serve the students.

Soon, everyone in the room was eating cake.

And when there was still more left, we carried it outside and shared it with others—teachers, staff, students, even security guards. Everyone received a piece.

One cake became enough for many.

It reminded me of Jesus—of how we remember Him in the breaking of bread, and of the story of the loaves and fish that fed thousands. What I witnessed that day felt like a glimpse of that same kind of abundance.

Not abundance born out of excess, but out of gratitude and generosity—multiplied by the Spirit.

It left me wondering: what am I holding onto out of fear that there won’t be enough? What has God placed in my hands that could be shared, trusted, and multiplied into something more?

Sometimes, it looks like cake.

Empowered by the Spirit at Hope Home

Written by danl on . Posted in Thailand.

Becca Schafer serves at Hope Home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a foster home for children with disabilities where she provides daily care, advocates for families, and integrates spiritual formation into everyday life. In this reflection, Becca shares a testimony shaped by Acts 2 and the promise that God pours out His Spirit on all flesh. Through stories from Hope Home, she invites us to see the Spirit’s power, joy, and presence at work in lives the world too often overlooks.

Recently, I was asked to share a testimony from Hope Home at our church. As I prepared, I wasn’t sure what to share. Each week, people had been offering testimonies that highlighted clear successes—a growing business, healing from health challenges, ministry growth, or the baptism of a loved one after years of prayer. Beautiful stories. And honestly, I had no idea how to follow that.

It’s not that I don’t believe Hope Home is successful—I truly do. But I struggled to describe that success in a way others might easily understand. Adding to that, the Scripture passage I was assigned was Acts 2, the story of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. I’ll admit, I felt more than a little overwhelmed by the weight of offering a testimony alongside such a powerful and well-known passage. What follows is an adapted written version of what I felt the Lord showed me as I prepared.

As I read Acts 2, verse 17 stood out to me—God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. All flesh. Not just strong flesh, or wealthy flesh, or beautiful or intelligent flesh. All flesh. This verse has become a firm reminder that the Holy Spirit cannot be disabled. Being empowered by the Spirit is for all of us, regardless of our circumstances.

Our children and young adults at Hope Home show me this in ways I could never fully explain. They have taught me what it truly means to experience joy in suffering—not the teeth-clenched, “I know I should rejoice” kind of joy, but a deep, heart-rooted joy that seems to overflow naturally. I see it in laughter that breaks through the walls of the ICU. Even when every physical breath is a fight, she somehow breathes His joy with ease. She is empowered and sent by the Spirit to lean into His deep presence and love.

I see the power of the Spirit in a child who doctors once said would never walk and likely would never talk. Yet there he is—attempting to run across the playground while singing worship songs at the top of his lungs. Yes, we’ve done countless exercises and hours of therapy, but honestly, we don’t get to take the credit. No one can fully explain why he is able to do what he can. All we know is that he lives each day empowered and sent by the Spirit.

I see the work of the Spirit in forgiveness, too—in a child with an intellectual disability who forgives swiftly and sincerely. Though he feels offenses deeply, it often takes only seconds for him to forgive. Even more humbling, he is quick to acknowledge his own mistakes. The Spirit empowers him to confess and forgive with an ease I deeply admire.

I see the true meaning of thanksgiving in a young adult who spends his prayer time thanking God for everything—from food and clothing, to people, to the grass beneath his feet. (This is intentionally a run-on sentence; he truly thanks God for everything.) While the world may look at him and assume he has much to ask of God, he instead gives thanks for all God has already provided. This kind of gratitude can only be the work of the Spirit.

Each morning, we pray together. While we often help find ways to communicate prayer requests, the prayers themselves are expressed in each person’s own language—sometimes spoken, sometimes silent, sometimes carried only through stillness. In those moments, it becomes clear that what we are witnessing is not simply strong character traits, but the active and faithful work of the Spirit. I’ve become increasingly convinced of the truth found in 1 Corinthians—that every part of the body is necessary, and that those parts that seem weaker are, in fact, indispensable.

I could share countless more stories. Tomorrow, next week, and next month, I know I will continue learning as I discover more of the Spirit at work in those around me. Ministry here is not always easy or tidy. We experience miracles and heartbreak in equal measure. Yet the presence of the Spirit has never faltered—for them or for me. He is present both in moments of celebration and in the long, dark nights when prayers remain unanswered.

The children and adults at Hope Home remind me daily that each day is an opportunity to listen more closely, look more carefully, and see more clearly the Spirit at work. I am deeply thankful for that gift—and for each of you who support us and join us in this shared journey of learning, growing, and discovering together.

Creating Space for Faith Through Creation Care

Written by danl on . Posted in Globalscope, Netherlands.

Tori Anderson serves with Thuis, a campus ministry in Maastricht, Netherlands, where students from more than 100 nationalities come together at one of Europe’s most international universities. Having been deeply shaped by university ministry herself, Tori now helps cultivate a Christ-centered, hospitable community where students can find belonging, ask honest questions about faith, and grow as leaders.

Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Tori holds degrees in General Dietetics and Biblical and Theological Studies and brings a holistic lens to both faith and everyday life. In this reflection, she shares how creation care, hospitality, and partnership have become meaningful bridges for faith conversations—inviting students to explore God’s love for the world and their neighbors in practical, embodied ways.

Many of our students at Thuis are deeply passionate about sustainability and caring for the planet. That passion is part of what led me to start a creation care small group. Caring for the earth is important to me personally, and I see it as a meaningful opportunity to explore what God says about creation, our role in stewarding it, and how caring for the world around us is one way we love our neighbors. It’s also a way to talk about God’s redemptive plan through Jesus and His great love for both the world and the people in it. I see creation care as another bridge into faith conversations.

To wrap up the group, we hosted an event in collaboration with Shelter City, a global movement of cities, organizations, and individuals who stand alongside human rights defenders facing persecution. During the event, a woman shared her story of advocating for indigenous land rights in Sumatra. Her story was vulnerable and heartbreaking, and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet her and hear about the important work she is doing.

Several new students joined us that evening and became connected to Thuis, which was one of my hopes in collaborating with Shelter City. We often see ourselves as bridge builders—creating space for meaningful connection by partnering with other organizations, sharing hospitality, and inviting students into deeper conversations.

The following morning, I went out with a few students and my friend Kim, who was visiting, to help clean up trash around the city. We hope to make this a regular activity with students as a practical way to show care and love for Maastricht.