Our Role

A few weeks ago, Wallace and Mary Kamau travelled from Kenya to visit West Side Christian Church.  The Kamuas are the Directors/Founders of Missions of Hope International (MOHi), the ministry we have worked with in the past and will serve with when we move to Nairobi.  We were able to spend a great deal of time with them and that time helped to further define our roles in the ministry.

Tim will using his ministry skills to incorporate evangelism and discipleship by working within the Spiritual Life Department at MOHi.  Missions of Hope currently has planted 6 churches.  A church plant begins as a Bible study at one of the schools and continues to grow into an active church.  Two new studies have started and will soon become churches.  Tim will work alongside recently ordained Kenyan pastors by assisting them as they grow thriving churches.  They will be working together to create and implement a discipleship plan for new members of the churches, helping them grow and become consistent in their faith.  He will also be working to build relationships within the micro-finance groups, helping to incorporate evangelism into these groups and to connect them to their local church.  He will also be using his passion and skills in photography to help communicate the story of Missions of Hope, showing the transformation from the valley of darkness into the Mountain of God.

Alicia will help coordinate the child sponsorship program, Hope Partnership.  There are currently over 6,300 student enrolled in the 13 schools operated by MOHi.  The Hope Partnership provides educational opportunities  to the neediest children living within the Mathare Valley slums.  In addition to education, students also receive a school uniform, two meals per day, basic health care, and a focus on spiritual development.  The educational opportunities for children in the slums are lacking.  In the past, fewer that 5% of students from the slums were able to pass the national exam which is required for entry into high school.  The two classes of students at MOHi that have taken the exam have passed at a rate of 100% !!  Praise God for the opportunity these children are receiving at Missions of Hope thanks to the thousands of sponsors.  The staff at Missions of Hope are praying that over 10,000 students will be enrolled in one of the schools by the end of the year 2012.  Alicia will work to gather profiles for the children, facilitate communication between the child and their sponsor, and maintain all sponsorship information.  She will also be able to use her skills as a social worker to provide counseling for students and their families.

It is safe to say we will be VERY busy once we arrive in Nairobi.  We are very eager to assume these roles and our so thankful that God has provided ways for us to use our passions, skills, and talents to serve those living in poverty within the Mathare Valley slums.