Kenya

Nairobi Urban Poor (Hope Partnership)

Our Nairobi Urban Poor Outreach team partners with Kenyans from the slum communities in serving the poor of the capital city. We use Community Health Evangelism, a proven program that assists the urban poor and brings transformation through available resources, training, a microfinance program, optimism, and faith. We work specifically with Missions of Hope International, where our child sponsorship program provides education, clothing, and adequate nutrition to the orphans and vulnerable children in Mathare – one of the worst slums in Africa. Our Hope Partnership brings together the NUPO team, Kenyans, US churches, and others to address the crushing problems of poverty on a community level.

Maasai

Among the Maasai people since 1978, we continue to train church leaders, strengthen the churches, and help with the construction of new church buildings. As ministries mature, we turn over local administration and oversight to national partners. We are also developing training and teaching materials for the churches and training centers in the Maa language. The medical ministry among the Maasai is currently overseen by Maasai personnel under the guidance of the team. Eight clinics treat tropical diseases, immunize children, and combat the HIV/AIDS crisis with testing, counseling, medical treatment, and home-based care.

Turkana

Working among the Turkana in northwest Kenya since 1977, we have seen this once unreached people find great joy in knowing a loving God. We oversee the Turkana Bible Training Institute in Lodwar, which provides week-long classes several times a year toward a two-year certificate. The real fruit will be seen in the years to come as the men who receive training lead their churches full time and plant new churches. Four medical clinics provide tailgate clinics with important services to this rural desert. A literacy program supports the church as men and women learn to read and study the Bible in their language. In 2009, a new program of English as a second language is being offered for the first time to church leaders, which will allow them to communicate more effectively with leaders of other Kenyan churches, further develop them as leaders, and increase the resources that are available to them. The team uses development projects – such as clean water and irrigation for gardens – to strengthen the churches and open doors for the love of God in Christ to be expressed to their communities.

The CMF churches received registration with Kenya’s government in 2006. Called Community Christian Church (CCC), it consists of 80 Maasai churches and 43 Turkana churches – about 10,000 people, all under Kenyan leadership – and empowers the churches to stand on their own. Leaders from these churches form a committee that administrates matters for CCC; missionaries serve as consultants.