Rwanda Church Construction - December 2019 Update

The day the Mutuntu sanctuary was dedicated, my devotional reading was from the prophet Ezekiel. It is a vibrant image of the Temple in Jerusalem as the fount of water that renews the face of the earth. Visions are complicated things to understand. However, when you know the parish of Mutuntu, which happens to be my home parish, this scripture and the vision about a glorious Temple make so much sense. It is true that this Temple is not so much a building but a representation of the body of Christ; both the physical body of the Church sanctuary and the “spiritual” body of Christ through the saints in worship.

When we arrived for the dedication, the church building was already packed and the church grounds full. We were told that this sanctuary had been under construction for more than ten years. Ezekiel makes a great deal of the cleansing and purifying properties of the water which flows from the Temple. Imagine yourself in the place of Ezekiel in the vision, just watching this water flowing on the hills of Mutuntu and the surrounding villages. Think about it for a minute – that in the present day, there is an opportunity like this to build and to equip the church with the capacity to proclaim healing in places like Mutuntu.

Africa, Partnership, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationDecember 19, 2019Rwanda Church Construction, rwanda

Tumaini Children's Ministry - December 2019 Update

Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish

Sunday, November 17, 2019, was a historic day in the life of Riamukurwe Parish and Tumaini Children’s Ministry. Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, and her family visited the home! She was accompanied by the Governor of Nyeri County and many other dignitaries. The Outreach team of 12 people visiting from five U.S. churches (Laguna PC, Canyon Hills PC, La Verne Heights PC, Malibu PC, and Pacific Palisades PC) was honored to share the day with such dignitaries.

The day began in front of the church as Ebralie Mwizerwa (team leader), Frank Dimmock, Parish Minister Rev. Nicholas Miriti, Eunice Muindi, Anne Muindi-Shemenski (good friend of Dr. Banda), Catherine Mukami and other parish leaders welcomed the guests. We then enjoyed a great worship service during which the Outreach team gave greetings, Tumaini children presented a song, and words of encouragement were spoken both by Dr. Banda and the Nyeri County Governor.

Africa, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationDecember 19, 2019Tumaini Children's Ministries, Kenya

Home of Hope - December 2019 Update

A Wonderful and Amazing God

When we go outside at night and look at the stars and moon and how peaceful it is up there, we are reminded that God still exists as we see his beautiful creation. Psalm 147:4 says, “He counts the number of the stars; he calls them all by name.” We are certainly not alone. God who created everything is still with us. He is our greatest hope through his most precious gift to us, his son Jesus!

We would like to share an update on the Home of Hope ministries:

Education
School fees are very hard for most people to pay. Lack of food is also a problem for some school children because their parents or relatives can't afford it. How sad it is!!

We are thankful that with your provision, we can pay school fees for children in need so that they may continue their education. Some of the children are being cared for by their grandmothers, some are in a children’s home, some are homeless, and others are in families that can’t afford education. We thank God and all of you who help us so that we can help these precious ones.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationDecember 18, 2019Home of Hope, Zimbabwe

Kay Day - December 2019 Update

Dear family and friends,

Greetings from Rwanda. Yes, I know this is late in coming. I had hoped to have the news I want to share with you sooner but I had details to coordinate. Finally, I can tell you that I will be returning to the States from April until June for visits with churches and individuals. Then, the Lord willing, I will be returning to Rwanda in July for another term of service. This visit has been arranged around Alumni Days at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where I am to receive the Alumni Distinguished Service Award for Mission in April. This has meant working with PIASS to rearrange my teaching schedule to allow for three months away. Praise God, that has been accomplished.

Africa, MissionariesThe Outreach FoundationDecember 11, 2019Kay Day, Rwanda

Dustin and Sherri Ellington - October 2019 Update

Dear friends,

A theme I’ve often found significant for my relationship with God is strength in weakness; the two seem to go closely together in the Christian life. I’ve always been intrigued by the apostle Paul’s words, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

A goal in 2019 has been to draw closer to God and to learn more about how Justo Mwale University and Zambia can be a place where that happens for me. One “action step” toward this goal was to attend a nine-day retreat called “Breathe” in July. The setting of the Breathe retreat was one of outdoor beauty, and the point was to give everyone space to get refreshed and take a deep breath of God’s presence through the times of worship, teaching, prayer, reflection, and conversation. Meanwhile, Sherri and I, and especially Sherri, were quite sick throughout the retreat. It felt ironic that we were attending a conference called Breathe, and she could hardly breathe, and we both felt miserable.

Something I didn’t realize ahead of time was that the focus of the retreat would be how our weaknesses and wounds can be the very things that open our lives to God’s presence and grace.

Bill and Bette Bryant Crisis Nursery - October 2019 Update

Dear friends and partners,

Meet Precious and Blessing (names changed to protect the children’s identity). Several years ago, these sisters were abandoned by their mother who was terminally sick with AIDs and could no longer care for them. The girls were HIV positive themselves and struggled with fevers, rashes, and malnutrition. Staff at the House of Moses Crisis Nursery took them in and brought them to a doctor for treatment. Even though the girls’ health improved with medical care, no other family came for them. Precious and Blessing received shelter, food, and care 24/7 while social workers sought a permanent family environment for these two precious sisters.

Around that time, Bishop Frank and his wife heard about adoption through Alliance for Children Everywhere’s (ACE) Zambian staff. As Bishop Frank listened, he felt God stir his heart to remember his own difficult beginnings.

Frank Dimmock - October 2019 Update

Imagine going into a grocery store and not knowing how to read. Think of the extra time it would take to navigate the aisles looking for what you need. Or imagine attending worship and being unable to read the Bible or the hymnbook or the words on a screen. Imagine not being able to text! More than 75% of the 2.3 million refugees from South Sudan are women and children. Most have never been to school.

Now imagine fleeing from your home, fleeing for your life, responsible for your children and maybe several others with no parents. Imagine walking for days and weeks until finally reaching a border crossing into “safety.” There you are handed forms to fill out for registering as an asylum seeker or refugee and for food vouchers. What does it all mean? Being unable to read is embarrassing, frustrating and isolating, and it makes you vulnerable!

Scholarships for Presbyterian Students at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) and Kay Day - Update

Dear friends and family,

In August, I witnessed what God has been doing with your support through the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) for the ministry and the church here, and I was humbled by it.

Each August, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda holds a church-wide-evangelism rally for four days, hosted by a different presbytery each year. The culmination of the rally is the annual ordination service on Sunday. This year the event was held in Zinga Presbytery, in the eastern region, about four hours from PIASS. Ten new pastors were ordained. Seven of them had been my students. I had preached at five of their weddings, baptized two of their children and been on the dissertation team of four of them as they completed the requirements for graduation. I was delighted to watch as they raised their right hands to pledge to serve Christ and the church and to see the presidents of their respective presbyteries place robes and stoles on them. Then all ordained pastors in the congregation were invited to come forward and lay hands on them as they were prayed for. What a joy to be a part of these bright young men and women accepting the call of Christ on their lives.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 11, 2019Kay Day, Scholarships for Presbyterians at PIASS, Rwanda

The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda - Update

We received this letter from the Rev. Julie Kandema, who serves as vice-president of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR) and is in charge of church growth for the denomination:

Dear friends,

Over the last five years, we have been teaching our people about decentralization within the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. As a result of many training sessions, people have testified that they now understand the idea of taking responsibility for church operations in general and the development of its people in particular. The results have been positive, leading people to take charge of projects such as building new churches and renovating existing church buildings.

To accomplish these projects, the parishioners organize fundraising activities and collect tithes and contributions. When the church is blessed with a partner in support of these activities, it is truly an encouragement and means that the congregation is not alone.

Last year when the government decided to shut down churches which were not meeting standards, the EPR was not spared. Many of our congregations struggled and our members had to work hard to have their building reopened.

Africa, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 5, 2019The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, Rwanda

Clean Drinking Water in Kenya - Update

The Outreach Foundation and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), along with various local churches, have been partnering to provide clean drinking water in Kenya. Much of this work has concentrated on Maasai households in the Loodokilani Mission Area. The work provides water tanks to families and boreholes in communities.

The PCEA Women’s Water Tank Project in Loodokilani Mission Area was initiated by Presbyterian women in 2015 in partnership with The Outreach Foundation. This project is a wonderful mission agent, bringing many Maasai to Christianity through the Presbyterian Church in Kajiado West Sub-County.

The focus of the project is to address the acute need for water in the Maasai community. Through this project, 441 water tanks have been distributed to Maasai households (88% of the targeted 500 households). The Presbyterian women, Maasai families (the beneficiaries of the project) and PCEA Loodokilani Mission Area thank Outreach and U.S. Presbyterians for the generous financial support that has led to the success of the initiative.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationSeptember 5, 2019Clean Drinking Water in Kenya, Kenya, Stu Ross

Girls' Education and Rescue Centers/Linda's Libraries-August 2019 Update

Dear friends,

Several years ago, we partnered with Books for Development, a great organization in Houston that collects and sends books to needy schools and organizations. They have sent us two containers of books which have filled the shelves of two Linda’s Libraries and will fill two more we are constructing this year.

Thogoto Primary Library is one of our first primary school libraries and we are very happy with the outcome. We previously had a relationship with this school because we provided computers for their computer lab, which is now part of the new library. Our second primary school library is in Shalom Academy.

We have changed our library strategy slightly. We are still building Linda’s Libraries, two more this year, but we are also building smaller libraries at primary schools like Thogoto and Shalom.

PCEA Church Construction in Kenya - August 2019 Update

Enjoy these joyful stories about church dedications from Stu and Annie Ross, Outreach East Africa Mission Consultants. They work in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and U.S. congregations.

PCEA Karima Church
Located near the town of Maai-Mahiu, this church began in 1967 when a group of Christians from many denominations gathered to worship under a tree. In 1977, the PCEA sent an evangelist to gather the Presbyterians for worship in an elder’s house. By 1979 they raised enough funds to buy a plot of land and continued to raise funds to build a church in 1984. By 1995, there were 75 members! Unfortunately, the congregation began diminishing between 1995-2005 due to tribal clashes and the condition of the 1984 church, which was slowly falling apart. A decision was reached in 2016 to build a modern church, which we dedicated several weeks ago. This new church will allow the congregation to grow once again and provide ministries to the surrounding communities. At the dedication, the church was overflowing with visitors and friends. We had a good time with everyone on that day of celebration.

Bob and Kristi Rice - Update

Embracing Hope: The Gift of Presence

Dear friends,

I looked over at the faces of the choir members, rigid with intensity and dripping with sweat as they sang and danced down the road. The drums beat loud, but the people sang even louder, lifting their hands in the air. I was humbled by their enthusiasm and energy. This was something of a “welcome parade” to greet the moderator and the team that accompanied him on a visit to Bentiu. We were walking (or dancing and marching, with the choir) through the large camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), ending with a celebration at the church. Being met by such an enthusiastic crowd was humbling, and then we were welcomed in traditional Nuer fashion by having our feet washed. I was overwhelmed by the welcome and realized how significant it was for this remote congregation to be visited by their leaders and feel connected to the church in other places.

Home of Hope - Update

Christ is Our Light!!

“the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16 NIV

Dear friends,

No matter where we are or who we are, no matter if we live in darkness no matter how great it is…when Christ comes darkness flees. Much darkness is here in our land but all we can say is that God the Light of the world is amazing, his mercies and love know no bounds. No matter how many sins we committed or how we failed him, he calls on us to remind us that we are created in his image and therefore he loves us, and through his great love and mercy we can turn to him as he sent his One and Only Son Jesus to die for our sins. Whosoever believeth in him will have eternal life. That eternal life is a great light. It’s Heaven living inside us when Christ lives in us. Amazing. We rest in Jesus only for our salvation.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationAugust 2, 2019Home of Hope, Zimbabwe

Scholarships for Presbyterian Students at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) and Kay Day - July 2019 Update

Dear family and friends,

Greetings from Rwanda. We are still rejoicing about the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) graduation held last month. Since we utilize a 12-month calendar for studies, graduation is usually held in late September or early October, but this year it was postponed until June so that we could hold it on the new campus of PIASS in Karongi, in the western province. The delay was so the new building could be finished and inaugurated. Although the building was not quite complete, the graduation was still held there. It was a major undertaking. Since most of our classes are held on the main campus in Huye, where I live, almost everyone and everything had to be transported to Karongi. Several of the staff went ahead of time to set up the venue. On graduation day, June 19, the rest of us followed in an elaborate caravan.

Africa, ProjectsThe Outreach FoundationJuly 30, 2019Kay Day, Scholarships for Presbyterians at PIASS, Rwanda

Daniel and Elizabeth Turk - June 2019 Update

Dear friends,

The Ivato seminary campus is especially beautiful as the rains have turned the campus into a green haven. The four-story seminary building, pictured above, was constructed last year to commemorate the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM’s) 50th year anniversary and the 200th year anniversary of the first missionaries’ arrival in Madagascar. It is an impressive reminder of FJKM’s commitment in preparing pastors to serve the growing church. The FJKM is the largest protestant denomination in Madagascar with over 6,000 churches but fewer than 2,000 pastors.

Africa, MissionariesThe Outreach FoundationJune 17, 2019Dan and Elizabeth Turk, Madagascar

PCEA Tumaini Children's Ministry - June 2019 Update

Dear friends of Tumaini children,

On behalf of Tumaini/Huruma children, we want to bring you this update concerning the current situation of the homes. The Outreach Foundation is very grateful for your generosity that allowed the PCEA Riamukurwe parish to start and operate Tumaini and Huruma homes. As we write, the Ministry is struggling to maintain high-quality care for the children who are served by the homes. As we work with other close partners to help the parish in Nyeri to carry on its witness for Christ by serving the needy in their midst, we have been actively engaging the local board, encouraging them to find solutions to several issues and challenges facing the homes.

Africa, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationJune 13, 2019Tumaini Children's Ministries, Kenya

Dustin and Sherri Ellington - May 2019 Update

Dear friends,

I’d like to share a conversation with a student from Mozambique, José Bazima. Ever since meeting him, I had been encouraged by José’s thoughtful comments in class and in the Bible study group I facilitate, but I knew I wanted to ask him more questions when he shared a simple song in chapel that really touched my faith. My experience with African Christians has been rich, and their powerful motivation to be of one heart and mind in service to their communities really challenges me. But it seems that only now and then have I heard personal expressions about Jesus, such as loving and serving him who, in the apostle Paul’s words, “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). That’s something I want for my students as they prepare to be pastors, so their relationship with Jesus Christ inspires and sustains their life of service. Let me share with you some of my conversation with José.

Partner Updates