Gord Martin - Vision Ministries
I have taken back the responsibility for VMK for the next six months. (I have the joy of serving VMC 4-5 days a week, mostly on a volunteer basis with immigrant churches.) Chris Atkinson has experienced some personal setbacks that have made it impossible for him to continue carrying this responsibility for the present and, maybe, the foreseeable future.
We have been deeply encouraged by the progress of VMK since 2011, when we first began this partnership. So many stories to tell! I remember my first trip to Kenya; I didn’t really want to go, the ministry seemed so weak, yet the Lord nudged us in that direction.
Good News to share!
1) VMK now has 50-100 churches affiliated with them to varying degrees in seven regions; about one half of these churches have a brethren background. VMK operates like an interdenominational mission and provides some of the services of a denomination.
2) Their primary objectives are:
Leadership training
Church Network development
Church Planting
Social Engagement
3) They have a central office in Nairobi, a core of dedicated workers in addition to their board
4) They have planted almost 20 churches, and they have provided very substantial leadership training to their church constituency
5) They have facilitated valuable social programs, water, agriculture, and micro financing to the communities where their churches are situated
6) Most notable among those who have carried the weight of the ministry are Ishmael Ochieng Okuku, Executive Director; his wife, Molline Ochieng, Ministry Among Women; Warren Odhiambo Orwa, Treasurer; and John Calvins, Administration and Worship
VMC assisted in many ways, but our focus has been on providing:
1) Mentoring and coaching for the executive director and the board of VMK
2) Finances to support the essential administrative costs of VMK; the hardest funds to raise
3) Leadership training for the church leaders of the VMK church network by writing curriculum and sending experienced church leaders from Canada to teach annually in national and regional settings. We have completed the Training of Trainers program; it is now theirs to implement. We will not be traveling to Kenya this year.
4) Connections with other international ministries that we think can assist VMK in its development as a ministry.
Why am I writing today?
1) To encourage you with the news that the ministry in Kenya has been fruitful. Recently, a few churches in Germany that are interested in the work of VMK and in the two Shelter of Hope schools which Ishmael also started (400 students), invited Ishmael and Molline to come to Germany for a couple of weeks to meet the brothers and sisters there. One evening, when several church leaders were meeting with Ishmael for conversation, one of the men asked Ishmael, “How can you do ministry in Kenya when you have no money?” Ishmael replied in his deep Kenyan accented voice, “We have the bonk of prrrraya”. I am itching to tell you the whole story! If you want to hear it, call me at 519-501-5933.
2) Ishmael’s car is worn out. The roads in the rural areas are brutal! His vehicle, which was donated by a small church in the U.S. in 2013, has served him well. Cars are very expensive there due to government taxes and import fees.
a) We expect the vehicle will cost $55,000 Canadian
The German churches have gathered $16,000
Impact Hope is providing $1,000
VMC has $10,000 set aside for this purpose
That leaves us with $28,000 to raise for the vehicle
b) We also need $12,000 to cover VMC’s portion of the VMK budget till the end of June.
c) Total of $40,000.00
This letter may come to you at a terrible time in terms of finances. But if the Lord prompts you, would you give generously? I am praying, and so is Ishmael, that we can raise these funds this month. The need is urgent.
Thank you for hearing me out!
Gord
Vision Ministries Canada
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Please go to https://vision-ministries.org/donate/ for the details.
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