“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22.6
Greetings,
Many of you have visited with communities we serve overseas, and know that whenever we enter into a community, LIA partners with local churches and conduct a needs assessment to help them identify who in their immediate community is most vulnerable. From there we begin to brainstorm solutions together, which will utilize local resources, that will inspire lasting transformation for the community at large.
More often than not, churches identify children as those most in need of attention and support, and they decide to begin community transformation there. LIA has implemented dozens of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) programs around the continent, and uses this expertise to facilitate the local church in serving these little ones that are so dear to the heart of our Lord.
It is with a full heart that I share the news of two new OVC initiatives in Kenya that have opened last month. LIA has partnered with seven churches in Kibera and four churches in Thika, both tough urban areas, and all 11 of these congregations have decided to establish their own kids clubs! There are Sunday School teachers from each respective church along with 11 volunteers who are helping establish these kids clubs.
The local churches came together in Thika and Kibera, respectively, to host regional Kids Clubs grand openings less than two weeks apart, and nearly 100 children from the communities attended their respective opening day. Games were played, the gospel was shared, times of worship were had, and these children had a chance to be children in a safe space for a few hours.
The churches wanted to get the children excited about kids clubs, and through the children start reaching out to their parents and guardians. Their plan worked, and already in Thika and Kibera the churches have started skills training for some of the guardians as well as organizing some of them into revolving fund groups. The Kibera church group is also planning on starting a feeding program for the children.
Over the next three years both of these programs will provide educational support, access to hygienic resources, shelter for those children that are homeless, lessons for income generating activities for child headed households, spiritual and emotional counseling, and continued capacity building for caretakers of at-risk children. We are so excited to see how Christ will shape the future of these young ones and their communities as they learn and grow together. Please join me in praying over each program:
- Pray for the Kibera Kids Clubs. Ask that the Lord would bring the most vulnerable to our church partner’s doors and that he would equip the volunteers and Sunday school teachers to serve these precious ones well. Pray that the programs will continue to provide the children of Kibera with a safe space to be children and flourish.
- Pray for the Thika Kids Clubs. As our church partners and volunteers serve the community in this industrial city, pray that they are refreshed and able to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the children and families they are called to serve.
- Finally, I ask that you would cover all of our OVC programs with prayers of protection, provision and success. Ask that they would receive full funding so that they may serve as beacons of light in dark communities, training up children in the way of the gospel, bringing life in abundance to the most vulnerable.
Thank you so much for walking with us in prayer as we facilitate these important programs for the Kingdom!
In Christ,
Florence
