Last August we were part of an Africa Gospel Church conference where we discussed how God intends to use the church to transform the surrounding community. Near the end of the conference, the almost 100 participants huddled together for a group picture. Since many people wanted a copy of the photograph, the photographer made plans to make multiple copies of the photograph and sell each copy for KSh 30 (US 40 cents).
Dennis Tongoi, our conference leader, then made a suggestion: “Why don't we increase the price of each photograph to KSh 50, and then we will give the extra money to a small “seed project” to touch a community with the love of Christ?” The group agreed.
Emily Koech, a woman from the village of Kiringet approached Dennis Tongoi about a family of orphans. The family consisted of 4 boys and 3 girls. They were destitute: without family, food, or a home. Dennis presented this need to the conference participants, and everyone agreed that this would be the family to receive the money for this “seed project.” Before we all left for our homes, Dennis called Emily to the front of the room and gave her KSh 3,500 from the sale of the photographs. Before handing her the money, Dennis challenged Emily to take this money and ask her local church to give additional money (no matter how small the amount) to demonstrate the love of Christ to this family of orphans. Dennis then prayed and committed the outcome to God.
I never heard what happened to this gift or the family of orphans until two weeks ago. I was attending a meeting of Africa Gospel Church leaders when I heard a report from Emily Koech. She told us that she had taken the KSh 3,500 from Kericho and asked her local church to contribute additional money. The local church gave another KSh 6, 835. God touched the heart of another individual from another community regarding this family. This donor gave an additional KSh 10,000.
With this KSh 20,335, the local church was able to buy enough roofing sheets to construct 3 traditional Kipsigis homes; each with a tin roof. The church was also able to buy a cow (a treasured possession in Kipsigis culture!) that will provide milk for the orphans and income from the sale of extra milk. On December 1, approximately 150 people consisting of local church members, neighbors, and local government officials gathered for the dedication of the orphans' three homes. On the following Sunday, 5 new people visited the local church for the first time after they heard what the local church had done in their community.
Think of it! For the price of a photograph, seven orphans were housed and provided a source of food and income; a local church demonstrated the love of Christ before watching community and government leaders; and a spark of interest was ignited in the hearts of 5 people for the ministry of a local church. Glory to God! |
