Educating the Pastors of Kenya Today and Tomorrow
0
John and his wife were parents of three children and pastors of a church in western Kenya. A recognized leader in the community, John was blessed to be in the position he had. But he desired to have formal Bible college training.
Pan Africa Christian University in Nairobi, Kenya, one of our largest PAOC Bible colleges overseas, was the school of choice for John and his family. False Biblical teaching runs rampant throughout Kenya as untrained pastors plant churches without the proper theological training. PACU is there to provide the proper training for pastors, as well as business leaders and counsellors, amongst other streams.
John studied and successfully graduated from PACU, returning home to western Kenya with his family to continue on in pastoral leadership at their church, now with the proper theological training required to lead his flock towards God in passionate faith. Fast forward to today, and not only is he successfully leading his church, but he has founded and maintains a ministry in rural Kenya for orphans and widows, caring for those who no one else will care for (James 1:27)—pure and faultless religion at its finest.
The legacy that John is creating would not have been possible without the financial support from those who chose to give every day, and support the PACU scholarship fund. Education is not cheap. In Canada, if a student doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay fees, they take out a student or government loan to cover the cost. In Kenya, such an option simply isn’t possible. That’s why students like John turn to PACU requesting assistance with their fees through the scholarship fund.
There are many more pastors like John who need help getting a proper Bible college training in Kenya. How will you help?
In The Shadow Of An Earthquake
0In 1996, Michel & Louise Charbonneau, PAOC global workers, followed God’s leading to move to Haiti. They started a church for children and youth and have seen God bless their ministry to no end. Their average attendance in 2009 was 1,850 each week, with plans to build a worship centre and school for the kids they minister to alongside the Child Care Plus sponsorship and feeding program, reaching around 500 children.
Haiti School
Tragedy struck the capital of Haiti Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, levelling much of the city to a pile of rubble with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The Charbonneau’s lost many friends, members of their church, and even members of their staff. In the face of tragedy, God provided an opportunity to the Charbonneau’s to be His hands and feet to those who in a matter of seconds lost their livelihoods, homes, and loved ones.
Because of the incredible support provided by those who give every day, in response to the earthquake and the ministry the Charbonneau’s have always been a part of, they have seen their ministry centre built along with classrooms for a school, providing education to the many children without anywhere to go after the earthquake.
The number of young people who are being reached is growing and consequently so is the need for space! The Charbonneau’s have already built the ministry centre and are now looking at adding a second level to accommodate their young congregation. Consider how you can give every day and be a part of a better tomorrow for the children and youth of Haiti.
Plant Churches, Open Doors, Change Lives in Ethiopia
0
Each Sunday when we gather together in our churches, we likely don’t think about the freedom that we are gifted with having in a free nation. Ethiopia allows for freedom of religious expression—officially. This hasn’t hampered persecution against those professing faith in Christ. For many, choosing to accept Christian salvation leads to a life separated from their family, choosing Christ over their family religion.
Having the support from a group of fellow Christ followers, a church family, becomes all the more important to see the Gospel perpetuated under such cultural pressure. Brian and Val Rutten along with Jeremy and Teresa Feller, global workers to Ethiopia, are actively working with national leaders to provide a place followers of Christ can call home to be with Christian family, responding to the open doors God is providing, helping the church respond to what are becoming large numbers of new Christians.
In the last 15 years the church in Ethiopia has experienced explosive church growth after coming out from under communist rule. Though persecution remains a serious challenge, the church of Christ continues to push against the forces of darkness as the gospel continues to open new people groups and areas to the light of Christ. It is only through the generous financial support of donors that the Rutten’s and Feller’s have seen the success in planting churches that God has envisioned for this nation.
When you worship next Sunday morning without a worry, think about the persecuted church around the world; think about those in Ethiopia.
