by Maxine Talbert

You have probably heard the grim news coming out of Kenya recently. After allegedly rigged elections restored the sitting President of this previously stable African democracy to his post for another term, opposition candidate supporters took to the streets in political protest that quickly sank into mob violence rooted in decades of simmering tribal resentment. With peace talks now underway, hundreds of thousands of displaced Kenyans are wondering how they can ever feel safe enough to go back home. In the midst of this chaos, how can we pray for Bethany’s ministry partners in Kenya?

• World Vision. Bethany families sponsor more than 170 children in the Soweto slum of Nairobi. Soweto has been mercifully absent from news reports. From what we can gather, our children, the WV staff, pastors and friends in Soweto are all safe. Please pray for the continued safety and uninterrupted schooling of the children, and the Christ-centered leadership of the pastors.
  
  Soweto is a heterogeneous community; please pray for peace and reconciliation among people of different tribes, especially for unity and strength among our friends of the self-help group Mayatima, introduced to us by World Vision on past mission trips.
  
• Lakeside Lampstand Ministries. On isolated and tribally homogeneous Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria, Pastor Joshua and Mary Nyicula continue to minister relatively uninterrupted by national unrest. Their ministries include fidelity messages to men, material and spiritual support to the burgeoning population of widows and orphans, abstinence education for teens, compassionate care of the elderly who have themselves become caretakers in their old age, and Bible training for pastors in this area most ravaged by HIV/AIDS in all of Kenya.
  
  Please pray for the church to be a beacon of light and hope to all those infected and affected who are shunned and marginalized by their communities.
  
• Christ’s Gift Academy (CGA). In 1999, Judi Ewing went to Mbita, on Lake Victoria, to teach at this fledgling primary school. Starting with 20 preschoolers and no campus, Judi has overseen much change over the subsequent 10 years. Today the school has beautiful grounds, permanent classrooms, 350-ish students (Pre-K to 8, mostly orphans), a Kenyan teaching staff, and a unique and effective Christian curriculum. Bethany has visited CGA several times and partnered in many ways (bookbags, a classroom, mosquito nets, a staff house, staff support).
  
  During Judi’s time at CGA, God has graciously satisfied some of her heart’s desires… in the form of adopted daughters Beatrice and Beatrice, who came to Judi in 2000 in need of a home… and husband, Steve, who met Judi while serving in missions with YWAM in Mbita. They married in 2003. Now the Cochrans together oversee the school facilities, students, teachers, curriculum and spiritual growth of staff and students, in accordance with their understanding of “the Biblical mandate to teach all children in the ways of the Lord that a nation might reach its full…”

To our great joy, Steve and Judi will personally share with us stories and prayer concerns of Christ’s Gift Academy when we welcome them as guest speakers at a Kenyan dinner in their honor at 6:30 pm on the evening of Sunday, March 16. Kid-friendly. Reservations required. Sign-ups in the Lobby on Sundays in March, or by emailing lolo_mack@msn.com.