Jake goes to Kenya (Part 2)
The Bakery in Machakos is so close to starting operations.
““Every person I met with is attempting to holistically care for their people.” – Jake
Kenya
Anglican Development Services - Eastern (ADS-E) is the team implementing the bakery project. Here they are in a strategy session.
Last month, Executive Director, Jake Stum, traveled to Kenya, along with ARDF-US Trustee the Rev. Canon John Macdonald. After 15 months on the job, Jake was thrilled to travel internationally to meet our partners in person. This is part 2 of his reflections.
After spending time with our partners in Marsabit, in the North of the country, Jake visited several of our projects, past and present.
Visiting a current ARDF project, the Bakery in Machakos
The thing that impressed me the most is how many people “win” with this project.
This bakery will employ 30 people from the local community, work with a co-op of 3000 farmers, and provide “fortified” bread to the people of Kenya. It will also produce a decent profit for the church to put back into ministry.
2. Visiting with a partner from a past project
Rev. Evalyn Wakhusama is one of my new heroes. She grew up in Western Kenya, excelled in her studies, graduated from Yale Divinity School, then went back home to serve her people. What a story!
Evalyn has a very unique skill set to be able to successfully lead ministry and business. The chicken farm that we helped her establish in 2018 is thriving and producing a profit. This profit offsets the costs of her school for orphans and other vulnerable children. She now has several business ideas and ARDF is looking forward to watching these flourish as well.
Rev. Evalyn with the students at the magnet school that she heads.
Carlile College in Nairobi offers a two year program for students from countries that lack opportunities for theological education.
3. Visit to Carlile College
I loved my visit here. This school is providing a unique service to educate college age students for ministry. I got to meet 6 of the students receiving ARDF scholarships.
With the help of a donor, ARDF has been offering scholarships to students from Burundi and South Sudan to attend this two-year program that prepares people for ministry. For countries such as these, most clergy have not received any theological education.
Overall, Jake came away so impressed with what the church is doing in Kenya to expand the Kingdom of God. And this is just one country! When one looks at the impact Jake witnessed, and multiplies it by the number of countries where other ARDF partners are working, we see the Kingdom of God expanding in front of our eyes.
It is a joy to work alongside these strategic partners to foster the flourishing of communities through these projects, expanding the Kingdom of Christ through tangible works of compassion.
Thank you for your partnership in these endeavors!
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