Progress!

It feels like much of the work that I have been doing here for CARE for AIDS so far has consisted of laying a foundation for the future or catching up on things from the past, but today saw a big step in the current expansion of the ministry. For the past month of so, we have been searching for the location of the 4th CFA center. First we did research on what areas close-by were the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, and we found that an area called Kamirithu could really benefit from a CFA center. This area has a high population density and a high HIV/AIDS prevalance, and there aren't any effective HIV/AIDS programs currently operating. Located only about 10 minutes from the house and just next to the highway, we decided that Kamirithu would be a great location to expand into. Next, we spent some time talking to pastors in the area and meeting in their churches, trying to find a church and a pastor who have a real heart for the HIV/AIDS crisis. We were led to meet with Bishop Simon, the pastor of Kamirithu Assemblies of God, and after our first meeting Duncan and I agreed that this would be a wonderful church to work with.

Simon told us about how his heart breaks for the HIV/AIDS-infected in the community, and how he feels that they are a forgotten segment of the population when it comes to ministry. He told us of outreaches that the church had hosted and programs they had attempted to start in the past, along with the unique challenges that come along with working with AIDS and have held back these efforts. He genuinely desires that all of the HIV/AIDS patients in the area would come to know Christ above all else. KAG seems like an ideal church environment for CFA to work in, as they are located a little bit away from major roads, and they have several other programs going on during the week - both of which help clients with their concern over stigma from the community.

Since that first meeting, we have had several follow-up meetings with the leadership of the church, during which we explained in detail the CARE for AIDS model and talked about how we could partner together. From halfway around the world, we learned that a Christian high school in Florida had committed to supporting a CFA center each month, so we moved forward with setting up a partnership with Kamarithu Assemblies of God. Today we took another step in that process, as we signed a partnership covenant with KAG and met with the committee they set up to oversee the ministry. Tomorrow we are interviewing potential workers for the center, and we are planning to officially open this 4th center on November 1st. This picture shows Kevin, Bishop Simon, myself, and Duncan on the back row, with the KAG committee on the front row.

Praise God for what He is doing here! We are so thankful for the progress being made on the fund-raising front in America, as well as the steps that we have been able to take here in Kenya to put systems in place for more growth in the future. None of this could happen without God's guidance and His blessing on this ministry, and I ask that you would all join me in thanking Him for this 4th center, as well as in praying for the rest of the preparations that will go into training workers, setting up the center, and recruiting the first round of clients. Please pray also for the pastors and leadership of Kamirithu Assemblies of God - we are so thankful for their willingness to join with us in this calling and we pray for God's blessing on every part of what their church is doing.