New Hope Ministries: January 2013

The past few years have undoubtedly been a time of uncertainty when it comes to investments. The stock market, housing market, money markets and other markets have seen roller coaster ups and downs that caused even the most seasoned investor to rethink strategies.

There are however still worthwhile investments that pay unprecedented dividends without the risk of loss.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20

I love how Randy Alcorn puts it in his book titled "Money, Possessions and Eternity";

“Christians are God's delivery people, through whom he does his giving to a needy world. We are conduits of God's grace to others. Our eternal investment portfolio should be full of the most strategic kingdom-building projects to which we can disburse God's funds.”

Where can these investments be found? How do we store up these "treasures in heaven" and what are "strategic kingdom-building projects"?

In this global society one need not look far, for they are all around us. The neighbor that lost their job and needs help paying an electric bill, the family member with past due medical bills, the lonely man or woman waiting for a visitor in the nursing home, the Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, Feed the Children, Navigators, missionaries from your church, the orphan living in a third world country unable to afford basic education, the African village in need of clean drinking water and mosquito nets.

The dividends paid by these types of investments go beyond your bank account and what the human eye can see. Yet it's the cash on hand that gets our attention and consumes our daily thoughts. The future is unknown, so we fret about how big our nest egg is and how much we have saved for retirement. We ignore the one sure thing "you can't take it with you when you go" and ignore the truth that you can "send it on ahead"!

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? Luke 12:20

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."Jim Elliot

Each of us can do something today. There is no investment too small and there is no time like the present to start thinking with eternity in mind. I encourage you to prayerfully consider how God wants you to invest in your future and then "just do it". That simple.

New Hope's investment portfolio;

Mentoring Kenya's youth
Bible studies in the slums
Financial assistance for needy Primary and High School students
Medical missions
Discipleship programs
Food for children in need

"In His name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21

With the beginning of a New Year our hearts reflect with gratitude upon the many things God did in 2012 and look forward to all that He is going to do in 2013!

As a ministry with discipleship at its core, we continue to pursue an incarnational lifestyle and believe that 2013 will provide even more opportunities to "make Him known" (Col 1:27) through the interactions we have with the youth and women of Kenya.

A vital element of our ministry is building trust and establishing meaningful relationships for discipling and mentoring. This requires an investment of time, patience, honesty, compassion and perseverance as well as a willingness to communicate truth and grace. These are the primary tools God has placed in our hands and it is our prayer that He will continue to give us His wisdom and strength in using them for His glory in the New Year!

So what's ahead for 2013?

Of course we have no way of knowing ALL that God has planned (that's what makes this wonderful LIFE such an adventure!) but we believe that the activities and programs that we began last year will continue and some will expand.

In January we resume the Kibera Ladies Bible Study that takes place weekly in Kibera slum. We are excited to begin with Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield of the Mind" study. Please be in prayer for these ladies who truly desire to have the mind of Christ and to be the "light" in the community where they live.

Kibera is the 2nd largest slum in Africa. Home to 1 million people,
it is a place of extreme poverty, rampant crime and disease.

During the last Presidential election, Kibera was a place of flash point violence that resulted in the loss of life and property for many residents. With the next election just around the corner on, March 4th, it is our prayer that the love and hope of Christ, which these ladies have embraced, will have a positive impact on their neighbors and community.

Ministry with the youth at St. Catherine's Children's Home for Orphans will also continue in 2013. On February 2nd, I (Denise) will begin conducting a monthly discipling/mentoring program.

This program is being implemented through Compassion Ministries, a ministry under Life Community Church (LCC) where I am a member. We are grateful and excited to be part of this holistic mentorship program and to take the next step in building relationship with these young people!

 From my initial meeting with them last June during the Medical Clinic, to the "Count Me In" youth camp in August and through our my visits to the Orphanage, these kids have displayed a hunger for God's word and a great need for supportive encouragement. Your prayers are appreciated as we give what Pastor Mark terms, a "a hand-up".... not just "a hand-out"!

We will also continue to host and be actively involved with the LCC Ladies Life Group. Life Groups are cell groups designed to provide intimate fellowship in a weekly small group setting whereby we encounter Christ together and edify one another.

 Prayer, worship and the word are foundational elements of each gathering, as well as sharing one another's burdens and practical ways to implement God's will for our lives.

As members of the Life Group, we are also committed to the individual peer partner relationship each of us has with another member. We meet once a week with our partner for prayer and discipleship. I (Denise) feel especially blessed to have two wonderful partners; Saru & Gladys!

Saru

Gladys

Life Coach Training also resumes in January and I am excited to be starting Module 2 of the one year course. This Module, called Life Focus, concentrates on the "destiny discovering process" and how to develop a "personal values set". the idea is for me to discover my values and destiny so that I can help others do the same. Most exciting will be actually working with a "client" (she will get free coaching and I will get practice! So it's a win/win situation) over the next 10 weeks and guiding her through the processes. "They" say you're never too learn...and in this case I believe "they" are right!

Below, Dr. Les Brickman conducts the November Life Coaching Workshop.

Joanna Kelley graduated from the Life Coach Training in August of 2012 and here she is giving a testimony of how God used the training in a transformational way in the life of someone she has coached. We were very encouraged!

Koinonia" Fellowship. The four synonyms of koinonia in the New Testament are philos, which means “related by love for outward characteristics”; hetairos, meaning a sharer in a common enterprise; sunergos, meaning a fellow-worker; and metochos, a participant. Each of these words denotes a unity which is expressed outwardly. This is true of fellowship but by contrast, fellowship is also an inner unity.

We will continue to be intentional about building and maintaining "koinania" fellowship with others. This happens through formal and informal means and balancing ministry with shared-life experiences. Bonds forged playing games, sharing meals, picnics in the park, watching a movie, visiting the sick, attending weddings, funerals and baby showers are as important a part of what we do as preaching and Bible Study.

Many of our koinonia friendships are the result of long term mentoring,discipling or co-ministry relationships that have grown and matured and some are recent divine connections. These are some of the sweetest friendships we can partake of as we encourage one another to finish the race well!