Stu Ross - December 2020 Update
East Africa Mission Consultant
Stu Ross links U.S. congregations with East African partners to strengthen the church for God’s mission. Through these efforts, over 300 churches and over 150 schools have been built, hundreds of girls have been cared for and over 500 evangelists have been trained. The following report from Stu includes information about partnerships between the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and The Outreach Foundation:
PCEA Church Construction
PCEA Mabati School Construction
Girls’ Education and Rescue Centers
Clean Drinking Water in Kenya
Despite COVID and curfews and masks, the work of The Outreach Foundation continues – cautiously – here in East Africa. Travel and work during this time have been difficult. We currently have about 125 workers and no positive COVID tests.
This year we will complete twenty churches and three schools. Many of the churches were great distances from our home in Kikuyu. Many were in very isolated areas. Some of the congregations were meeting under trees, some in schools, and some in sheds. Now all are worshiping in beautiful modern churches that can grow and evangelize and witness to their communities. These churches become beacons of light in some very desperate areas.
Archer’s Post Itangi Church
Several weeks ago, we dedicated Archer’s Post Itangi Church in northeast Kenya. The church was built in a predominantly Muslim area where Christians are persecuted daily. This is a semi-arid area where 10% of the population is starving. Food relief has not been forthcoming due to COVID. The people are suffering BUT the church gives them hope and relief. It was important for us to build this church in this place at this time. PCEA did not have a presence here. The congregation worshipped under a tree before moving into this church, which will hold about 450 people. It was overflowing on dedication day!
Woyani Church
Woyani Church was one of the most challenging churches that we have ever built for the following reasons: The minister for Woyani, Rev. George Kahuho visited us in October of 2019. We wanted to help them since it was a very poor area and we wanted to support their effort. I thought we could start it in November 2019 and dedicate it in January/February 2020. Our workers went to the site in November but because of the rains the roads were impassable – really the last .5 km hill before the church. The workers left because no sand/stones/cement could be delivered to them at the building site. The congregation was so interested in getting the church started that they hand-carried or got motorcycles to carry all these materials the last .5 km up a steep muddy hill. They carried 20 tons of sand, 200 bags of cement, and hundreds of stones weighing 60 pounds each. Our men went back to work in the new year. Then COVID broke out and they couldn’t work again. They returned to the worksite in August and completed the church in late October.
This church was built in Kamba Land (that’s another Kenyan tribe) where witchcraft is one of the predominant religions along with Seventh Day Adventists and Catholics. Presbyterians are not much of a factor and that’s another reason I was so interested in the building of this church. We partnered with Nairobi North Presbytery to do this church. They are very interested in mission and reaching out to poor areas.
The Woyani congregation has about 50 adult members and many children, 100+. I was very impressed with the church members and their vision. This church will grow and fill the 400-seat capacity of the new church. They came from a small metal church with what they call a “muddy” floor, I think you know what I mean!
PCEA Ongata Rongai Booth Girls’ High School of Excellence
We are currently building a large girls’ boarding school, PCEA Ongata Rongai Booth Girls’ High School of Excellence, in a suburb of Nairobi. There are no girls’ boarding schools in this community of almost 300,000 people. This school will have a capacity of 320 and will offer the girls a chance to succeed in life. It is a Christian school and the school chaplain will be offering devotions and Christian education. Girls in Kenya are the last to be educated in a family. This girls’ boarding school will offer them hope and opportunity. After graduating, they will not only be Christian community leaders but will also be educated heads of households. We are hoping to welcome students in January 2021.
Nandupoi Borehole
We are hoping to drill a borehole in Nandupoi deep in the Maasai land in the very near future. Getting there is an adventure. The road meanders all over the place and at times is not distinguishable as a road. There are many places where the road is nearly impassable. We traveled there recently, and I am glad we had a 4WD. We passed many camels strolling in the bush being shepherded by a Somali. We finally reached our destination about 1½ hours into the bush. We were met by many villagers eager to meet with us for that wonderful precious liquid, water.
We brought our Waterman with us and after introductions, we allowed them to search for the beautiful commodity. We sat down with the elders and the women and discussed the way forward. We told them that besides managing the borehole they would also have to participate financially. They agreed to everything. There were four churches represented, Nandupoi, Nalepoi, Oltepesi, and Ohtanli. All would share equally in the running and the use of the borehole. The water board would be made up of elders from the four churches and three community leaders. The borehole would be drilled on Nandupoi Church property. While we were there our Waterman found a very strong river of water watch would serve the area well. The four churches being served by the borehole are within a 6-mile radius. I said, “Isn’t that far?” and the area Chief said they now have to go about 12 miles to a dirty waterhole that dries up during the dry season. This borehole will not only serve the area’s 500 families (about 10,000 people) but will also water their cattle and goats. Water is life!
Food Distribution
On December 12, we did our last distribution of food. This time, because it was Christmas, we gave food vouchers from the local food store. We distributed vouchers from $10 to $35 depending on the number of children in the family. Thank you all for supporting this program. It has brought many poor families through this pandemic. We ended up giving out about $20,000 of food in six different distributions.
Grateful for your prayers and partnership,
Stu Ross
East Africa Mission Consultant
Read more about Stu Ross and his ministry in East Africa HERE.
THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $50,000 for support, travel, and ministry funds for Stu Ross; gifts to help build PCEA churches ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 each; $70,000 for more classrooms and dormitories for Girls’ Education and Rescue Centers and $10,000 for scholarships to pay for the girls’ boarding and education;$80,000 for PCEA Mabati School Construction for school classrooms and equipment. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.