Home of Hope in Zimbabwe - January 2021 Update

Dear friends,

We thank God that despite the pandemic, we were still able to celebrate Christ’s birth by giving gifts to the destitute. We did not know how we would be able to get clothing to distribute, but our Heavenly Father provided. There is nothing that he can’t do even in a worldwide crisis. At the beginning of the lockdown, many felt abandoned when churches were forced to close and the people who usually helped them could not but we were able to give them help and a bit of a Christmas celebration which helped to show them that their Father still cares.

We usually serve food to about 100 people a day three times a week. We expected about 120 people to come for the Christmas parcels, but we prepared for 150 just in case.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationJanuary 25, 2021Home of Hope, Zimbabwe

Philemon Project Preschool - December 2020 Update

On behalf of the entire Philemon Project team – thank you! Thank you for your partnership and support. And a special thank you to all who helped us with the August 4th explosion's aftermath. Without your faithful support, we could not carry out our ministry to the least of these in Lebanon.

The Explosion

On August 4th, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at warehouse 12 at the port in Beirut exploded, causing at least 204 deaths, 6,500 injuries, and an estimated 15 billion dollars in property damage. The explosion also left an estimated 300,000 people homeless. Experts consider this to be one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history. The Philemon Project's GROW Center is 1.4 miles away from the blast site and suffered significant damage. Windows and doors were blown out, walls cracked, AC damaged, electrical, and even plumbing lines were affected. Glass and debris ruined many children's toys and furnishings.

Stu Ross - December 2020 Update

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.

Refugee Appeal - December 2020 Update

…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. Mathew 2:13

With a global pandemic raging, they no longer get front-page billing. But in this Christmas season, it is well worth remembering that the Babe born in Bethlehem was one, for a time: a refugee.

These refugees whom The Outreach Foundation has served since 2012 and whom you have supported, came into Lebanon from Syria during the long war and from Iraq, beginning in 2014 because of ISIS. They have been cared for by our partners in tender, life-giving ways. Here is one of their stories…

Tumaini Children's Ministry - November 2020 Update

Christian greetings from Tumaini/Huruma Children’s Ministry.

We pray and trust that you are staying safe and healthy during this unprecedented pandemic. Nyeri county, home of the Tumaini Children’s Ministry, has been affected by the pandemic with 704 confirmed cases to date. Unfortunately, infections have been on the rise, affecting the marginalized at a disproportionate rate.

In March of this year, the government directed all schools and children’s homes to close down to control the spread of COVID-19. To remain compliant, we repatriated all of the children except four to guardians.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationDecember 1, 2020Tumaini Children's Ministries, Kenya

CCAP Community Schools in Zambia - November Update

There are 40 community schools for orphaned and vulnerable children managed by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Zambia. More than 6,000 children are supervised by over 120 volunteer teachers. Many classes use church buildings but have been lacking student desks and teaching materials.

As reported in the June update, Zambian schools were closed in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Most of the schools reopened on September 21. There were some challenges in reopening the community schools since they did not have adequate space for social distancing.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationNovember 11, 2020CCAP Community Schools in Zambia, Zambia, CCAP

Namumu Orphanage Center - November Update

After COVID-19 forced schools in Siavonga, Zambia to close, they have reopened recently and some are offering online learning. In response to a request from the Namumu Orphan Center (NOC), The Outreach Foundation was able to provide $2,000 so that the secondary school children could access classes virtually.

With that $2,000, the director was able to purchase five computers, one smartphone, a modem, and a large bundle of internet usage time. With your support for Namumu, through The Outreach Foundation, you have enabled five high school girls to stay in school and learn virtually. With that $2,000 you have made an impact in the lives of these children and their community and country, beyond your imagining. THANK YOU for your generosity in support of the children at Namumu.

Africa, Partnership, Projects, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationNovember 10, 2020Namumu Orphanage Center, Zambia

Lauren Scharstein- October 2020 Update

The Rev. Lauren Scharstein is Deputy Director for Mission with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. The PCEA Mission Department has responsibility for PCEA mission schools and rescue centers, sustainable water projects, evangelism, church-planting, and global partnerships. Lauren recently shared this update on her work with Mother Esther School:

Laughter, Cookies, and Hair-braiding
It has been seven months since many of our students were sent home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Communities across East Africa are reporting higher rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Girls who were sent home from school are less likely to return than boys the same age.

Namumu Orphanage Center - Update

Christopher Kasanda and Florence Chisangano grew up in vulnerable households near Siavonga, Zambia. They were each referred to Namumu Orphan Center (NOC) at a young age. There, they received care and were able to attend school. They did well in school and after years of study AND medical training, they have both returned to the Namumu clinic as clinical officers (similar to nurse practitioners). They are happy to return and Namumu is excited to have them back. They are role models for the 17 children at NOC. The Outreach Foundation is helping to support the children, including paying the school fees for the 13 children in secondary schools.

Vulnerable Children's Fund - July 2020 Update

The Situation

According to James 1:7, “True religion is this, that we care for orphans and widows in their distress…” We cannot be faithful to the whole Gospel if we do not express love and care for the most vulnerable in our midst. The Outreach Foundation believes this fundamentally and believes that children are the most vulnerable of all in our sinful, broken world. And The Outreach Foundation believes that all children have the right to survive, to thrive, and to fulfill their God-given potential. This means understanding the global situations facing children everywhere and committing to helping to provide access to basic services, care, and education to the children in their (Outreach’s) spheres of influence.

In the church, and around the world, there is an effort to provide comprehensive care for vulnerable children that addresses the physical, emotional, educational, social, and spiritual life of every child, recognizing that they are each created in God’s image. The ultimate focus is on value and dignity for children and their families.

Reformed Presbyterian Children’s Day School Ministry - July 2020 Update

The Children’s Bible Ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Guanabacoa, Cuba, began as a pastor’s dream shared with a group of visiting Americans from Thomasville, Georgia. Guanabacoa, a suburb of Havana, is a poor but proud and bustling community teeming with young families with children. Pastor Yoelkis Sierra Gonzalez knows this neighborhood well, and he saw firsthand the great need for a safe place for young children while their parents are at work. Pastor Yoelkis imagined the day when his church would welcome those children, feed and care for them, and teach them about Jesus.

Now, two years later, Pastor Yoelkis’ dream is becoming a reality. Soon after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, construction of the building that will house this ministry began early this year with a target completion date of fall 2020.

Tumaini Children's Ministry - June 2020 Update

A mission effort of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Riamukurwe parish, the Tumaini Children’s Ministry comprises the Tumaini and Huruma homes for vulnerable children. Before the pandemic, more than 100 children lived and attended school at Tumaini. Huruma, a nearby facility that includes a number of disabled children, housed 50 children. The Tumaini ministry also includes a vocational training program, which serves post-secondary students and people from the community.

On March 15th, the Kenyan government announced the closure of all schools and learning institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hope for Syrian Students - June 2020 Update

A “holding pattern”

….is a concept I am too-well acquainted with, considering how much time I spend on airplanes because of my work with The Outreach Foundation. Given the fact that my “hometown airport” is Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta it is not uncommon to hear the pilot come on the sound system in our approach to the world’s busiest airport to apologize for being in one, sometimes, because of storms in the area, but, most often, because the “traffic” for landing has backed up. Recently, we were stuck in one of these weather-related holding patterns for so long, that we had to bop over to Nashville to get gas – before coming back to Atlanta to land!

In much the same vein, schools all over the world, from Boston to Baghdad, from Denver to New Delhi, from Peoria to Paris have gone into a “holding pattern” because of COVID-19 and such has been the case with the schools for Syrian refugee children run by the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. Over the years, your generous gifts have supported and encouraged these four schools in Lebanon (in Minyara, Tyre, Tripoli and in the Beqaa Valley at Kab Elias). With the local Presbyterian church providing oversight, these places of love and hope have embraced the fragile, displaced refugees in their midst.

Stu Ross - June 2020 Update

Based in Kikuyu, Kenya, Stu and Annie Ross are responsible for partnering through the Mission Projects Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in a ministry of building schools, churches, and girls’ rescue centers as well as managing water projects. Stu and Annie help link U.S. congregations with East African partners to strengthen the church for God’s mission. We recently received the following update from Stu:

Everything in Kenya has been shut down since March 23. Kenya has a dusk to dawn curfew which is strictly enforced. There is no movement allowed between counties. This has affected our church construction work in Kenya since that would involve moving from one county to another. Consequently, construction has stopped on ten churches that were in the process of being built.

Help for South Sudanese Refugees

“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

South Sudanese refugees, in the camps of Ethiopia and Kenya, are struggling to survive, where living conditions are crowded, UN agencies are underfunded, PPE is at a premium, and people are hungry. But what is so amazing about this situation is that the church leaders in the camps are describing an even deeper hunger - for God’s Word. They seem to truly understand the ultimate Source of Help. We, at The Outreach Foundation, are eager to help them meet this priority need. Through our past involvement in trauma healing, literacy training, and Bible distribution, we now have learned of an opportunity to ship a container of 5,000 Bibles in the Nuer language to the refugees!

Bill and Bette Bryant Crisis Nursery - April 2020 Update

We recently received this update from our partners serving vulnerable children and families in Lusaka. Their critical ministry is changing the lives of children, mothers and families in Jesus’ name.

COVID-19 Emergency Response

While the worst health and economic impacts of COVID-19 in Zambia are yet to come, the country is already struggling with economic turmoil and severe hunger. Last year, Zambia suffered its worst drought in over 40 years, followed by floods in the rainy season that destroyed crops and property and displaced people in districts across the country. In the months to come, the impact of COVID-19 will grow in Zambia and worsen the conditions of millions of orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children. Our partners Alliance for Children Everywhere (ACE) and Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ) continue to serve in Jesus' name, providing regular programming with extra precautions and emergency responses for those most affected.

Home of Hope - Update

Note from Outreach:
We hope you and your loved ones are well during this time of COVID-19. The Outreach staff is well, and our global mission efforts continue. We received this update from Home of Hope in late March and encourage you to pray for our dear partners in Zimbabwe.

We thank our Heavenly Father for many undeserved blessings that He has given to us all. The most precious gift He has given to us is His dear Son Jesus. It is hard to fathom that He would send His one and only Son to save us from perishing from our sins!! What kind of love is this? The amazing free gift of salvation where He gives us the power to become His children. We did not earn our salvation by good works but Jesus did the work by dying on the cross for us. Unearned mercy, love and forgiveness.

There are many trials and difficulties here... water problems, drought, a fuel crisis, high inflation, shortages of the staple diet of mealie meal (very expensive if we do get it), high schooling costs, poverty, depression, poor wages, high unemployment, high cost of medicines and hospitals, cash shortages, fear of the future ... but for us, the Good News never disappears. Jesus is alive... God is always there for us in these troubling times. The difficulties never seem to go away but God is with us to get us through each moment of each day.

Africa, Projects, Partnership, Vulnerable ChildrenThe Outreach FoundationApril 9, 2020Home of Hope, Zimbabwe

Philemon Project Preschool - February 2020 Update

She is desperate, alone, and vulnerable. A single mother, a refugee, a migrant domestic worker – far away from her home and family, searching for a safe place to leave her child while she looks for work. She has fled her homeland, from the brutality of war, economic uncertainty, ecological disaster. Now, struggling to live in Lebanon as a refugee, she faces limited options. The GROW Center seeks to meet the needs of Syrian refugee migrant workers, and underserved Lebanese communities. We serve 75-80 children, providing early childhood development and adult mentoring for over 150 parents a month. While the present GROW Center is thriving, sadly, there are months we reach capacity and cannot accept new children. Recently when a single mother from Syria learned that we couldn’t receive her child, she burst into tears, falling to her knees, pleading, “please help me...I have no place to put her...”

Some weeks later, we were able to make room for her child, but they both suffered while waiting for a space at the Center. Our work is making a gospel missional impact on families. Many come from Muslim backgrounds, and many hear the gospel through our work. Because of this mother and her daughter, and many others like them, we are firmly committed to replicating our work to reach more families with the love of Christ.

Partner Updates

Note from Outreach:We hope you and your loved ones are well during this time of COVID-19. The Outreach staff is well, and our global mission efforts continue. We received this update from Home of Hope in late March and encourage you to pray for our dear partners in Zimbabwe.

Note from Outreach:
We hope you and your loved ones are well during this time of COVID-19. The Outreach staff is well, and our global mission efforts continue. We received this update from Home of Hope in late March and encourage you to pray for our dear partners in Zimbabwe.