Providing Practical Help For Growing Churches
At TRAIN(Kenya) we rejoice to see churches across the country that are growing. Many of the churches are seeing significant numbers added to their congregations, mainly through conversions. However, this presents great challenges in terms of their practical needs. While some have no building at all, others find that the building they have is too small to accommodate the growing congregation. Some in the rural areas have no access to fresh water; some have no toilet facilities; some lack Bibles and hymn books. The needs are great, and it is our joy to assist in meeting these needs wherever we can.
However, we are anxious not to encourage a spirit of dependence upon outside help. We are always encouraging the churches to do everything possible to provide as much as they can for their own needs. There are a number of ways in which we seek to accomplish this objective, but one recent scheme is to identify needs and ask the churches to raise as much as they can towards those needs. As a charity, we then double that sum (up to a certain amount). Through this, the churches appreciate the benefit of raising as much of their own support as they possibly can.
These are some of the practical ways we are helping at this time:
- Support of church leaders so that they can fully devote themselves to the work of the ministry – we currently support 4 – see the page “Supporting Pastors” for more.
- Provision of motorbikes and monthly running costs for church leaders so they can do their work more efficiently – we currently provide for 3 leaders. We have also helped a pastor to buy a car.
- Financial help for those training for the ministry to help them to devote maximum time to study – we currently help one – see the page “Training Ministers” for more.
- Setting up and running costs for the Bible Light College in Kasei, Pokot North. So far we have helped with infrastructure, and the bimonthly costs of materials and accommodation when the students come – again, see the page “Training Ministers” for more.
- Contribution to the costs of the three annual Conferences for the churches in Pokot North – Youth, Women’s, Men’s. They are largely self-supporting. Scores, sometimes hundreds, attend.
- Infrastructure projects with church buildings, involving everything from the construction of a new building for worship, to the erection of toilet blocks and the provision of chairs.
