Mission
Kenya
Kisumu is Kenya’s third largest city, but this region, known as the Nyanza Province (one of 8 in Kenya), is currently the poorest region in Kenya. The province is also battling one of the highest HIV+ rates in the world, with roughly one of every four children now orphaned.
Thousands of children roam the streets in Kisumu, many of whom are AIDS or Malaria orphans, or victims of abusive parents. They are often abandoned without food, homes, or any hope for a future. Life concentrates on particular projects. We support a non-governmental orphanage, Word of Life Ministries with James and Rose Osare. Click here for more information.
Life makes a number of mission efforts through donations made by way of a regular Sponsorship Scheme, financial gifts, and direct mission work. Ministers from Life go out to Kisumu annually and keep in regular contact via the telephone.
The work there has since expanded to one further orphanage in Siaya, called Home of Hope. The outreach work has even extended to four church plants being established in the nearby rural areas namely, Hope Church in Siaya, Life Church in Seme, and Freedom Church and Grace Church in Bodi. A regular teaching programme with these churches has been established by mobile phone.
Please contact Julie Shimizu on 01403 218842 for further information.
Mission Reports
2010
In February 2010, A team of 10 (Alan George, Anna Pisani, Hilary Smith, John Milborrow, Mark Shimizu, Pauline Jepps, Ray White, Scott Carr, Stuart Parkins and Julie Shimizu) returned to Kenya to teach, and visit the orphanage and Church plants. Click here for the report (pdf) of what went on while they were there.
2009
In January 2009, Julie Shimizu, Pauline Jepps, and Anna Pisani went back to Kenya to teach, and visit the orphanage and recent Church plant. Click here for the report of what went on while they were there.
2007
In November 2007, A team from our church went to Kisumu, Kenya to build a playground for the Osare Orphanage. Click here for the report of what went on while they were there.
Later, Julie Shimizu and Anna Pisani went back to Kisumu to re-visit the orphanage and to visit the two churches that had been birthed during last year's trip. Click here for the report of what went on while they were there.
2006
In October 2006, A team from our church went on mission to Kenya to teach, pray, and re-visit Kisumu. Click here for the reports of what went on while they were there.
Moldova
Life has links with Moldova through our support for social, community and outreach work in the capital Chisinau and in the village of Malcoci. We helped the villager community build a much needed church facility, and in 2002 a team from Life went to work with the church.
Moldova is a former Soviet Republic, which became independent in 1991, but its economy and infrastructure have been crumbling for decades. It is officially the poorest country in Europe, with very high unemployment and very low wages. As a result, one million Moldovans work abroad: that's 25% of the population and a huge proportion of the adults of working age. Many children are therefore left with relatives or even abandoned. Alcohol, corruption and drug related problems are rife, and many young women and girls are trafficked into prostitution by false promises of work abroad.
Through our partnerships, we aim to provide support to local organisations and churches in their work in the community, including tackling the terrible people trafficking issue, and to encourage them through our relationships with them and by working together on projects, particularly with children and young people.
In the Summers of 2004 and 2005 our FLYers youth group went to work with the Moldovans at the children's Camps they organise at Lacu Rosu, Romania, and in 2005 part of the team also went to Moldova to build on our relationships there and revisit Malcoci. We’ve subsequently made other visits to Moldova to organise children’s clubs and camps, support the Moldovan leaders and to work together encouraging and training emerging young leaders.
If you’d like to know more about our work in partnership with Moldova, what we’ve done and our plans for the future, contact Rob and Jo Allen: 01403-257143. We’d be more than happy to share our experiences with you or provide a presentation at a group meeting.
Benidorm
We support and pray for those from our church who have been called to serve God overseas for short term or long term mission.
In June 2008, A team from our church, together with Rev Lynda Hulcoop from Southwick Christian Community Church, went on a short evangelistic mission trip to Benidorm, entitled “PowerPoint 2008 – Life: What’s the point and where is the power?”.
Click here to read the report of what went on while they were there.