Moi s Bridge. Molo Njoro. Kenya

Transcription

1 Moi s Bridge Molo Njoro Kenya

2 PCUSA: Mission As Christians, we understand "Mission" to be God's work for the sake of the world God loves. We understand this work to be centered in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and made real through the active and leading power of the Holy Spirit. The "where" and "how" and "with whom" of mission is of God's initiative, sovereign action, and redeeming grace. The message we are called to bear is the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. The PC(USA) claims responsibility for bearing the Good News in this way: "The Church is called to be Christ's faithful evangelist going into the world, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all he has commanded; demonstrating by the love of its members for one another and by the quality of its common life the new reality in Christ; sharing in worship, fellowship, and nurture, practicing a deepened life of prayer and service under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; participating in God's activity in the world through its life for others by healing and reconciling and binding up wounds, ministering to the needs of the poor, the sick, the lonely and the powerless, engaging in the struggle to free people from sin, fear, oppression, hunger and injustice, (giving itself and its substance to the service of those who suffer, sharing with Christ in the establishing of his just, peaceable, and loving rule in the world." Book of Order (G )

3 PCUSA: Principles of Partnership Doing mission in partnership, we commit to be guided by these principles both individually and collectively. In the spirit of candid evaluation, we commit to asking ourselves discerning questions. For each principle, certain approaches are suggested: Shared Grace and Thanksgiving Is there courage to confess human sins and confront the forces which deny the abundant life God promises to all in Jesus Christ? Is God's forgiveness mutually shared in Jesus Christ? Does the community of partners join in thankful worship to celebrate God's gift of grace and renewal? Mutuality and Interdependence Is each partner's self-reliance affirmed, with mutual giving and receiving? Is there space for all partners to be guided by self-determination? Beyond unhealthy dynamics of power and dependency, is there openness to new dynamics of mutual service and mutual renewal? Recognition and Respect Is there recognition of the self-affirmed identities of each partner? Are the unique contexts of all partners recognized and respected? Are gifts and needs of all partners affirmed and respected? Are cultural differences being mediated with sincerity and in a Christ-like manner? Open Dialogue and Transparency Is there local initiative in mission discernment and mission activity? Does God's Word shape us to lovingly confront one another's failings and prophetically challenge the world's systems of power and domination? Is there transparency with all partners about what is being done in mission, even if there is disagreement? Sharing of Resources Do partners minister to and inspire one another, listen to and critique one another? Is there mutual accountability in the exchange of all resources, including human, cultural, financial and spiritual? In trusting relationship, have partners moved beyond two-way relationships into open mission networks and ever-expanding webs of mission relationships? As heirs to God's grace in Jesus Christ and joint heirs with all who confess him Lord, we commit to wrestle with these questions. We look toward the promise of Christ. We count on the subtle power of the Holy Spirit to guide and limit us. We hope, standing firm in common praise to the Triune God, that our practice of partnership may be transformed; that our participation in the Missio Dei may more fully contribute to the abundant life that God promises all people and all creation.

4 Faith and Life What is the church? The Christian church is the community of those who believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior and who desire to their lives praising, loving, and serving him in all things. What is our Christian vocation? Our Christian vocation is our calling to follow Jesus Christ in all we do and to enact our love for Jesus Christ by serving God through the specific work and relationships we enjoy in life. Where does the Christian life lead us? Living as a Christian draws us together with other believers in Jesus Christ in the church, which is the fellowship and context in which our ministries of service to Christ are carried out. What are the marks of a Christian life? A Christian life marked by worship, learning, and service to God as we are drawn together with others in the church of Jesus Christ. The Christian life is also marked by works of love, justice, and peacemaking through which God s gracious mercy and care for the world are shown. What does Faith mean? Faith means continuing to believe and trust God s love and care, even in the most difficult times, and when it seems impossible that God could be with us. And, faith means letting go of our personal plans and agendas for our lives and following what we perceive to be God s will and directions for us. What is love for God? Love for God is our living every moment joyfully, knowing that God is with us and doing all things with the desire to please God. What is love for others? Love for other is our complete commitment to their well-being and our desire to give ourselves to serving them fully. Introducing the Reformed Faith by Donald K. McKim A Cathechism of Christian Faith and Life

5 Faith and Life praising, loving, and serving Him in all things serving God through the specific work and relationships we enjoy in life works of love, justice, and peacemaking letting go of our personal plans and agendas for our lives and following what we perceive to be God s will and directions for us draws us together with other believers in Jesus Christ in the church living every moment joyfully, knowing that God is with us and doing all things with the desire to please God With our love, giving a complete commitment to their well-being and our desire to give ourselves to serving them fully Introducing the Reformed Faith by Donald K. McKim A Cathechism of Christian Faith and Life

6 Kenya Partnerships: How did they get started? Roots: Presbytery to Presbytery Partnership

7 Kenya Partnerships Grow: It is all about relationships Rafiki

8 Presbytery Partnership Branches Molo Girls Hostel

9 Presbytery Partnership Branches Njoro Orphans & Vulnerable Children Saturday Program

10 Justice

11 Commitment to well being Living Joyfully

12 Partnership Branches: United Orphanage and Academy

13 The Children

14 The Academy

15 2004 and forward:

16 Orphan Launch Kickoff Meeting Orphan Launch

17 Worship, learning, and ser vice to God

18 praising, loving, and ser ving Him in all things 5 th a n d 1 0 th y e a r a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r a t i o n s

19 Draws us together with other believers in Jesus Christ

20 It is all about the children Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

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22 Asante (Thank you)