New Beginnings Children's Center is a wonderful place to be! Whether you are an orphan who calls it HOME, part of the staff who share their lives, or a missionary who traveled thousands of miles to see what it's all about, New Beginnings is a place to begin again and grow, for everyone.
Currently we have 150 children who call New Beginnings Children's Center HOME. We also have more than 400 students who attend New Beginnings Christian Primary and Secondary Schools. That's a lot of children!
Most people in the USA would not believe that ALL of this could take place in temporary metal structures, many with dirt floors. The rooms are small and crowded. During the dry seasons the dirt floors must be watered daily to prevent an infestation of chiggers in the children's feet. During the wet season the floors are muddy and the water washes through the rooms. The classrooms that have cement floors threaten to collapse from erosion. Often 4 children will share one wooden desk (a bench to sit on and another higher bench to write on). There just aren't enough desks because there is no more room to place another desk in the classroom. Yet, the students clamor to attend school, very happy to get an affordable, quality education that gives them hope for a brighter future.
Our goal is to improve the buildings where the students are learning in order to make learning better for those who attend New Beginnings Christian School. Can you join us in our efforts to begin the building process for our permanent primary classrooms?
On Friday, November 7 we will be holding a Benefit Dinner in York, PA. We hope that many of you will be able to attend.
Our guest speaker, Tom Tuno, is a first time missionary to New Beginnings. Tom works at the Worship Center in Lancaster, PA. He is just a regular guy like you and me, but God touched his heart while he was at New Beginnings this past summer, and he would like to share some of that with you.
We will also have special music by Peter Hershey, who also comes from the Worship Center in Lancaster, PA.
As a bonus we will have a special guest appearance by a Kenyan, who goes by the name Juhudi Sankara Ratego Omwanda. Juhudi currently lives in the USA. His ancestral home is in the same district where New Beginnings is located. Juhudi lives in New Jersey and is planning to attend the dinner in support of Shalom Christian Missions and New Beginnings. He will share briefly how New Beginnings Children's Center is impacting the Gwassi area of Kenya and Suba District. Juhudi is a human rights activist and a philanthropist in Kenya.
I invite you to reserve your seat to hear all of these special people BUT more than just hearing them, come out to support our building projects. Every single cent of profit will go to our building projects. Our goal is to build our new Early Childhood Development Classrooms. These will be permanent brick structures that will meet the standards for Kenya. We will start with 3 classrooms to hold Baby Class, Nursery Class, and Pre-Unit Class. Time to get our little ones in a better environment. If you are unable to attend our Benefit Dinner, PLEASE consider giving a gift in kind to go towards our building fund. Help us build for their future.
Shalom Christian Missions Annual York, PA Benefit Dinner
Friday, November 7, 2014
Four Points by Sheraton
1650 Toronita Street
York, PA 17402
$35 per person $280 per table (8)
Doors open at 6:30 PM, Dinner at 7 PM.
Order tickets online here or send a check to Shalom's headquarters at:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
ATTENTION BUSINESSES: Sponsor a table and we will place your company's name and any advertising you would like on the table. Great advertising AND it's a tax write off! PLUS, you help the children.
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 charity; all donations are tax deductible.
September, October, & November 2014: For the next three months we will take Christmas donations for OPERATION CHRISTMAS SHOES for the children of New Beginnings Children's Center. Our goal is to collect $25 for each child, enough so that each will receive a new school uniform, shoes, and socks to start their new school year in January. (Approx $25 per child X 140 children = $3,500) Please consider a special gift to the children and make their Christmas a little brighter because you gave.
All donations should be sent to our headquarters at this address.
Friday, November 7, 2014 will be our Annual Benefit Dinner in York, PA at Four Points by Sheraton, 1650 Toronita Street. Cost is $35 per person. Consider sponsoring a table for $280 and help us reach our goal to start of our new permanent structures for our Early Childhood Development (ECD) classrooms. We will have a special guest speaker and guest performer. Please mark your calenders for this special event. Order tickets online and view more information here.
All proceeds from the dinner will go towards the building fund of New Beginnings Children's Center. We need to build three classrooms for our ECD: Baby class, Nursery, and Pre-Unit. Currently 50 children in the Baby Class and Nursery share a small over crowded classroom that is made of sheet metal and is beginning to lose its foundation. Let's work together to see this goal achieved and to bless the youngest children.
What will I do on a mission trip? That is often the question. The answer...what is God calling YOU to do? From construction to VBS, from medical care to preaching the Gospel. Our teams have done it ALL. What is God calling you to do? Not sure? Take a step of faith and see what God shows up to do. It will be more than you ever dreamed or imagined. Our missionaries stay in missionary housing right on the grounds of our children's center in a very remote area of Kenya. Spend time immersed in the culture and lives of those who call New Beginnings HOME. Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER.
Please visit our missions page for dates and more information.
NOW is the best time to apply and start planning!!
Our three long-term missionaries are busy, busy, busy!
Lynnea is now working in the primary school and teaching much of the English in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. She is also helping with C.R.E. (Christian Religious Education) in grade 4. Lynnea felt very honored this week when one of her coworkers at the primary school gave birth to a baby girl and named her after Lynnea. She is making an impact.
Christa was working with the secondary school until a shortage of teachers in the primary school forced her to fill in until someone is hired. With Mrs. Pamela on maternity leave, it was great to have Christa available to fill in that vacancy.
Cody is busy keeping things running as smoothly as possible after the sudden death of our beloved head cook, John. Cody oversees all the foodstuffs that come into New Beginnings. He then supplies the cooks with what they will need at each meal AND handles the meal cards to make sure the children are all fed each day, three times a day.
The days go by quickly when you are kept as busy as these three. As night falls, there is a time for worship and prayers with the children... and then tutoring while the children study.
They tell me they could use more help. Any offers?
Consider serving as an intern or long-term missionary at New Beginnings Children's Center in a beautiful, remote area of Kenya. God can do amazing things with willing hearts!
Pray for our long-term missionaries and consider a gift to support their work.
Our three long-term missionaries will return home in December and spend Christmas with their families. They are asking for donations to cover the cost for their return flights to Kenya in January.
Donate to our long-term missionaries here. PLEASE include a note on Paypal's donation page with the missionary account number of the person you would like to support.
Christa's account number is KE1497.
Cody & Lynnea's account number is KE1495
John Makrias account number KE1499 (John Makrias travels back and forth to Kenya every couple months, for about 2 months at a time, to make sure things are running properly and to avoid corruption issues.)
All donations are tax deductible.
The final semester of the 2014 school year has begun. This is always one of the most stressful semesters of the year. As our grade 8 prepares for their national exam on November 4th, grade 7 is already busy preparing for their turn in 2015. The rest of the students are working hard to be sure they pass to the next grade level.
Last semester our 7th and 8th grade students took a district wide exam. The results were outstanding! Grade 8 took 6th place in Suba District (out of 50 schools) and placed 1st in the Kigoto District out of 26 schools. Grade 7 took 13 place in the Suba District and 2nd place in the Kigoto Zone. Way to go!
Continue to pray for these students - their futures are looking very bright. New Beginnings is fast becoming the school to attend.
Our secondary students are also very busy doing their best to bring our 'New' New Beginnings Christian Secondary School to a placement that will stand out in the community as an affordable, quality educational institution.
Please join me in praying for all the students, staff and administrators of New Beginnings.
Consider becoming a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education'
We are praying for more people to become involved in helping with the costs of education for the children. This is an extreme need right now! We need to increase our teachers' salaries to above the poverty level. With the incoming president last year, prices of everything have been on the increase within the nation. This is not helping those who live far below the poverty level in this rural area. We also need to purchase more books and other supplies for our students. We cannot do this based on the tuition we are charging since our goal is to continue to keep our schools affordable for the people who live in great poverty within this community. Please join us in praying for people to join us in this effort.
Donor Defender If you choose to donate $20-$50 each month to our education fund, you can provide an increase for 1-2 teachers.
Patron Defender If you give $51-$99 each month to our education fund, you provide for 3-4 teachers to receive a raise and more supplies such as books to be purchased for a classroom.
Champion Defender If you can donate $100 or more each month to our education fund, you provide a raise for 5 teachers plus additional supplies. Please consider helping us in this very critical way.
Every person who becomes a 'New Beginnings Defender of Education' will have their name placed on a plaque that will be on display at New Beginnings Christian School. Our current goal is to have $1000 in donations for our education fund each month to supply our teachers with a fair wage above the poverty level in Kenya and to buy the needed classrooms supplies for the school. This is vital for the education of the children in this remote part of the world.
If you are a teacher or just care about seeing children in a very remote, poor area of the world have a chance at a better life, consider becoming involved as a 'Defender of Education'...'for the love of a child'!
The roof is being placed on the secondary classrooms as I type. What a blessing it will be to have that finally in place. We still need to get some more windows placed in our secondary classrooms to keep the wind out on those chilly days and keep papers from blowing away. These are now small items that need finished. Our next BIG phase of our building will focus on beginning our permanent primary school classrooms.
Continue to pray for God to provide for all that is needed for His children.
| Project | Cost | Donated | Still Needed |
| Fencing & Temporary Gate plus additional fence for new parcel | $1,500 | $1,500 | COMPLETED |
| Gutters & Water Holding Tanks | $5,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| MIssionary House Renovations | $5,000 | $5,000 | COMPLETED |
| Roof for 3 classrooms | $2,500 | $2,300 | $200 |
| Two final missionary houses | $5,000 | $0 | $5,000 |
| $19,000 | $11,300 | $7,700 |
$7,700 still needed - Praise God for your generous donations!
Early Childhood Development Classrooms (3)
Finish Secondary Classrooms for Form 3 and Form 4
Permanent Dining Hall/Kitchen
Medical Clinic
Permanent Boys Dorm I
Briane is 10 years old. He came to live at New Beginnings in 2012. He came in as an emergency case when his school teacher discovered that his hands and feet were infested with chiggers. After spending hours digging the horrible critters out, leaving gaping holes in his hands and feet, Briane could not return home where he would risk being reinfested. A decision was made for Briane to remain and he has happily called New Beginnings HOME ever since.
Briane is an outstanding student in grade 3. His last semester scores were in the 470's out of a top 500 score. Briane is a bundle of energy and loves to laugh. He is quick to help and also quick to have fun.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Briane recently lost his sponsor and is in need of a new sponsor. Please pray that God brings someone forward for Briane. Pray that this beautiful soul will not suffer because of finances. Cover Briane in your prayers!
The sudden, unexpected passing of our beloved John the cook (known to the children and staff as 'Talo', which means 'Leader') has left a huge hole to fill at New Beginnings and within his family and community. John leaves behind four children in Nyasoti. New Beginnings will take charge of three of his children while one will go to live at a home for mentally disabled children in the HomaBay area. We join the staff, children, and community in the grief of his passing and say "Rest in peace, John. We will see you later, 'Talo.'"
Loved by all!
Sharon is 14 and lives in Kenya. Her father is deceased and her mother cannot care for her and her siblings. Sharon needs help!
By sponsoring Sharon or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Eric is 12 years old. His father is deceased and he lives with his grandmother who cannot afford to care for him. Can you help Eric?
By sponsoring Eric or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Meet Lydia!
Lydia is 7 years old. Her father has gone insane and her mother has abandoned her. She lived with her grandmother until it was more than she could manage. She now lives with a concerned community member. Lydia needs help!
By sponsoring Lydia or another child for $38 a month, you will provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and an education.
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Visit our Sponsorship page.
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non-profit,
dedicated to serving children in need throughout the world.
All donations are tax deductible.
A & R Rental Center - York, PA
Bon-Ton Dept Stores - York, PA
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
Imagineered Signs - York, PA
This Little Light of Mine - York, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Provident Presbyterian Church C.R.E.W. Youth Ministry - York, PA
Eagle Christian Ministries - York, PA
Elisha's Home and Ministries - Montrose, PA
First Baptist Church - Smithville, TX
First Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth - Chambersburg, PA
First United Church of Christ - Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Hope For Women - Tempe, AZ
The Worship Center - Lancaster, PA
May God bless you as you pray and give to help the children!
Donations may be made through paypal or you may send your donation to:
Shalom Christian Missions
1255 Mill Creek Rd
York, PA 17404
(717) 586-6945
These two children are at the top of our list of children needing sponsors. Click one of their pictures to read more about them.
Meet more children in need
