As I prepare to depart from this world once again into the world and life at New Beginnings in Kenya, I am once again reminded of the harsh differences of both worlds. I wonder again where my home is and I am reminded that my home is not on this earth. Here, I am only a sojourner on the way to my final destination. I walk this journey with all of you who support this ministry in so many ways. Not only by financial support but also by your strong prayer support. We at SCM covet both.
At this turn in the journey we are faced with the need to have New Beginnings Children's Center in Kenya registered under Kenyan laws. The Ministry of Children in Kenya has been working to register all children's centers and thus improve the state of their many orphans and vulnerable children. These children have been not only abused by their guardians but often are then abused by others who want to pretend to care for them in order to make a profit. We have dealt with such a person in the past and I assure you Kenya is filled with such people who will abuse vulnerable children in order to profit from westerners who want to help.
We have worked diligently over the past four years since exposing our former director to make sure that what funds you give go towards helping these children. I would like to give you a glimpse of what caring for the children means to this ministry.
Unlike many other ministries/organizations, SCM and New Beginnings cares for the children's physical needs by taking the children in and providing for their education, food, clothing, medical care, and even housing for those who need it (which is more than 95% of the 160 we serve). We do not just go to a community and build a school or hand out food. We care for the children. We believe this is what God has called us to do and many in Kenya will confirm that what we are doing is successful and greatly needed, including our local District Children's Office in Kenya.
Your donation of $38 per month per child has helped make this possible. But sad to say, this is not enough. It is not enough for the children to only have the mere basic needs of life met while they struggle to live a decent life. It is not enough to take them only one step higher than what they received from their guardians who abused and neglected their needs. God expects more for His children.
In my quiet time recently God directed me to Matthew 15:21-28. This is where Jesus is approached by a mother of a demon-possessed daughter. His disciples tell Jesus to send her away (because she is not one of them) but in the end Jesus heals her. The verse that God used to capture my heart was verse 27, when the woman says to Jesus "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." She was referring to herself as unworthy but still in need. I felt convicted that in a great sense, this is all that we have been offering the children of New Beginnings, the crumbs from the table. When God wants them healed and whole.
The children of New Beginnings, although happy to have 3 meals per day, a school to attend, and shelter to live in, are only being given the crumbs from the table. Many sleep on the floor, they have very few clothes, although fed plenty of food, they sometimes lack proper nutrition. 'The crumbs from the table.'
There are not enough adults on staff to provide good child care. Often our younger children are bullied by the older children who are in charge of helping them. It is a reality that we MUST face and must CHANGE. The Kenya government requires the change and I believe that as followers of Christ who want to show the love of Jesus, we must also desire this change.
In order to improve the care of these precious children, Shalom Christian Missions has decided to increase the child sponsorship amount and offer a partial sponsor option to those who support the children. We have prayed over this decision and wrestled with it for the last 2 years. We hope that those who love and support these children will stand with us as we grow through this change. You will not be less loved by the children but more loved by the children since we will no longer give them 'the crumbs from the table' but will invite them, in a sense, to dine with us. We will be able to provide the needed beds and clothing, we will be able to hire the needed staff to adequately care for the growing needs of the children. We will be able to offer more nutritious foods. There are so many things we truly need to provide for them to live a better life.
We recognize that many of you are giving all you can to help these children. I know that some have instilled a family fast to pay for a child, while others give up an evening out each month to help a child. Still others are supporting more than one, some up to 8 children, each month. We are not asking you to change. You may continue to pay the current amount to sponsor your child(ren). SCM will simply look for a second sponsor (who can give roughly the same amount) in order to provide better care for the children. Nothing will change in your relationship with your child. You are still, and always will be, very precious to them. We are simply giving others an opportunity to help and love them, too.
Our sponsor program will change to look like this: a partial sponsor will be at the current amount you as a sponsor are paying or $40 per month for any new sponsor. A full sponsor for a child will be $80 per month. Again, we do not expect most of our sponsors to change, only if God is calling and you are able. We just feel we truly need the higher amount to provide more than 'the crumbs that fall from the table'. We recognize that this change will not happen immediately and to find additional sponsors for the children will take time. What is important is that we begin to journey in the right direction to see this change take place for the children.
God wants these children to be whole and healed. Most of the children of New Beginnings have come from very difficult backgrounds that most of us would find hard to believe. God doesn't want SCM and New Beginnings to remain the same and only provide the crumbs but to invite the children to sit at the same table as you and I do. To have a better standard of living. Not extravagant by any means but more like what you would expect for your own children. Will you stand with us on this important move to serve these precious lives?
Stand with us in prayer for these children and all the new opportunities we now must embrace in order to care for them. If you support us financially, stand with us as we grow. Please continue to support your child(ren). If God is calling you to stay, stay at your current level. If He calls you to increase, increase. Stand with us on this important decision for the love of a child.
If you are reading this and do not currently sponsor a child, now is a great time to step forward to help. Perhaps you can help partially sponsor a child for $40 a month. If that is too much to commit to at this time, contact our office for a lesser monthly option to help the children. We need your help!! Let's invite them to the table!
2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Thank you for standing with us as we grow!
Contact us to have someone share with your church, group, school, scouts, or any gathering about the miracle that God is doing on a hill in remote Africa. A missionary would be happy to share.
How great it is for young and old alike to hear about miracles on the mission field in Africa.
Schedule for 2015 TODAY!
info@shalomchristianmissions.org
(717) 586-6945
Nov 13, 2015 is our Annual York Fundraising Dinner. Mark your calendars and plan now to attend. Sponsor a table! Bring your friends!!
Businesses: Sponsor a business table and advertise for your business while receiving a tax write off and supporting this ministry to the children of Africa.
During July we will be taking donations of medical supplies. These include over the counter pain meds, cough meds, tooth brushes, etc. Please do not donate tooth paste or any items that are heavy since weight is always an issue in transporting items. Those sort of items are better to purchase in Kenya.
During August we will collect school supplies. As the children head back to school in the USA, why not pick up a few extra supplies for the children of Kenya?
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, to medical care, to sharing 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 of brick construction, on the secure 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. Show the Love of Jesus with the community.
Change their lives AND change your life...FOREVER!
Winter 2016
January 10 - 24, 2016 (2 weeks) $1500 + airfare
January 10 - February 10, 2016 (1 month) $1900 + airfare
(Winter trips include a Safari to Nakuru National Game Park)
July/August trips for 2016 are now open!
Because of projected demand for summer of 2016, we will have several 2 week trips open
AND a 1 month option. Contact us for dates and details.
(Summer trips include a Safari to the world famous Masii Mara game reserve.)
Visit our Missions Page for more information about each trip and to download an application.
All dates are tentative until airfare is booked.
NOW is the best time to apply and start planning!
Airfare is always best in December & January.
Want to stay longer?
2-6 month internship and long term mission opportunities available!
Contact our office for details at info@shalomchristianmissions.org or (717) 586-6945!
Papa John Makrias has returned to the hill in Kenya known as New Beginnings. He has returned with a difficult task ahead of him, which is hiring some much needed staff. We ask for your prayers as he works through resumes, interviews, and works to build a stronger base for New Beginnings to meet the required laws of Kenya and provide a more secure structure for the children to grow and prosper.
While John is familiar and capable of hiring staff for his business in the USA, it is a different and more complicated job to hire staff in Kenya. Please keep him and the incoming positions covered in prayer, for God to guide and direct our steps as we work to lead New Beginnings into a brighter future.
Another intern will join Gaye as she travels to New Beginnings in the near future. Please keep Melanie and Gaye in prayer for safe travels and a fruitful mission. Pray that as Melanie serves the Lord in this powerful way, she will grow and be drawn closer to the Father.
Shalom Christian Missions offers both short-term, intern, and long-term opportunities for those who are interested in serving in a remote part of Kenya. Contact our office if you would like to join us.
The children are half way through their second semester of school for 2015. That means Mid-Terms. Keep the children in prayer as they strive to do well in their studies.
This past month the children competed in the local music festival and 2 groups qualified to travel to the district festival. The Sacred Song and The Traditional Dance as well as a few who placed highly in the poetry competition. We always feel blessed by the effort the children place in the arts and hope that they continue to move forward in the area that God is calling them.
Please continue to keep the children and our teaching staff in prayer as they work under not adequate circumstances and a harsh environment to teach and learn at New Beginnings.
You are a blessing to them.
The rainy season is finally letting up and once again transport is able to climb the dirt road to New Beginnings. Construction can continue to take place. The biggest project is currently the primary classrooms. The shell of the first one is nearing completion. However, the inside work remains to be completed. Final floor coats, final wall coatings, windows and doors, plus painting. The summer team that will arrive next month is looking forward to being able to help with some of the painting projects around New Beginnings.
We are still in great need of the additional finances to complete the cost of the new boys' dorm. Because of the urgency of need with the boys' dorm (after the old dorm was torn apart in a storm in November of 2014) we had to allocate some of the funds for the classrooms to cover the cost of the new dorm. Without regaining the cost, we will not be able to finish the 3 classrooms we hoped to finish at this time. Please consider giving to our building fund.
Primary classrooms under construction.
Building Phase II:
| Phase II Projects | Cost | Donated | Still Needed |
| Rebuild (3) Primary Classrooms and finish Secondary Classrooms | $21,000 | $21,000 | COMPLETED |
| Finish floors, windows, and desks for Form 3 (Grade 11) and laboratory for Secondary School |
$2,000 | $2,000 | COMPLETED |
| Permanent Boys' Dorm (Emergency) | $10,000 | $2,550 | $7,450 |
| $33,000 | $25,550 | $7,450 |
Construction of permanent primary classrooms is underway.
Can you help us get this final part of the boys dorm completely paid?
Phase III: Permanent Dining Hall/Kitchen & Guard Building (Estimated at $20,000)
Finish Final Classrooms for Secondary/Office/Library/Laboratory building (Estimated at $10,000)
Phase IV: Rebuild Primary Classrooms (8 classrooms and office)
Phase V: Dormitory for older girls, Dormitory for older boys, Medical Clinic/Pharmacy/Store and Staff housing
Can you help us Build for their Future?
Tyson is 12 years old and is in grade 6 at New Beginnings Christian Primary School. Tyson is an average performer in school. He gets the best scores in Social Studies and Religion class. Tyson's mother died during the birth of his little brother, Tony. Their father has another wife and began neglecting Tyson and his siblings. Tyson and his siblings, although they visit their father's home frequently, know New Beginnings as their other home. Tyson is in need of a partial sponsor to meet his needs. Please pray for Tyson!
To become a partial sponsor ($40/month) or full sponsor ($80/month) to a child, please visit our sponsor a child page.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
The rains are slowing down but still coming regularly. The valley has become green and full of life once again.
We thank God for the life giving provision of rain over the last month and continued rain to give the people and the area restored hope for life.
Since the rains have slowed, travel is a little better.
FinaDona is 13 and is in grade 9 at New Beginnings. She works hard to remain in the top half of her class. FinaDona's father is deceased and her mother struggles to provide for her family. Can you help FinaDona? FinaDona needs a partial sponsor.
To become a partial sponsor ($40/month) or full sponsor ($80/month) to a child, please visit our sponsor a child page.
A child is praying...are you the answer?100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Peter is 12 and is in grade 6 at New Beginnings. He strives to remain in the top half of his class. His mother is deceased and his father is older and struggles to meet his needs. Peter needs help! Peter needs a partial sponsor.
To become a partial sponsor ($40/month) or full sponsor ($80/month) to a child, please visit our sponsor a child page.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
Faith is 8 years old and attends New Beginnings School. Her father is deceased and her mother is unable to support her. You can choose to partially or fully sponsor Faith.
To become a partial sponsor ($40/month) or full sponsor ($80/month) to a child, please visit our sponsor a child page.
A child is praying...are you the answer?
100% of all sponsor donations go to help the children.
You can BE THE DIFFERENCE in the life of a child!
Shalom Christian Missions is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization,
dedicated to serving children in need throughout the world.
All donations are tax deductible.
Special Thanks to:
A & R Rental Center - York, PA
Bon-Ton Dept Stores - York, PA
Freedom Wireless - York, PA
H & R Block - USA
Test Products Inc. - Exton, PA
This Little Light of Mine - York, PA
Veleska Jewelry - Lancaster, PA
Ann Downing Ministries - Hendersonville, TN
Christ American Baptist Church Youth - Spring Grove, PA
Christ American Baptist Church - Spring Grove, 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church - Chambersburg, PA
First United Church of Christ - Schuykill Haven, PA
Harvest Chapel - Abbottstown, PA
Helping Hands Ministry - McAllen, TX
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
