NEWSLETTERS

                                                                  FALL/SUMMER 2013

 FOOD DONATION ARRIVES IN KENYA

The worst drought in 60 years has caused a severe food crisis in Kenya and left more than 3 million Kenyans facing malnutrition and starvation. The worst hit areas are mainly in Northern Kenya. This has resulted in massive crop failure, drying up of the few water sources, and death of animals which are the community’s major source of income.

 
In response to the news African Team Ministries shipped a 40’ container with 250,000 meals. It arrived at the church headquarters fully intact with taxes and duty waived. Here is a report from Kenya of some of the distribution.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Food distribution exercise started on Monday the 16th of July 2012, with the Secretary for relief and Development inspecting the packed food ready for distribution. He acknowledged the good work done by Keith Jesson and African Team Ministries USA for their love and kindness to the needy. Rev. Mutahi said, “If Christ himself was present physically on earth today, He would do the same thing the church and our friends in America are doing. We therefore thank our friends who have generously given their contributions towards helping the needy.”

After the distribution residents were interviewed. They were very grateful for what the church is doing for them. “We are very happy with what the church is doing. In fact, were it not for the assistance, our situation could be much worse.”

The problems in Kitui can be solved if only there could be a lasting solution to their problem. The land is productive, but the rain frustrates them year by year. According to the residents, the last time they harvested a good harvest was in 1992.

The local and national church is appealing to friends with like minds to come in and help drill water in areas of high dependency. The church has witnessed the potential the people of Kitui have. “We are very hard working, but we cannot achieve much. When we plant the rain comes and after a short while it disappears. Then everything that we planted is scorched”, lamented Koki Mulu. She continued, “If only we can get water, we can plant horticultural plants and support our families.”

Women have now turned to ‘odd’ jobs. “When we wake up in the morning and our children start crying of hunger, we go the quarry to look for something to feed our young ones. For a whole day we earn one hundred shillings. How with one hundred shillings, are we going to buy water or a packet of unga to feed our children? We end up buying a packet of maize flour”, she concluded.

AIDS PREVENTION IN KENYA

Seminars to train lay elders continue every other month. At the August seminar in the Rift Valley where the greatest unrest occurred earlier this year, the elders came with high expectations:

- to know how to help care for those with HIV and AIDS in the church and village

- to learn what will help me visit church members and their community to share about AIDS.

- to be well informed, educated and prepared to deal with cases of people infected by AIDS or HIV persons and even healthy persons for the purpose of preventing further infections.

- to be equipped on how to teach many young people on how to evade HIV and AIDS.

When it was discovered that only 18% of the churches represented, were involved in HIV and AIDS interventions, and of those who were involved only 50% were networking with other churches and NGO’s, the seminar took on a greater importance.

During the session on peace making some of the elders confessed they were actively involved in the violence. They were led in a time of prayer and repentance and taught ways of dealing with conflict resolution.
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya includes about 1.3 million adults between 15 and 49 years, another 60,000 age 50 and over and approximately 100,000 children. Death rates from HIV have reached an unprecedented level in Kenya, about 150,000 per year which is 400 people every day.

Elders are recognized, influential and accepted community leaders at the grassroots. Under the supervision of Parish Ministers, they organize the families they have oversight over to meet once a week for prayers. They also regularly make visitations to families in need. This is a very good forum for the elders to disseminate HIV/AIDS information and for influencing behavior change. The elders have a captive audience and the church has a ready infrastructure. They are assisted by deacons.

The goal is to train 5,000 elders to be HIV/AIDS peer educators to go into Kenyan households over a four year period to teach all the people to change their behavior so that they might prevent themselves and other from contracting the HIV virus, even as they encourage and support those infected and affected to live positively.

 NEWS UPDATE

More than 3 million Kenyans are facing malnutrition, starvation and even death due to the worst drought and famine in 60 years. It is so painful to daily see the photos and stories on TV.

Among the most vulnerable to the drought and famine are hundreds of thousands of children under the age of five. In the famine areas of Kenya almost 10% of the children under 5 will die. Children weakened by malnutrition are susceptible to killer diseases like measles and malaria.

African Team Ministries has been serving the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Kenya for more than 25 years. We have been given a 40’ container of a protein and fiber rich oatmeal & soup which will provide 100,000+ nutritious meals which can be eaten by infants, the elderly and everyone in between. The food has been donated leaving the transportation and distribution costs of $10,000 to be covered.

So for each $10 purchase made by you, it will provided 100 meals of oatmeal and 150 servings of soup to hungry people in the drought and famine areas of Kenya.

If you would like to help us provide this much needed gift of nutritious food please Call (800) 456-0843 or Email at atmm@earthlink.net

Thank you & God bless,

Keith Jesson
{President}

              The forty foot container of food—one hundred thousand meals of oatmeal and one hundred and fifty thousand servings of protein soup - arrives in Kenya, May 22nd.

After clearing through customs it will be brought to Nairobi and taken to the provinces in the North suffering from the drought and famine. It will be distributed through the many Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches with whom we work.

This is the worst drought and famine in 60 years. The crops failed and the water sources have dried up causing the death of many animals which are the communities’ major source of income.

In times of drought, the malnourishment of the children is very severe. Thousands of children will die and they will be susceptible to killer diseases such as measles and malaria.

African Team Ministries has been serving Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Kenya for more than 25 years.

BISHOP ZABLON NTHAMBURI VISITED THE CENTRAL TEXAS & SOUTHWEST TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCES

Bishop Zablon Nthamburi, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Kenya (1992-2004) visited the annual conferences of  Central Texas and Southwest Texas. He was chancellor of Kenya Methodist University from 1992-2004 and now serves as Vice President for Development for the five campuses and 9000 students.

 Bishop Zablon recently served as a member of the Commission which developed a new Constitution for Kenya. He also serves on the Commission on Theology for the World Methodist Council.  Last year, when the political unrest displaced 350,000 persons from their homes, Bishop Zablon was very active in caring for the displaced people and helping with their rehabilitation.  The Methodist Church in Kenya together with other churches has been involved in taking care of the displaced persons, by providing them with clothes, medicines, food, books for school going children, blankets and other necessary items that contribute to their comfort while they live in camps. Counseling services have also been offered.

Bishop Zablon was a guest at the recent Florida Annual Conference in Daytona Beach and presents a beautiful giraffe to Bishop Timothy Whitaker

 ORPHAN’S DREAM COMES TRUE

 Dear Sponsor:

 I have written this letter to thank you for the good things you gave me. I don’t stop thanking you because you have made my dreams come true, you have made my heart achieve better studies leading me to be an important person in the future. Even, if I lost my parents, but you replaced them.

According to what you have done for me, I will also put in much effort so that I perform very well in the class and whatever I am doing.

 Thank you—Thank you—Thank you

Ssesanga Martin

                                                                         CHRISTMAS GIFTS OF MOSQUITO NETS

On December 26th, Methodist Bishop Wellington Sanga completed the distribution of 560 mosquito nets. Bishop Sanga is providing insecticide treated bed nets to  people in his community. The first priority is to provide them to children and pregnant women to prevent malaria infections and death. The sad and staggering fact is that in Africa, every year over 700,000 children die needlessly from this completely preventable disease.

Each year, according to the World Health Organization, some 500 million people are infected with mosquito-borne illnesses: dengue, malaria, yellow fever, and various forms of encephalitis, including the West Nile virus. Malaria, a preventable and treatable disease, is one of the biggest killers of young children in Africa. Overall the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, kills an estimated 1 million people annually, the vast majority of them in Africa. One of the most effective preventive measures against malaria is to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquitoes bed nets

                                                                                      Some of the people raising their nets in appreciation

     
Bishop Sanga talks to the congregation                
after the church service on Dec. 26th and
gives instruction and demonstration to the
people how to use the nets.

CRAFTS FOR ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MARKETS

New, this year is a gourd nativity. The gourd is hollowed out and the nativity of banana fiber is set inside. 

                                                                                                                                        Here, a group of woodcarvers are
                                                                                                                                       carving some of the crafts sent to us 
                                                                                                                                        from East Africa 

  



                                                                 FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES


PRESBYTERIAN UNIVERSITY

In 2007, the Presbyterian College received full accreditation from the Commission for Higher Education for Kenya granting it full University status. Projected student growth in 2011-12 is 1650 students.

The Presbyterian University in Kikuyu Kenya is a center for academic excellence in the provision of Christian transformational education guided by the etiquettes of professional integrity, self-reliance and service to God and humanity.

Mission Statement

The University's mission statement is to establish and maintain a leadership role in the pursuit and advancement of knowledge through programs designed to develop the spirit, mind, and body, and to provide moral leadership in society based on Christian foundations and values.





African Team Ministries has supported the Presbyterian University and its predecessor, the Presbyterian College for twenty five years and continues to offer support.


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                                                                                  FALL 2011


                                                                                FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES


PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE RECEIVES FULL UNIVERSITY STATUS




On August 10, 2007 Presbyterian College received a letter of accreditation from the Commission for Higher Education for Kenya granting it full university status.

The academic courses to be offered in 2008-2012 are as follows:

Bachelor of Theology (2006/07)
Bachelor of Business Administration (2006/07)
Bachelor Science in Economics (2006/07)
C.Sc. Computer Science (2007/08)
Bachelor of Laws (2008/09)
Bachelor of Arts (Sociology & Criminology) (2008/09)

The projected student growth is :

Year 2008/2009:280
Year 2009/10    : 680
Year 2010/11    :1090
Year 2011/12    :1500



THE SAD STORY OF WIDOW RUTH by Dr. John Gicheru


 
        After my recent visit in the US with Presbytery leaders and to visit churches I returned home to find my friend Ruth had passed away.

        Ruth  was a born-again, committed Christian who loved singing for the Lord, attending "keshas" (overnight prayer meetings) and going for missions. She was also a widow (like my friend Mumbi), her husband had died about five years ago, leaving her with three children, the youngest being one year old. The death of her husband heralded a time of tribulations for Ruth and her children. Soon after the burial, her in-laws (husband's family) led by her husband's mother invaded her house and grabbed by force the best of the household items they could lay their hands on - sofa sets, TV, radio, blankets, utensils - name them and took off. Overnight Ruth was reduced from a self supporting mother to a destitute widow and her children to desperate orphans. This dastardly action left the village abuzz with all kinds of rumors the most persistent one being that Ruth's husband had been killed by the "Kamdudu" and it was just a matter of weeks before the "Kamdudu" claimed Ruth and her youngest child.

        Friends came to Ruth's assistance, but her family shunned her like the plague and continued to torment her with malicious gossip. Ruth refused to discuss with anyone concerning her husband's death or the rumors about the "Kamdudu", put on a brave face and continued to struggle to fend for her family. She occasionally complained about flu and aches, and used over the counter non-prescription medicines and rarely visited the local dispensary. Ruth was hospitalized due to a sudden  illness and spent about two weeks in the hospital. She died at her home a week after discharge from the hospital. Ruth was 45 years old, and left three children the last, named Joy, aged 6 years. What will happen to her children ?




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                                                                                           SUMMER 2011


                                                                            FOR THE METHODIST CHURCHES


CUP RUNNING OVER? By Festo Kivengere (Founder of African Team Ministries)

In the 23rd Psalm, David says, "My cup runneth over". Is your cup running over at the beginning of 2011?

David was speaking about his life, comparing it to a cup. At the time he wrote, his life was overflowing. Now David lived an ordinary life of problems, difficulties, sickness, bereavements and sin. How could he honestly say that his life was full and running over?
In Psalm 32, he said his pillow was wet with his own tears. How can misery change to overflowing?
You look into your cup and wonder, I don't know what is in it, but you do. Perhaps, it is full of sorrows. Perhaps you are holding  in trembling hands a cup full of pain, disease, misunderstandings, strained relationships. What is your life overflowing with?
 
        Let me tell you about Somebody who understands what your life is full of. Matthew 26, on the eve before our Master was crucified, He was deeply distressed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here is God Himself in the flesh saying, "My soul is crushed with horror and sadness to the point of death. My Father! If it be possible, let this cup be taken away from me. But I want your will, not mine."
Which cup is He talking about here? My cup and your cup. My cup was full of sorrow and grief, full of bitterness, and the judgement of God was upon it. He saw a whole world of men and women with their cups full of curses and judgment, God's condemnation, shame and fear.
 
        As I look at my Saviour in the garden, I see God intervening in history. Do you see God coming near you in Gethsemane, reaching out His holy hand, tremblingly ready to receive the cup that belongs to you? Have you ever thought of handing over your cup, the one you are holding, the one He is looking into, to Him, just as it is right now? It may have sin in it, but this is the Man who came to bear the sins of others. What a man! What an understanding Man!    
        Again a second time, He went away and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done" He stretched out His lovely hands and received the cup filled with sins and curses which belonged to me and drank it to the dregs. He took it to Calvary and there from the cross, He turned to me in victory and said, "It is finished!".
 
        Thank God, it is finished. That terrible cup of my sins, He drank to the dregs. He relieved my soul and then poured into it His love and joy and peace - the fullness of Himself in His Holy Spirit. Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!
        He is standing over there now looking into your cup. Perhaps it used to overflow, but something has gotten into it. His hands are still outstretched and if you give it to Him just as it is now, He will clean it and fill it again with the blessings of the Gospel - with assurance and forgiveness and everything good you can think of. Today, you will sing, "My cup overflows!"



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                                                                                        SPRING 2010

                                                                      FOR THE METHODIST CHURCHES


SOMETHING FROM NOTHING   By Festo Kivengere, Founder of African Team Ministries

        Her case was absolutely desperate. She was a widow with two boys. Her husband had been a seminary student, but he had died with a debt unpaid. Now the house was empty and the creditor demanded the money or the boys as slaves, according to the law! (see 2 Kings 4:1-7)

        Blow after blow: husband dead, empty house, penniless purse, crying boys, and the future is terrible! Do we know that experience? One thing after another crushing the heart, and we don’t know what to do?

        The lady was a child of God, and she knew one person to turn to. If she had turned to society, some moralist would have said, “Hmmm, if he were a man of God, why did he die with a debt?” But she turned to the God of Israel. She told Elisha the story as it was, and simply asked, “What shall I do?” Elisha was touched and the Spirit of God, who used to come upon the prophet, did come. He said to her,

        “Tell me what you do have in the house.” “Nothing at all, except a small jar of olive oil”. It was nothing to be mentioned, she thought, because the need was so big. But faith began to come as he spoke. It is always a blessing to take God as His word. It all begins in being simple enough to obey. She doesn’t know if it’s going to work, but she sends her boys to the neighbors to say, “Please, may we borrow some empty pots for our mummy?”

         “Why empty? I’ll put a little something in them” “No, no, mummy said they must be thoroughly empty”. She must have shivered, but she and the boys filled the house with empty vessels. Then she must have breathed a little prayer of faith as she took the oil, which was “nothing” and, according to the word of the Lord, began pouring the “nothing” into a vessel. As she poured, she saw the oil level rise until the big vessel was full to the brim. Now the tears must have been flowing down her cheeks, and she moved to the next vessel. Soon she was singing, “My cup runneth over!” Wouldn’t you sing?

        This is Christianity. Out of nothing has come

        Something, for that “nothing” was the God of Israel. He became so small that he was willing even to come from a little jar of oil. And the oil never stopped flowing as long as there were any empty vessels to fill.

        Do you realize that in the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit ? (See Luke 4:18) Then remember that Jesus called out to all, “If any man is thirsty..” (That is a tough word) “let him come to me and drink. He who puts his confidence in my words, out of his emptiness shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-39). Have you felt a need, are you empty spiritually? Don’t waste time, come to Him and drink!

        How simple! You admit your need: naked, I come to you for dress; helpless, I need grace. What happens? Out of your emptiness flow rivers! The point when God fills your soul is when you begin to pour out.

 METHODIST CHURCH HELPS DISPLACED FAMILIES IN KENYA

        In the unrest after the disputed election in Kenya at least 1,000 have died and more than 300,000 people are homeless. Scores of churches have closed through damage, being burned and losing their members who have been displaced. In one church, 50 people died when the church was burned.

        The Rift Valley South West Kenya is one of the worst affected areas.

        Peter Kamau is an example of how families are suffering. He came home to find a shaky, spray-painted yellow “X” marked on the corner of his home. That’s all the warning he needed to move his family, furniture and belongings to the side of the road in hope they could have a ride to safety.

        Kamau had seen the sign enough to know the meaning—his house would go up in flames that night. Others like Mary Muriruri did not have the courtesy of a warning. She said it was only by God’s grace, her family escaped with the clothes on their backs. They lost everything.

        After running from their burning house, Mary Mwiruri and her family sought refuge with hundred of other families. “We heard that churches were assisting people like us”, Mwiruri says. “We know they would take care of us”.

        The family of five hungrily digs into a hot meal as soon as they arrive at the church-sponsored camp. When a refreshing cup of water is offered, Mwiruri breaks down crying. She didn’t know there were people who cared enough to provide such basic necessities.

           After eating, Mwiruri—a wife and mother of three– patiently waits in line to enter a tent where donated clothes are stored. Despite having lived in the same clothes for seven days, she tries to find clothes for her children first. Then she helps an 8 year-old girl find clothes for the baby sister strapped to her back.

 


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                                                             WINTER 2009
                                                                   
                                                                        FOR THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES


FIRST TRAINING SEMINAR FOR LAY ELDERS

The training seminar went on well with a total of 60 elders attending including 18 women. All our facilitators, the Director of Kenya National AIDS Control Council gave the opening remarks and lesson and Rev. Samuel Muriguh officially closed and awarded the elders their certificates. Each elder received two manuals, entitled HIV/AIDS-Facts and feelings, and counseling in the context of HIV/AIDS and brochures on "The Youth and HIV/AIDS", "Helping Children Cope with HIV/AIDS" and "Facts about Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS".
 
        The Elders were very happy for the training and said that it should have come many years before and asked to be included in others in the future. One of the elders confessed that he had encountered families ravaged with HIV/AIDS and had actually been at a loss what to do and on several occasions avoided visiting them. He was very grateful that now he could confidently visit the families and offer them hope with the knowledge acquired from the seminar.
 
        Another elder told us how he had made it difficult for TOT's and CAE's (members of the church who had undergone training on HIV/AIDS and were supposed to train and educate others) to do their work because he didn't quite agree with what they were saying, especially since they might speak about condoms and encourage the youth to commit fornication. Another elder from Loresho told of the frustrations faced by a nurse who was a trained TOT - the nurse wanted to be given some time on Sunday to talk about HIV/AIDS and she was told to wait until Health Sunday which comes once a year!    

        The elders signed a commitment form on which they agreed to visit at least four families a month and file monthly reports ; that they would get a bicycle after the third report which would be church property until the 12th month.
 

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                                                                                             FALL 2008

 
KENYA CHURCHES SUFFER FROM UNREST

 The training of 5000 lay elders in the AIDS prevention program has been affected by the unrest which will increase the spread of AIDS.

 John Gicheru is ready to continue the training seminars in the Mt. Kenya and Eastern regions planned for after Easter. Special efforts for reaching youths are being made including:

 -Promoting HIV & AIDS education in schools through strengthening the schools pastoral programs in collaboration with the Christian Education Department

 - Use of mass media communication to reach young people effectively through entertainment programs with an aim to educate and promote healthy behavior.

 - Addressing cultural and social norms that put young people at risk such as traditional (non-sterile) circumcision methods.

 - Encouraging voluntary counseling and testing to know their status and better plan their lives

 - Initiating Outreach program to street children and other vulnerable youth.

 AIDS is the leprosy of the 21st century and is destroying so many families. The training of lay elders in the AIDS prevention ministry is continuing. As more people learn how to prevent catching AIDS, thousands of lives will be saved.

 
THE MOST REV. LIVINGSTONE NKOYOYO VISITS FROM UGANDA

 The retired Archbishop of Uganda Livingstone Nkoyoyo is visiting for six weeks from Uganda. He served as Bishop of Mukono from 1984 to 1994 and as Archbishop of the Church of Uganda from  1994 to 2004.

 Since his retirement, the Archbishop established the Chain Foundation to support an orphanage and reach out to street children and bring them into the orphanage. More than 100 children are provided for in the orphanage and a larger number in the community.

 The orphans are all in primary or secondary schools and given regular counseling as a way of rehabilitating them and making them responsible citizens. They are taught basket weaving, making mats, gardening, farming, cooking and carpentry.

 Archbishop Nkoyoyo and his staff visit the schools in the community to educate the students and their parents or guardians on HIV/AIDS and children’s rights and responsibilities.

 The children help with the farming and growing of maize, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, cabbages and carrots. The orphanage keeps poultry, farms fish and maintain dairy cows.

 BISHOP SHALITA ADDS LUNCH FOR ORPHANS WHO ARE HUNGRY

The families caring for the orphans in Southwest Uganda are mostly the grandparents who survive on subsistance farming. The people are very poor as most have no land for cultivation.

Many of the people live on one meal a day. As a result, they suffer from malnutrition and become vulnerable to preventable diseases. The most affected are children and women.

Children are stunted, as their growth is retarded by the lack of food and nutrition. School children in such a situation fail to go to school especially on the days they are hungry. Those who do, find it difficult to concentrate on their studies and do poorly with their classes.

Now, a nutritious meal is provided to the 134 children we support through Bishop Shalita.

Another shipment of blankets made by the women of St. Margaret’s Church, Palm Desert, CA and school supplies have been sent to Uganda to be given to orphans in the Diocese of Muhabura by Bishop Ernest Shalita.

              Tumwebaze Charity says, “I thank you so much for the gift you sent me from St. Margaret Church. Thank you again for having me in your heart. Please convey my appreciation to African Team Ministries and St. Margaret Church” She shares with the brethren scripture verse from Ephesians 6:23. Charity is in Secondary Four.

 Busekuro Steven says," I thank you for the quilt you sent me. I had never slept in a quilt,. Due to God’s mercy, I am now okay” Steven is in Primary Six. Duhimbaze Sam says, “I thank you very much for the way you are helping me by providing school fees and other necessities” Twizere Apophia Jane says, “Thank you very much for the gifts you sent to me”

 BISHOP ALPHA MOHAMED PREACHES THE GOSPEL TO MOSLEMS IN TUNDURU, TANZANIA

The population in this area is 99.9 percent Moslems and it is the only place in Tanzania that Tunduru, like Zanzibar, is where people are still under leaders called “sultans”. We thank our mighty Lord that His powerful hand delivered his people and many came to Jesus to receive their salvation and healing of their various diseases.

Our mission in this area was a tough one for we had to sleep on the floor and eat sparingly, insufficient water, and on mosquito nets, because there are very few  Christians. Our team worked hand in hand with “The Church of  Christ the Messiah” and we were able to reach 10 villages in Tunduru.

In some areas, the villagers did not want to listen to us but in other villages, we were welcomed and they listened to the living Gospel of Jesus Christ. About 195 people were converted, some were baptized and churches were planted in this area.

The rector of Christ The Messiah Church asked Bishop Alpha Mohammed to run a four weeks clergy course for the clergy who will be allocated in these newly opened churches.

Many people were saved in such a way that we had to plant Churches in that area.

     

BISHOP SANGA PLANTS A NEW CONGREGATION 

Bishop Wellington Sanga completed his sabbatical in June 2007 and returned to Kenya to take up his new appointment as Senior Pastor of the Maua Circuit. His circuit includes Maua Methodist Hospital to which work teams have gone from the California-Pacific Conference for several years.

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                                                                SPRING 2007

BISHOP GIDEON MAGHINA IS DIRECTOR OF RADIO VOICE OF THE GOSPEL, TANZANIA

As a director of Radio Voice of the Gospel in Tanzania, Bishop Gideon Maghina is reaching all of Africa via short wave radio every day and 5 million people in Northern Tanzania by FM stereo radio.
The current generation of young people are curious says Bishop Maghina. They listen and watch to practice everything regardless of the impact on their lives.
It is to this generation which also includes Moslems and traditionalists that Bishop Maghina is focusing his gospel message. Please pray for this outreach and for him as he begin his DMin studies at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA this fall.




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                                                                 FALL 2006

                                                                   FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES


TRAINING OF 1000 PASTORS STARTED FOR AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM

The first training seminars for 1000 Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian Pastors has been completed. The seminars went well and everyone left fired up to go and do something constructive to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

 The follow-up activities include visiting one home a week to share the AIDS prevention information and helping each family to change their behavior and prevent AIDS.

 Churches will set up a voluntary Counseling Center designed to help people get tested for AIDS voluntarily And also provide pre and post test counseling.

 Some pastors shared how their understanding and attitudes to people with AIDS changed during the seminar. They were refusing to perform marriages where one or both were HIV positive. Now, they declared they would treat people as made in the image and likeness of God and would counsel them with compassion and help them to make informed decisions.

 AIDS is 100% preventable and 100% incurable, 14,000 are infected every day. That is 5,000,000 worldwide this year. African Team Ministries has been doing AIDS prevention for 20 years and helped launch the Uganda AIDS project in August 1991 which helped to reduce the infection rate in Uganda by more than 50%

 The prevention training  is based on the successful behavior modification program commonly  known as the Uganda ABC plan. A-abstinence until marriage; B-be faithful once married; C-condoms, use them, especially in the family context where one or both spouses are HIV infected.

 Additional training is planned for this fall, winter and summer of 2007. It will include training of more pastors, lay leaders who each care from 5 to 10 families, youth leaders and women’s guild leaders. Aids is the leprosy of the 21st century. It is destroying so many families. Please pray for us in this ministry. Jesus said, “we must be compassionate, just as our father is compassionate”

 BISHOP GIDEON MAGHINA IS DIRECTOR OF RADIO VOICE OF THE GOSPEL, TANZANIA

 As director of Radio Voice of the Gospel in Tanzania, Bishop Gideon Maghina is reaching all of Africa via short wave radio every day and 5 million people in Northern Tanzania by FM stereo radio.

 The current generation of young people are curious says Bishop Maghina. They listen and watch to practice everything regardless of the impact on their lives.

 It is to this generation which also includes Moslems and traditionalists that Bishop Maghina is focusing his gospel message. Please pray for this outreach and for him as he begin his DMin studies at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA this fall.

 SOLAR LIGHT FOR AFRICA

Bishop Festo Kivengere, the Bishop of Kigezi, Uganda founded African Team Ministries. His successor, Bishop William Rukirande after his retirement from the Diocese of Kigezi is now working to help provide Solar light for Africa. We are pleased to provide support for this wonderful project.

The provision of solar electricity to rural communities helps to transform the lives of all in the community. Students are able to study at night and achieve better academic scores.

Solar energy purifies the water and makes it safe to drink. This reduces the use of fine-wood cut to boil water and lessens the deforestation. It also reduces the hardship on women who toil every day to grow crops, fetch water, care for the children and feed the families.

Over 2,000 schools, health clinics, community centers, orphanages and people’s residences have been electrified with at least six lights.

 DISPLACED PEOPLE BEING RESETTLED IN DIOCESE OF SOROTI, UGANDA

The 150,000 displaced people in the Diocese of Soroti have been reduced to around 50,000 people.

Families displaced from their homes by the fighting live in rough African thatch and wood/mud huts. They will have a trading post and a borehole. The camps are places of security but little else. The schools are overcrowded, the water supply limited and the facilities for the community limited to a few shops and the churches. There are many widows, elderly and disabled who are stuck in these places and have no where else to go. They have very little money, clothes or tools and live on a meager diet in small very poor cramped huts. Many wish to get their gardens and farms going again to grow food and return to normality but they have no money for seed and tools.

African Team Ministries is assisting the Diocese of Soroti to resettle the families and to provide each family with a kit of 2 hoes,
 a panga, an ax, 11 lbs each of sorghum seeds, bean seed and ground nut (peanuts) seeds and household items such as blankets,
 basins and saucepans.  It costs $20 to provide one of these kits to a family to help them as they return home to cultivate their
 land and rebuild their homes.

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