Why did St. John send a team to Kenya?
We went as part of our comprehensive response to Jesus Apostolic command from Acts 1.8 that by the Spirit’s power we be witnesses of Jesus “…in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.”
What did we accomplish in Kenya?
We established an initial, but strong relationship with key leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, as well as discovering important areas we can partner in the gospel.
What is the recommendation of the team?
We were moved to encourage St. John in two different ministry areas.
The first is to support deaconess ministry. Considered by many to be “the mother of the community” these women, among many other ministries, organize isolated and suffering HIV/AIDS widows and orphans into life-giving, self-sustaining communities that reminded us of the earliest Christian communities of Acts 2.42f! The ELCK leadership is currently defining what theses faithful women need including what has already been determined – tin (as opposed to thatch) roofs for water collection.
Secondly, we were moved by the ministry of Masai Pastor Momposhi who is working at brining the gospel to this ancient warrior tribe. He is working to overcome difficult cultural obstacles, including polygamy, and “female circumcision” still practiced on pre-adolescent girls. He is in the planning stages with the ELCK to build a rescue center that will have clean water, develop into a school for girls and have dorms for boarding.
How are we helping to fund these “ends of the earth” ministries?
St. John, as a congregation, tithes 10% of our gifts to ministries outside of our walls. About one-half of our tithe goes directly to the Michigan District of the LCMS. The other half is divided up between “Judea”/Rochester ministries; “Samaria”/Detroit Urban ministries and “Ends of the Earth”/ELCK ministries noted above. In dollar amounts, it cost ~$10,000 to send a team of three there and back; with about $27,000 left to disperse over time on month-by-month installments.
Where does the money actually go?
Here’s the path of our funds.
First we send out our tithe to the LCMS’ “Friends of Mercy,” associated with LCMS World Relief/Human Care, which has a donor to match our gifts. Our gifts are then doubled! These funds are administered by Rev. Mark Sell who serves as our liaison between us and the ELCK, and receives a 10% fee for his ministry.
Next, as Rev. Mark Sell determines in conversation with ELCK leaders, he releases the funds when accountability and timing is appropriate.
Rev. Mark Sell then reports back to us, through our team member and elder, Kirk Radford, who is responsible to update the elders and congregation monthly as to progress in our partnership.
Are there other ways to contribute to this “ends of the earth” partnership?
Yes. First, we’re going to open up this ministry to our Rochester friends and neighbors by inviting them to Christmas Eve worship and bringing a special gift to assist in these HIV/AIDS rescue centers. You’ll be asked to invite others to this meaningful mission.
Secondly, if you so moved to give an “over and above” gift of love, please mark your gift “ELCK Mission.” We’ll send out these individual gifts, along with our tithe. Both will be matched and then administered by Rev. Mark Sell of the LCMS Friends of Mercy with regular updated through our St. John elder, Kirk Radford.
How long will we participate in the partnership?
The current thought is to make a five year commitment that will involve: 1.) dedicated tithe funds to send a new team of three leaders over each year; 2) the remainder of these tithe funds will be portioned out to the ELCK based on their needs, and Rev. Mark Sell’s wise administration.
Couldn’t we just send the money instead of spend it on sending three leaders?
This is a good question that has been pretty thoroughly debated in staff and lay leader circles. Having just returned with the faces, embraces, conversations and miraculous moments imprinted on our souls, we can assure you that sending St. John emissaries of mercy and embracing the people of the ELCK changes us as it ministers to them. If you go to the Friends of Mercy web site, you’ll find that Rev. Mark Sell highly encourages congregational teams to visit. Now, all us that went, know why! We were blessed beyond measure and that blessing is translating into mission and ministry regularly at St. John even as we speak.
When is next year’s team scheduled to go?
No official date has been set, but late September, or early October plans are in the works.
In His Service,
Kenya Team 1
Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson, First Grade Teacher
Mr. Kirk Radford, Elder
Rev. Dr. Karl E. Galik, Senior Pastor
We went as part of our comprehensive response to Jesus Apostolic command from Acts 1.8 that by the Spirit’s power we be witnesses of Jesus “…in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.”
What did we accomplish in Kenya?
We established an initial, but strong relationship with key leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, as well as discovering important areas we can partner in the gospel.
What is the recommendation of the team?
We were moved to encourage St. John in two different ministry areas.
The first is to support deaconess ministry. Considered by many to be “the mother of the community” these women, among many other ministries, organize isolated and suffering HIV/AIDS widows and orphans into life-giving, self-sustaining communities that reminded us of the earliest Christian communities of Acts 2.42f! The ELCK leadership is currently defining what theses faithful women need including what has already been determined – tin (as opposed to thatch) roofs for water collection.
Secondly, we were moved by the ministry of Masai Pastor Momposhi who is working at brining the gospel to this ancient warrior tribe. He is working to overcome difficult cultural obstacles, including polygamy, and “female circumcision” still practiced on pre-adolescent girls. He is in the planning stages with the ELCK to build a rescue center that will have clean water, develop into a school for girls and have dorms for boarding.
How are we helping to fund these “ends of the earth” ministries?
St. John, as a congregation, tithes 10% of our gifts to ministries outside of our walls. About one-half of our tithe goes directly to the Michigan District of the LCMS. The other half is divided up between “Judea”/Rochester ministries; “Samaria”/Detroit Urban ministries and “Ends of the Earth”/ELCK ministries noted above. In dollar amounts, it cost ~$10,000 to send a team of three there and back; with about $27,000 left to disperse over time on month-by-month installments.
Where does the money actually go?
Here’s the path of our funds.
First we send out our tithe to the LCMS’ “Friends of Mercy,” associated with LCMS World Relief/Human Care, which has a donor to match our gifts. Our gifts are then doubled! These funds are administered by Rev. Mark Sell who serves as our liaison between us and the ELCK, and receives a 10% fee for his ministry.
Next, as Rev. Mark Sell determines in conversation with ELCK leaders, he releases the funds when accountability and timing is appropriate.
Rev. Mark Sell then reports back to us, through our team member and elder, Kirk Radford, who is responsible to update the elders and congregation monthly as to progress in our partnership.
Are there other ways to contribute to this “ends of the earth” partnership?
Yes. First, we’re going to open up this ministry to our Rochester friends and neighbors by inviting them to Christmas Eve worship and bringing a special gift to assist in these HIV/AIDS rescue centers. You’ll be asked to invite others to this meaningful mission.
Secondly, if you so moved to give an “over and above” gift of love, please mark your gift “ELCK Mission.” We’ll send out these individual gifts, along with our tithe. Both will be matched and then administered by Rev. Mark Sell of the LCMS Friends of Mercy with regular updated through our St. John elder, Kirk Radford.
How long will we participate in the partnership?
The current thought is to make a five year commitment that will involve: 1.) dedicated tithe funds to send a new team of three leaders over each year; 2) the remainder of these tithe funds will be portioned out to the ELCK based on their needs, and Rev. Mark Sell’s wise administration.
Couldn’t we just send the money instead of spend it on sending three leaders?
This is a good question that has been pretty thoroughly debated in staff and lay leader circles. Having just returned with the faces, embraces, conversations and miraculous moments imprinted on our souls, we can assure you that sending St. John emissaries of mercy and embracing the people of the ELCK changes us as it ministers to them. If you go to the Friends of Mercy web site, you’ll find that Rev. Mark Sell highly encourages congregational teams to visit. Now, all us that went, know why! We were blessed beyond measure and that blessing is translating into mission and ministry regularly at St. John even as we speak.
When is next year’s team scheduled to go?
No official date has been set, but late September, or early October plans are in the works.
In His Service,
Kenya Team 1
Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson, First Grade Teacher
Mr. Kirk Radford, Elder
Rev. Dr. Karl E. Galik, Senior Pastor
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