Not only do the children get an education, they get to hear about their Savior. (Photo courtesy of IN Network)
Kenya (MNN) — Kebera, a suburb of Nairobi, is home to between 500,000 to 1 million people. The slum is the largest in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. Those who live there have little hope. But International Needs USA says there are two ways to break this cycle of poverty.
President of International Needs Rody Rodeheaver says, “When a child comes to know Christ and has hope, when a child has an education, then they have a chance to break the cycle of poverty and to grow up and to break out of Kibera.”
International Needs is getting involved in two ways. First, through vacation Bible school in summer months. “Churches come in and we actually take the children out the Kibera slum, where they can get out of their environment, where they can get a good meal, play games, hear the Gospel, and sing songs. It really helps them.”
The other way IN is helping is by holding weekly Saturday Bible clubs. “Every week,” says Rodeheaver, “children that are part of sponsorship program in Kabera, and their friends: they come–hundreds of them–for a Bible club where there’s singing, Bible teaching, and food.”
According to Rodeheaver, this facilitates relationships. “It also allows us to meet some of the parents.”
As parents get involved, Saturday morning Bible clubs also serves as a food distribution program them.
What kind of impact does this have? “There are children and teenagers who make first-time commitments to Christ,” says Rodeheaver.
It also serves as a check-up, of sorts. “So we know the kinds of things that may be going on in their homes and maybe see where there would be a need for an intervention, or a need to step in and share with the parents.”
You can help sponsor a child in the Kabera slums, helping a boy or girl to get a formal education and hear the Gospel. Click here to help.
