March 14, 2015 – Harvesters

Pokot Say “NO” to FGM

The Wome becky n of Pokot ministry was started three years ago with a mission to educate, empower, and reclaim the Pokot women’s identity and worth as a beloved and valued child of God. We began with a goal of empowering two women’s groups to have sustainable businesses to generate income for their families.

We are ecstatic to report that both groups have profitable sewing and beading businesses, strong leadership, and have qualified to receive a substantial business loan from the government! They own goats and chickens to feed their families. Many also have side businesses selling honey, tea, and renting guest huts. The best part is that they also unite together as a team to spiritually and emotionally support one another and others in the community.

Now that we have seen the success of economic empowerment, we are tackling a bigger challenge: eliminating the brutal, centuries old practice done to Pokot girls. Women in the Pokot, along with 130 million women in Africa and around the world, live with the consequences of a ritual called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), otherwise known as female circumcision or “cutting” of the female organ.

This rite of passage is performed on Pokot girls 9-18 years old as a preparation for adulthood and marriage, which is typically arranged by the family to a much older man who could be three to even four times her age. Pokot fathers receive a hefty dowry for their child brides in the form of animals, usually cattle, which culturally is a great sign of wealth.

The physical effects of FGM are devastating. Many girls will die during or after the ceremony due to infections or bleeding, and many more are left with serious medical problems and difficulties birthing children.

The abusive practice of FGM limits the value of girls to merely a source of wealth and has continued for decades, though it has been deemed as a punishable crime against humanity around the globe and in Kenya. As you can imagine, it’s not just their bodies being left wounded and broken, this also breaks their spirits and their opportunities to live out their God-given purpose.

However, we have hope and good reason to believe we can shift this detrimental practice. This ministry has been blessed with a faith-filled and talented Kenyan leader, Rebecca Chebet, from Pokot Outreach Ministries (POM) who is bringing truth and enlightenment to the Pokot through our Anti-FGM awareness campaign. Becky is pictured above with girls that sought refuge from FGM.

Becky and her team began this campaign in August 2012 to debunk the FGM myths and impart facts about its physical, spiritual, emotional, and legal impacts. It is grounded in biblical principles and a rights and values based approach from the United Nations, who also has declared ending FGM a top priority around the globe.

Our Successes

7,000 Pokot community members and influencers educated on the negative spiritual and physical impact of FGM
50 community leaders trained to advocate for girls against FGM and early childhood marriage
Hosting rallies attended by thousands of Pokot observing UN’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM
Launching of the first ever “Alternative Rite of Passage” for empowered Pokot girls that say NO to FGM

To learn more or join the empowerment movement, visit www.womenofpokot.com.

Equipping the Saints

Last month, more than 100 pastors, teachers, and church leaders converged in Kapenguria, Kenya for the annual pastors conference. The theme of the conference was “Service that Produces Results” based on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.

It was exciting to look back over the crowd that was intensely focused on varied topics such as “Using Your Time and Talents for Ministry” to “Developing a Strategy for Church Growth” to “The Importance of Discipleship within the local church.”

The dedication and willingness to learn of the attendees was inspiring, especially when I thought of the untapped potential in that room and the capacity to impact the kingdom of God.

The annual gathering is meant to equip and inspire church leaders to effective leadership, strategize how we can be more effective, and celebrate what God is doing in and through the ministry.

In the past, this has been done with primarily Pokot pastors, ministering in Pokot. This year, it was encouraging to see the vision of the conference organizers extend to church leaders in Uganda, South Sudan, and DR Congo. The international flare of the gathering was a great opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other.

Pictured above are Habimana from DR Congo, Festus from Kenya, and Reuben from South Sudan – three of our African partners.

Expanding Our Horizons

The Lord continues to expand Harvesters’ reach around the world! After much prayer and discussion, two very important votes were taken at the December Board of Directors’ meeting. We are excited to introduce you to the newest additions to Harvesters.

The Board of Directors unanimously approved the addition of a new ministry partner, China Sees, which is led by Steve and Katie. (Their last name and location are withheld to protect their safety.) They have ministered to the underground church in Asia for the past fifteen years. The Gospel has multiplied exponentially in this part of the world creating an insatiable need for qualified leaders. As a result, the focus of their ministry is to encourage and equip nationals to reach nationals.

They draw their purpose and inspiration for ministry from the Apostle Paul’s instruction to the Ephesian church leadership to use their spiritual gifts “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” In both rural and city settings, Steve and Katie are equipping house church leaders and encouraging church planting efforts “in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” By God’s grace, many Asian nationals have been trained and deployed in lay leadership roles — and are now training others to be disciples who make disciples.

Before the decision to add a new partner was made, the Lord foreknew (before we even asked) that Harvesters would need additional help as He prepared to increase the number of our ministry partners. He led David and Helen Stansbury to meet with us earlier in the year. After meeting several times and through much prayer, they expressed their desire to work with Harvesters. The Board of Directors was unanimous once again in their decision to have David and Helen join our staff.

The Stansburys have two married children and four beautiful grandchildren. They live in Falling Waters, West Virginia, and attend Independent Bible Church. Both have worked with another missions organization for eight years, so they are well prepared to help us at Harvesters. They have made a number of short-term mission trips to Myanmar and are very familiar with our ministry partner there. Helen will assist J. Lucarelli in the financial area and Dave will assist Ed Hirshman in coordinating with our Asian partners.

Please remember both of these couples in your prayers! We are excited to see how the Lord will use them to reach the world with the gospel.

This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23

Finding Freedom

Women carry the heaviest burden of poverty in Uganda. Women’s empowerment is key to ending that poverty, and that’s why it is one of the top priorities of Kerith Ministry. The church stands out as a grass roots institution through which change and development can be realized.

Rather than giving women food or money, Kerith Ministry focuses on training and educating women to find lasting solutions to the challenges they face – hunger, poverty, and disease. They have created a nurturing environment that gives a voice to women and helps them discover who God created them to be. Weekly Bible study and fellowship encourage the women to grow in their faith. Sometimes, it can be challenging for the women to step out in leadership when don’t believe they are capable, but through these meetings many discover that they can effectively minister to others.

Kerith Ministry created the Bugaga foundation with the objective of encouraging economic empowerment for women by providing financial loans to create or boost small businesses. To date, 12 women have benefited from this program, with many already earning enough to repay their loans! In 2015, they hope to extend interest free loans to 50 additional women totaling $2,125.

Amagoro Eflance received a 100,000 shilling loan – about $35 US – to boost her business of selling spices and onions at the Pallisa Central Market. She was able to purchase additional supplies and increase her sales. She now earns enough to meet all of her needs, as well as some to save.

In November 2014, women’s ministry leadership created SACCO, a saving and investment entity for women. The required weekly savings contribution is 5,000 Ugandan shillings – about $1.75 – per week. They intend to invest the money in income generating activities like piggery and poultry, all geared towards increasing earnings for the women. To date, 23 women are participating. They expect that number to grow as more women become financially stable.

Kerith Ministry also provides health education including instruction in the basics of caring for children and personal hygiene. Free or reduced cost medical care is offered at their recently opened Health Centre.

Women are trained to become volunteer community health experts allowing them to work with families in their communities to improve health. They are able to share their knowledge and encourage others to seek appropriate medical care when needed.

Women in Uganda are experiencing the freedom that comes with knowing that they are able to provide for the financial and physical needs of their families. It is our prayer that they also find freedom in a relationship with Christ as a result of the care and attention they experience at Kerith Ministry.

Goals for 2015

Provide additional financial education to help women make informed financial decisions
Extend interest free loans to 50 women enabling them to build their businesses
Encourage women to participate in SACCO
Provide health care training and encourage women to utilize the health center

Hope In The Darkness

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have suffered for years with war and ongoing violence. War has made many men aggressive toward each other and against defenseless women. Girls are taken from their families and forced into marriage, wives are taken from their husbands by evil men, and many others are tortured and raped.

Victims are abandoned by their families, often leaving them with no means to support themselves. Others have fled, abandoning their homes and jobs, and live in camps without any source of income.

Women and girls have limited educational or employment opportunities due to the societal preference for men in these areas. Girls are forced to stop their education because schools prefer boys to girls, and they are denied enrollment. A large number of girls over age 16 have not completed primary school.

While the church is unable to prevent the violent attacks or quickly change culture based discrimination, it is called to offer hope and support to victims by providing medical care, food, clothing, education assistance, shelter, and counseling to these women and girls. In response to their plight, the Union of Baptist Churches is working to provide skills training, educational assistance, and material support.

UBC provides training in sewing and tailoring and basket weaving, as well as agricultural training for farming and raising poultry. Thes congo2 e programs allow women to obtain skills than enable them to provide services or produce goods to sell to earn income for their families.

UBC also operates 14 Christian primary schools and 4 Christian secondary schools allowing boys and girls to receive the education they need to be successful, all while learning about the love of Jesus.

Their goal is to enhance the spiritual, economic, and leadership capabilities of women and girls, to facilitate economic self-sufficiency, and to build self-esteem and self-worth among the abused women of the DR Congo and Rwanda.