An Opportunity

Of all the many things I've been blessed to experience posting thoughts on this blog is about the easiest. It doesn't take much effort to sit in my home office and share thoughts about how those of us involved in churches and the charitable world could do things better. More difficult is going out and participating with those who are doing the work. Building partnerships, maintaining relationships and helping people envision a better way by doing things differently takes a significant effort.

Perhaps the most daunting task would be to take on the challenge of starting a charity from scratch that, each step along the way, implements these new ideas of how to do charity. Starting something that has a for profit piece built in so that it is sustainable. Building partnerships and connections from the beginning that have a rigorous set of expectations, accountability and management tools built in. Incorporating the best ideas of existing charities old and new into the fabric of the start-up.

That's the path I'm currently considering. Last Friday I received a phone call from my friend and mission partner in Kenya. He explained that the Principal of the college where he works is looking for a U.S. based partner. Carlile College in Nairobi trains missionary evangelists equipping them to return to their home countries, tribes and villages and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Students from eleven African nations attend the college. These students are accepted based on their enthusiasm for sharing Jesus, the recommendation of their home church and the affirmation of their diocese. Their ability to pay tuition is not a factor in acceptance to the program. Consequently the Principal, Dr. Peter Nyende, is seeking partner churches and/or individuals that will commit to cover the tuition costs of one student for the three years of training at a cost of about $3000 per year. He has exhausted his church contacts in Kenya and the U.K. and has reached out to me to help find U.S. churches that might take on this opportunity.

Given my current situation which would allow me to invest time, effort and energy into launching an organization, I am prayerfully considering this opportunity. This could be a chance to fully engage in a project that embraces all the things charities must do to reverse benevolent oppression. It could offer a testing ground where grand theories could be put to a practical test. It could connect U.S. churches with individual indigenous missionaries from eleven countries all in one location.

As I said, I'm currently praying about this and open to any insight, encouragement, caution or questions. Comment here with such and I will keep you posted.