So what should you and I do? Don’t look away. Allow your heart to get involved with desiring justice and loving people well even when it costs and when it hurts. Allow yourself to be filled with holy discontent at injustices that harm people and creation. This goes for us as individuals and us collectively as the global Church.
Read MoreThis marks the eighth and final installment of our global partner check-ins. We will hear from Ciru Mutura, Founder and Executive Director of OneLamb in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2011, Ciru sensed God’s initial prompting through a CNN Freedom Project documentary about human trafficking. She did some research and learned it was occurring in her home-city, which led her to begin taking action to rescue girls facing exploitation in a local informal settlement (also referred to as a slum) in Nairobi.
Read MoreAs we near the end of our global partner check-ins, we return to Kenya to hear from Josiah and Sarah Kirisuah. Part of the Maasai tribe in southern Kenya, they became the first Christians in their community many years ago and sensed a call to share their faith with their village and surrounding community.
Read MoreWe’re continuing in our series of updates from our global partners and what’s been in store for them throughout 2020. This week has us with Tazama Nia in Kenya. Founded by a Summit family, “Tazama Nia” is Swahili for “looking ahead with anticipation.” Living in a distressed community of Nairobi, this concept is this mindset they strive to lead with and inspire in others as they walk with vulnerable people in following Jesus.
Read MoreWe’re continuing in our series of updates from our global partners and what’s been in store for them throughout 2020. This check-in takes us to Malawi with Children of the Nations, which has a stated vision of “raising children who transform nations.” In the interview, we hear from COTN staff members who work in the village partnership program and sustainability and engagement.
Read MoreWe’re continuing in our series of updates from our global partners and what’s been in store for them throughout 2020. In this week’s check-in, we get to hear from Africa Windmill Project. Founded by a Summit family, Africa Windmill Project seeks to establish food security in Malawi by educating farmers on irrigation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices.
Read MoreWe’re continuing in our series of updates from our global partners and what’s been in store for them throughout 2020. This week we learn more about our partnership with Children’s HopeChest, which works to support orphaned and vulnerable children and communities in multiple countries.
Read MoreWe’re continuing in our series of updates from our global partners and what’s been in store for them throughout 2020. This week we have the opportunity to hear from our friends at World Relief. World Relief is a global organization that empowers local churches to serve the most vulnerable in their communities. Since 2013, we have partnered with them in Malawi.
Read MoreIn this interview, we hear from Bishop Oscar Muriu, leader of Nairobi Chapel in Nairobi, Kenya. He shares all about their ministry as a church community, how they have been navigating COVID-19, and how we can pray for them at this time.
Read MoreWhile in Kenya, Paige spent time with one of our global partners, Tazama Nia. This organization works with women, children, and vulnerable individuals in the slums of Nairobi. Paige was able to be a part of facilitating Tazama Nia’s summer Bible clubs, and through this, discovered a passion within herself for working with children.
Read MoreAs the week progressed, this undertone of friendships independent of language or abilities seemed to seep into each and every heart.
Read MoreTecla refuses to be merely a product of her circumstances but has taken ownership of her life and lives from her identity as a child of Christ. She expresses this contrast of circumstance and true identity in her art.
Read MoreWe had no idea what to expect, but we knew we weren’t committing to this alone. As our friends and family found out about the opportunity, they rallied around us and offered to help welcome Martin in any way they could. A member of our Connect group put it this way: “Your ‘yes’ is not just a ‘yes’ for you—it’s a ‘yes’ for our community.”
Read MoreThis year, the entirety of the offering collected at Candlelight Services will be given to One Lamb in Nairobi, Kenya. One Lamb began in 2011 when Ciru Mutura was called to meet the needs of vulnerable children. The organization works toward ending the exploitation of children due to poverty in their communities. One Lamb’s programs give these young girls resources and skills to benefit their lives while also sharing the truth of God’s grace and love.
Read MoreWhen people ask me about my trip to the Dominican Republic, it’s hard to come up with a response that best fits the description I’d like to give. Most of the time I end up answering with “it was cool” or “it was super fun,” but these statements hardly cover all that I want to say.
Read MoreNot long after leaving the Summit offices for the last time (I was carrying my goldfish under my arm while the staff gave me hugs—it was all very dramatic), I was invited to go on a trip and experience the work of IJM first-hand. As you may imagine, it was a life-altering journey.
Read MoreSo maybe you’re thinking about joining a Summit team going to Africa this year. Or maybe you’re thinking about sponsoring a child. Or maybe you just find yourself thinking about Summit’s partnerships in Africa but you’re not exactly sure why.
Read MoreIt feels impossible to express the joy the children of Ethiopia gifted me. It feels impossible to express the courage and strength of the women I now call sisters. It feels impossible to tell the story of how I flew across the world with 11 strangers and flew back with the only 11 people who will ever understand why I’ve got the joy down in my heart.
Read MoreAt the IJM Orlando Prayer Gathering, we got to hear about the work that’s happening to end slavery and we had the opportunity to pray for some specific issues IJM is facing around the world. Whether or not you were able to make it, these are the things that were prayed for and we will continue to pray for.
Read MoreOur first flight on the long journey to Malawi left the Orlando airport at 4 a.m. By the time we landed and settled in at our first stop in Washington, DC, we were already groggy and hungry. A few of us found a restaurant open for a far-too-early lunch and we crammed into a small side booth for one last American meal.
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