Ending 2011 with a Bang!

Joshua is a Maasai pastor who is well over sixty years old - in Africa, reaching this age is quite an accomplishment. Steeped in Maasai culture and rural lifestyle, Joshua is very comfortable sitting under an acacia tree watching his cows. Elvis and Janet (seated together on the right) are a complete contrast. Westernized, urbanized, with excellent English, this young couple is familiar with issues of globalization and world affairs. They own a transportation company in Nairobi and drive their own vehicle. Joshua doesn’t know how to drive, walks most places and does not know what “globalization” means. What does Joshua have in common with Elvis and Janet? They are all students in the Vineyard School of Ministry’s first course launched earlier this month. Joshua is a pastor in a serene countryside Vineyard church while Elvis and Janet are young leaders in a Vineyard located near hectic, downtown Nairobi.

Africa has more refugees and displaced people within the continent than outside the continent. Famine, migration, and refugees fill up the first chapter of the book of Ruth and are issues that most Africans can readily relate to. As we taught these leaders how to interpret Scripture, we studied passages like Ruth one and drew parallels between the story and culture of the Bible and African culture. Animated discussions and even debate made the course a lively experience as the material clearly resonated with the students.



(Students in the first VSM class)

As we end 2011 and look forward to 2012, we do so with a sense of accomplishment. Two projects that we have been working on for almost two years have finally been launched. Our last blog posted earlier in December told of the start of a Financial Empowerment program designed to address poverty. Now we can also celebrate the opening of the Vineyard School of Ministry!

( Lenoard Lumumba, at the front of the classroom above, is being mentored by Doug to teach future VSM Courses)

Our thanks to you for your -
Love and Friendship – your emails, calls, and cards have helped sustain us during some seasons of frustration and near despair.

Prayer and Financial Support – we have faced as serious a spiritual battle as any time in the decades of our being Christians. The resources you have given have had direct impact on our ability to influence and empower others towards the Kingdom of God.

for the Kingdom,
Doug and Sue

Confronting Poverty

“Extreme poverty is the best breeding ground on earth for disease, political instability, and terrorism." Jeffrey Sachs

Kenya, for the first time as an independent nation, is at war. At war with the al-Shabaab (“the youth”) terrorist group in Somali. It has been well documented that the al-Shabaab is largely the product of crushing poverty, famine, and disenfranchisement that has left Somali youth vulnerable to those who promise them some sort of future no matter how violent.

"Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit." Eli Khamarov


When we first came to Africa, we arrived with the awareness that oppressive poverty would surround us and numerous handouts had only deepened people’s sense of despair and disempowerment. We resolve not to perpetuate the cycle and instead have chosen to empower people by developing in them a sense of dignity brought on by their own accomplishments.

Nelson Mandela has said, “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our time--times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation--that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils."



Poverty must be confronted through specific and practical strategies. Last month 24 participants from all over Kenya gathered in Nairobi to be taught basic business principals using material developed by Care International (Australian AID). The goal is to have a team of trainers for each region of the country who can then equip others to develop their own businesses. We are aiming for exponential growth as those we are training to develop businesses will then train others.


While Doug met with the leaders of the program to strategize the training and the methodology, this program was entirely lead by Kenyans and for this we rejoice! We thank those of you who specifically contributed to efforts to alleviate poverty. Other trainings are planned for the new year as we seek to keep the momentum going.

We celebrated the wedding of the “two Kelseys” this past month - our youngest daughter, Kelsey Anne, wed Kelsey Beck Fernandez on the 13th of November. We also greatly enjoyed being able to spend time with many of you.

 Please pray for future financial empowerment trainings in 2012
 Please pray for the Vineyard School of Ministry course being offered later this month
 Please pray for the future influence of Karen Vineyard Church, who is responsible for making so much of the Vineyard kingdom work done in East Africa a reality.
 Please pray for us, to protect our time together and use our time wisely

for the kingdom,

Doug and Sue