Influencing the Influencers

In the past twenty-four hours Sue has spoken to two people who are leaving Kenya. One has been in the country 3 months, the other 3 weeks. Both are frustrated and stressed by life in Kenya.

Westerners often come to Africa believing they can "fix" Africa. This mindset is accompanied by the assumption that the Western world-view is the best and applicable everywhere. When there is the inability and unwillingness to listen and learn from Africans, we from the West miss an incredible opportunity to grow. 

As a result we may dismiss the "poor African" as having nothing to contribute to our lives. Africans are aware of this dynamic and often do not entrust themselves to Westerners because of this attitude.

With the awareness that this Western mindset lurks in the background, we have been deliberate when developing curriculum for the Vineyard School of Ministry, Africa, so that it might speak deeply to the leaders we are working with.  It is important that the people on the grassroots level contribute to the learning process so that the learning is locally-driven and learner-driven. Sue and I (Doug) are richer because of this posture and have learned a tremendous amount in the last four and a half years. Learning requires a certain humility and we have learned more that we have taught. 

 Ultimately, it's about what Jesus is doing with people.

Janet holding baby, Elvis behind

About eighteen months ago, Doug did the wedding of Elvis and Janet and they now have a baby boy. Both Elvis and Janet are enrolled in VSM Africa and both are leaders in a Vineyard church located in a slum in southern Nairobi. They took in a young woman who has had a very hard life. During the last VSM courses this young woman served as their nanny. Several days into the course, the young woman confessed to one of the pastors that she had had a child out of wedlock, the man had abandoned her, and she had murdered her baby. She broke down in tears when several of the pastors prayed for her and was subsequently "retired" from her duties as a nanny. 

 

For us, this was a marvelous example that there is nothing theoretical about the equipping we do at VSM Africa. All training is connected to real life and the challenges of doing ministry in Kenya.  We are influencing the influencers - those in their communities that bring transformational change through the kingdom of God.

 

We both value and need your contributions to this work through your prayers and financial support.  As we begin our December courses, we realize we cannot continue this work without additional financial resources.

We would ask you to consider making a financial gift to the work of VSM Africa as you make your year-end gifts, and consider ongoing support in the future.

To make a gift, send your check payable to:

Vineyard Community Church

2801 N. Towne Ave Unit E

Pomona, CA 91767

In the memo section write: Browns VSM Africa

If you prefer to send a gift for our personal support, in the memo section write: Browns Kenya

For the Kingdom,

Doug &Sue