“Go into all of the world and preach the good news to all creation” – Mark 16:15 (NIV) is one scripture that the members of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, USA, 260 Presto Lane, Jackson, are exhibiting locally as well as internationally.
The congregation is working directly with the families and citizens of the village of Chebigen in the state of Kericho and near the town of Kericho in Kenya (East Africa), to assist in rebuilding schools in the area.
This show of love involves St. Luke’s members donating funds for the construction and providing assistance in other areas. Funds provided by St. Luke’s are also paying the salary of one of the nursery teachers and the purchase of materials needed to build desks for the students of the school. Contributions will also be used to assist with providing salaries for the teachers from other nurseries in the village. The age of children attending nursery ranges from 3 to 8 years old.
Currently, the state does not pay the wages of its nursery teachers, or does it build or repair the schools for nursery age students.
The families and members in the village are participating in their own construction and are being good stewards of the funds being received through donations to help make this build a success.
Rev. Theophilus C. King, the pastor of St. Luke’s, recently traveled to Kenya to witness first hand the progress that was being made on the construction of the schools and upon his return to Jackson was delighted to share the love that the citizens of the village of Chebigen have extended to the members of St. Luke’s.
“This is a very direct mission of funds from St. Luke’s that goes directly to leaders and their people who need it. They have both the skills and the intelligence to get the job done. They work as a team and we, at St. Luke’s Church, work as a team with them from a far,” Rev. King said.
Through their exhibition of love, the Rev. King and his members are also reaching out through two other biblical texts, Romans 15:2 – “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up”, and Galatians 6:10 – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”.
“My trip there was truly an eye-opening one. As I visited the area, I received a newer appreciation for the project and those I came into contact with,” said Rev. King.
“The Kenyans of that area were amazed when they met me because they did not think that black Americans were able to assist them financially, nor physically. They thought that we were either too poor or thuggish and did not have the resources to assist. Then when I returned home and showed the photos to my students at Provine High, where I work as an assistant principal; my students were just as shocked to see the photos of the Kenyans. They thought that everyone in Africa ran around partially dressed and were living in much worse conditions. Our perceptions of each other were educational for all of us.”
Rev. King, who traveled to Kericho, Kenya, at his own expense, plans to return next March for the official dedication of the building.
“It is such a wonderful experience to live and share and learn with and from such a powerfully intellectual people with such a strong and long heritage that goes back thousands of years. I now feel connected as never ever before,” said King.
Be the first to comment