MISSIONS
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Tree Church Project
HOW IT BEGAN Almost 7 years ago, Bishop Rob Martin of the Anglican Church of Kenya was in Charleston speaking of the need for new church buildings in his diocese. The planting of these churches became known as the “Tree Church Project,” because like a tree protects people from the harsh African environment, so do these churches shelter people with the Gospel in an isolated and predominately Muslim region of Kenya. THE CHALLENGE Christ Church answered Bp. Martin’s call to partner with his diocese to build churches, and we were matched with the Game community who were, at that time, congregating outside under the shade of a tree. In the Summer of 2013, Christ Church kicked off the first “Tree Church Project,” and by March 2014 we had raised the requisite funds to build what would become known as “Christ Church Game,” which was so consecrated in early 2015. The people were overjoyed to be able to thank Christ Church for their gift of the church building. One woman was moved and said, "Thank you for not forgetting us." THE PARTNERSHIP Christ Church has maintained her commitment to raise fund to build churches in Kenya in order to fulfill our vision to "Go and make disciples.” In 2015, Christ Church partnered with Bp. Martin to build another church in his diocese. The following year, we were matched with the Elebor, a community that had been worshiping under an outcropping of rock, for whom we built another church. In 2016 we built another church for the Gabra people in Maikona (Diocese of Marsabit), and another for the Goro Rukesa community in 2017, which was consecrated in 2018. Last year, our funds went towards the building of a Diocesan guest house that will help produce income to fund the ministers serving the churches we have previously helped build. This year, we are being asked to raise funds for the building of a new church in Badasa community where there are also plans in the works for building a new Anglican high school. As you can see, we here at Christ Church have been able to greatly bless our brothers and sisters in Marsabit by our faithful and generous provision. This year, we are looking for more of the same! Christ Church has committed to continue to raise funds to build churches in Kenya in order to fulfill the vision to "Go and make disciples." La Gonave Partnership with Churches in Haiti For over 20 years, Christ Church has played a role in helping the people of La Gonave, a part of the country of Haiti. It is an island just off the west coast of Haiti. Christ Church is an active part of the La Gonave Partnership where we provide funding to meet many needs in a small village on La Gonave called Gros Mangles. Our contributions pay for half of all the teacher salaries for a parochial primary school in Gros Mangles as well as assisting with the school lunch program, helping to support programs at Church of the Holy Spirit (an episcopal church in the village of Gros Mangles), and sponsoring a variety of types of mission trips over the years. Through Christ Church’s involvement in the life of Haitians in Gros Mangles, we work to make their lives better through increased access to education, food, water, and medical attention. Malnutrition plagued the children of the Gros Mangles primary school until the recent La Gonave Partnership’s School Lunch Program virtually eliminated it! Also the incident of infant mortality and other major health issues were a devastating way of life for many Haitians. Through the partnership’s efforts in creating and supporting a medical clinic on La Gonave, access to healthcare is now available to Haitians throughout the island. Other initiatives include support for teaching sustainable farming techniques within several villages and sponsoring a goat husbandry program that provides much needed resources. Christ Church is working to be as active a member of the La Gonave Partnership as possible, and stepping up to support many of these initiatives.Christ Church’s future vision for Haiti includes assisting in making water and food more readily available throughout La Gonave, as well as improving the scope and availability of medical services to remote areas of this island. We are working to accomplish these goals by broadening our partnerships with agencies such as Water Missions International (WMI), increasing our church community’s financial support, and conducting more frequent and extensive mission trips to La Gonave. For information about opportunities to get involved with Christ Church’s outreach to our brothers and sisters on La Gonave, please contact the church office. |
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