July 2022 - Keying in on Kenya
Those who have been following Sports Outreach a while may recall a time when closing the Kenya field was very close to becoming reality. Corruption and poverty in Mukuru slum were taking its toll on staff and finances, but after much prayer and supplication, God made it clear that we should press on! And press on we have! Since Pastor Francis Juma began as SOM Kenya Director in 2014 we can only marvel at all “the wonders that the high God hath wrought” (Daniel 4:2b).
— Outreach has expanded into Kibera, a slum complex even larger than Mukuru (where we also work). Ministries include feeding breakfast to nearly 20,000 children a month, chess, soccer, Bible study, meals for HIV/AIDS women, and public health sessions.
Pastor Juma and Family
— Major donations have provided for three shipping containers to be outfitted for use as office and training space, two in Mukuru slum, on the grounds of the church Pastor Juma attends, and one on our rented land in Kibera slum.
— The chess program is transforming many children’s lives in the slums. Fifty-Four of the 60 children that qualified travelled by train to the Kenya National Youth Chess Championship in Mombasa in April 2022. Pastor Juma accompanied them, along with eight coaches and chaperones. While there they were able to visit the coast, a once in a lifetime experience for many of them. They enjoyed swimming in the Indian Ocean, boarding the ferry, and doing a nature walk.
Pastor Juma reminds us that the Kenya field focus has always been to “Seek to develop relationships with children, young adults, and their families, share the Gospel with them, disciple them, and identify those with the character and gifts to be potential future leaders.” They do this by engaging children through soccer and feeding programs, teaching life principles through chess, digitally empowering youth through computer training, teaching vocational life skills to young mothers, and assisting with education expenses.
Ministry in Kenya is thriving, though our International Operations Director, Janine Filippin, detected a “different tone” in last month’s ministry report. While praise and gratitude are always expressed by Pastor Juma and his staff, there was an underlying message of great need for struggling families suffering from high food costs (even within our own ministry), unemployment, and an inability to pay school fees, as well as an overwhelming sense of desperation. Inflation is not just hitting the U.S., but is affecting Kenya and other countries as well, and is felt more keenly among the poor. At this time food insecurity is rampant and an increasing number of children, including many on the Swift Boys soccer team, cannot attend or return to school due to lack of funds. If you are in a position to give toward food and education costs for those Sports Outreach serves in Kenya, please do so at www.sportsoutreach.net/donate or by returning the enclosed card. The Sports Outreach team in Kenya is amazing and whether inflation is up or not, God has always provided the resources to help those in desperate circumstances. It is often during these times of despair that doors open to share the Gospel. May Pastor Juma and his staff continue to walk through these doors, and God will get the glory!
SOI COACHES CORNER
Jessie King - Charlotte, North Carolina
My name is Jessie King, and I am the Director for Charlotte Sports Outreach. I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to Charlotte in January 2019 after receiving a calling from God. When He called me to North Carolina, it made no sense. I had never been to the state, I didn’t know anybody there, and I was perfectly content with where I was in life. I decided to transfer to Olive Garden in Gastonia, NC and use that as my mission field until God revealed further steps. A few months later my pastor called and said “Jessie, I know you love Jesus, sports, and kids, so I think you should come check out this organization.” I trusted his guidance and went for an interview with Sports Outreach.
My first experience with the organization was with kids at Thompson Child & Family Focus, where kids were getting in fist fights. It broke my heart, it scared me, but I knew that I needed to be here to spread the Gospel to a broken and hurting generation. I’ve been committed ever since. God has blessed me from being a coach to being promoted to Director, and I am so grateful.
I have an amazing husband who works on staff at our church, Elevation. He is my number one supporter and Sports Outreach volunteer, and an amazing dad to our fur babies, Duke and Laci Mae. He and I worked together, alongside other amazing leaders, to build the first young adult ministry at our church. We have a passion for seeing young adults change the world and not be changed by the world. Currently in Charlotte, we are providing daily sports ministry programming to several organizations such as The Harvest Center, Greater Enrichment Program, Doves
Nest, Thompson Child & Family Focus, A Better World, and more. We’ve brought on a new domestic coach, Aubrey McCoy, who works alongside me to provide the ministry to the West side. My goal by the end of the year is to have two full time coaches on the East side, as well as another coach for the West side, so I can operate more in my director role. We will be having three outreach events and two sports camps during the summer in addition to our regular programming, and we are believing that many salvations will be coming from them. Please be praying for our Charlotte ministry and that God’s work through us would bring healing to our city and glory to His name.
