With Hope, For Hope

A: When these individuals seek God’s will for their life and make themselves available for the job He has called them to do.

And that’s just what happened when a group of five packed their suitcases and left McDonough in July, headed for Nairobi, Kenya. In partnership with World Hope International and the Hope Center in Nairobi, Kenya, the people of Pinecrest prayerfully and financially supported Pastor and Mrs. Roy Mack, Daniel Wright, Melvin Johnson and Dr. Ed Emery as they traveled on a missions trip to the Nairobi area known locally as “Hell’s Hole.” One of the most impoverished areas in all of Africa, the Kawangware Slum is home to thousands who live in some of the most tragic conditions imaginable:

• 75% of all adults are alcoholics
• 50% are infected with HIV
• 90% of the children are given little or no education
• A recent tribal civil war in Kenya has claimed the lives of thousands, endangering many others

Once in Nairobi, the Pinecrest team met up with a group from Orlando Baptist and worked together to build a chicken barn, set up a medical clinic and help in the schools. When they arrived at the school, an obvious need to Mrs. April Mack and Mrs. Donna Janney, wife of Hope Center Founder, Dr. David Janney, involved many of the uniforms the children wore. Writes Mrs. Mack to the members back home in an email, “These children are beautiful, with such a sweet spirit… the Hope Academy is their hope. They learn about Jesus, they’re fed two meals a day and get a wonderful education. Donna Janney and I walked through each classroom to assess the greatest needs in uniforms. A sweater with holes can be darned, but some sleeves have completely unraveled and a sweater is now a vest. The temperatures have been cold -- about 19 degrees Celsius. Many of the children are wearing coats, and there is no heat in the school and the concrete block walls are cold. It is very muddy in the slum because it has rained every day. Many of the children's shoes are falling apart, have holes, etc. We have figured that about 52 children are in dire need of a new sweater and about 25 children need shoes. There are nearly 400 students in the school and none of you would let your children wear shoes like any one of these children wear; however, we only chose those children that desperately need shoes and sweaters. The sweaters cost $9, and we can buy shoes for $3. Someone here has committed to buy the shoes, but I also want to buy all the children new uniform socks for about $1.25 each.”

It was a first mission trip for Daniel Wright, an employee of Nelson Mullins-Atlanta, and he was able to minister in the medical clinic and school. An accomplished musician, Daniel was also able to teach piano theory in a music shop and play the piano while there. He also helped as the group built the chicken barn which will help the orphanage and school raise their own chickens. “This was an amazing experience! The culture there is very laid back, very friendly, and very busy,” notes Daniel in his testimony of his trip, “and I want to experience it again!”

Pastor Mack had the opportunity to preach while there during the Sunday service. Although it was cold and raining, most of those who attended walked to church. “I am so thankful that we have been so involved in this ministry,” says Mrs. Mack, “and I’m glad I was able to see this work with my own eyes. Thank God today for your clean water, your air conditioning, your paved roads and your job. We are blessed. But, because of this work, many of these people are also blessed because they have found their hope in Jesus Christ.”

When it was all said and done, the Pinecrest missions team felt that they received far more than they had given for this very special group of Kenyan people. But when people who are called make themselves available and are obedient, the Lord promises a blessing, and hope continues.

The Hope Center demonstrates the love of Christ by feeding, clothing and educating over 400 kids each year. The Hope Center also reaches out in a variety of other ways: It supports an extensive athletic outreach program including basketball programs and four soccer teams, and Hope Baptist Church. The Center serves as a constant reminder of the love of Jesus to more than 300,000 people who live within one mile of its gates. Pinecrest Baptist Church is a missions-minded church, supporting approximately 160 missionaries and missions projects worldwide – one of which is The Hope Center. If you, too, have a heart for missions and would like to learn more how you can get involved, please contact our church office at 678.432.2015.