11 Feb Why OVC: Kenya?
This blog is part of our OVC: Kenya series. Over the next month we will be launching our campaign to establish advocates for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya through our local partners.
“If repentance toward God and faith in Jesus does not precede our good works, then the works themselves are part of man’s rebellion, not part of his worship.” – John Piper
There is great need in our world and many organizations are doing well to fight against injustice. With this in mind, why should Grace Church be involved in another do-good program when there are others doing the same or similar things?
Our mission as a church has and will always be to make mature followers of Christ. This is fulfilled primarily through the local church and relationships of the local church to its community. Local church is fills the gap where others are weak-God’s body of believers working through the power of the Holy Spirit can bring physical and spiritual redemption to a broken and hurting world.
With this in mind, the OVC Partnership Program is shaped by three core components:
- Power of the Local Church
- Necessity of Gospel Proclamation
- Importance of Invested Relationships.
Power of the Local Church
In the New Testament model of the church, each local body bore the weight of the needs within their community. Church leaders and members were the best qualified to carry weight within their cities and to fight for social justice. We believe that this model is still effective today.
All components of the OVC partnership program have been initiated and organized by leaders in churches in Kenya. We will act in ways that support our sister churches by providing financial and relational support. The ultimate responsibility and influence for the children in the program rests on the local body.
Necessity of Gospel Proclamation
Children engaged in the OVC program receive spiritual development and guidance they may not otherwise experience. This teaching and evangelism is imperative, as our ultimate goal is their salvation.
Likewise, the message of the gospel is one to be demonstrated through redemption and restoration. As children are launched into opportunities that are new and direction changing, both they and their communities begin to experience the redemptive and restorative components of the Gospel. They can begin to understand a God who “is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7) and who is “making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)
Importance of Invested Relationships
The significance of community reaches past the boundaries of our own church. As members of one body, we can provide encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Kenya. As individuals, we can take the time to invest in relationships with children that are mutually encouraging and loving. In this way, we reflect the character of our relational God – a God who came to us while we were still far from him. “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” 1 Thessalonians 2: 8
These core values drive our commitment to OVC: Kenya and shape its direction. Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Provides, provides our needs generously. We now have the opportunity to share in our abundance with the children of Kenya.