Currently, Good News Community Centre is reaching out to two target Luo communities in Nyanza province: Migosi/Re-state and Ouya village.

Migosi/Re-estate is a busy community of homes and businesses on the outskirts of Kisumu, the largest city (pop. 1.5 million) in Nyanza province.  Kisumu borders Lake Victoria, the 2nd largest lake in the world.  Some people from Migosi/Re-estate are fishermen; others work in Kisumu or neighboring areas.  The land in this area is quickly becoming built up and populated.  There are few churches in Migosi, but many people are part of a large cult called Legio Maria & others.

Ouya village is rural agricultural community about 36 miles from Kisumu.  Once a year, villagers plant and harvest maize and sorghum; many also keep cattle, goats, or sheep.  During the rainy season, villagers gather water from ponds of runoff. During the rest of the year, they gather water from Lake Victoria, - kilometers away. 

Most of the people in Ouya village practice tribal religion mixed with Christianity, following cultural customs based on superstition.  One such custom is wife inheritance: when a woman’s husband dies, another man must marry the widow.  The widow is not allowed to repair her hut until she has remarried.  Such cultural practices spread HIV/AIDS and stop the community from helping widows.  However, they also provide an opportunity for Christians to step in and show God’s love in action by helping widows and orphans.  To provide for their families, most widows brew alcohol or burn charcoal, which reduces the number of trees in an already arid area. 

Practical Outreach

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27

Sheep for a widow

Goal: 50 sheep for 50 widows in 2006

Cost: $28 US per sheep

Status Quo: 55 sheep given, 60% sheep had given lambs, some are ready to hand over to other widows, meeting regularly.

Bee Hive for a widow

Plan: Purchase bee hives for widows in Ouya village.  After the first harvest (~5 months), widow pays back ½ the cost.  After the 2nd harvest (~1 month), widow pays back the remainder.  Later harvests (~1 per month) generate income for widow.  Honey can be sold to honey processing plant in nearby town for $3 per liter.  The widow’s beehives will serve as a pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness to beekeeping to the community.       

Goal: 20 hives for 20 widows

Cost: $35 US for hive and wax (to attract bees)

Status Quo: 2 hives started, 1 colonized by bees

SPONSOR A CHILD

BEFORE AND AFTER

Opportunities for Outreach Teams

While giving is important, Good News Community Centre believes that God primarily uses relationships and His Word to change lives.  Here are practical opportunities to build relationships with the people Migosi/Re-estate and Ouya Village and share God’s Word through your actions and words:

Building huts for widows

Providing huts for widows, whose hut had fallen apart, provides an opportunity for Christians to step in and show God’s love in action.  Sharing God’s Word put more weight when they see it in action.  The cost of one hut is $450 USD.  Status Quo – 3 huts built.

Widows Old Hut

Outreach team joins the widow in finishing the hut

Evangelism

God loves people more than anything…. It’s the heartbeat of God.  Evangelism is mostly carried out through practical approaches mentioned above.  We also do outdoor meetings, & home visitation or door to door.

Reaching children through skit in Migosi- Kisumu

Project for this year 2007

Discipleship – fellowship 

We intend to start an on-going Good News fellowship in Migosi Estate in Kisumu.

Provide 10 huts for poor widows

Sponsoring 16 orphans

Digging Pit Latrines

Work with local people to dig pit latrines for villagers.  90% of people in Ouya village relieve themselves in the bush, which pollutes their only water supply, runoff ponds.  Thus, cause sickness.

Sinking a Borehole

ODONGO Family

James & Vangie worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for 12 years. They’ve worked as missionaries in Kenya, Philippines, & Australia.  They led Discipleship Training School, pioneered the School of Worship in Kenya, and led teams to the local churches both in Kenya & Australia.  Before they left YWAM, they were in charge of the YWAM Training Centre in Athi River, Kenya. 

When our commitment in YWAM ended in 2002, God put in our heart Isaiah 61.  & we knew that Kisumu was the place to begin fulfilling this Scripture.  Our passion is to evangelize through practical approaches & to disciple those whom we have evangelized. Since June 2005, we’ve been pioneering Good News Community Centre in Kisumu. We thank the Lord for enabling us to provide 55 sheep for 55 widows, 3 tin-roof huts built, on-going Bible Study for Ouya ‘Blessing’ widow’s group.  Four orphans are on regular sponsorship program. Lastly, through the ministry of Good News Community Centre, we rejoiced over 127 people who had given their lives to the Lord.

Contact:  James & Vangie Odongo

             Good News Community Centre

             PO Box 3944,

             Kisumu City 40100

             KENYA, EAST AFRICA

             Email: jamesvano@yahoo.com

             Cell phone #: +254-724239104

Tax Deductible Receipts for the Good News Community can be made out to REACH and mailed to:

R.E.A.C.H. 22 Sarfan Drive, Hampton VA 23664

PLEASE DESIGNATE BY PUTTING "GNCKENYA" IN THE MEMO OR ATTACH A SEPARATE NOTE. 100% OF YOUR DONATION GOES TO GOOD NEWS COMMUNITY KENYA.

Phone: 757-725-5025

You will receive a tax deductible receipt when you donate online.

R.E.A.C.H. 22 Sarfan Drive, Hampton VA 23664 Phone: 757-725-5025