Who is my Neighbor

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 explained from bottom up!

As a minister in the second largest slum in Kenya called Mathare, I wrestle a lot with this passage. Jesus’ explanation is viciously exterminating my traditional understanding of who a neighbor is. We are all accustomed to a neighbor being someone who is friendly, lives next to us, shares the same values and to some extend; believes the same Deity like us! Well, Jesus annihilates this perception and introduces another analogy of what a neighbor ought to be.

The world today doesn’t agree with Jesus’

definition of who a neighbor is, in fact He

would be called out and probably re-crucified if He was here today. How I wish that we can all learn who a neighbor is. The parable is provoking all the followers of Jesus to love unconditionally those who have been labeled within us, those who don’t agree with us socially, economically and politically. It’s a tough call to think of a Samaritan helping out a Jew especially in the described period.

As we wrestle with this new understanding, let’s identify the Samaritans in our lives and look at them beyond our lenses of prejudice. Call them today, invite them for a meal at your home and through that, the only Christ they will come to know is the one they see in you!

May God keep you safe as you wrestle with different challenges in your life and those around you!

Happy Thanksgiving

This holiday is celebrated in different countries for various reasons. It basically originated in America after the pilgrims shared a meal with the native. Inspiration Centre has a million reasons to be grateful this year. The picture on your right is an open sewer in Mathare while the other picture is a graduation of a two year journey of Inspiration Centre kindergartens.

 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” — Marianne Williamson

As always, get involved in what’s happening at Inspiration Centre in Mathare through our email: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com

 

The Cross is UP!!!

The cross has always been a symbol of a Church in most of our buildings. Over the years, I learned something that has stuck with me for a long time. The symbolic meaning of the vertical and horizontal portions of the cross. I was told that the vertical portion of the cross represents the relationship we have with God. Then, the horizontal portion represents the relationship we have with our neighbor or fellow humans. This explanation makes a lot of sense; we can’t worship God whom we have never met physically and yet hate humans who are visible. The Church ought to be a safe space for believers to be real with one another and intimate with God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration Centre has finally put up the biggest cross in Nairobi; may be in the entire Country. The Cross weighs more than 2 tonnes and lights up Mathare at night. Sometimes we just need hope as a tool that we can identify ourselves with. The cross remains our hope in Mathare!

A big shout out to bear Valley Church for the grant that enabled us make this happen.

Contact us through inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com if you wish to get involved.

 

Working on the Cross

Inspiration Centre will be putting up a cross as the final part of completing the building. Inspiration Centre was lucky enough to receive some grant from Bear Valley Church to complete the work. We are excited to see how the cross will look on the building and what that symbolizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, get in touch with us through: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com if you wish to be involved with our work in Mathare.

Thank you again for all your support!

Back to school

After one month of school breaks, our students are back to school. From as young as those in kindergarten to as old as those in colleges, they all went back to their respective institutions of learning.

During the break, they got opportunity to go for our annual art camp in Mombasa with Bear Valley Church. What an exciting moment and year for us!

As always, we are grateful for your support. Send us an email here: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com

Almost Done!

A journey of a thousand steps begins with just one step. That has been the journey for Inspiration Centre building project. It’s more than one year and six months since we started the construction for our Centre. Our needs have been met tremendously through the generous gifts from friends and partners around the world. I can confidently say that 95% of the work is done! We are working on the final details like polishing the terrazzo, painting the walls, welding grills around the water tank, erecting a cross in front of the building and decorating the building on the outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are always invited to partner with Inspiration Centre and all your donations is tax deductible. Get in touch with us via inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com

 

Graduations time!!!!

The year 2018 has been a great year for Inspiration Centre especially in our sponsorship program. We’ve been able to support over 100 students access basic education to university education. This month we are celebrating two young men; Eliud Wambua who graduated with a diploma in Christian Mission and Erick Likoko who graduated with bachelors in economics and statistics.

Erick

 

Eliud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration Centre is really grateful to all who have supported Eliud, Erick and the other 100 through our sponsorship program. We are making a difference in Mathare one step at a time! Get involved by supporting a child go to school. Send us an email to see how you can get involved: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com.

Finally, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jabezzi

October was an amazing month for Jaime and myself. We finally got the opportunity to receive our daughter Jabezzi. Her name is derived from Jabez in 1st chronicles 4:9-10.Our prayer was to deliver her naturally because our first son was delivered through Cesarean Section. This was not well received by the doctors who referred to the pregnancy as “high risk”. In fact, Jaime was scheduled for a cesarean section just 5 days after her due date. We asked friends and family to pray with us for God’s will to be manifested. As a pastor and a person who encourages people everyday, my faith was put to test. I had to trust that God was with us no matter what the outcome seemed to be!

God was evidently with us, 3 days before Jaime’s due date, our daughter Jabezzi was delivered naturally! No epidural! No pitocin! No cesarean section!The doctors called it V-back, but I call it victory!

Thank you for all your prayers during the pregnancy and during the labor!

The guest rooms are ready

After a lot of work and team effort, we can confidently say that Inspiration Centre can accommodate short term guests/missionaries visiting Inspiration Centre. This summer we had an opportunity to work with a team from Grand Junction in painting the accommodation rooms. Thank you again for sparing and spending your summer time and resources at Inspiration Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are looking forward to completing the rooftop and the cross in front of the building. The remaining part of the entire building needs $15,000 to complete.

Get in touch with with us through our email: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com if you wish to get involved in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you again for all your support!

Back to the Fourth Floor

We are back again to the construction process of Inspiration Centre building. All our energy has been directed to the fourth floor of the building. We have been able to do more plaster work, put grills, doors, windows and electrical wiring. We are still working on the tiles for the floors, paint and terrazzo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all again for being part of this journey through your prayers and financial support. Get in touch with us through our email: inspirationcentremathare@gmail.com for more details on how you can get involved and updates.