We built our first church this year!
God is so good. “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard,” (Acts 4:20) and have been in awe of his unmatched love and power on display through Paradigm. He has always given us the heart and vision to serve the world, we just never knew when or where he would lead us. Walking in faith we started this ministry in 2014 believing the Lord calling us to walk with the poor in the Dominican Republic. Through a series of supernatural events, he opened doors with authority, silenced the naysayers, provided wisdom and direction and we built our first home that same year.
Recently completing our 27th home and first church, we have been encouraged to see all of the different ways he has used the provision of a new home to strengthen individuals spiritually, restore family units, elevate communities and empower the local church. Our ministry is about so much more than building a home, but to be a light and spark of hope in dark places and proof of his love for the lost and forgotten.
Traditional Kenyan mud structure.
We have been praying and preparing for the future and we are excited to announce that the Lord has opened the door for Paradigm Foundation to start building homes in Kenya in partnership with David’s Hope International and Camp Brethren Ministries. Pastor Steve Njenga explains, “Through the partnership with DHI, Camp Brethren ministries’ impact of the Gospel message has been huge in Eburru, Kenya. Transformation of lives of people and whole communities is without a doubt visible. Collaboration with the Paradigm Foundation provides another level of inspiration to make a huge impact in the lives of the socially disadvantaged Kenya.”
While the model of the home will look somewhat different to keep in line with cultural expectations, addressing key poverty indicators through the structure and working alongside the local church will remain. The first home is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2019.
Why is this important? Kenya is located in what is considered Sub-Saharan Africa. A September World Bank blog post reports:
- The number of people living in extreme poverty is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, with forecasts indicating that by 2030, nearly 9 in 10 extremely poor people will live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Around 41 percent of the poor in this region live below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day.
Please join us in thanking the Lord for the opportunity to serve a small portion of this region and be in prayer as we plan for the coming months. We thank you in advance for your continued support, prayers and financial gifts as we aim to continue to build hope and new homes for families living in extreme poverty.
It is in the name of Jesus we serve and to him be the glory and honor, forever.
The Paradigm Team
”DHI has been serving for 10 years through Camp Brethren Ministries in Eburru, Kenya and couldn't be more excited about the partnership with Paradigm Foundation to serve the families there. Rarely have we seen God's hand so clearly involved in bringing another partner in to our work. Our prayer is that God will be glorified and lives will be impacted through this exciting new collaboration.
Scott SweatFounder & Executive Director, David's Hope International
