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Books for Life partner - Manna Ministries - Integrating faith in God with service to the poor

In the most remote rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, local Church leaders live in the same impoverished conditions as the communities they support. They may be isolated and have few resources available to help them effectively serve their communities.

In many parts of Kenya and Sudan, extreme poverty means that Church leaders are called to help meet people’s physical needs, along with their spiritual needs. Books for Life has supported Manna Ministries, a non-denominational Christian organisation established in 1997, which provides a range of assistance to lay Church leaders and clergy in the region.

Some of this assistance is practical, enabling Church leaders to be more effective in their day-to-day work. For example, in just one of its projects, Manna Ministries has provided bicycles to rural pastors, helping them reach people living in far-flung areas.

Some of this assistance is educational. Manna trains pastors through ecumenical conferences, especially targeting those who have not attended theological colleges or seminaries. The organisation also facilitates the translation of Christian texts into local Kenyan and Sudanese languages, and distributes literature all over the region so that Church leaders and communities can develop their faith.

Pastor Maurice Odhiambo, Manna Ministries Director, has an enormous vision for reaching people through the Church and growing the Church in Africa.

Manna Ministries also addresses widespread societal crises.  In response to the desperate realities of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region, Manna has established a school for AIDS orphans in a Church hall – which is located in a corrugated iron shack – in Obunga, one of the poorest areas in Kisumu Rural.

It is estimated that there are about 1.8 million orphaned children under the age of four in Kenya, half of whom have lost their parents to AIDS.  Children affected by HIV/AIDS are extremely vulnerable.  They are more likely to drop out of school and may be forced into child labour in order to sustain themselves.  Child mortality is high and many orphans are themselves infected with HIV. 

Manna provides education to 24 primary school children and pays the fees for another three who have gone onto high school.  The children live with families in the community.  There are many more who need assistance and Pastor Maurice says, “I know that God’s blessing will be upon you as you help me help these young children so desperately in need.”

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