Wendano Ministries is born! - Day 17: Friday, 4/2/2010

This morning, John, Susan and I sat down for our business meeting to discuss our collaborative mission plans.  They explained how they were drawn to work with orphans after two children in their extended families were orphaned after both parents died of AIDS.  We talked about what has been done with the 20 children at Wendano Village and about what we hope to do in the future. 

Of course the ministry wasn't born today in one sense, because it has been ongoing.  It was born in the sense of adopting "Wendano" or "Love Among Us" as an overarching name that can broaden the ministry beyond the limits of the village. 

The ministry in Kenya is now registered with the government and John and Susan have identified a board of five including themselves.  Now the formal establishment of the American side of the ministry must begin.  We will need to establish a qualifying charity recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service.  This will enhanse our ability to solicit donations and to seek charitable grants.

I explained that the ministry in the U.S. needed to be organized such that its mission is specific enough to focus on the children of Wendano Village and general enough to allow for future expansion of the ministry.  I also explained that I thought it was important to continue to build a relationship with Namrata Shah Children's Home operated by the Diocese of Thika in order to continue to build bridges between our two churches.  I also explained that there may be future collaborative ministries in Zimbabwe with my friend Pastor Michael Dube.  It remains to be seen whether legal requirements will allow us to create one united organization or whether we will two organizations with "joint operating agreements!"

We concluded by giving thanks for the "love among us" that has drawn us into relationship and to shared ministry and invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in our endeavor to do the will of the Father and to follow in the Way of Jesus.  (Did you get the Will, Way and Power connection?)