As jet-lagged as Jeannine Allen, Ryan Hammer, my husband, and I might be, we have returned from Kenya with a renewed vision for what’s possible in the economy of God’s Kingdom. It’s hard to visit Cherish Watoto and not return with children forever tattooed on your heart. Watching the children sing and dance with joy – despite the grim circumstances from which they come – restored the joy of my own salvation. That is, joy isn’t contingent upon what I have or don’t have, but joy comes from the deep well of salvation.

Perhaps most stunning is, this is a story that God has been writing for two decades. It’s a weaving together of brothers and sisters in Christ – some that have much, and some that do not. It’s a weaving together for the purposes of God – the purposes to bring about flourishing and purpose for even the least of these.

Good Shepherd, if ever you wondered if God is using you, let me be another along the journey to remind you that God is indeed using you for his good. You are changing the trajectory of lives. I know that may be hard to comprehend when many of you haven’t met the children of Cherish Watoto, but you – we- are changing the trajectory of lives. There are 280 some children who think about Good Shepherd almost daily. They live in gratitude for the manna that God provides through generous givers like you. Did you know that when you give to Good Shepherd you are giving towards the redemptive mission of God in Nairobi, Kenya? The mission of creating a home for the orphans – a mandate found in scripture (James 1:27). The mission of providing access to education and the word of God to children – just as Jesus asked us to do (Matthew 19:14).

Years ago, God took Jeff and I on a generosity journey. God asked us to tithe faithfully 10% of our income to our local church, which we have done. It hasn’t always been easy. There are times that I wonder if we can truly pull it off while caring for children and my mother. But God continues to prompt us to obedience. After returning from Kenya, Jeff and I both felt a nudge from the Spirit to examine our finances again.

There was a moment in Kenya when God broke me. Jeff and I were approached by Natasha, a 7^th grader at Cherish Watoto who has been there since preschool. She lives at home in the slums with her mother and two siblings, one who lives with disabilities. She walks to school an hour each way and did not own a school uniform or school supplies. Her only meal a day was when she had lunch at Cherish. On day 3, she asked Jeff and I to sponsor her. How could we say no? We cheerfully agreed without even knowing the impact. On the final day, we met with her and the school social worker to deliver school supplies and school uniforms. There was a tearful moment when the social worker hugged Natasha and said, “This is an answer to prayer. We have been praying for this to come since you were a little girl.” I wept. For the amount of money I spend at Starbucks in a week, Jeff and I can join God in helping to shift the trajectory of her life.

God changed me. I want to be more generous than ever.

There was a moment that the team and I were overlooking a piece of land next to the school that was for sale. In a single moment, we all felt the headwinds of the Spirit shifting in our minds asking us this important question: “How big can you dream?”

Good Shepherd, how big can we dream?

Sure, we are a small part of what God is doing around the globe. We are no one’s savior – only Jesus is Savior. And yet, God is calling all people to faithfully steward all that we have for his redemptive mission.

Good Shepherd, how big can we dream?

While I want to tell you all about the dreams and vision that God has planted in my heart and mind, I invite you to first put that to prayer.

How big can we dream? Dreams at 1310…dreams for our neighbors…and dreams for the globe.

How…

         Big….

From my heart,

Pastor Tara Beth