They're usually known for living in rural areas of North America, but an Amish-Mennonite community living in western Kenya is providing aid programs to those who accept their faith.
Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.
1. The number of Amish-Mennonite churches in Kisumu has doubled in the last few years.
a. True
b. False
2. To receive any of the services the Amish-Mennonite provides, you must be a member of the church.
a. True
b. False
3. Martin Bender believes that they don’t have enough resources to help everyone who lives with HIV/AIDS.
a. True
b. False
For transcript and answers see below.
Transcript and Answers:
These teens have come together to record a hymn in Luo, the language spoken by the Luo ethnic group of western Kenya. They are members of eight Amish-Mennonite families living in Kisumu and the hymns will be distributed to local churches in an effort to spread their faith. The first members arrived from the United States in the 1990s and the community has maintained a presence here ever since. Families come for periods ranging from two to sixteen years to build churches, establish congregations and also to help run aid programmes.
"The church-planting project was here first. And then as needs were... you know as they were seeing needs, and not knowing how to deal with them, they started, actually another organization funds that. They started pulling that in. So they work well together, but I'd say the primary focus around here is the church-planting."
A few years ago there were six Amish-Mennonite churches in the Kisumu area, now there are twelve. People who want to join the church must take special classes to learn about the faith, and dress in line with the church's guidelines. Dorthey Ogea who was baptized into the Amish Mennonite church in 1997, has since received food aid and had a well dug in her village.
"The church has protected me from many things, and the teachings we get there, they’re good."
The missionaries hope to expand their flock not just through hymns and prayers but through help for the most needy; bi-weekly food handouts for orphans, seeds and fertilizers at subsidized prices, and by digging wells for local communities.
"They are going to be very very much grateful. And you know the moment we are grateful, because of being beneficiaries, the name of the lord God is glorified."
But while some of these essential services are open to the whole community, other programs, like the Aid for AIDS program, which provides food to those living with HIV/AIDS, and the HIV/AIDS medical program, are only available for those who adhere to the Amish-Mennonite faith.
"There's a great need, innumerable need. If we'd broadcast to people that we're helping people we'd get flooded. There's no way we could help them all. So we reach out to those of the Christian faith, probably first, because we know that they're going to utilize it in a good way."
By prioritizing those who convert to their beliefs, the message is clear: accepting their faith is not only the quickest way to spiritual salvation, but also the most direct path to improved health and material sustenance.
Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. a
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