Living and working in a Developing Nation means that words like Empowerment, Community Development, and Strategic Planning are part of the common jargon among the organizations that are seeking to make a difference. All good words—Biblical talk almost!

For the past few years we have been living as part of a community where very little of this jargon has been heard or seen. If we could turn the clock back a hundred years, I wonder what we would see? People hoeing gardens that do not produce enough food. Children suffering because of malnutrition, poor water sources, and lack of personal hygiene. Men spending their days around the beer pot, with the usual results of poor health, no motivation, broken families. Women and girls in the darkness of ignorance and despair. Hearts heavy with fear of the witch doctor's spells and the ancestor-worship dances. I could be describing life in our community as it is this week. A hundred years ago there would have been more trees. These days the forests are disappearing into charcoal to sell in order to make money for a few of the necessities of life. A hundred years ago funerals were probably only a weekly rather than a daily occurence. These days AIDS is making its inroads felt with an increase in sicknesses, funerals, and orphans.

What an unhappy picture! The heart of God must break as He sees the people loves living in such darkness. What would He like to see a hundred years from now, and how can we be part of His design for development in this community?

From the first Sunday we arrived in Nanjoka Village, five years ago, God's Church is being planted and is growing. During a visit to one family soon after we arrived, the mother said, "We older people do not want to come to your church. We do not want to hear that Jesus is the way to Heaven. We like our old ways. We like our beer, and our beliefs. BUT. (and here is our key!) if our children want to come to your church we will not stop them. We will be glad if you can help them."

Is it any wonder then that the Africa Evangelical Church in Nanjoka Village is mostly made up of children and young people between the ages of 5 and 25? With Biblical principles for living being taught in Sunday School, Bible Studies, Church services, and personal discipleship, how is God's Design for Community Development being seen in daily living? Here are just a few examples:

• Ulanda is a young man who, instead of spending his days and nights in immorality and laziness, has dedicated himself to serve in the church as a deacon. He is seeking God's will for a Christian girl to be his wife, after suffering through a broken engagement when his betrothed was found to be pregnant by another man.


• Sankhulani, one of the first of the boys to start attending church, has now completed primary school and started Secondary School. He has said that he wants to be educated so that he can go to Bible School and learn to serve God.


• Yanjanani, a teenager who worships with us regularly, took us up on the offer of fruit-tree seedlings. He has planted and cared for several trees that are now producing fruit which he sells in order to help himself and his family. We'd love to see more follow his example!


• Judy and Hana are sisters. They are lovely teenage girls who are receiving good training at home from their parents, two of the few adults in the church. We pray they will have a good testimony to the other girls at school, and encourage them to come to know Jesus.


• The most recent additions to the AEC family have been 3 or 4 young newlywed couples. We have had some times of instruction for them, using the Bible as our textbook rather than the heathen customs they are used to hearing about.

One thing for sure, Church Planting as God's design for bringing Empowerment and Development to a community is not a quick fix. We have not seen any advantage to "band-aid evangelism." Covering over the roots of animism and materialism will not bring eternal development. Rather, God starts by changing the heart and then empowers with His Spirit. It is very satisfying to be a small part of God's Design!