The Orphans
of
Africa

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said,
surffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
-Luke 18:16

As it was during our Lords time on earth, we are reminded of his admonition that “if a man love me, he will keep my words”.  It is imperative, as we seek to please our Savior that we also have compassion on them that are without as we “defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy”.   These little ones whom Jesus Christ said of them “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” have been on our hearts from the day we arrived until the day we left.  Whether coming out of the bush to meet us on the road, or meeting them in the small bush villages, or within the city limits, we as open air preachers of the gospel who “hath this world's good”, and seeth these little ones whom Christ died for yet “shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  Therefore, we as the Cross Based Ministry have a desire and a vision (Proverbs 29:18) to begin a work among them so that they may see the love of the Father, who dwelleth in Jesus Christ by showing them that he is the way, the truth and the life.

Though much has been done in humanitarian efforts, or even through religious endeavors to feed and care for them, what is more important is to teach them about “the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world”.  The Lord knows that they have need of these things, therefore we as ambassadors of Christ, want to provide for them shelter as well as food and raiment wherewith they might be content, while providing the framework to show them the Savior, Jesus Christ and “the exceeding greatness of his power”, “to the praise of the glory of his grace”.  And by the teaching of the word of God, we might bring them unto “repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” so that they would believe on him who was sent, who died for their sins, so that they might be “accepted in the beloved”.

Howbeit, though there was a beauty "unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills", the riches of this great country are seen in the faces of the millions of souls for whom Christ died.

The servants of our Savior and Lord set before you the fatherless of Africa in their afflictions.

Brethren, as those in the body of Christ who have the heart of their Savior, and being “members in particular” would your desire be to gather “thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings”?  I have had no desire to appeal to your emotions, but instead to have pointed out to you the word of God which directly affects these orphan children, because those scriptures point to that fact!  Children have fathers, but orphan children have the heart of the Father!  Another thought is to teach these little ones to behold the face of their Father, and to understand the goodness of God, so that they might be saved and have them fervently pray for those who saw their afflictions and were moved in their hearts to do something for them.  How much would it benefit you and your spiritual walk to have many orphans come boldly before the throne of grace on your behalf?

Where there is no vision, the people perish
Proverbs 29:18

Even among the Cross Based churches, the children of the village come to greet us, and among them are the orphans that are fed by the Christians, but cannot be sheltered due to their limited resources.  It is our desire to build these orphanages within the care of the local church so that working Christians in the villages can impart unto those less fortunate, godly character, work ethic and biblical truths that can be sustained by those who are “doers of the word, and not hearers only”.  This way of life will impart unto them the love of God so that Jesus Christ may have the preeminence as “the way, the truth and the life”.

Our Vision

The men of God who have been privileged to do the work of the ministry, in preaching publicly from city to city in this African continent, have also seen the need to do a work among those whom our Father reminded us “to visit the fatherless”.  Of course, as I have stated previously, we have no desire of making any of the orphanages a “humanistic” endeavor, but rather a place that exemplifies a “spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”.  It is this sacrifice of love that we owe him, since we were bought with a price, though we could never repay the debt of love we owe!  We stand in him alone, dying in order that we might live, knowing “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe”, so that we might live to the praise of his glory.  The words of a song ring in my heart as I remember the one who loved me and gave himself for me:

Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
  And have made it mine.
Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
  Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
  Fill me with Thy grace.
Jesus! I am resting, resting
    In the joy of what Thou art;
    I am finding out the greatness
        Of Thy loving heart.

Do you have a song in your heart that will open your eyes to a need that will glorify our Lord and Savior?  Has his grace been sufficient for you?  Has the Lord God blessed you with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" and be given provisions that you would give toward this work?

It is our purpose to create these orphanages as simply as we can, keeping costs to a minimum.  Our desire is that each one will be similar in design, but understanding that in Africa this might not be always possible.  The goal of the Cross Based churches of Africa is as follows in helping the Cross Based Churches of Africa to establish orphanages with these principles:

• Build the orphan homes using an efficient bunk bed system that can be easily retracted that will provide the ability to setup an area using tables and chairs for the teaching of the children.
• Provide such things as bibles and teaching material if possible to nurture and bring them up in an environment that establishes the Lord Jesus Christ as preeminent and the word of God as the source that “pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. 
• Provide land which can be used to produce harvested crops by the local Cross Based church that will be responsible to give these orphans hope in imparting to them biblical truth, discipline and the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ in showing them eternal life and the glory and loving-kindness of a Father in heaven that remembered them.

Any funds given for this work will all be used to provide such things as land, building material, bibles, teaching material, tools, and anything else that will be required that will help our African brethren to care and exhort the orphans and themselves to “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands”.

the administration of these orphanages and the monies that brethren of likeminded hearts would desire to give, will at this time be handled based on necessity.  If you desire to give to this work, it will be done by your purposing in your heart first what you want to give and letting us know what it is that you will give.  When a need arises, I will let those of you know what it is and then your giving will be based on the following scriptural principle:

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality.
-2 Corinthians 8:8-14

As shown above, the Corinthians promised Paul a year before this epistle was written, to provide for those that had need.  Now it was time to deliver.  This will also govern how I will work with those who desire from a ready heart to give.  If by the grace of God, more is provided than required, I will ask that the giving stop at this time (Exodus 36:5-7) until the next need arises.

If you are interested in a detailed plan of our intentions and how we will accomplish these goals, please email me.  Once I have corresponded with you, I will send you my phone number so that you may call and speak with me directly.  As your have read, our vision is simple, yet the need is great.  If the Lord will move your heart toward this work, I am ready to speak with you; “and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours”, but you to help as the Lord has prospered you.  I will remind you of the great and precious promises to those who give as a matter of bounty:

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man
according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency
in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness remaineth for ever.  Now he that ministereth seed
to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown,
and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
-2 Corinthians 9:6-10

I put you in remembrance

I have showed you all things, how that so labouring
ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said,
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
-Acts 20:35

Thank you so much,

Rev. J. W. Simiyu,
Director, Croos Based Ministries of Africa

WEB: www.crossbasedministries.org  
EMAIL: pastorjames@crossbasedministries.org