Rick and Audrey became aware of the plight of children living on the streets of Kenya soon after arriving in 1995. They became involved with the work of Darla Calhoun, who
Homeless men like this are a reminder of where these children could be headed
unless there is a change.
established Agape Children’s Ministry in Kisumu, a safe haven and home for street boys. In addition to rescuing children heading to the streets for survival, Rick and Audrey became part of the effort to educate them and started New Generation Academy. When Rick, a teacher and contractor, drew up plans for a school building with faith that God would supply the funds, Mission of Mercy stepped forward to pay for its construction. The ministry also found sponsors for every child in the school. Now, a Kenyan staff is in place, nurturing a house full of 90 boys who live at Agape and attend school at New Generation Academy.
More recently, God has given Rick and Audrey a vision to get the kids back to the rural land they came from instead of keeping them in the city they ran to for survival. Care within an institutional home is limited, while developing deeper roots in village communities can have a life-long impact. That’s why they established Into Africa.
"...I knew that once we accepted one into our compound, it meant we were responsible for his welfare."
They could see that the number of smaller rural homes would be limitless. Living in a village means that children can develop deep roots in village life where the communities can include them in their homes, schools, and church activities. In addition, as they train the children in biblical principles, the children can have a great impact on the villagers.
The garbage pile is home to these
street boys.
This vision is now coming to life. On a single day this past July, Rick and Audrey found 14 boys waiting at the gate of their house in Kisumu.
Looking back to that day, Audrey said, “I knew we weren’t really ready to take in that many boys, but somewhere I had just read, ‘With any step of faith, there is a certain amount of fear.’ I sensed it. Since we had been working with street boys for three years, I knew that once we accepted one into our compound, it meant we were responsible for his welfare. I felt the fear of taking that step of faith.
“But it was the look on their faces that told me I had no choice, really, but to let them all in! I knew it was God speaking to me. Never before had boys actually come to our gate. Always before, we went looking for them. But in taking steps into the vision God had given us, it seemed that one of the ways He assured us that this vision was His vision was by sending boys to us. In fact, all 30 boys we have now have come in this way.”
One of the 14 boys who came through the gate that day was Stephen, a boy eleven years of age. And it was later that same month, on July 14th, when Stephen accepted Christ and his life was made new.
