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mikayla

Feb 13
Love0

Voices from Sudan: Lydia’s Journey

By LIA News
Photo Details: Sudanese disembark after traversing the Nile River on a ferry after crossing the border from Sudan, Abu Simbel, Egypt, May 20, 2023. (EPA Photo)

 

Life has not been the same in Sudan since April 2023. Sudanese armed forces and the rapid support forces are causing mass destruction as they continue to fight.

The conflict has escalated and expanded into new states, resulting in more and more displacements and refugees fleeing the country. By January 2024, 24 million people were desperately in need of food, 6 million were internally displaced, 1.5 million became refugees, and 13,000 individuals lost their lives.

Despite the staggering numbers, grasping the full extent of the devastation in Sudan can be challenging. However, listening to one woman’s personal experience allows for a better understanding of this tragedy and offers a guide by which one can pray for the nation.

Lydia, a mother of five, lived in Sudan before the crisis. When the war broke out, citizens frantically scattered. Lydia lost contact with her husband and ran with her children in the direction of Egypt. During their journey, she had an accident while crossing the border, and her leg was severely wounded. She had no access to healthcare and needed to keep walking to make it to Cairo. She spent many days without cleaning the wound, and it became infected. 

After a grueling journey, Lydia and her children made it to Cairo safely but, unfortunately, couldn’t find a place to stay. They had only the clothes on their backs and little access to food, but God in his perfect timing, provided. Through a friend, they became in contact with LIA-Egypt, and at the LIA center, they were offered hope. All of their immediate needs were met including, medical care, education, food packages, mattresses, and more. 

Lydia praised God for what he has done in her life: “May the Lord bless the Life In Abundance ministry for their support that came in the very time I needed it.”

The Sudanese crisis is often overlooked due to other significant conflicts occurring around the world. May Lydia be a reminder to pray for the millions of individuals with untold experiences who face the effects of the Sudanese war.

Oct 30
Love0

The Power of Partnership

By Transformation Story

Life is a journey with its share of twists and turns, where we often long for guidance. In Psalm 16:11, David beautifully expresses this idea;

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy.”

At Life In Abundance, we believe in walking this path together, guided by our faith and steadfast confidence in the Lord. This conviction has empowered many individuals to grow, especially through our partnership with Prison Fellowship Kenya.

Empowering Inmates to Prosper

Prison Fellowship Kenya serves as a beacon of hope for many inmates. Their goal is simple – to share the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ behind bars. Through our partnership with this organization, we’ve witnessed remarkable transformations. One story stands out – that of a prisoner who, after serving a three-year sentence, faced the daunting challenge of returning to society. The transition was tough, but Life In Abundance saw the need and took action.

LIA’s Director recognized the need to equip the leadership of Prison Fellowship Kenya with the skills to help former inmates reintegrate into society successfully. They realized the leadership lacked the tools to guide ex-convicts in their journey. Life In Abundance stepped in to provide the necessary training. As a result, many individuals are now better prepared to live lawful lives and reintegrate into their communities.

The Impact of Partnership

The story of our partnership with Prison Fellowship Kenya is an example of what’s possible when believers come together with a shared vision of hope, change, and faith. It’s a testament to the incredible impact that can be achieved when we walk the path of life together, confident in the joy that the presence of the Lord brings. As we continue to thrive through these partnerships, we also thrive in our commitment to serve our communities as God has called us to do. Together, we truly thrive, supporting one another on this challenging path of life.

“Two are better than one because they have a good return on their labor. If either of the falls down, one can help the other up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Aug 09
Love0

Walking in Hope – Pascal’s Story

By Transformation Story

A large shift takes place when someone who has felt dependent on other’s generosity and stuck as a victim of their circumstances, chooses to take steps in the direction of hope.

Pascal is a 25-year-old we met in the DR Congo. He lives with his widowed mother and four younger sisters in an old house in the urban slum of Bukavu.

Growing up Pascal felt like a failure at school and his family often couldn’t afford school fees, so he abandoned his education and his family altogether to join a group of street children. For years he begged for money and food from other people. When they didn’t give freely, he robbed them. He used what he stole to buy drugs and alcohol, eat in restaurants, and gamble, which alienated him even more from those around him.

In October 2020, a youth conference put on by LIA and the local church took place in Pascal’s community. He enjoyed playing football that day and decided to join the Youth Running Club after. Slowly, through attending the club and listening to teachings on understanding poverty and how to address it, Pascal realized that he needed to take ownership of his life and change his behavior and mindset.

He started going to church and was baptized Easter 2021. With no desire to commit more robberies, Pascal was given a loan of $50 USD to start an income generating activity and become self-sufficient. He began a shoe repair business and now has a workshop with some other young people who have become friends.

Recently, he started using what he earns to assist his mother and sisters. Recognizing the Lord’s provision and grace, Pascal promises he will continue to work faithfully to serve God. “May my fellow Christians pray for me so that through my business God may be glorified.”

May 01
Love0

One Family At A Time

By Economic Empowerment, Transformation Story

In 2017, Life In Abundance came to a church in a poor refugee settlement in Uganda. The need was overwhelming. Defeating poverty and restoring dignity felt like a daunting goal, but the team had decided to focus on one family at a time, knowing change can start small and multiply.

Meeting Pastor Saviour

Back then, the first person we met was Saviour who says his life took a positive turn through the trainings and support of LIA. He was even encouraged to go to theological school. Today, he and his family have a strong bond with the Lord and Saviour is a pastor. He is working to share hope with those in his church and community.

Passing on the abundance he has received, the pastor has impacted others’ lives the way he was once impacted. One family that has seen change recently through Saviour and his church is Grace’s family.

An Invitation for Grace

Grace is 45 years old and lives in Robidire village with her husband, Charles, their 5 children, and 2 others in their care. The couple are farmers with rudimentary cultivation tools. Grace says that life has been hard. “Sometimes we would even eat once in a day, sleep hungry, and my children were often sent home from school due to lack of school fees. I didn’t know what to do about this situation.”

Then Saviour invited Grace and her neighbor to join a savings group that was introduced by LIA-Uganda. At first, Grace says she was skeptical. “Many organizations before came and stole the little money that our family had.” But this was different.

Continued Impact

“LIA encouraged us and taught us financial literacy.” Through Saviour’s invitation, Grace’s family now has money for school fees and has planted groundnuts that they pray will yield a good harvest.

Grace says, “I am now an active member of a savings group called Divine Mercy. I save with a purpose to enhance my financial liberation from extreme poverty that had haunted me for years. I trust God I will never be poor again.”

Saviour continues to invite people in his community to experience this kind of change. He says, “I pray that LIA grows to greater heights so that we can impact even more lives.”

Jan 26
Love0

A Place Called Home

By Transformation Story

A basic human need is shelter. For survival, we count on buildings to protect us from predators and extreme weather. More than that, our bricks and wood, clay and glass, metal and cement can become the backdrops of our lives; housing our most precious memories, serving as an extension of our personalities, and providing a safe space that we call “home.”

For many people in the poorest communities in Africa and the Caribbean, finding and maintaining a home that meets their family’s needs can be challenging. At Life In Abundance, our staff and community leaders often make home visits, giving us opportunity to witness these kinds of needs firsthand. Here are two stories of how our local churches have stepped in to help in Rwanda.

A House From Heaven – Fidel’s Story

Fidel lives in a western province of Rwanda with his wife and four children. One day, a pastor came to visit and was astonished to see the family’s living conditions. They were squished into a one room house with little food or hope. When Pastor Deo asked how the church could help the answer was obvious: Fidel needed a new house. Deo says, “It was something too big for me to think of. But I trusted the Lord and gathered my Christians in the church to discuss the matter.” The congregation responded positively and started giving. They bought 43 iron sheets, nice doors, and windows. Fidel and his family are now comfortable in a bigger home. He says, “I was lost in sin, far away from God, but now I am back…. This house is from heaven.” He has started telling his neighbors about God’s grace and supports the church’s ministry serving others in poverty.

No More Roof Issues – Virginie’s Story

Virginie has been a widow for almost two decades. She and her two daughters survive off daily jobs she looks for in her village in Southern Rwanda. For years they lived in a house with major roof issues. Virginie says, “My house was too old, and we stayed in it for we had no other choice.” She explains it wasn’t fully a house but more like living outside.

Her local church, including a group of young people saw the family’s need and initiated a building project. Now Virginie is the proud owner of a sturdy house that protects her from outside elements. She says this gift has made her want to proclaim the good news of Jesus more and help others whenever she can. “I thank LIA for this project, and I really thank God for everything.”

 

Praise God for his shelter in times of need and for the work being done in Africa and the Caribbean to provide homes to the poorest among us.

Dec 02
Love0

Generosity In The Global South

By Local Leadership, Trainings, Transformation Story, Vulnerable Children

We believe in Africa and the Caribbean. That it is the Global South’s time to rise, take a stand, and lead. We know that those who the world labels as poor can be surprisingly rich. We’ve seen God at work when local church and community leaders recognize the abundance Christ has given them and openly share it with others.

Since we were founded over 27 years ago, Life In Abundance has always been focused on empowerment and sustainability in the communities we serve. We have never been about handouts, but instead want to give people in need a hand up so they can take ownership of their own transformation and true, lasting change can take place. The Lord has already provided all of us with everything we need to live rich, hope-filled lives. We just want everyone to know and experience this.

Yet for a long time, there was a disconnect between this message that we firmly believed and how our work was resourced. When we reflected on the state of our organization, we realized we were deeply dependent on the Global North for our financial needs. We started dreaming of what it would look like to strengthen resource mobilization within our program countries and challenge the communities we serve to assess what they have been given by God and how they can openhandedly use those gifts to meet needs around them.

Today, we are aiming for 40 percent of our work to be funded and resourced through our 14 program countries and we have seen generosity grow in the 59 communities we walk alongside. This year, over 1,090 people have gone through our Seeds of Generosity training where they’ve been inspired by all the ways the Lord is generous and challenged by how the Bible calls people to give sacrificially.

Through this focus on generosity, here are a few recent local resource mobilization stories where we’ve seen God moving and transforming lives:

Leaders in Burundi

Pastor Julien in Burundi represents the impact LIA’s training has had. After going through the program himself, he started teaching his church and now they are implementing many projects that allow the church congregation to give to their community. In July, the church raised money to support 38 leaders from poor areas to attend their national leadership conference. The church leaders were amazed at how ready and willing people were to help with the need. Another opportunity allowed church members to serve 150 prisoners though support.

Financial Discipleship in Egypt

In Egypt, Pastor Jamal started a weekly sermon series on financial discipleship and the congregation began a practice reminiscent of the early church in Acts. The church placed blue and green baskets in their sanctuary. When people would come to worship, they’d bring items like rice, tea, and bread as offerings to put in the blue basket. Items for community use would be transferred to the green basket and at the end of the service people in need could freely receive provision.

Rwanda Rabbit Rearing

Youth running clubs in Rwanda are also learning the value of generosity as many children have participated in a rabbit rearing project. They are taught responsibility and use their free time to care for their rabbit farms and assist each other. When one of the children needs school supplies or money for education fees the group sells some of the animals to generate income. Through reimagining what giving can look like and encouraging all those we walk alongside to be people who sow generosity with the seeds they have, we’ve been grateful to see how God has blessed and expanded the work of his people.

 

“All of us have something that we can give to advance the kingdom of God. We can impact a community through planting seeds of generosity.” – A Pastor In Jamaica

 

This year, gifts have looked like sewing materials and medicines, meals served, grants from foundations, offerings from churches, volunteered time, prayers, one-time donations and monthly commitments, smiles and kind words and ideas and so much more. We are so grateful for every act of generosity that continues to spur on God’s kingdom work. Our joint generosity across the globe truly breaks chains and spreads hope.

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