Ethiopia

As I look back over these three decades of Life In Abundance International, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude. What began as a whispered instruction on a quiet walk along the shores of Mombasa in 1993 has become a global movement of wholistic transformation. On that day, the Lord spoke clearly: “Establish a Christian health organization for my use.” What seemed then like a small beginning has grown into a testimony of His faithfulness that has touched nations and generations. 

Thirty years later, as I walked along that same beach, I was deeply moved by how completely God had fulfilled what He had spoken. What was once a simple call to serve the poor through the local church has become a flourishing ministry spanning fourteen countries, three partnership offices, and a growing global institute equipping the body of Christ. Truly, the vision awaited its appointed time, but it did not delay. 

Through the obedience of many faithful men and women, over 3,075 churches have been envisioned and empowered to serve their communities. Together with these churches, more than 2.4 million individuals have been wholistically impacted. Among them, 75,074 have come to faith in Christ, 487,204 have been discipled and trained as community leaders and trainers, and 332,117 orphans and vulnerable children have been given hope and sustainable solutions for their future. Over 1 million individuals have received primary healthcare, and 156,534 children have been supported through early childhood and primary education programs. Furthermore, 123,184 individuals have been economically empowered through microloans and skills training—evidence of lives restored and communities transformed. 

 Each number tells a story of grace. Each face reflects the heart of Christ who came that we might have life and have it abundantly. This journey has not been without challenge; it has been marked by faith, perseverance, and the unfailing guidance of the Holy Spirit. Yet, through every season, God has proven Himself faithful. 

 As we step into the next chapter, we do so grounded in the principles that have carried us thus far: remaining Spirit-led, unwavering in our mission to empower the local church, faithful to all God has entrusted to us, and committed to partnership and an Africa-led vision. We look ahead with anticipation to what God will continue to do through the LIA Global Institute, through our national teams, and through every church that bears His light in the darkest places. 

 To our partners, board members, and friends around the world—thank you for believing, praying, giving, and standing with us. To our teams in the field—thank you for living out the Gospel daily in service to others. Above all, we give glory to the Lord, who has done glorious things. May His name be praised among the nations. 

With deep gratitude and unwavering hope, 

Dr. Florence Muindi
Founder & President
Life In Abundance International 

The question came up over coffee with one of our long-time partners. “How long is a piece of string?” They asked — not to puzzle us, but to remind us that some journeys can’t be measured. They are stretched, shaped, and strengthened through time, people, and purpose. 

As we celebrate 30 years of Life In Abundance, that question lingers in our hearts. How do you measure three decades of lives restored, of churches mobilized, of communities transformed? How do you count the threads, the tears, the laughter, the prayers, and the partnerships that have been woven into this story? Our “string” has never been straight. It has looped through countries, crossed cultures, stretched through seasons of uncertainty, and been held together by the steady hands of God’s faithfulness. 

From the beginning, LIA’s call has been to pursue wholistic mission, to see physical and spiritual restoration meet in the lives of the poor and the vulnerable. But we quickly learned that this kind of transformation cannot happen in isolation. It takes the Church. It takes communities. It takes partners who see what we see that true change is not given, but grown, when people are empowered to thrive in their own context. 

Over these 30 years, we have witnessed the miracle of partnership. Together, we have envisioned and equipped 3,075 churches to serve their communities. Through their work, more than 2.4 million individuals have been wholistically impacted, their stories woven into the wider fabric of hope. Among them, 75,074 have come to faith in Christ, and 487,204 have been discipled and trained as community leaders and trainers. 332,117 orphans and vulnerable children have been given hope and sustainable solutions for their future. More than 1 million individuals have received primary healthcare, 156,534 children have been supported through early childhood and primary education, and 123,184 individuals have been economically empowered to provide for their families and build their communities. 

These numbers are not just statistics; they are lives, families, and communities transformed through the shared work of churches, donors, and partners around the world. Every step forward has been shared. We could not have done this alone, and we refuse to go alone. This has always been a story of us. 

And yet, as we look back, we also look ahead. Our piece of string continues to stretch. There are more communities waiting to be reached, more churches to be equipped, more leaders to be raised, and more stories of hope waiting to unfold. The call of wholistic mission is far from finished. 

Thirty years may mark a milestone, but it does not mark the end of the journey. It reminds us that what began as a small strand of faith has become a tapestry, held together by love, trust, and the unwavering belief that God is still at work in and through His people. 

How long is a piece of string? Perhaps as long as we keep walking together. 

In September 2025, followers of Jesus, development practitioners, and church leaders from across the world gathered in Cape Town for the 2025 Micah Global Consultation. As part of this global network, Life in Abundance International joined the conversation, reflecting, learning, and contributing alongside others committed to living out the Gospel in word and deed. Together we asked an ancient question that still echoes through our modern wilderness: Where are we? 

After decades of development work, humanitarian response, and faith-based engagement, the question remains essential. Have our efforts brought us closer to God’s vision of restoration, or are we still wandering, seeking pathways where valleys remain low and mountains still high? The conversation in Cape Town reminded us that sustainable transformation cannot be achieved through projects or programs alone. True change is born when faith and development are not two separate callings but one shared mission, the restoration of all things under Christ. 

At Life in Abundance, we call this integral mission, a wholistic expression of the Gospel that brings good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, healing to the broken, and dignity to every person created in God’s image. This mission compels us to see people not as beneficiaries but as agents of transformation, and communities not as problems to fix but as places where God already dwells and works. 

Throughout the consultation, a profound truth emerged: our world does not need more development as we have often defined it. A climb upward marked by progress for a few, but rather what we might call levelment, a setting right of what has been made uneven. Levelment calls for humility instead of hierarchy, restoration instead of extraction, and shared flourishing instead of individual gain. It is the vision of valleys lifted and mountains made low, where all can walk the same road toward life in fullness. 

Integral mission invites us into this leveling work, to walk alongside one another, not from positions of power, but from shared dependence on the One who became human and walked among us. Across Africa and beyond, we see this vision lived out through church-led transformation—addressing poverty, restoring health, empowering women, nurturing creation, and building systems that sustain life. Each act of compassion and each local partnership become part of a wider story of redemption, a story where faith and development no longer stand apart but walk hand in hand. 

As we left Cape Town, we were reminded that the journey of an integral mission is not a climb toward status or success but a walk toward wholeness. It requires humility, courage, and the willingness to depend on God and one another. In a world marked by division, displacement, and depletion, we are called to become a new “we,” a community that serves, sacrifices, and celebrates together until every valley is lifted and every rough place made smooth. 

Our prayer is that this commitment will continue to guide our work at Life in Abundance and across the global Church, that together, we may prepare the way for God’s Kingdom to be seen and experienced through restored lives and flourishing communities.

The beautiful thing about beginnings is that you never quite know where they’ll lead. One moment, you’re stirred by conviction—a story, a cause, a whisper of purpose—and the next, you’re off, molding and shaping, forging ahead without a full map, but with a deep certainty about what called you to begin in the first place.

No one could have imagined, thirty years ago, where Life in Abundance would be today. Operating in 17 countries, serving hundreds of thousands across Africa and the Caribbean, supported by a staff of passionate, capable, and sincere followers of Christ. With training programs and centers equipping churches, organizations, and individuals to walk more fully in their God-given calling. And yet, what stands tallest is not the scale of what LIA has become but, it’s the stories. The stories of those who have walked alongside this work over the past three decades, and who still do.

The story of Life in Abundance in Ethiopia began humbly. It didn’t start with a strategic plan, but with a burdened heart. Dr. Florence Muindi, a Kenyan medical doctor, had just arrived in Ethiopia. She was living in a leprosy community on the outskirts of Addis Ababa—still learning the language, still waiting to be released to serve in the mission field.  Originally called to serve the Oromo people in southern Ethiopia, she was in language school, hands restless, and her spirit eager.

So, she did what she could; she began leading Bible studies. With Alpha Course materials in hand, she gathered neighbors and local Christians, teaching them how to read Scripture and grow as disciples of Christ.

Among those attending the Bible study was a woman who worked alongside Dr. Yared Mekonen. Sensing something significant in what she was hearing – and recognizing a shared passion – she felt it was important to introduce him to Dr. Florence. At the time, Dr. Yared was in a deep season of prayer, seeking to understand how to bring together his heart for evangelism with his medical calling. That woman. That Bible study. That introduction. God used them to begin what none could have foreseen.

When Dr. Yared met Dr. Florence, she shared the vision that had gripped her: to establish a ministry that would empower the local church to serve the vulnerable and marginalized with dignity—making the Bride of Christ the hero, and ensuring the work would be sustainable. That was it. From that moment, their journey began. And the Spirit of God moved them forward, not knowing exactly where, only that they must go.

As Dr. Yared recalls, those early days were full of life and steeped in prayer. Prayer wasn’t a routine, it was a lifeline. There was a tenderness, a surrendered dependence, and a deep realization that without the Father’s leading, they could not move forward in truth or integrity.

And so, the team grew, first in Ethiopia, then beyond. From modest beginnings in a single office with a handful of faithful believers, Life in Abundance expanded from one nation to the next. But it was those hours, of earnest prayer, bold obedience, surrender and quiet faith, that laid the foundation on which LIA still stands.

We are grateful for their sacrifice, their obedience, and their love—for one another, for the communities they served, and for the ministry. Through prayer, they spoke life into what has now become. And we continue to tell the stories of touched lives, of transformed communities, and of a people who bear witness to the abundant life that God brings.

Delayed obedience is disobedience. That firm conviction guided Dr. Florence and her family after God’s clear commissioning at the beach. The time for preparation was over – it was time to go. Ethiopia had been placed on their hearts as the starting point for cross-cultural ministry, and though the journey ahead was uncertain, they knew obedience was the only option. 

As they prepared to move, opportunities flooded in: high-paying jobs, appealing benefits, and financial security that would make the transition much easier. The logical thing seemed to be to accept these positions, save money, and then move to Ethiopia later. But despite how reasonable that plan appeared, they couldn’t shake the unrest in their hearts. They continued to pray for clarity, and over time, it became evident that God was calling them to step out in faith immediately.

The Journey Begins 

Before heading to Ethiopia, they spent three months in the U.S., participating in a retreat designed to prepare missionary recruits for the road ahead. It was during this time that Dr. Florence fully surrendered to the calling: letting go of the comforts and security that might hold her back. Returning to Kenya, they spent time ministering among the Maasai, providing medical care through clinics and strengthening the role of the local church in reaching the community. Living among the people, they embraced a lifestyle of faith, even when they couldn’t fully explain their decisions to others. They simply knew that this was where God had called them to serve. 

While overseeing the medical work, Dr. Florence focused on health education, particularly for women, integrating physical care with spiritual transformation. But as their time among the Maasai neared its end, another opportunity arose, one that was tempting in many ways. Instead of making a rushed decision, they took time to pray and fast, seeking a clear direction from God. On the third day of fasting, something extraordinary happened, and that is when Dr. Florence received a vision that came with such deep peace. Though she didn’t fully understand the meaning at that moment, she knew God was revealing something significant. 

The Call Confirmed 

Shortly after, they received an invitation from the team in Ethiopia to visit for three weeks. Upon arrival, they spent time in Addis Ababa for orientation before traveling to a remote area to serve the Gumuz people through a community health program. While there, Dr. Florence saw yet another vision, a replica of what she had seen before, and at that moment, there was no doubt. God had given them an unmistakable sign that this was where He had called them. That vision would serve as a reminder in the years to come.

Through every challenge and moment of doubt, they would look back and remember that God had made the path clear. Waiting on Him had not been wasted time. 

In Pursuit of His Calling 

The groundwork in Ethiopia was strong, and what began there would soon spread to other nations. Today, as Life In Abundance (LIA) marks 30 years of ministry, the impact of that step of obedience is undeniable. What started with a call to serve the poor through the local church has become a movement that mobilizes, trains, and empowers churches to bring wholistic transformation to communities. 

LIA was never just about leadership development—it was about equipping churches to lead transformation where it was needed most. Over the years, mission strategies have evolved, and partnerships have become essential. The work has expanded, but the heart of the mission remains unchanged: to see lives transformed through a Christ-centered, wholistic approach. 

As we step into the years ahead, the mission is clearer than ever. This is not a one-person effort; it is a collective calling. And as the fruit of 30 years of ministry continues to multiply, one truth stands above all—God’s faithfulness has carried us every step of the way. 

To learn more about Dr. Florence’s calling, check out her book here!