How can Americans respond to Africa's AIDS epidemic in a way that is meaningful and not paternalistic? One answer is by partnering with the Beacon of Hope, a program founded and run by Kenyans for women in one of Nairobi's slums. At Beacon of Hope, women are given marketable skills in weaving and other crafts. Their young children are cared for in a pre-school, and some older children receive school sponsorships. Beacon also cares for people housebound with AIDS and hosts support groups for grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren because the middle generation has died of AIDS.

The Bible Church has been in partnership with Beacon of Hope since its very inception in 2002. We sell their rugs and enroll child sponsors at the church 3-4 times a year. Teams visit Beacon of Hope every 1-2 years, and Jane Wathome, the founder and director of Beacon of Hope has visited the Bible Church several times.

Principal Bible Church Liaison:  Jana Piepenbring

Learn and Give:

• Visit Beacon of Hope online.

• Sales of rugs and other woven products from Beacon of Hope are held couple of times a year at the Bible Church. A convenient way to be notified of a sale is to sign up for the mission listserve.

• Support the education of a child of one of the women being trained at Beacon of Hope by contacting Vickie Carpenter.

• Every 1-2 years we form a team to visit our partners in Kenya, usually for two weeks during the summer. If you would like to participate in one of these trips, contact our Missions Director.