While we have a heart for all orphans, this project moved us to action because 142 of these orphans are Ethiopian Jews.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27)
God willing, Elana and I will be heading to Kenya later this month to visit our dear coworker, Joash. Joash is the leader of Tikkun Africa, a network of 500 congregations all throughout Africa. He is an Ethiopian Jew whose family relocated to Kenya decades ago, and he will oversee Shelanu Kids. We have known Joash for many years.
These children need to know that they are valued by God. We're going to raise up powerful leaders. These young men and women, I believe, will grow up to be doctors, scientists, and businesspeople, and preachers—all sharing the good news of Yeshua.
Shelanu Kids is part of a Messianic ministry, working among Ethiopian Jewish refugees living in Kisii, Kenya.
This Jewish community of Ethiopian refugees initially fled from their native land in the 1950s and 60s to northern Kenya. Persecution of Jews in Ethiopia intensified and in the mid-1980s and 90s, Israel airlifted tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews to the Holy Land as part of Operation Solomon.
For the community of Ethiopian Jewish refugees in Kenya, life got worse in the early 2000s. During the 2007 elections in Kenya, brutality against Jews by Kenyan Muslims increased, leaving many children orphaned and vulnerable.
These Ethiopian Jews who had originally come to northern Kenya to escape persecution had to flee for their lives again. Their desperate plight has mostly been forgotten by the world. But we cannot let them be forgotten any longer.
Many of these Jewish refugee children come to Shelanu Kids after fighting for survival on the streets. They may have lived for years in danger of being trafficked or suffering other abuse.
Shelanu Kids Home for Children gives them HOPE and a HOME…and a FUTURE! And most of all—they learn that they have a Messiah who loves them—Yeshua!
In the event that a specific project becomes overfunded, Messiah's Mandate/Tikkun may allocate the overage towards other ministry purposes.
