The story of Immanuel Church of Crosby
And the Malawi Orphan Care Project (MOCP)
In 2010, after Immanuel changed its denominational affiliation to Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) and North American Lutheran Church (NALC) it held a congregational learning event with the book “The Hole in Our Gospel” by author Richard Stearn, the USA President of World Vision at that time.
From the study, the congregation was convicted and called by God into new mission projects – locally and globally. Locally, God called us to participate with the New Pathways homeless ministry in the Brainerd Lakes area, the Crosby Food Shelf, the Soup Kitchen ministry in Brainerd, to name a few. Globally, we were yet looking for a global mission partner.
Michael and Susan Bushard were sent as delegates from Immanuel to a NALC mission conference in Ethiopia, Africa with the hope of connecting with some kind of global mission project to bring back to Immanuel.
While at the conference God “arranged” for them to meet Pastor Andy Smith from First English Lutheran Church (NALC) in Mansfield, Ohio, whose church was part of MOCP and were looking for other churches to get involved. The connection with MOCP was made!
Key members of MOCP at that time were Pastor Andy and Joy Smith, and Ken and Penny Ekegren – all from First Englich Lutheran Church in Mansfield. MOCP is the North American Branch of Kenyenyeva Orphan Care Mission (KOCM) in Malawi led by Malawi volunteers.
At first, the main goals of MOCP were simply to feed the children of the project daily, send as many children as possible to high school, send several girls to boarding school, and drill a well for clean water at the project site.
Note: MOCP is not an orphanage, but an orphan care project. MOCP/KOCM encourages orphans to remain with members of their family system if possible. Children come to the project from neighboring homes and villages to be served and to enjoy community life as children.
At that time, MOCP was also involved with a chicken business (eggs for protein and for sale), a bracelet business, and a taxi service to raise funds for the feeding and school tuition programs.
Since our initial involvement with MOCP, Immanuel has sent a number of people on several mission trips to Malawi, and have played a significant role in the following projects:
- The feeding program
- Tuition for high school students
- Tuition for college students
- Tuition for boarding school students (girls)
- Drilling a well
- Building an outdoor and sheltered kitchen and locked storage area
- Planting a cross to mark the project
- Purchasing land for a farm
- Purchasing a tractor for farm use
- Purchasing a truck for farm use
- Building of a skills center for girls
- Building a new community shelter and gathering space
- Days for Girls (feminine hygiene kits for girls)
- Rocket stoves
- Solar lighting/electricity
At the present time, a number of other churches in the USA and Canada are now involved in the project and there are other churches interested. The project has grown and is growing! Thanks be to God!
In addition to the feeding, school tuition, farm, skill center, current projects include a renewed chicken business, and a Rescue Center for women and girls who are involved in unhealthy and/or dangerous arranged marriages.
Malawi Ministry-Malawi Orphan Care Project
June 2024
Amy LaPierre Mission Trip
I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to Malawi, Africa to visit the Orhan Care Project. I will be joining a group of 5 others from Illinois, including Andy and Joy Jones. The trip will be from June 2nd – June 18th. While there, we will be visiting the Orphan Project and ministering to the kids and women. We will lead Vacation Bible School for the over 800 children. We will be taking the women volunteers to the Lake for a day of thanks and appreciation for work they do feeding the kids. We will also visit the farm site, a market in the city, attend 2 church services in Malawi, and go on a safari. We are also bringing many gifts for the women and children in Malawi. Each woman volunteer will get a bible in their local language and a handheld corn shucker. Each high school student will get an English bible and solar calculator. We are bringing 24 soccer balls to distribute and 2 table top corn shuckers to leave at the project.
I am really excited for this opportunity and look forward to serving God to the people and children in Malawi!
Thank you,
Amy LaPierre
| Photos from Amy’s Trip |
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Thank you and update from Shadreck and Yami on behalf of Kanyenyeva Ministries
August 23,2020
Dear abusa Paul, and brethren at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crosby
I am writing you on behalf of the children of Kanyenyeva, the women volunteers who cook and take care of the children, the board members, and everyone involved in the ministry of Kanyenyeva.
Today, is a day you are having another Manna for Malawi event.
We want you to know that we greatly appreciate and do thank God for all the efforts and the assistance you give us. But we are so taken by surprise and our hearts are full of cries of joy. We know the situation you are going through in the US because of COVID-19. Many things have come to a halt including many businesses. Even in Malawi, a lot of businesses have closed. Hospitals are full of patients and yet there are not enough workers.
We would have understood if you decided not to have the Manna for Malawi event this year. But you have gone ahead with the program even during a season like this. Your love for us is evident, and your kindness is beyond our understanding.
Thank you so much for what you are doing. We hold our hands at Kanyenyeva in prayer; thanking God for you and praying that God will again manifest Himself during this year’s Manna for Malawi.
We are so thankful to everyone who will take part. You must know that for us, this is not just an event, you are literally saving lives.
The situation in Malawi at the moment is worse. We have had CORONA cases on the rise and it is worse in the villages where there is no help at all. This has made it even more difficult for the people in the village to find food.
Therefore we do not take this as a small thing. Words are weak and not enough to express our gratitude to you.
May God bless each one of you and may God take care of your needs in Jesus name.
In Christ,
Shadreck and Yami
On behalf of Kanyenyeva Ministries.