Bringing Hope to the Least of These
Since 2011, BRKC has partnered with an NGO and local Ethiopian churches to train up church leaders, empower refugees, and bring hope of a better life to Eritreans and Ethiopians in Northern Ethiopia.
BRKC takes two trips each year in January and July. If you are interested in going on one of these trips, click here.
Why Horn of Africa?
Equipping Pastors
In partnership with a church in Shire, Ethiopia, BRKC has helped establish a Bible Training Center for pastors, church planters, and missionaries in Shire. In January, 2015, we inaugurated the opening of the Bible School with Gregg Boll, Randy Messer, and Asefaw Indrias teaching classes. In July of 2015, we sent a professor from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alongside Asefaw Indrias to teach classes to the Ethiopian and Eritrean pastors in attendance. It is our hope to continue sending quality teachers to train up pastors and church leaders to lead, shepherd, and impact the people in their communities with the gospel.
Partnerships
There are relatively few organizations that are actively working to provide aid and empowerment for Eritrean refugees in Northern Ethiopia. God has allowed us to connect with a church in Shire and with an NGO called Innovative Humanitarian Solutions. IHS has worked in the camps longer than we have and they have helped us navigate regulations and camp authorities. The church in Shire has helped house and feed our teams and coordinate some of our efforts. We are very thankful for these partners and pray God raises up more!
The Library
BRKC and our member churches have raised over $27,000 for the construction of a library in the Shimelba refugee camp. We have also collected over 16,000 books to furnish the library’s shelves. Construction on the library began in early spring, and was completed this summer. Each trip our team takes loads of books over. The children in the camp have little access to education, and even less access to books. Building and equipping a library opens the doors to a brighter future for the children. It provides a bridge for us to teach English, give vocational and life skill training, tutor in school subjects, share God’s love, and more. Though the future of these children seems bleak and unclear, we, in faith, want to empower them with the education and preparation they will need for the future we hope they someday have.
Empowering Refugees
Every month, thousands of Eritreans flee their country in hopes of a better life. They flee poverty, religious persecution, and military conscription. Many cross into Northern Ethiopia, and Ethiopia’s government has graciously established 4 refugee camps in Northern Ethiopia. Many of the refugees are unaccompanied minors and cannot return home.
Life in refugee camps seems to be an endless prison, as the refugees’ basic needs are met but they are unable to leave the camps, and there is no clear future awaiting them. For the past 4 years we have sent teams twice a year to meet needs and bring hope. Our teams have:
- Played with the children, introducing them to hackey-sacks and other fun games
- Delivered supplies collected by BRKC churches, such as bikes and a freezer
- Conducted VBS for the kids
- Served mentally ill refugees
We hope to continue these activities with twice-a-year trips. It is also our prayer that God will open pathways for some of the children to be adopted by American families and for refugees to have preparation and options for a future outside the camps.
Media
News & Updates
Horn of Africa Team Returns
by Nicole Brown After returning from another trip to Ethiopia, my heart and mind are not at rest. I am so unsettled once again at what I have witnessed looking into eyes that seem so [...]
Letter from Pastor Messer: Horn of Africa Vision
Dear Pastors, It is always great to see how God is working on all levels through BR-KC. I am writing you today about opportunities for your church to partner with the work BR-KC is doing [...]
BRKC Churches Focus in Africa: Ethiopia
Several BR-KC churches and members have on-going mission work around the globe. This is truly our Mission Statement in action...”We envision a network of healthy Baptist churches partnering together to transform lives and communities through [...]
BRKC Churches Focus in Africa: Togo
Several BR-KC churches and members have on-going mission work around the globe. This is truly our Mission Statement in action...”We envision a network of healthy Baptist churches partnering together to transform lives and communities through [...]
BRKC Churches Focus in Africa: Kenya
Several BR-KC churches and members have on-going mission work around the globe. This is truly our Mission Statement in action...”We envision a network of healthy Baptist churches partnering together to transform lives and communities through [...]
KC Churches Develop Leaders, Reach Out to Refugees in Africa
OAK GROVE – Pastor Randy Messer of First Baptist Church walked into a classroom in the Horn of Africa and heard voices, crying out and pleading to someone, but he saw no one. But as [...]