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
From Your Executive Director: Finances, Banquet, Vancouver & Horn of Africa
Dear Partners in Missions, I want to update you on our 2015 end-of-year finances, Pastor/Staff/Spouse Appreciation Banquet, Horn of Africa Fundraiser, and ask for your prayers for the retreat we will lead and provide for [...]
From Your Executive Director: Banquet, Horn of Africa, Vancouver, & Office Property
Dear Partners in Missions, Don’t go through 2016 without being encouraged, blessed and challenged to grow! You hopefully have or will receive shortly an invitation to our Restoration House 2nd Annual Gala Fundraiser. Please don’t [...]
From Your Executive Director: A Year in Review
The new library for refugees in the Shimelba Camp Dr.’s Indrias and Hadaway teaching at the Shire Bible School Since last year we have seen the Lord do amazing things in [...]
Horn of Africa – January Trip
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. Click here [...]
What Can the BRKC Churches Do?
We can return for a planned visit with the following action items: Through Ethiopian contacts, we can purchase clothing and school supplies, and time our visit with their arrival. We can purchase soccer balls and [...]
July 2013 Trip to Horn of Africa
On July 1-12, a group of 13 people from the Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association, in partnership with Noland Road Baptist Church, traveled to the Mai Ayni Refugee Camp in northern Ethiopia to work with [...]