“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”
Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
The Africa Gospel Church (AGC) Baby Centre exists to rescue orphaned and abandoned children, to raise them up in a loving environment, and to find them loving adoptive parents. The late Rev. Terry Duncan, member of the founding task force and former field director for World Gospel Mission (WGM) Kenya was quoted as saying, “Poverty and disease are epidemic in Kenya and leave in their wake innocent, helpless children who are destitute and bereft of hope for the present and the future.”
Bill and Melody Dearmon, missionaries with WGM led the charge in starting this mission in Kenya. “These children need help, and they need it now!” the Dearmons exclaimed. “By the standards of men, these little boys and girls are without hope or a future. But, we know from Jeremiah 29:11 that God has a plan to give them hope and a future.”
On Sunday, January 18, 2005, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the AGC Baby Centre. The Centre, which is located outside Nakuru on three acres of land donated by the local Ngata Africa Gospel Church, is a ministry of Africa Gospel Church, in partnership with WGM and Nappanee Missionary Church (NMC). AGC functions in an administrative capacity over the Centre with the board of directors being the final authority on all matters of operation.
The Africa Gospel Church continually grows and matures in the work of the Kingdom as we reach out to help provide a Kenyan solution to this Kenyan problem. The AGC Baby Centre was the first facility of its kind in Africa for AGC and its ministry partners. The Centre offers an incredible opportunity for growth and long-term investment in the future of the church and Kenya. The presence of the centre increases community and national awareness of the work of the church while serving as a tool to reach the least of these.
The AGC Baby Centre consists of three separate wings for three age groups (birth to 4 years) and apartment housing for some of the centre’s employees. According to World Health Organization report in 2001, the AIDS epidemic in Kenya has left more than 1 million children orphaned. Thus a child raised in a loving, secure, Christian environment is far more likely to be educated and to mature into a productive, contributing member of society. These children are also more likely to perpetuate these values and break the vicious cycle of poverty. In addition to providing a Christian environment and showing love and nuturing care, the AGC Baby Centre team works diligently to place each eligible child in a forever family by the age of three. The AGC churches also serve as a conduit to families in Kenya who can adopt.
The AGC Baby Centre carries a burden and a vision for orphaned and abandoned children of Kenya to whom we have continued to dedicate our energies, time love and commitment. We believe with all our hearts that God has placed a call on our lives to be a part of that their hope and future. However, the most important thing we offer these needy children is the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although the main focus of the center is to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ to the precious children of Kenya, the center also ministers to the adult population as it serves as an opportunity for employment. In addition to a full-time Kenyan office staff, registered nurse, and social worker, the center employs caregivers to take care of the children 24 hours a day.
We cannot ignore the desperate plight of orphans throughout the country. We have answered the cry of these little ones by building this home of love and hope for homeless babies. However, we constantly look to God as He leads and directs us into the great potential in this ministry.