Editor’s Note: SaraBeth Fentress of 127 Worldwide has been a friend of SingleRoots since almost the beginning of our journey. She has written several posts for us, including: Are You Living a James 1:27 Lifestyle?, Ministering to Orphans :: 11 Ways You Can Get Involved on the Local Level, and Lie: God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle. One of the things I love most about SaraBeth is her ability to connect ordinary people with avenues for meeting needs in both big and small ways. So when I hung out with her recently, we discussed this project and how SingleRoots could partner with 127 Worldwide to meet a need that is so great, yet it is also one that most of us could very easily take part in solving just by reading a blog post. –Jessica

Peter Abungu is living in the trenches of ministry. He grew up in rural, western Kenya.  Currently, he, his family, and his staff minister in the biggest slum in Africa–Kibera–found in Nairobi, Kenya. It has been estimated that 1,000,000 people live in 100 acres in Kibera. Peter is the executive Director of Swahiba Youth Networks. (“Swahiba” is the Swahili word for “close friend.”)

Peter learned early in ministry that relationship is key. He says that you have to meet temporal needs if you want to share eternal truths. He explains, “If you are going to share the gospel with a hungry person, then sometimes you have to wrap the gospel in a sandwich.” He spends his life meeting needs in one of the world’s most desperate places with the intention to share Christ with as many people as possible along the way.

127 Worldwide and Swahiba Youth Networks began a partnership in 2011 while Peter was visiting the U.S. to advocate for the needs of the ministry and staff. Immediately, a friendship was formed between Peter and me.

Since our original meeting, I have been able to see first-hand the impact that this ministry is making in Kibera. I have taken teams to visit schools, distribute shoes, teach English, and spend time with the Swahiba staff and Peter’s family. In the study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby challenges believers to find out where God is at work and join Him there. It was obvious God was at work through Peter and the Swahiba staff.

Currently, Swahiba is seeing many students discover a personal relationship with Christ. Discipleship is their top priority. The staff is in desperate need to purchase study Bibles for this influx of new Christians. What a great problem to have! These study Bibles can be purchased in Nairobi for $4 per Bible. Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s Word will not return void, but will accomplish the purpose that it was intended to accomplish. You can help us send out God’s Word to youth in Kenya!

SingleRoots is partnering with 127 Worldwide and Swahiba Youth Networks to help purchase 100 Bibles. We are asking you to prayerfully consider what kind of contribution you can make towards this cause and then join us in giving. 100% of your donation will be used to purchase Bibles. 127 Worldwide will match dollar for dollar up to $500.

From Jessica: On Thursday’s post, Ben Morgan shared about his recent mission trip to Prague. There are many within our SingleRoots community who will participate in short-term mission trips this summer through their churches or other para-church organizations. But we also know there are many of who are unable to physically go but who have a heart to do what we can from where we are.

Theoretically, a goal of 100 Bibles shouldn’t be a big deal for this community, but the truth is that we’ve never asked our readers to partner with us and give financially so we don’t really know what to expect. Ultimately, though, we continue in our desire to be a community that encourages singles to be intentional with their lives, and what could be more intentional than placing a copy of the Word in the hands of new believers? 

So that’s it, that’s our goal: 100 Bibles purchased by the SingleRoots community by Friday of this week. Will you help us spread the Gospel right where you are?

Click here to donate.

**UPDATE: We not only met, but we exceeded our goal! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who gave so that new believers can have Bibles! We are praying that through your gift God’s Word will bear much fruit in their lives. If you still want to give, just click on the link above. There’s no such thing as too many Bibles!