Why We Disciple
We believe the greatest work we will ever do is to point people to Jesus Christ and invite them into a relationship with Him. Discipleship is the whole-life process of transformation taking place in people who are trying to become more like Jesus. Ndoto means “Dream” in Kiswahili, and these dreams involve much more than getting an education.
How We Disciple
In discipleship, Ndoto provides support to every aspect of people’s lives – physical, intellectual, social, emotional, as well as spiritual. The Ndoto Community Church is open to all through its Sunday services and activities nearly every day of the week.
Ndoto is a lighthouse for the entire community: sponsored students, parents, and others.
Ndoto-sponsored students are mentored by Ndoto’s education staff, and are encouraged to be part of servant events and small groups. All students attend two retreats annually, where they learn, build relationships, and gain inspiration.
We cannot save people; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our work is to share the Gospel with students, pray with them, and be available for guidance. We do not use sponsorship or economic development work as a tool of manipulation. Religion is not a factor for entrance into any of our programs, and no student is required to become a Christian.
The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
If Ndoto students simply become well-educated adults, Ndoto has not succeeded. Furthermore, if Ndoto only ministers to our sponsored students, our vision is too narrow. We believe at our core that the destruction of the Fall described in Genesis 3 is broken relationships: with God, self, others, and creation.
We are separated from God by sin (Colossians 1:21-22). Thus, a key part of our ministry of reconciliation is to point people to God through Jesus Christ. Every student who is part of Ndoto hears the Gospel at least once per year at retreats. Many join other students in discipleship groups. The Ndoto Community Church is an evangelical church, faithful to the Bible and sound doctrine, where all are welcome to come and meet the Savior and worship Him.
In the Fall, our relationships with ourselves are also broken (1 John 3:1-3). Many of our students suffer from emotional damage and a broken identity as a result of growing up in poverty, seeing death and despair around them, and being marginalized by the rest of society. Our team spends time helping our sponsored students and church members re-discover their identities as Children of God and healing emotional scars. In a way, our Education programs are simply part of our strategy of reconciling people’s relationships with themselves.
Joseph's Story
Joseph was a young man growing up in Obunga who went through abuse and pain that is impossible to describe. It manifested itself in drinking and drugs in his life. In 2019, he sat down with us to share his story.
Our damaged relationships with others create conflict and pain around the world (Mark 7:21-23). It starts at home, so we work to rebuild healthy social networks. This includes helping our students to reconcile with their families and training our students and staff in how to have healthy relationships with others. Kenya, like many African nations, struggles with tribal conflict. Therefore, we also actively aim to reconcile people between tribes so that one day, Kenya can be a nation free of tribal conflict.
Joshua's Story
Joshua was a taxi driver who thought he was nobody special. He just drove, day after day, trying to meet his daily needs. When he came in contact with Ndoto, his very identity was changed, and this man with very little formal education is now one of the leaders of our staff.
Adam and Eve’s original sin cast brokenness into all of creation, not just humans (Romans 8:20-21). Not only does the land itself suffer from the decay wrought by things like locusts, floods, and climate change (each of which regularly affect our region), but humans are afflicted by sickness. In a way, our Development programs are part of this area of discipleship, but we also take sickness seriously, regularly providing basic medical care to our students and going above and beyond when necessary.
Phanice's Story
Phanice was a high school student with Ndoto when she suddenly fainted at church. Hospital tests soon revealed that she had a potentially-deadly bleeding deep within her brain. Ndoto, with the help of her sponsor and other generous donors, immediately sprang into action.
The Ndoto Community Church is a natural outgrowth of Ndoto’s discipleship mission. The ministry that led to the launch of Ndoto dedicated a church building in the middle of Obunga in 2006 in partnership with a small local church and a large church in Texas. Michael Omondi, one of Ndoto’s first sponsored students, graduated from Kenya Highlands Bible College in 2013 and quickly became the Pastor of Ndoto Community Church. The church is open to all and ministers wholistically to all.
