Serving in Kenya

THE BEDWELL FAMILY’S NEXT CHAPTER

AUTHOR: JAMES BEDWELL

It’s been an incredible honor to serve on staff at Grace Community Church for the past six years. My wife, Shelby, and I first joined this community in 2009, and we were both baptized that same year. During our time here, we’ve welcomed our son, Jacob, and have been supported through many trials and tribulations. Being a part of this community for the last 16 years has been a true blessing, but now the Lord has called us to Kenya to continue serving Him.

Our New Mission in Kijabe

We are currently planning to move to Kijabe, Kenya, at the end of July 2025. As a family, we will continue to serve through Haven of Hope (HoH), the ministry the Lord led us to found in November 2022. HoH is an official Community Based Organization (CBO) in Kenya, with the goal of reaching “the least, the last, and the lost” in Mai Mahiu, Kenya.

Currently, we serve the community through two large Bible studies. These studies allow us to teach the Word of God and lead people to Christ, while also serving as the foundation for our outreach efforts. Through the Bible studies, we’re able to distribute Bibles, food, and household necessities to our members.

Recently, we launched our first empowerment program. Each of our 350 members will receive 10 chickens, which can be used to start larger flocks for food or to establish a small business.

Partnering with Naomi’s Village

As an added bonus, we’ll be serving in the same area of Kenya as Naomi’s Village. I plan to continue supporting NV’s leadership and children when we arrive. My work will involve collaborating with NV’s social workers, counselors, and chaplains, providing training and encouragement to help them be their best. I’ll also be assisting with the counseling and spiritual needs of the children at Naomi’s Village.

What an amazing journey it has been here at Grace! Thank you for all your prayers and support. We hope to see you when we rotate back to the States for a visit, about a year from now.

You can keep up with our journey and ministry by visiting our website at www.havenofhopekenya.com. There, you’ll find links to join our mailing list and follow us on social media.

Blessings,

James, Shelby, and Jacob Bedwell