Someone's life will never be the same again
The hour has come for the Dickersons to say good-bye to their friends in Kenya and return to America after four years of serving God in Africa.
Their obedience to God's calling was not in vain as every chapter of the four years has a good story to tell - children who had no hope of ever going to school are now singing, "God is good"; mothers who had given up all hope are now saying, "God is merciful."
Those that society had rejected found consolation in our gracious Lord, when the missionaries broke into their loneliness with the message of the unfailing love of God.
But there were challenges too which, fortunately, helped in the process of transforming both the missionaries and those to whom they had been sent.
"I always knew I was a little gullible but I have had to develop a sense of discernment over the years to be able to know the truth while listening to people, as well as knowing God's direction in ministry." Laura Dickerson.
There were many advisers; some misleading, others God-led. But relying on God for direction always gave them the sense of focus they needed.
Earlier in ministry, they used to get overwhelmed by peoples' problems but have now realized they just needed to know their part and do it well.
"So many people here were pushing us to start our own church but it was clear that God was not calling us in that area. We instead saw a gap in ministry, of churches ignoring single mothers and their children. It also seemed that God kept bringing single mothers and their children to our gate for help." Laura.
As they began to embrace single mothers and widows who came to their home for help, God led them to do more than just giving a packet of unga (flour).
In their obedience, Turning Point Ministries (TPM) was born to wholly help the mother and her child, not just financially through training or business, but emotionally and spiritually. While many micro finance programs are doing their best to fight poverty through small loans, the spiritual component of poverty is frequently not addressed.
TPM is not just empowering mothers financially. The ministry is helping to free them from dysfunctional behaviors and sometimes demonic oppression. TPM works with their beneficiaries one-on-one to help free them from over-dependence upon others and learned helplessness, commonly referred to as the 'victim' mindset. We partner with area churches that are biblically sound to provide additional mentoring and accountability.
The family that meets TPM's criteria for enrollment goes through the following empowerment stages:
Phase One - Rebuilding Phase (Up to one month) Many moms and their children enroll in TPM suffering from malnutrition and treatable diseases.
- Physical health -entrance physical exam, Voluntary Counseling Test (VCT) for HIV, vitamins for one month, and necessary medications.
- Emotional/spiritual health - pastoral counseling and/or psychological counseling, prayer, mentoring, Bible studies, and building self-esteem
- Scholastic - get children into school (admission fees, uniforms, school supplies)
Phase Two - Equipping Phase (Month one through six) As the physical health of the mother and her children improves, the mom moves into a business or job training so she can later provide for her family.
- Job training or Trade school - increases chances of finding a better paying job that will sustain the family
- Starting a business - once training is finished, some assistance may be required to start a business (such as hair-styling, selling vegetables, or selling second-hand clothes)
- Emotional and Spiritual encouragement and counseling is continued
- Join a Bible study or prayer group
- Coordinating with the mom's pastor for continuity and accountability.
Phase Three - (Six to Twelve Months) It may take up to 12 months, and sometimes more for special situations, for a mom to graduate the TPM program.
- Accountability visits to home and business
- Assistance, if needed, to connect to surrounding community through established women's groups, local Bible studies, and church programs.
- Emotional and Spiritual encouragement and counseling is continued
- Continued coordination with the mom's pastor and church
Five women have so far been assisted by TPM. Four have successfully graduated to live independent lives.
Following a longstanding mutual relationship between the Dickersons and SERV Ministries International's top leadership, TPM has now become a project of SERV in Kenya.
One of the roles of a missionary is to mentor and empower the locals and work with them to run the ministry. Amos Mirera and Margaret Mumoki will be managing TPM in Kenya while and once the Dickersons leave.
As they settle back into the United States, the Dickersons will be involved in fundraising and marketing for TPM and SERV Ministries International in America. Laura will resume her M.Div. online with Asbury Theological Seminary. Don will resume a career in environmental engineering.
"I will miss Kenya. It took me more than three years to be comfortable with the title of Pastor...I have now accepted that I am, having realized that it is not me but Christ working through me to accomplish His work. The hardest part was when it came to say bye. I found myself avoiding most of my friends just to avoid saying goodbye - but saying bye was a good and important thing to do but tear-jerking." Laura.
"Some Kenyans are devoted to family and community. Still others - politicians and 'pastors' - so love themselves and money that they steal the very funds, freedoms, and lives of those they profess to serve.
Narcissism, demagoguery, lies to uphold false reputations, and blame avoidance-just a few of the highly predictable sins I have seen played out in Kenyans who live apart from the will of God. Of course, these same sins are daily exhibited in people from my homeland who make international headlines. Worse, temptations to commit them creep into my own life, being efforts by Satan to ruin my witness for Christ.
But sin can also serve as that level ground upon which both the lost and redeemed have equal footing. On it, the unsaved Kenyan and I can commiserate with one another over two important aspects of our realities, however different they might otherwise appear.
First, that sin exists and second, that apart from Christ, we are powerless to stop it in our lives. Operating on this premise, I can truthfully say that while learning much more than I ever taught here, Christ has used me to better the lives of a few Kenyans and them to better mine." Don.
Other accomplishments made possible by donors in the United States:
Helped build, support, educate, and encourage churches in Burundi, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda
Lectured hundreds in Kenya, DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda
Christian community outreach, crusades, and evangelism all over Kenya
Personally gave and managed micro-finance loans and grants to the poor and the extreme poor (those making less than $1 per day).
