MFB East Africa seeing people come to Christ

While giving food to the hungry is the main thing Kapu Africa (Midwest Food Bank East Africa) does, there is a higher purpose behind it. The first part of our mission statement is "to share the love of Christ." Feeding hungry people is a step in drawing them to Christ.

The Kenyan people have been under a strict lockdown due to COVID-19. This has been extended into early June. Residents in Nairobi's COVID-19 hotspots are not allowed to leave their neighborhoods unless on authorized business. This has led to mass hunger, especially in the slum areas Kapu Africa serves.

Two churches we partner with have been given permission to distribute Tender Mercies meals and fortified porridge in controlled environments with police protection. People begin lining up by 5 a.m., hoping to receive enough food to feed their families for 2 days.

A silver lining during this dark time is the great spiritual awakening taking place. Many of these slum-dwellers are social outcasts, shown no respect or courtesy. There are countless reports of people weeping as they receive the food, asking, "Why are you doing this for me?" The gospel of Christ has been shared with many of these people before, but now they want to know what is driving the love they are shown.

One of the two churches has kept detailed records and has had over 2,000 adults receive Jesus as their Savior in the past six weeks. It has been such a huge response, pastors from five other churches have been recruited to help nurture the new converts. "I've been a pastor for 22 years and I've never seen anything like this," says the pastor. "When people are hungry, food is powerful."

Distributing this food would not be possible without the generous donations we receive. Thank you for your part in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.