CBM Africa Team: Maureen Morgan

Maureen Morgan

Kenya

The Canadian Baptist Ministries Africa Team is a diverse group of men and women who serve among our partner churches and their communities in the area of integral mission. Over the past few months, we have been sharing short interviews with many of our colleagues serving with us here in Africa. 

This month, we have the joy of introducing you to our friend and co-worker Maureen Morgan, who has been living in Kenya with her husband Wayne and their son Michael since December 2011.

Along with her work with the African Christian Church and Schools, Maureen coordinates the ministry of short term mission volunteers that come from Canada to serve among our various ministries and partners within Kenya. 

For all who know Maureen, she is a fun loving and inclusive person who draws others into participating in all aspects of ministry from worship to acts service. 

We are especially thrilled over the organization and attention to detail that Maureen has brought to the preparation for the upcoming Kamp Tumaini program with the Guardians of Hope children. God is using Maureen’s giftedness to bring together many people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds to share their gifts and talents in this important ministry.

        "Ever since I was a child growing up in Toronto, I have been burdened by the suffering and injustices in our world and have wanted to be a part of the solution.  I went into the field of Nursing for that reason, and in the hopes that one day God would open the doors for me to work “overseas” as a missionary.

And He did. Twenty years later, on January 1^st, 2012, my husband, Wayne, and I arrived in Kenya to begin our work as Global Field Staff with CBM.

As a lecturer at the African Christian Church & Schools (ACC&S) School of Theology, Wayne helps to prepare young leaders to embrace a holistic understanding of the gospel of Christ.  

At the same time we work with the ACC&S Development Department as they help churches to reach out to their communities – through programs involving agriculture, water, HIV/AIDS awareness and support, income generation and micro-credit, to name a few. We also help to facilitate “global discipleship” with short-term mission teams from Canada who come to Kenya to support the work of CBM and its partners.

After almost 3 years “on the field”, we are continuing to grow in our understanding of the culture, of the challenges faced by the people of Kenya, and of our role in building the capacity of the ACC&S to reach out and minister holistically in their communities.  And we continue to have a growing appreciation and love of the Kenyan people. 

I have been humbled and amazed by the capacity of people to love; to embrace hope; to hold onto faith in God’s goodness, in the face of challenges; to be grateful for the little they have; and to be generous in spite of their own needs.  We are daily challenged to humbly reflect on ourselves in light of all that we learn from those around us.

So it is both a joy and a challenge to be living in this Kenyan context.  It is a joy to be a small part of God’s work, helping to relieve suffering and bringing about God’s Kingdom here in Kenya - to see the faces of people who have new found hope for the future.  But it is a challenge because in spite all of the good work that is being done, there is still so much more that needs to be done. 

Daily we see the faces of suffering - and it breaks our hearts. We ask God why he allows it to continue - but the answers don’t come easily. Still, we press on, trusting that God, who is clearly at work in Kenya in powerful ways, in the lives of his children, has everything under control.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

So please continue to pray for wisdom, humility and discernment as we continue to work with our partner, the ACC&S, and for the members of the ACC&S to have strength to continue being a part of holistic transformation in their communities and in their nation.

Thank you and God bless you for taking the time to read and pray for us."