Kenya has twenty-seven unreached people groups. Fourteen of them live in a harsh, desolate region of Northern Kenya, where Lifeway Global began sharing the love of Jesus more than 25 years ago. One of the ways God opened doors for local Lifeway disciple makers to engage with these unreached people groups was through meeting basic medical needs in Jesus’ name.

About 15 years ago, Lifeway began partnering with US and European churches and ministries to host short-term medical initiatives in this region, where medical care is very difficult to access. This helped, but services were limited and inconsistent.

So Lifeway leaders recruited Kenyan medical personnel to assist with short-term medical teams. Kenyan medical professionals now make up the Lifeway Global Medical Team and are ready to use their medical skills, language, and knowledge of the culture to support disciple making movement leaders. This team of mostly local volunteers has greatly increased the effectiveness of Lifeway’s ministry.

Just 5 years ago, a Kenyan nurse and an American nurse practitioner began working together to train Lifeway movement leaders as community health workers. This provided a more consistent, caring presence in communities. The role of health worker is respected, and this opens doors to engage with spiritually interested individuals, introduce them to Jesus, and make disciples.

All of these demonstrations of practical love have increased the effectiveness of Lifeway’s medical ministry, but medical care in Northern Kenya remains limited and scattered. There is no consistent, central location to anchor the medical ministry in the region.

It is time to build a clinic that can provide additional levels of care.