Following 50 years of local church ministry, God opened a door for Cheryl and Warren Johnson to minister to the people who call the Mathare Slum of Nairobi, Kenya home. After short-term trips there to do ministry among couples, women and young men, the Lord made it clear that it was time to establish METHARE MINISTRIES to expand the impact for Christ in this place.
THE MATHARE SLUMS
Approximately 500,000 people live in an area of three square miles. They live in small shanties made of old tin and mud. For most, there are no beds, electricity, or running water. There are public toilets shared by up to 100 people and residents have to pay to use them. Those who cannot afford to pay must use the alleys and ditches between the shanties. In this challenging place, single mothers are seeking to care for their families and young men are looking for hope and a future.
OUR MISSION
The goal of MATHARE MINISTRIES is threefold: nourish people spiritually, equip them to nourish themselves and others in Christian community and provide the tools and training needed to help them escape extreme poverty. We are currently doing that through two different ministries.
WOW stands for Women Of the Word, a Bible study that meets Sundays after the Worship service with large group study and small groups for prayer. The first goal is that the women would begin to invite other women in the slums to join their studies, finding Christ, growing in him and experiencing the same life-giving spiritual relationships. The second would be to provide basic outreach tools, including basic food items, to share the love and life of Christ with lost women in the slums. Thirdly would be to help facilitate training and supplies for the women to start small businesses in order to help them support themselves and their families.
JOURNEY is designed to mature in Christ, and mobilize for Christ, young men in their 20’s. This includes bible study, fellowship activities and regular service projects in the community. Along with spiritual support and direction, MATHARE MINISTRIES seeks to provide young men the training and tools they cannot afford in order to develop a career and escape life in the slums. JOURNEY seeks to equip young men to be spiritual leaders in their homes, church and community.
