Kenya: “Yesu Opaki!”

FBC Shallotte partnered with Baptist on Mission in their Houses of Hope ministry in July 2025. Our team of thirteen, included two teens, three ladies, and men over 70. We all had a fantastic time serving the Lord. The Kenyan Baptist partners know what they are doing and run a well-oiled machine. We arrived in Nairobi and drove six hours to Ahero, where we stayed in a secure “compound”. Each day, we drove into the surrounding areas to build houses. The work was hard, but very rewarding. We built homes for eight deserving recipients, including young families living in very substandard conditions. Our Kenyan co-laborers worked just as hard as we did, and were passionate about sharing the Gospel.

Each day, a team of us went house to house in the surrounding village to share the Gospel. I will never forget the living conditions I saw during these walks, nor the hospitality of those who welcomed us into their home. During our visits, over 40 villagers accepted Jesus as Savior. These four working days were the core of the trip. On Sunday, our team joined Othoo Baptist Church. Worshipping with the Kenyans was a moving experience for many of our team. The Holy Spirit was very evident. After church, we joined the pastors on a tour of nearby Lake Victoria. This was a great day and a good chance for our blisters to heal on our hands!

During the week, we were also able to visit a couple of public schools which were in the area. Each stop at a school included a gospel proclamation and the sharing of testimonies. At Jolly Kids – a school for poor children with unsafe or unstable homes – we had the privilege of sharing a hot meal, and PB&J sandwiches we had made the night before. They were very appreciative!

Our time ended with a trip to the Masai Mara game park, where we saw the beauty of Kenya in full. The safari game drives and sleeping in the game tents along the river were the perfect way to end an awesome week of service. Our entire team was deeply impacted by the trip, and it gave many of us new perspective on how blessed we are to live in America and how fortunate we are to have a community of believers around us. We are looking forward to returning soon. Praise the Lord! Or in Luo, “Yesu Opaki”!

– Pastor Kevin Gore, First Baptist Church, Shallotte NC

Teams to Kenya can be as small as five volunteers or as large as sixteen. Trips begin on a Tuesday and conclude on the following Friday and can be scheduled throughout the year. Costs includes approximately $1000 per person for ground expenses (including a one-night stay at the Masai Mara), plus the cost of airfare, which typically runs from $1200 – 1800. Learn more about enjoying a true African experience while assisting a family in need and sharing the Gospel in Kenya!