Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Christmas Letter from Dave

 Dear Friend,

On Christmas day, five years ago, I boarded a plane to Kenya where I visited children rescued from poverty and homelessness and told them stories of Jesus and His love. 


The two communities I visited were supported by Education Care Projects Kenya. One was a school and the other was a community where orphans lived during the holidays. In both settings, I told the children (through a translator) how much Jesus loves them and the great plans He has for each of them. At the end of this post, I’m going to invite you to help them too, this Christmas. 


In the past five years, I have never been far from Kenya in my thoughts. I wrote a book about the experience, preached over 20 sermons about my “One Trip to Kenya” and gave intercultural talks at more than 15 schools about the trip! I have also been managing ECPK’s website, Facebook page and writing their newsletters. In short, I’m totally smitten by the kids in Kenya!


It is my hope, in the next year or two, to visit ECPK’s new projects in Kenya. They are always looking for ways to partner with Kenyans who are providing educational programs. You can explore these new projects on ECPK’s stories page on their website. From holiday boarding programs for students to community health and wellbeing programs, ECPK gives EVERY dollar donated directly to education in Kenya. 


In November, a school where some of our students attend was closed suddenly. Carole Platt (founder of ECPK) sent in a Kenyan contact to reposition all the students in other schools. When the school closed, the other organisation supporting the rest of the students pulled their funding. Carole couldn’t stand the idea of these kids being thrown out on the street. So, ECPK is currently covering the sponsorship of all the students while we pray for God’s will and blessing as we do not have the funds to continue supporting this many.


Would you please help sponsor these kids this Christmas? Any amount will be a blessing! If you’d like to become a monthly sponsor (the most helpful thing you can do for ECPK) click the box next to “Make this a monthly donation”. Believe it or not (it’s true!) just $90 a month provides everything a Kenyan student needs to go to boarding school! Please jump on PayPal and help ECPK keep the 13 new students without sponsors in school. If you’d prefer direct transfer or want a tax receipt click here.


You can read stories from past projects and Subscribe to the ECPK Newsletter to stay updated on how things are going with these new kids and the other projects ECPK supports. 


Thank you so much for your generosity to the kids of Kenya this Christmas! 


Sincerely, 



Dave



Saturday, December 04, 2021

Kingdom of God


The kingdom of God has always been   

In the beginning God.

God is Love.

The God of Love Created you

And me. Humanity.  

He knit us together in mother's womb.

In His loving image he created us. 

Male and female he created them. 

Created by love. 

Created in love. 

Created to love.

Created to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. And to love your Neighbour.

To be one with each other - one people with one God - ONE KINGDOM.


The kingdom of God has always been   

But deep inside this kingdom of Love another raised its head.

Like black oily sludge from blue ocean depths an evil kingdom surfaced.

A kingdom of pride.

A kingdom where self rules and love is mocked. 

In the vast ocean of God's Love a kingdom of evil bubbled to the surface and began to spread.

It broke trust and shattered love

Man against wife

Brother against brother

And all against God

Love was reframed as weakness

As this kingdom of sludge darkened the earth. 

Self was crowned king. 


The kingdom of God has always been   

And in a battle of wills, love always wins

Because love plays the long game

And the God of Love, the King of Kings

Had a plan. To become a man. 

He walked our sludge strewn streets

And showed that Love still rules

By humbling himself

By offering himself

He defeated death. 

He Repelled the Kingdom of Pride 

Showing it for what it really is

With one act of Love so pure

That all sludge lost its stick

All pride lost is shine

And death lost its sting.


The kingdom of God has always been   

But now we see it for what IT is

A Kingdom of love that embraces all

No matter the amount of sludge

Stuck to those still stuck in sin

God is Love and welcomes all in

Because His love knows no bounds

And His Kingdom knows no end.


Dave Edgren ~ Story: Teller, Author, Trainer ~

BOOK DAVE NOW! Dave Edgren is passionate about creating a values-based storytelling culture. In his engaging and often hilarious way,...