Minute for Mission

Rafiki

by Rick Greene

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here Am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

The Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry, Inc., was founded in 1995 by the Reverend Dr. John Mungai Nganga, while serving as Resident Chaplain for Children’s Hospital in Columbus. “Marafiki” means ‘many friends’ in Swahili and, per Reverend Nganga, stands for friends willing to love unconditionally, irrespective of color or religion, through ups and downs, to lend a hand, and to be there. Everyone needs a friend, but it can mean the strength to meet each day with renewed hope to those in crisis.

This non-profit organization provides food, clothing accommodations, education, medical care, a safe Christian environment, and loving support to children worldwide affected by HIV/AID and, specifically, to the Rafiki Children’s Center in Kikuyu Town, Kenya. It is a faith-based volunteer workforce trained by medical and pastoral care professionals to provide HIV/AIDS families with spiritual support and life-care assistance. Through its programs, Marafiki works to provide a home for people experiencing homelessness and support for orphans taken in by generous relatives or neighbors.

The Rafiki Children’s Center opened in Kenya, Africa, in 1998. This began a journey to help some of the millions of children in Kenya who were left orphans when their parents died of AIDS. As Rev. Nganga explains, “Most of these kids come to us helpless, and on the verge of going into an early marriage or a life on the streets, but by giving them a chance for an education, and a new family, we have the power to give them hope.”

Beginning by renting a house, Rafiki later purchased land; began the construction of dormitories, a dining hall, and a medical clinic, and plans were made for building a technical school. Funding for this drive included organizations, churches, and other friends and supporters from across the U.S. and the world through many fundraising events, including donations for specific areas of need at the Rafiki Children’s Center.

Since 2004, this mission has expanded to include programs such as Rafiki Children’s Center, Rafiki Academy, Dr. Terry and Barbara Davis Upendo Medical Clinic, Rafiki Farming, John Webster Shopping Center, Rafiki Sports Complex, and Rafiki John and Joyce Edmondson School of Music. A long list of activities for each of these programs is available online.

First Community Church was an early supporter of this organization. For example, the Church, along with other Central Ohio groups such as the Downtown Columbus and Capital Square Rotary Clubs, helped fund a school bus that would be used to pick up community children to attend classes at the Rafiki Terry Davis Academy. This school began in 2012, and before the purchase of the bus, classes were only half full. Even more recently, some FC members and supporters attended the dedication of a new chapel at Rafiki.

If you want more information about Rafiki, First Community Church, and its other Mission programs, please email us at [email protected]

The Trading Post

Open for Community Garage Sale

Celebrate Deep Griha

Brunch and Webinar Event

by Kitty Rohrer

EVENT CHAIR

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Deep Griha USA sponsored a brunch and international webinar. The brunch was held in Grace Hall with catering by L.A. Catering. A special thanks to Randy Rocke for planning and coordinating the webinar, which was broadcast live from Pune, India, the United Kingdom, and Columbus, Ohio, USA, and to Stewart Pitchford, who aided in the coordination of the transmission worldwide. The webinar included an update by Ashlesha Onawale, Deep Griha’s Director, on the current status of Deep Griha, focusing on the City of Child, a rural orphanage for parentless or at-risk boys. A webinar recording will be available for viewing on the Deep Griha Society USA YouTube channel within the next several weeks.

There was a tribute to Sandy Wood, who recently died after battling a 3-year-long medical condition. After meeting the Onawales and his son, John’s return from volunteering at Deep Griha, Sandy was inspired over 40 years ago to create a non-profit organization in the USA to provide support, and thus Deep Griha USA was born. Sandy was an amazing businessman and humanitarian. Donations in his memory can be made online at deepgrihausa.org.

Heart to Heart

Monthly Update

by Yohan Kim

HEART TO HEART FOOD PANTRY MANAGER

Heart to Heart has been hard at work feeding neighbors, near and far. As of this writing in April, the Drive-Thru saw 333 families. Fifty-five of those households were new. The Pop-Up Pantry also served at least 145 families, plus families at SouthPark Apartments, in concert with Franklinton Farms. That was thanks to help from quite a few friends. Midweek Missions made 58 birthday bags, and we received a collective total of 994 pounds of items from Our Lady of Victory, Girl Scout Troop 6290, Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet, and the UA Shred Day. 

Our themed monthly donations at First Community continued, focusing on feminine hygiene products. One hundred eight boxes of tampons and pads were donated during worship services on April 16! The next themed donation is diapers and baby wipes on Mother’s Day, May 14. These move quickly in the Drive-Thru, and we always need them in varying sizes. Last year we received 403 pounds. Let’s break 500 this time! 

The Heart to Heart Ministry Team has begun working on volunteer training requirements and methods for incentivizing attendance. This includes Darkness to Light, PantryTrak, Food Safety, and MOFC Compliance. They will also soon review a procedure manual compiled by the Heart to Heart and Missions staff members, which will be available in digital and print copies upon completion. 

It truly takes a village to carry out the body and spirit of our mission. That happens because of all those who say, “But first, community,” seeking to benefit the common good in a manner befitting the origins of the name we stand for as a congregation. 

Thank You First Community Foundation

On March 23, our new van finally arrived! Months of work went into researching, planning, negotiating, and purchasing this vehicle for Heart to Heart food pantry use. The new vehicle better suits the needs of our ministry, especially the Pop-Up Pantry.

Thank you to the First Community Foundation for the grant that allowed us to purchase the vehicle and install after-market shelving in the cargo area. A combination of grants from the following donor-advised funds provided the funding:

• Huntzicker / Ruth and Dick McNeil Endowment Fund
• Ester Newell Memorial Fund
• Arthur E Shepard Fund
• Polly and Frank Kennard Charitable Fund

In The Garden

Updates from the Share and Learn Gardens

The Share and Learn Garden at First Community North sits on the property behind the Mary Evans Child Development Center. All the produce grown in the garden comes directly to Heart to Heart. The garden is managed and harvested by a small but mighty and fun group of volunteers. Master Gardeners Cheryl and Loren VanDeusen, and their daughter, Kate Paulson, are the group's leaders. The group convenes on Tuesday mornings, weather permitting. We receive weekly updates from Kate Paulson during the growing season, which officially started on April 25.

Hi Amy,

I am attaching photos from the product drop off this morning. All went well and we officially start garden clean up on Tuesday the 25th !

Mike and John were starting on the Arch construction as well.

Happy Saturday all!

I hope this email finds you all well! 

Believe it or not, our first session will be this Tuesday, April 25 @ 9am. 

An update on the irrigation system:



I met with Erik yesterday (4/21). After much testing and fiddling, Erik pronounced the control panel for the system dead. So…next week Erik will install a new (and superior!) control panel. A new feature will be wi-fi control…so I can control the water on and off from home! 👍🏻 The existing panel is several years old, and things do wear out. 

Collard green plants are ready to put in, but can wait another week I believe (see photo). 

Pepper and tomato seedlings are still small, and growing away in my basement. 

Direct seeding will happen at the end of May when the soil and nighttime temps are higher (zinnias, cosmos, green beans, squash, sunflowers, a few herbs in pots). 

Kuddos and thank you to Mr. And Mrs. Wayne Rickert for picking up the donated product from Scots Lawncare at Franklin Park Conservatory and to Mike & John for unloading the product at the garden (see photos). 

Mike & John have also started on construction of the two new archways. In a couple of months, the peas I started in pots will (hopefully!) make their way up the archways and later will be replaced by squash. 

One thing at a time and the garden duties this season should be manageable! 

See you all Tuesday!

Kate Paulson 

Hello gardeners and friends! 

A note to keep you informed of what is happening thus far in the 2023 “pre-season” Share & Learn Garden. 

Collard Green seedlings are up about 3 inches, and at this point are cute little spouts. It will be another 4 weeks before they are big enough to plant.  

That being said, I think full gardening sessions should start Tuesday, April 25 @ 9am, same as past years. 

I am aware not everyone can make Tuesday mornings, but I promise I will be at the garden more than once per week once things get going, so those who wish to join me, would be great!!! 

This week I am starting the Tomato and Pepper seedlings. Both of these plants need the soil and air temperatures to be higher, so these will not go in until Memorial Day. 

As most of you are aware, dad had lumbar revision surgery in February. This was a major surgery with some significant restrictions. Dad’s (Loren’s) role in the 2023 garden will be “elder statesman/supervisor/planner”. 

Attached is a sketch dad (Loren) made for the garden (during his recovery) which includes two new archways, 4 new planting pots (more to come later), and plant placement. Now it is easy - follow the instructions laid out in the sketch! 

Prior to the first work session, my husband and I will place the 4 new planting pots and start the peas. Peas like the cooler weather, so this is fairly time sensitive. As the peas emerge and grow, they will climb the archways (to be assembled by Mike & John - probably on the 25th if not before?) 

The product from Scots miracle grow has been arranged to be picked up (at Franklin Park Conservatory) and unloaded at the church on April 21 by a few volunteers. 

In closing, unless I hear otherwise, work as an entire group starts on April 25th @ 9am. 

See you there ! 

Kate Paulson 

Recent Grant Awards

The Mission Finance Team is pleased to provide both emergency financial assistance and non-profit grant funding to organizations seeking support. A number of grants have been awarded since January, totaling $52,403.74 in funds distributed so far this year.

• April 25 $2269 to First Community Pride
• April 25 $20,000 to Tandana Foundation
• April 25 $180 for Emergency Assistance
• April 19 $480 Emergency Assistance
• April 19 $2235 Emergency Assistance
• April 13 $5600 to Rafiki
• March 26 $1000 for First Community Event
• March 13 $325 Emergency Assistance
• February 28 $5000 to Habitat for Humanity
• February 24 $1100 Emergency Assistance
• February 9 $1000 Emergency Assistance
• January 24 $2200 Emergency Assistance
• January 24 $320.83 Emergency Assistance
• January 19 $3069 Emergency Assistance
• January 19 $1402.60 Emergency Assistance
• January 9 $1250 Emergency Assistance
• January 9 $343.63 Emergency Assistance
• January 8 $345.37 Emergency Assistance
• January 1 $4283.31 Emergency Assistance

Your donations to the General Mission Fund and purchases made at the Tri-Village Trading Post allow us to support people and organizations near and far.