Counting our blessings......

Reflecting over the past several months, we can't help but acknowledge our many blessings and thank the Lord for how He has been changing young lives from the inside out!

Ministering to young people is inspiring, challenging, fulfilling, amazing, exhausting and above all rewarding, but we are never alone as we teach, disciple, mentor and minister. First and foremost we have the Holy Spirit...and 2ndly we've had the help, prayers and encouragement of our friends.

Below are but a few of the many blessings we have received and shared........

Happy student s with their new backpacks sent by the Morristown, TN Rotary Club. In addition to backpacks, there were children's books and numerous school supplies!

In partnership with Clarence Matheny Ministries and our good friend David Waldrop, we kicked off the School of Leadership Development Program in July to equip local church pastors and leaders.

Pastor Christopher, of Glory Community Assembly, received a Concordance and CML received several boxes of books for our upcoming library from retired Rev. Maurice Quillen.

Richard Angevine, a representative of SoccerGrow (one of our corporate partners), visited students that have been impacted by the CML Sports Evangelism program. In addition to handing out soccer balls, he encouraged the youth to continue developing their skills and talents on and off the field.

In August, CML organized a house building project for a single mom in a nearby community. Thanks to the hard work and efforts of several students and community members the house was completed in 2 days and Tabitha, Joab, June and Vincent now have a home!

CML was greatly blessed by the visit of Jennifer Kisabeth, Darcy Edwards and Valerie Wilkins. Besides spending time encouraging young people in the Kitere community and ministering at local schools, they were real troopers when it came to the day-to-day chores like carrying water and doing clean up!

In August we attended the "Count Me In Teen Camp" with 30 of the CML students held at Clarence Matheny Ministries in Nairobi. We all had a great time with over 600 youths in attendance for the event. The week had a perfect mix of praise & worship, teachings and outdoor activities, and we are so grateful to all the folks from Convergence Church in TX that made the event possible!

We thank our many friends for joining with us as we continue providing an environment for transformation, encouraging the spiritual growth and leadership development of these young people!

CML Resource Center

Apart from providing facilities for the CML Annual Discipleship Camps, the CML Resource Center is envisioned to house the following:

1. CML Library
2. CML Computer Training Center
3. Boys and Girls Dorms
4. Discipleship and Leadership Programs
5. CML Administrative Headquarters
6. Conference Facilities
7. Youth Counseling Center

A portion of land has been donated by two elders in the Kitere Community for the purpose of developing the CML Resource Center. The land is located off Rongo/Migori Road near Kitere Glory Community Assembly Hall. The plot has been fenced in readiness for the project. Construction would commence once funds are ready for Phase 1 of the project. Donations and financial contributions are welcome and appreciated to see this project commence. Any biblical and legal fundraising ideas are also welcome.


Meanwhile, we are very grateful for the partnership CML has with Glory Community Ministry (GCM). Through this partnership, GCM has permitted us the use of part of the Kitere Community Assembly Hall for temporary CML Resource Centre at a minimal monthly rate, until the CML Center is developed and ready for use. So far, we have done the partitioning to make room for the Boys and Girls Dorm, CML Library, Computer Training Room, Students’ Lounge and CML Administrative Head Office. We plan to be able to accommodate 16 boys and 16 girls in the temporary Dorms.


To get the Temporary CML Resource Center furnished for optimal use, we need the following items:

1. Bed and Bedding for the Boys and Girls Dorm
2. At least 2 Desktop Computers
3. Library Shelves, Desks and Chairs
4. Furniture for the Students Lounge
5. Dining Tables & Chairs

Once the CML Resource Center in complete, we believe we would be able to facilitate the holistic transformation of students/youth in this area more effectively.

We ask for your prayers and financial support to bring this project to completion.

New CML Ministry Board Members elected in the June 2009 AGM

We are pleased to report that the first CML Ministry Annual General Meeting (AGM) was successfully held on Saturday the 20th of June 2009 at the Kitere Glory Community Assembly Hall. The election of office bearers and Board members was one of the agenda items discussed.

The following ministry members were elected into office:

The Chairperson- George Kienga Odeka
The Vice Chairperson- Francis Selassie Ojwang
The Treasurer- Susan Adhiambo
The Assistant Treasurer- Kassim Oyoo
The Secretary-General- William Okoth Ochieng Aludo
The Assistant Secretary-General- Denise Okoth Ochieng Aludo

Other Board members were elected by majority vote as follows:

Jared Marwa
Tilly Atieno Auma
Seth Odongo
Elishah Otewa
Vincent Opiyo
Syprine Ogada

Patrons were proposed and accepted as follows:

Don & Laura Dickerson
Amanda Smith
David & Janene Waldrop

Other matters concluded as follows:

All members present agreed that the Ministry Headquarters be moved from Nairobi and that the new CML Headquarters be physically located at the premises of Kitere Glory Community Assembly, in Kitere Village of Rongo District in Kenya.

The new CML Headquarters Postal address was agreed and confirmed to be: P.O. Box 282- 40404 Rongo, Kenya. It was further agreed that the previous address of P.O. Box 2525-00100 GPO, Nairobi will also be maintained for the use of the CML Patrons until further notice.

Congratulations to the new office bearers and board members.

Many thanks to the members who attended and participated in the AGM.

2009 April Students' Camp

A week of fellowship, encouragement, spiritual enrichment and fun was had by all, when 48 young people (and a few young at heart!) gathered at Kanga Boys High School for CML's 2009 April Students Camp.

Blessed with several new students, many returning "regulars" and four 2008 graduates (Fred, Kassim, Clifford and Elisha) that came as invited speakers, we were also joined by our dear friends David & Janene Waldrop, Amanda Smith and teacher Syprine Ogada. 

With the addition of new teachings, movie night and a drama competition for the students, we explored the Camp theme "Knowing Christ, the Foundation of our Faith" and learned new ways to incorporate our faith into everyday life. Games, outdoor activities, Praise & Worship and hearty fellowship around the dinner table were also an enjoyable part of the week!

Excited with the opportunity to express themselves through drama during this Camp, we discovered that these kids were very creative and had some amazing talent. Asked to give a 20 minute drama based on a topic they had learned something about during the Camp, the teams explored subject matters such as; redemption, substance abuse, the intricacies of relationships,  and culture traditions in opposition to Christan values. 

Below are pictures of each team presenting their drama,  and let me just say that the competition was very tough to judge! Team 3 won in the end however, and as their prize each member has been invited to Nairobi in August where they will attend a 5 day Youth Convention. As you can imagine, they were very happy!

This was David & Janenes first time to attend a CML Camp. They received a warm welcome for all the students, as well as an invitation to return again soon! Married over 30 years and parents to 5 children,  David and Janene were not only able to speak with knowledge and experience as they taught a session on "Relationships", but were also able to relate to the challenges teenagers face. 

Facilitating the session on "Jesus and Leadership" David emphasised the need for creativity, integrity, time management and transparency in a leaders life. Seen below, he also explained the importance in knowing the difference between one's "Circle of Influence" and "Circle of Concern".   

Several students were also surprised and grateful for the new Bibles they received, and we thank Janene's father for the wonderful gift of God's word!  

Always a delight to have at Camp, Mrs. Ogada and Amanda are not only awesome facilitators with multiple talents, but are also a lot of fun to spend time with. Just ask these kids!

A teacher by profession, Mrs. Ogada had much to say in her session about "Discipline" and encouraged everyone to cultivate the fruit of self-control.  Amanda's topic was "Jesus and everyday life challenges" and she used a personal story from her life, to illustrate how the test of character is given when no one is watching.  Both used scripture to highlight the perspective of Christ and His teachings about these issues and others such as integrity and peer-pressure.

Above, Amanda had a good laugh with her new friend Patrick about his sunglasses and below she enjoys a chapati with Maureen! 

As always, my favorite part of Camp was the interaction between the people....  God is all about relationships and I love to see Him working in the midst of His people! Whether debating a question during the small group workshop session....

....helping each other study....

....counseling  ...

....or just having fun, God is there at work!

And of course we had games! The 3 legged race was something new for most of these students and it took awhile to get the hang of it.

But once they realized the importance of "teamwork" ...they were off to the races! Outdoor games can teach profound spiritual lessons and offer insights to life, while allowing the students to have fun at the same time.

After Camp, William put on his student cap as he started a 9-month program called "Life-Forming Leadership Coaching". Here he is skyping with his teacher as Simba (one of our dogs) looks on. This program will not only assist in his personal growth, but will also help equip him to be more effective when he mentors and teaches other individuals and groups. The program uses Jesus as the supreme example of what a coach is. 

We are grateful for each student, facilitator, cook, watchman, supporter and prayer partner that helped make this camp possible, and most of all we give thanks to God for making the Camp successful! 

As the students head back to school to start their 2nd term, we want to make known the urgent need so many of them still have for assistance with school fee's. We realize that many people are feeling the pinch of the current economic downturn and are having to cut back, but ask that you and your family pray about sponsoring a Kenyan student.  We have over 20 students, both primary and high school level,  that will not be able to remain in school this year without your help. 

Please contact us by email at thechristianmile@yahoo.com for more information or visit the "Sponsor a Student" page on our website at http://web.me.com/denisedavenport.

Thank you and God Bless,

Denise & William