And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
September 16, 2020 I arrived in Kenya and have been staying at the Challenge Farm in a town called Kitale. Challenge Farm is 10 acre farm, home, church and school.
Long before it’s establishment Challenge Farm was in the heart of of God. In 1992 two missionaries Rick and Cheri Thompson were working in Kenya. Cheri Thompson and friends witnessed ten boys – one only three years old – getting beaten by police because they were begging for food. These boys were in a famine. Witnessing their crisis situation launched a Christian response that has resulted in the humanitarian care, healing, discipleship and outreach to literally thousands over the past three decades.
The story of Joseph in the Bible was about a seventeen year old boy who was sent out to the fields by his father to take food to his brothers who were tending to their flocks. Joseph was a favored son, and his older brothers were very jealous of him. When they saw him coming they plotted to kill him but instead they decided to sell him into slavery. He was taken away to Egypt.
Joseph found himself orphaned and alone. He could have become bitter and angry. Instead he worked hard as a slave in Potiphar’s house and became favored there. Joseph’s hard work soon caused Potiphar’s wife to be attracted to him and this caused another threat against his life when he chose to stay virtuous and follow God rather than give into sin and temptation. He was lied about, and then thrown into prison for many years. Joseph never gave up doing what was right in the sight of God.
Decades later he became a very powerful advisor to Pharaoh who made him second in command in the land of Egypt.
God revealed to Joseph in a dream that a famine was coming to the land and gave him the wisdom plant extra crops and to prepare for what was coming. His lifelong struggle prepared him for the famine.
Jacob, Joseph’s father sent the same sons who had betrayed Joseph into Egypt to buy food. Joseph could have paid his brothers back by refusing to help them, but instead forgave them, and blessed them.
When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.” So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.
Genesis 42:1-3
After 22 years of being separated from his family, his brothers now stood before him needing food to take back home to their country, Joseph’s birthplace.
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be plowing nor harvest.
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Genesis 45:1-7 KJV
Just as God prepared Rick and Cheri to witness the beatings on the street, God was preparing the place in Kitale, for children, men and women to build a place of discipleship, safety and refuge for rescued and helpless children. God touched the hearts of others from around the world to help build a community to house, feed, clothe and nurture both the children and staff in the love of Jesus.
Pictured here my son Maverick (with some Challenge Farm boys).
He and his family who were called to serve the children and staff at Challenge Farm,
long before COVID and before any of them were even born!
http://challengefarm.org
One girl’s dream is to become an attorney, and one day build a home for her mother who lives in Uganda and to help provide legal counsel for rescued girls. Another wants to become a missionary in India to orphans there. Both of these young girls have been prepared in the midst of their famines. Both girls are devout disciples of Jesus.
Some of the leaders and employees of Challenge Farm were once children who were raised on the Challenge Farm. They have returned to help disciple, educate and train the next generations to come.
Forgiveness is one of the keys to healing. What Satan meant for evil in the story of Joseph, God had already prepared for His good and those he could help in a time of crisis. Joseph’s forgiveness story can be applied to all of our lives. When things look dark, and it appears like we are perishing and can’t go on, God is in the center of our troubles, waiting for us to trust in Him to not only rescue us, but for us to be the providers and rescuers for those that are perishing in our midst.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
Refrain:Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Catch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Fanny Crosby
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
serve as a missionary in India.
BLESSED IS OUR LORD MOST HIGH!
Marlene
Cinderella Released Ministries
Email today for prayer…
http://CinderellaReleased.org
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
Cinderella Released Ministries Blog 