The following statement is being distributed in and around Peacemakers Kenya, to give everyone an understanding of how we intended to run and maintain the facilities there long term. A PDF version of the document can be read, downloaded or printed using this link.
Brenda Marshall, Director of Peacemakers International, would like to inform you of the changes that are being made for the future and maintenance of Peacemakers Christian Community Resource Centre at Kivuria, near Kathageri. The centre has to generate money to become self-supporting from the hiring of functioning buildings, equipment, micro-enterprises, training courses and many other projects that the whole community benefit from. We hope local businesses will see the potential in sponsoring some of the events and benefiting also themselves by having conferences using and enjoying the wonderful facilities available for all.
We have recently had the Annual General Meeting, at which new members were elected from community nominations. First though, I would like to thank those people who have been serving Peacemakers since the death of my husband Dennis Marshall, the founder of Peacemakers Kenya in 1992.
There are many people I want to thank for giving their time, love, care and skills in nurturing the development of this huge project, for which Pastor Dennis from the UK, laid the Spiritual foundation:
Pastor Sammy Gitungu whom Dennis first met in Norway and who invited us to come to Kenya to share the “Good News”. I want to thank him for his steadfastness and faithfulness through all the difficulties that have occurred in our journey together. He has also served as Chairman for many years, even after he retired as an EAPC overseer and now continues to serve as our Honorary Member of Peacemakers and Pastor of God’s Vision.
Grace Kauma was one of the first people that we met when arriving in Embu and Dennis said that she was a person that would be involved in God’s work in the future, and so she has. She has always been so very wise and supportive in all the events that we have organised, especially playing a great role in training courses. She is a great one in gathering people together, a great public speaker and is able to convey the mission of Peacemakers to all. I would like to thank her for her good work as Secretary and her acceptance of becoming the new Chairperson.
Lucy Ndwiga. When we met Lucy Ndwiga, she was already interested and involved in Drugs’ Awareness. She readily became one of those involved in our Campaign against Drug Abuse (CADA group) with her busy life; she still managed to serve as our Treasurer up until recently. My gratitude to you, Lucy, for your time, love and dedication to serving Peacemakers as an official and for continuing to be one of our main supporters.
These, and many others (Emily Nyaga (Pendo), the late Kavungura, Jacinta Kinyua, James Riua, Phoebe Ndwiga) have been the backbone and developers of the mission of Peacemakers and the growth of the Resource Centre. I want to acknowledge the importance of their input to us over the years. A special thankyou goes to Peter Githaka Njagi, who has served as a loyal Chairman with a true servant heart; now to become the Treasurer. My congratulations and thanks go to him, alongside some other long serving dedicated trustees who remain on the new Board of Trustees. They are:
Chairperson: – Madam Grace Kauma
Secretary: – Patrick Kabuthi
Treasurer: – Peter Wagakindi
Elizabeth Wangui
Pastor Nephat Nyaga
Gitonga Njagi
Phides Rwamba
Joan Murugi
Revd Sammy Gitungu, Honorary Member of Peacemakers
Christine Gibbard is a volunteer, working alongside the trustees as the UK representative and Project Director
Peacemakers UK are the owners of the Resource centre but it “belongs” to the community in Kenya as they enjoy its amenities with Christine Gibbard being their representative on site and project Director. All the trustees will oversee the new Management Team, who are involved in:-
The spiritual mission of bringing church leaders together; being PEACEMAKERS
Community service to vulnerable people,
Projects that will raise funds, (poultry rearing, greenhouse produce, Pamoja Café etc.)
Hosting further education and life skills training.
We want Jesus Christ to be at the Head of everything we are trying to achieve, living by His principles; loving and caring for each other and making room for the Holy Spirit to bind us together in Love. God bless you.
Signed
Brenda Marshall
Director of Peacemakers UK.