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Other Sheep East Africa eNews April 3, 2008 |
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| Primary donor pledges $170.00 per month (for one year) for Rev. Makokha's monthly rent IF Other Sheep can raise matching amount by April 30th. |
 Become a donor at only $5.00 per month for 12 months!
- 34 donors @ $5.00 per share = $170.00, the matching amount!
- Rev. Makokha's rent is $340.00 per month.
- This same primary donor made a one-time gift of $1,020.00 to cover the January-March 2008 Makokha house rent; now join in and meet the matching amount of $170.00 per month for one year.
Your gift is tax deductible. Other Sheep is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. |
| I want to help! Where do I donate? or
I need to read more first . . . |
Above Photo: Rev. John Makokha
and wife Anne |
In an email from Rev. Makokha to Steve Parelli, dated December 20, 2007
"Due to my stand of fighting for the rights of gay men and lesbian women in the church in Kenya, the leadership has tried all ways to frustrate and persecute me including denial to release funds for my living support for two years. Despite all these frustrations, I have vowed to stand firm since the grace of God is sufficient and God loves all of us."
Rev. John Makokha, United Methodist Church, Nairobi, Kenya |
| I want to help! Where do I donate? or
I need to read more first . . . |
Important information in this column | |
| Date: 28th January, 2008
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
RE: REV. JOHN MAKOKHA
This is to inform you that the above named person is working as a non-stipend minister at Riruta United Methodist Church and Communicator's director of United Methodist Church in Kenya.
He is a pro LGBT clergy, a registered member of the Reconciling Ministry Network and an associate clergy member of the Other Sheep.
Any assistance accorded him towards his support shall be welcome.
Thank you,
Rev. Carol Alois Ososo, UMC District Superintendent - Nairobi/Mombassa district
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| I want to help! Where do I donate? |
Tell me more about the need and the pledge. (Scroll down . . .) |
The need and how we can meet it together. by Steve Parelli, BRONX NY
Donors' Initial Gift of $1,500.00
At the beginning of this year, several donors gave a total of about $1,500.00 to the Rev. Makokha (United Methodist Church) family for back rent due and saved the Makokha family from eviction.
The Need to Meet the Monthly Rent Continues
As wonderful as that was, it did not solve the problem of little to no income. In fact, while Other Sheep was raising money for past months over due, the current months (January-March) were slipping away with new back rent bills piling. We all know that awful feeling of not being able to get ahead.
Anonymous Donor Covers January-March Rent
With the new back rent due, an anonymous donor came forth and gave $1,020.00 to cover January-March (which Other Sheep wired to the Mokakha's on April 1).
Going Forward, Solving the Problem of Paying Rent
In addition, in order to meet the monthly rent going forward (April 2008 - March 2009), this anonymous donor has promised to donate $170.00 per month for the next 12 months IF Other Sheep can find donors who will collectively match that amount. Therefore, Other Sheep is urging individuals and groups to pledge a monthly amount of $5.00 for one year! With the commitment of just 34 individuals at $5.00 per share, the matching amount can be raised. Will you become a donor today? Through PayPal, with the use of your credit card, you can "subscribe" to a monthly "payment" of as little as $5.00 per month for the next 12 months (you don't have to have a PayPal account to make your donation by credit card through PayPal). |
| I want to donate! |
An urgent additional financial need facing the Makokha family: |
| The Makokha Family Faces Additional Needs
The Makokha Children's High School Education |
| by Steve Parelli, BRONX, NY Because of the "denial to release funds for my living support for two years" the Makokhas do not have the funds to finance their children's high school education.
I've read from an Internet blog that one of their daughters received high marks in a renowned national standardized test, I believe, or something similar to it. I corresponded with Rev. Makokha, and sure enough it was his daughter. Currently, his children do not attend the schools in which they were doing so well. There is no money. Rev. Makokha's children are suffering for their parents' openly pro-LGBT position within the religious community. As a former pastor with four children, I hope their children will survive and thrive in spite of the ill treatment, because of homophobia, that they see their parents suffering, as well as the suffering they -- the children -- endure themselves, such as this, not being able to return to their schools.
If you as an individual, or your group, wishes to address this need by helping to initiate or sustain a project to finance the Makokha children's high school education, please email me at sparelli2002@yahoo.com or phone me direct at 718-360-0884. |
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 Photo at left: Riruta United Methodist Church, Nairobi, Kenya, where Rev. John Makokha is the pastor. Rev. Makokha is center, wearing a red tie. Anne, his wife, is wearing a red dress and standing at his left.
For whatever part you may play in helping the Makokhas - a financial gift, telling others about the need, praying, giving a note of encouragement, generating discussion - I sincerely thank you.
(Rev.*) Steve Parelli, MDiv
Executive Director, Email: sparelli2002@yahoo.com
Other Sheep
*Defrocked by a local Baptist church for entering into a committed same-sex relationship |
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About Rev. John Makokha |
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Pastor, Riruta United Methodist Church
His certificate of
His certificate of
Letter from District Superintendent: Rev. Makokha is "working as a non-stipend minister . . . he is a pro LGBT clergy . . ."
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| Anne K. Baraza |
Rev. Makokha's wife, Anne K. Baraza, is a 2006 graduate of NEGST (Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) college. She co-labors in ministry with her husband as a counselor
Email:
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 How You Can Help
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Become a donor and pledge $5.00 per month for 12 months.
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Forward this email to friends. Use the forward link at the extreme bottom of this eNews.
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Introduce the Rev. Makokha family need to your church or group.
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Have your church have a "Collection for Africa" and designate the gift to the Makokha family. (Make a "Collection for Africa" a yearly event.)
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Have your LGBT organization brainstorm on how to support LGBT advocacy projects in Africa and other countries.
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Rev. Makokha is a reporter/writer. Give Rev. Makokha an honorarium to write an article for your newsletter.
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Initiate or help sustain a project to finance the Makokha children's high school education. See article at left.
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Email Rev. John Makokha and his wife Anne and assure them of your concern, support and prayers: jmakokha2000@yahoo.com |
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| NEWS FLASH |
"Rev.Makokha and I will be taking part in a TV Talk Show on Thursday 3rd April.The topic is Homosexuality in Kenya and the Role we are playing to educate the Church and service to LGBTs. It is an opportunity to expose the work of OSEA.Pray for us."
- from a recent email from Rev. Michael Kimindu (Anglican Priest) |
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| Photo at bottom of eNews: Nakuru Lake National Park, Nakuru, Kenya | |
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| Other Sheep is an ecumenical Christian ministry working for the full inclusion of LGBT people within their respective faith worldwide.
" . . . connecting people with people and people with resources . . . "
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