Pastor Dave Diercksen helping with a deworming clinic at the Kwa Watoto School

 This week we hear from Partner for Hope, Pastor Dave Diercksen of Paoli Presbyterian Church. Having been to Mathare and seen the work of eduKenya, Pastor Dave reflects on what differentiates eduKenya and why he partners with us.Last week while driving Adam and Njeri Gould to the airport for their trip to Kenya, we talked about some scripture that was part of my devotions - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16. Paul talks there about how he, Silas and Timothy came among the people of Thessalonika as missionaries, “sharing with them not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." As a pastor involved in missions, I know this to be the church at its best and why I support Adam, Njeri and the work of eduKenya. The people of eduKenya are committed to sharing not only the hope of the gospel, but their lives as well through genuine relationships in community.Unfortunately, we are accustomed to seeing and using “Right-Handed Power," a kind of power where outsiders set the agenda for people living in poverty, believing that they know best and creating a relationship of dependency. This kind of power never inspires, redeems or creates, and rarely leads to lasting community transformation.Having been to Mathare with Adam, I have seen first hand the positive effect of “Left-Handed Power," which involves acknowledging that people living in poverty are the authors of their own development. eduKenya is committed to educating, empowering and transforming individuals and communities through relationships. eduKenya's vision is to be a part of the transformation God is bringing about in Mathare through side-by-side, rather than top down, relationships that are respectful, inspiring, motivational, encouraging and loving. Left-Handed Power is the power of the Cross made perfect by the forgiveness and suffering of Christ.It is no surprise to me that we are seeing the people of Mathare respond as the people of Thessalonika did to Paul's ministry. It is a privilege to partner with eduKenya in the mission of Jesus, described in the verse below:The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1Dave Diercksen, Associate Pastor of Mission and MinistryPaoli Presbyterian Church