Nehemiah Boys' Ranch - Zambia
TODAY:
This five acre property in Garneton, Zambia is home to 25
former street boys. Countless thousands of children (mostly boys) live on the
streets in Zambia. The Nehemiah boys enter the program through the weekly
outreach that touches about 200 boys who typically live on the streets locally.
Most are addicted to inhalants, beg, steal, and sleep on the streets with no
hope. Many orphaned, abused, or troubled boys begin life on the streets as
early as seven or eight years old. The weekly outreach provides a hot Zambian
meal, showers, laundry, basic medical treatment, recreation, and Bible Study.
Through this program many boys become Christians and many begin their pursuit
of residency.
Those who now live at the Ranch are receiving education,
integrated discipleship, life skills training, and Christian nurture from the
incredible national staff and missionary team. They are certainly learning work
skills, but a full scale business training program is the next slated Ranch
project.
One of the residents, John, put it best, “Before I was a
street boy, now I am becoming a man of God.”
HISTORY:
This ministry began with a prayer from one of the children
on the streets. In 2006, our founder was in Zambia for the first phase of
construction at the Sara Rose children’s home. At an evening outreach led by
our partners, the Mwansa's and their church, over 100 street kids gathered
downtown for food, singing, encouragement, and prayer. The kids were given the
opportunity to ask “Pastor Tony” questions. One of them said, “We heard why you
are here. Will you build a home for us too?” He responded by encouraging them
to pray. One of them closed the outreach with a fervent prayer for that very
thing. Others must have continued because in the following months, the HOB
Board became convinced in prayer that we were supposed to pursue this ministry.
We knew that our partners would need help with such a significant expansion,
and within the same year, the Walker family committed to leave the U.S. and
help lead this ministry. An amazing Zambian staff now participates in this work
and additional HOB missionaries have joined the team as well.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The long range vision for the ministry and
property includes housing for up to 80 boys in dorms of twelve with one cottage
dedicated to family style care for some of the younger boys. Currently a large multipurpose
building is under construction dedicated to house dining, worship, and a campus
school that we hope to open in 2012. A business training and development
program built around a profitable business project is a vital expansion need
for the coming year. We will need additional missionaries to help implement
this project. Ultimately, we believe that these young men will become Christian
leaders in their country. Those who have already begun experiencing this
transformation are beginning to believe it too.
One Life Transformed:
This feature story on HOB Kids will be posted soon. Please check back again later.