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Buckner cancels Kenya mission trips
By Jenny Pope (NAIROBI, Kenya) – Citing the need to ensure the safety of short-term missionaries, Buckner President and CEO Ken Hall has announced that all mission trips to Kenya will be cancelled through May 2008 due to the unrest and violence caused by the Dec. 27 presidential elections. Hall's announcement follows a previous decision by Buckner to suspend mission trips until March. Hall and Vice President of Global Initiatives Randy Daniels made the decision this week after witnessing dangerous conditions first-hand in Nairobi and Kitale, Kenya. “Flying over Kenya on our way to Kitale, we could see whole villages on fire and burgeoning refugee camps springing up,” Hall said in his blog. According to recent reports from the Red Cross, more than 860 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced in the turmoil. “This trip to Africa is reminding me that there is a very real presence of evil in our world. Please pray for the people of Kenya and for this nation,” he said. Hall reported that the children Buckner cares for at the Baptist Children’s Center in Nairobi and Seed of Hope Children’s Home in Kitale are safe and well. Daniels, who oversees Buckner International ministries in Kenya, said, “The work is the same but there is just more need for it. Buckner will still be providing services to Kenya and our ministry will increase based on the greater need. But we will need to rearrange the mission trips because we cannot guarantee safety at this time.” Director of Buckner Missions George McCain has promised to work with mission teams to reschedule any trips planned to Kenya during this time. He’s hopeful that teams can resume their missions work in early summer. “We all need to be in serious prayer for our brothers and sisters in Kenya,” he said. “Even though we cannot physically go there to help them right now, we know that God is there with them. And Buckner will continue to stand by their side. The needs are greater than ever.” In 2007, Buckner sent nine short-term mission teams to Kenya consisting of 166 people and six interns. Buckner has been working in Kenya since 2002. Buckner ministries in Kenya include:
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