Wednesday, March 5th, President Rick DeGroot and Vice-President Gereald Baraza met with District Superintendent Bill Haggard.  We shared with him our academic background, ministry experience, connection with Cornerstone UMC, the origins of Redeeming Grace Ministries International and our vision for John Fletcher College.  Bill encouraged and prayed for us.

The RGMI Team of Directors was able to go to Kenya for preparations and cultural adaptation.  The Team consisted of Rick DeGroot (President), wife Ginnie DeGroot (Spiritual Development Director, Church Relations), Gerald Baraza (Vice-President), and Ruqaiyah Baraza (Secretary).  We met with our Kenyan Coordinators: Rev. Phidel and Rev. Tobias who have been doing the ground work for RGMI.  They found potential students from the fourty-two tribes in Kenya.  The Team was able to meet with a group of these students.  And we were able to visit the facilities reserved for the first term 2014.  The first month will start 30th of June and go until 26th of July.  The facilities are at Clarence Matheny Ministries in Ongata Rongai, Kenya.  John Fletcher College is becoming a reality.

The culture was new to three of us on the team.  There the standard differences: the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle and vehicles drive on the left side of the rode.  The opposite of what it is in America.  There are American type Malls in Nairobi.  They have two guards at each entrance with metal detector wands.  Leaving downtown the quality of the signs and buildings decreases.  Then along the roads are many markets and kiosks, selling cosmetics, hair care, beautiful hand crafted furniture, and metal works like doors and gates.  We even visited two churches with schools K-8th grade in slum areas.  Yes, a big culture difference for us Americans, but by God's grace it was not shocking.  We were warmly welcomed everywhere we went, enjoyed our visit, andwe are looking foreward to openning John Fletcher College.

Blessings to all,

Rick DeGroot, RGMI President

We enjoyed presenting Redeeming Grace Ministries International and our vision of John Fletcher College at our first fundraising banquet, on Thurday, November, 14, 2013 at The ROCK in Byron Center, Michigan, USA.

Our presentation included:

• Defining the concept of "Redeeming Grace."
• Featured four potential students for the John Fletcher College who are presently in Kenya.
• Introduced our current Board of Directors and staff.
• Listened to the guest speaker, Susan VanderMuelen, Executive Director of The Magi give a recap from her time as a missionary in Tanzania and timely advice of what it takes to be a effective missionary in the field.

As president/CEO of RGMI, I am amazed to hear from three different sources that we have potential students waiting for us in East Africa.

Please pray for our preparation: finances, registration and adaptation.

In His Name,

Rev. Rick DeGroot
RGMI President/CEO
 

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