Since visiting McKendree's early service New Wine Fellowship last October, I have enjoyed getting to know Pastor Tom Halliburton. In fact, not long after starting to regularly attend the New Wine service, Tom and I and sometimes Jordan Callaway would find ourselves getting together for coffee or lunch every so often - just to hang out!

It was over lunch several months ago where Pastor Tom and I began to discuss ways we could start reaching out to our community. I had reached a point of commitment with New Wine where I would leave church every week wanting much more. More ways to serve, more opportunities to reach people outside of our own walls, more chances for God to use us as a vessel for His purposes and His Kingdom.

As we were enjoying our Rafferty's hamburgers, Tom told me about his friend in Kenya who is a pastor at a church in Nairobi. As they conversed about a year ago, the Kenyan pastor mentioned that they needed no money or supplies but were in desperate need of Bibles. Yes, English Bibles! Some for their church, but more importantly for those in the streets, the bush, and the villages throughout the country of Kenya.

Without hesitation I felt this was the opportunity that our fellowship needed. After all, our desires mirror that of our brothers and sisters in Christ half-way around the world. To see the people in our communities (or villages) come to know Jesus - because "we just care." How could we not support this group of people in their efforts to reach people? Especially when their need is something most of us in this country have an abundance of - the printed Words of God.

As we have approached the first deadline, we have collected almost 100 Bibles to send to Kenya by the combined contributions of the people of New Wine and the challenge to the church itself to match every used Bible with a brand new one. After Pastor Tom's announcement at McKendree's service on September 2, several Bibles were left on the altar for Africa this Sunday - what a blessing!

Our final deadline for shipment will be Sunday, November 11. Between the joint forces of the New Wine and McKendree congregations - I am confident we can exceed our goal of sending 200 Bibles to Kenya. Spreading the Word to Africa - because we all have one common goal, because we can...because "We Just Care."