The nuts and bolts of CTM Nairobi

The Center for Transforming Mission

Many of you have asked what it is that we do over here. Prior to our arrival in Kenya, we didn't feel that we were in a position to answer that question. 5 weeks later, I think we can give you a snapshot of what the organization looks like in Kenya as well as how we fit into the grand scheme.

CTM is a non-profit based out of Tacoma that works to develop grassroots leaders in hard places. What do I mean by hard places? When I think of hard places, I think of the parts of town that you and I try to avoid after dark, places that no not have well-developed infrastructures and places where passionate people are left to care for the people because no one else wants or dares to. The idea behind CTM emerged from inner-city Philadelphia but has since expanded to support urban leaders in several cities around the states, in central America, Thailand and now, Nairobi. It looks different in each of these areas depending on what the “hard place” is in each respective place. In central America, the overlooked population deals with gang members that have been sent to prison, in cities around the states, the urban centers that no one wants to get their hands dirty with and in the case of Nairobi, the slum areas where leaders are not well-supported by organizations or churches but feel a call to reach out to communities in dire need of transformation.

CTM is not a program-based organization, but focuses on building capacity amongst what already exists through trainings, further education and bringing leaders together to create a network of peers. In many parts of the world, organizations are not 501c3's with advisory boards, endowments and long range plans but instead one or two people that see a need and have a desire to meet it. CTM recognizes this and looks to support these small organizations and churches whose work is imperative in transforming communities.

In our particular situation, Gideon (the CTM Nairobi Director) works 30-35 grassroots leaders throughout Nairobi that are working in hard situations in and around the city. He is a support for them by checking in with them regularly, pulling them together on a monthly basis to discuss challenges, celebrating their successes and providing local and international training opportunities through the US CTM office.

Over the past month, we have spent out energy on getting to know some of the pastors/leaders in the network and learning more about their work. We are now entering a stage that will allow us to pour more time and energy into specific areas and enhance the support that CTM can provide.

A few of our focal points:

• Work with two leaders (Mark and Moses) that are working in a community called Mathare. This is a slum that it seems that no one is paying attention to. In many of the slums, there are lots of churches and NGO's, yet it seems that Mathare has reaped the benefits of neither of these. We are exploring setting up the CTM office in Mathare part-time in order to find ways to partner with them and support them in their work.

• Another group that is often neglected in hard places is the 14-24 year old age group. Since high school is not free and many come from disjointed families, this poses to be a difficult time in life. CTM is partnering with a local non-profit called Real Stars to sponsor kids to go to high school while also providing a complimentary leadership development program that takes place over 3-one week intensives over their 4-year high school experience.

• We are in conversation with Carlile College to provide a formalized educational opportunities for slums in the area. Carlile takes pastors through a 2 year certification program to help them in their respective areas. CTM is looking at the possibility of a partnership with Carlile and Bakke Graduate University (A Seattle-based Theology school) to provide a master's level program for the pastors working in slums communities.

This is the work of CTM in a nutshell. If you are interested in learning more about it, please check out the website at www.ctmnet.org.