Care of Creation Kenya (CCK)

Care of Creation’s first project is located in Limuru, Kenya. It operates out of the well-known Brackenhurst International Conference Center which is itself a ministry of the Baptist Mission of Kenya.

Care of Creation Kenya is staffed by Director Craig Sorley, Tracy Sorley and Frances Githaigah and a team of local workers. Care of Creation-Kenya is registered with the Kenyan government as a local NGO (non-governmental organization).

Operating since 2003, the program seeks to mobilize the church in Kenya to respond to the serious environmental challenges facing that country. Our efforts to mobilize the church fall under these two main categories:

Promoting A God Centered Vision

CCK’s first and primary goal is to spread a biblical vision for creation stewardship by training churches, institutions, and communities through local and national conferences and workshops.  Numerous seminaries and thousands of churches exist across Kenya through which a Christ-honoring movement for creation stewardship can be initiated.  The hope is that this vision will be integrated into all levels of church ministry, missions, and everyday life.

Promoting God-centered Action

Once God’s people capture a vision for creation stewardship, the next task is to put that vision into action.  CCK is focusing on three areas of practical action that need aggressive attention all across the continent.  These include the topics of wood, water, and food, which are critically essential to the well-being of people.  Nearly all churches and all Christians across all parts of Africa need to develop and execute a Christ-exalting “creation stewardship vision” in these areas:

Planting God’s Trees

Much of the degradation in Kenya comes from rampant deforestation, leading to droughts, floods, soil erosion and increased human poverty and hardship, as well as loss of habitat for animals and birds. We are working to encourage a “tree-planting culture” among Kenya’s Christians that glorifies God.  This represents one of the most practical ways that Christians can bring healing to degraded landscapes and renewed hope to people who depend on wood as a key resource.

Harvesting God’s Water

As a result of deforestation, water supplies become erratic, and as climatic conditions become drier, creative water-harvesting techniques provide a critical foundation for sustaining the livelihoods of people and for ensuring success in land restoration activities.  Tree nursery or tree-planting efforts cannot succeed unless adequate supplies of water are available.  ”Water-harvesting” can be as simple as adding gutters and cisterns to churches, school buildings and homes to collect water when the rains some, so that it can be used during long dry periods.

Farming God’s Way

CCK is working to promote a biblical perspective on farming that connects the Christian faith with the most common vocation on the continent.  This is a program originally developed in Zimbabwe that uses scientifically sound, no-till agricultural techniques combined with strong biblical teaching to radically transform farming practices. In many areas, Farming God’s Way has produced dramatic increases in yield.  The beauty of this technique is that it protects and improves the productivity of the land at the same time, with little or no chemical fertilizer or pesticide application.