howFar International Leadership Announcement

For Immediate Release - June 2026

As many of you know, I retired from Leadership Ministries a year ago in April.  Since that time, Renée and I have settled my mother's and brother's estates, and dedicated much of our time to strengthening our leadership team and structure to enable strategic growth. Recently, I was asked to lead our church as Interim Pastor while we seek God’s leading for our future.

Some of our senior leadership team met to discuss plans for the future of howFar Africa. January 2026 - Kigali, Rwanda.

Currently, there are fifty-seven howFar Ministries churches, one Pastor's Training Center - with two more to launch in the next 18 months, two orphanages, and other projects to include conferences, associated schools, feeding programs during food scarcity seasons, agricultural training and assistance, maze mills and micro loan projects. 

Mark & Renée Maynard with Diane and Carl Moffi at their home at Oak Island, NC,

In addition, board member Diane Moffi leads howFar Haiti. Our primary emphases in Haiti include orphan care, financial support for education, and microloan programs.

I am pleased to announce that we are launching Men who goFar Africa this quarter. Our plan is to establish a men’s leadership development team at each of our current 56 churches. We will utilize the development and training materials that my team created while I served as President of Leadership Ministries and Friday Morning Men’s Fellowship. www.leadmin.org

Here are several leadership changes that we have made. 

1. Jim Kelly, who has served us well as President of howFar Ministries and The How Far Foundation, has accepted the role of Chaiman of our Board of Directors. In this role he will guide our humanitarian activities and lead the Board of Directors.

2. Reuben Tiges, pastor of the first church howFar Ministries planted and built in sub-Saharan, Africa, has been elevated to Bishop of howFar Churches of Africa and Counselor to the Founders of howFar Ministries Worldwide. He will oversee the eight howFar churches in Kenya, all howFar projects in Kenya, the forthcoming Pastors Training Center at Lake Jipe, Kenya, and Men who goFar of Kenya.
   
   

   

   Emmanuel Lazier (l), Mark Maynard, and Reuben Tiges (r) present a bicycle to a new pastor at the howFar Pastors Training Center, Tanzania.

3. Emmanuel Lazier, Bishop of howFar Churches of Tanzania, has been elevated to Associate Bishop of howFar Churches of Africa.  In his new role, he will continue to lead the 27 howFar Churches of Tanzania and act as a Chief Operating Officer with day-to-day leadership responsibility for all howFar Ministries projects in Africa.
   
   

   

   Bishop Mundola of DR Congo (l) and Associate Bishop Lazier of howFar Africa (r) at the January 2026 planning meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

4. John Mundola has been elevated to Bishop of howFar Churches of DR Congo,  John will oversee the fourteen howFar Churches of DR Congo, the forthcoming Pastors Training Center of Goma, the two howFar Orphanages in Goma, and Men who goFar of Congo.

5. Renovat Barutwanay will continue to oversee the three howFar Churches of Burundi.

Please join us in congratulating our leaders on their new roles and for committing to pray for each of them.

A Rough Year in Haiti

Haiti 2025 - Diane Moffi, howFar Haiti Director

 

It's been another rough year for the people of Haiti.  Gangs control 90% of the capital, Port au Prince and are expanding their territory outside the capital at an alarming rate!

 

With all that going on, howFar Haiti created a program in 2025 for at-risk children called:  “I am Worthy”. The program is designed to take children who might tend to fall into gang-related activity and teach them about God and his love and his plan for each of us.  They are taught about self-esteem and how to conduct themselves in society, they learn about sports and the importance of being in school.  Our onsite director, Alince Joseph said this about the program:  “Our priority for them is to create a strong new generation who loves God, has the ability to develop themselves into productive adults and stay in school.”  There are ten children in the program right now and they meet once a month on a Saturday.

 

Please pray that God will continue to bless this program and that we can expand to include even more children in 2026.

They Beat Us With Rods

Merry Christmas from the global howFar Team - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Haiti and Thailand.

 howFar will you go this Christmas to share the story of Emmanuel? 

www.howFar.org

DR Congo Orphan Care

For over a decade howFar Ministries and The How Far Foundation have cared for 24 war orphans, in two homes, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of these children witnessed their parents slaughtered by various rebel groups. 

We have watched as they have grown and are extremely proud of their performance in primary and secondary school.  Most of them are in the top 5 students in their class.

Pastor John and his wife have 17 children in their home.

Abel and his wife care for seven children in their home.

To invest in the care and education of these precious at howFar.org.

Thank you for partnering with us to care for the widow and the orphan.

Mark Maynard July 16, 2025

"They have been through hell!" Goma, DR Congo Update

Many are not aware of the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. M23 Rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. The war has displaced millions of people and caused a humanitarian crisis. 

In the midst of the turmoil are ten churches planted by howFar Ministries. News outlets have reported mass killings, torture, and sexual abuse. Many of our people have lost everything they have and are suffering terribly. In May, we sent thousands of dollars to provide food and water to Rachuru and Mudja church members forced from their homes by armed rebels. 

The situation is dire.

"Speaking from the Goma region, whose main city was overrun by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in January, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher explained that people had suffered “decades of trauma”.

The last few months have been “particularly horrific for so many”, he added, referring to the lawless fall-out from heavy fighting this year between the rebel fighters and the regular DRC army that has been linked to serious human rights abuses, including potential war crimes.

“Most striking today and yesterday has been the stories of sexual violence, and sitting with women who tell horrific stories which are too horrific for me to tell here and who are trying to find the courage to rebuild their lives,” the UN relief chief said.

“We’re there providing that support to them, trying to help them rebuild, but they have been through hell.”"

Source, https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164981

howFar Ministries has planted 16 churches in eastern DR Congo and operates two orphanages. Plans are underway now to launch a Pastor's Training Center in Goma in 2026.

Please pray for the saints at our churches in eastern DR Congo. 

howFar will you go? 

Mark Maynard - June 27, 2025

 

Tanzania howFar Pastor's Training Center and Bible College Update

In 2022, howFar Ministries, in partnership with the Baptist Churches of Tanzania, launched a Pastor's Training Center near Lossimingori, Tanzania. For us, it was the realization of a prayer that we first offered up as early as 2002, that God, through howFar Ministries, would allow us to train indigenous Maasai men who, in turn, would disciple, train and pastor their kinsman in rural churches.

Renée and Mark Maynard at the howFar Ministries Pastor's Training Center 2024 graduation.

To invest in the education of a pastor click here or to receive more information contact us at mark@howFar.org.

Since then two classes of men have graduated from the training center and the third cohort will graduate in the summer of 2026.

Class of 2022

Class of 2024

Class of 2026

Every man who attends our Pastors Training Center has, or will, go out and plant a new church. To date, 24 new churches have been planted and another 12 will begin in the summer of 2026.

No initiative we have launched has been as successful as this and we are praising God for its success.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:15-16

Students attend the howFar Pastor's Training Center at no cost to them. Our generous sponsors ensure that they receive a thorough conservative education in a culture where it would be impossible for them to be able to afford it.

The cost to train one pastor, including classes, books, full room and board is $1200.

To invest in the education a pastor click here.

howFar will you go? 

The How Far Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 non profit. All donations are tax deducatable.

Lake Jipe Orkung'u Primary School

Telling Bible stories to Maasai children at the primary school howFar Ministries founded at Lake Jipe Orkung'u, Kenya 20 years ago. 

Sept 2024 Visit. howFar will you go? www.howFar.org 

Fiftythree Churches Planted

Since 2004, our team at howFar Ministries has planted 53 churches in sub Saharan, Africa. Your support has undergirded our mission and we praise God for every one of you! howFar will you go? www.howFar.org

 

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Emergency Support Needed Now!

Donate today HERE!

howFar Ministries Baptizes 136 in 2023

This year we are delighted to report that our sub Saharan, Africa team has baptized 136 new believers.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Matthew 28:18-20

From Kenya to the heart of the Congo men, women and children are coming to Christ, being discipled, and being baptized. 

To support our work go to www.howFar.org.

howFar will you go?

Tanzania How Far Foundation Food Distribution

"Today we manage to distribute 30 bags of maize and seed to over 200 families. Each got a portion of 20 kgs of maize and 4 kgs of Aminika seed (maize seed). We had a little change that the church elders suggested that instead of buying beans let's use that funds to buy seed so when the plantation season comes they have quality seed to use. Apart from that we have agriculture officer who came to train them how to plant and use manure for better performance. It was a lovely day. And they said thank you for Christmas gift. It has meant a lot to us." Update from Emmanuel Lazier. 

Food insecurity in Tanzania has reached the "acute" level due to an ongoing drought.  The How Far Foundation recently sent funds to purchase food and seed for the most vulnerable families.

Rains have finally come to the area but it is too late for this year's planting season.

Pastor Emmanuel serves as the overseer of the howFar Ministries Churches of Tanzania and the howFar Ministries Bible College.

 

howFar Haiti / HaitiWorks 2023 Update - Diane Moffi, Director / howFar Haiti

Praises to God for allowing us to continue to serve our folks in Haiti for another year! 

Every year is a challenge when working in Haiti.  2023 was no exception and may win the prize for the hardest year since our work began in 2012.  Gang violence has overshadowed daily life for most Haitians, especially in Port au Prince.

"An estimated 2 million people, including 1.6 million women and children, live in areas under gang control, she said, and children are getting killed and injured in crossfire, some on the way to school. Others are being forcibly recruited or they are joining armed groups out of sheer desperation,” Russell said.  Source APNews October 2023

For more information on the crisis in Haiti go to https://apnews.com/article/haiti-gangs-violence-kenya-police-security-children-ac867cb3f36d2234d6f28606825298e2# 

But God has been with us everyday:

•   We sponsored two VBS programs this summer where over 100 children heard the gospel message and were fed a good meal each day.

 

•   Our medical outreach continues with many people receiving medicines and care for diseases, gunshot wounds, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, eye glasses, etc.

 

•   Several feeding programs were held in various neighborhoods where malnutrition is a chronic problem.

 

•    Several children have been sponsored to attend school.

 

•   We invested in a community garden that feeds people fresh vegetables and fruits they cannot afford to buy.  Right now, we’re renting the land with hopes to purchase it one day soon.

 

•   Our school in Cite Soleil is still up and running with profits from Haiti Works providing money for the teachers who are working without a regular paycheck.  We continue to pray for this school. Due to the gang violence in the area its difficult to have a regular schedule for classes.

 

•   Several children and adults are suffering from PTSD because they’ve been in the middle of the violence and many have been driven from their homes with nothing except the clothes they are wearing.

 

•    We have a new, small orphanage that we are sponsoring.

•  Our current orphanage of 35 children was forced to leave their home in September and remain in another location because of gangs.  Please pray for their safety and for the children to return home soon.

 

Thank you all for your continued support through donations and prayers.  Everything we do is to the glory of God and He has blessed our ministry through you!

All donations to howFar Ministries Haiti work are tax deductible under our 501c3 designation. 

HaitiWorks is a ministry of howFar Ministries and The How Far Foundation, Inc.

howFar Foundation: "Three Small Coins"

This article originally appeared in May 2012. It will encourage you and strengthen your faith.

howFar Foundation: "Three Small Coins": The three of us sat, waiting, under the rickety parapet shielded from the already intense morning sun. We were waiting for our laun...

Help Us With Your Generous Gift Today!

Please consider a year-end financial gift today. Your support ensures that we can continue our 20 year work of training pastors, planting churches and caring for the least reached in Haiti and sub Saharan, Africa. 

Thank you for your generous support,

Mark & Renée Maynard

howFar will you go?

howFar Kenya Update 2022

From Bishop Reuben Tiges - Overseer howFar Churches of East Africa 

Lake Jipe Orkung'u, Kenya

Bishop Reuben ole Tiges (left), Overseer of howFar Churches of East Africa, with Emmanuel Laizer, Overseer of the Churches of Tanzania, and Founder, Mark Maynard

The Africa howFar ministry in Kenya is in possession of seven churches these are:

1.Orkung'u First Baptist which is the mother church. The same has a congregation of 207 members and two pastors, namely Bishop Reuben Tiges and Pastor Peter Kwaze.

2.Lake Jipe First Baptist church which has a congregation of 67 members and one pastor, namely pastor Japhet Mwazighe.

3.Salaita First Baptist church which has a congregation of 52 members and one pastor, namely pastor Yohana Osekeri.

4.Pithon Hill First Baptist church which has a congregation of 92 members and two pastors, namely pastor William Mwingereza (now deceased) and pastor Paul Mwingereza.

5.Karandini First Baptist church which has a congregation of 117 members and two pastors, namely Pastor Petro Noomukuu, senior pastor, and pastor Jackson Ngoyiaya.

6.Esukuta First Baptist church which has a congregation of 74 members and one pastor, namely Pastor Samson Sipaya.

7.Jerusalem First Baptist church which has a congregation of 107 members and two pastors, namely Pastor Joseph Kelero, senior pastor, and pastor Jona Kipampi.

However there are two churches that failed to progress after they are successfully planted by the howfar ministry. These are Mailitatu First Baptist church and Enderkesi First Baptist church; the same fail to progress due to several factors one being poverty. The two pastors of the mentioned churches could not bear the burden of the church as they have to go to urban cities to look for employment to feed their families. This led to the two churches lacking pastors to take care of them.

Church Members Suffered a Great Loss Due to the Drought

Nevertheless, the howFar foundation has continued running its' programs and projects despite the many challenges faced by the churches. Scholarship program for students from the less privileged families have continued enjoying education like other students in the community thanks to howfar foundation.

Our Kenyan pastors have also joined their Tanzanian counterparts in a theological seminary (Pastors Training Center) recently started by the howFar foundation in Lossimingori area. We thank the howFar for sponsoring our local less privileged pastor to join the seminary.

The maize mill project is in construction in Orkung'u village. This is aimed at creating an income generating project which will adversely solve financial challenges in church. The project cost over $5,000 thanks to howFar foundation.

Twenty twenty two has been a busy year as far as churches are concerned. We have conducted seminars and conferences in all the seven churches, but unfortunately we couldn't host our usual end of year conference due to the severe draught that has hit Kenya for almost a year. We churches could not raise the money to run the conference. We are hoping that God willing we shall hold it in January 2023.

We are looking forward to carry out much more activities come twenty twenty three.

God bless howFar, God bless its donors, God bless Kenya.

howFar will you go?

Haiti Update 2022

Diane Moffi 

Haitiworks

howFar Haiti Director

This year has been one of the worst we’ve seen since our work began in 2012.  Upon the assassination of the president in July 2021, gangs began to flex their muscles.  They took over neighborhoods by force:  killing, raping and burning down homes.  Hundreds of innocent people were killed or injured.  Ports of entry for fuel and international food aid have been under control of the gangs until early November, when the fuel depot was finally taken over by the Haiti National Police.  Prior to this action, fuel was unavailable throughout Haiti except for black market fuel, which was selling for over $20 US per gallon.  As a result of the gangs controlling these depots, people cannot get to market to sell their crops, manna packs for feeding programs cannot get to the children, hospitals have shut down due to lack of fuel for their generators, and cell service interruptions are a constant issue, also.  Kidnappings are still happening everyday!  Cholera is at epidemic levels with hundreds of people sick or dying recently.

As tragic as all these things are, we have a great God who has been with the Haitian people through all these trials.  HowFar Haiti has the privilege of working with several families affected by this violence.  Through your generosity in 2022 we have been able to help so many!

Here are some of the ways howFar Haiti has been a blessing in Haiti this year:

Gang war in Cite Soleil this summer resulted in over 400 deaths and hundreds more being displaced.  We provided medical services for several of the gunshot victims and relocated 3 elderly people to safer housing for at least a year.

We fed over 1,000 families throughout the year.  Some were prepared food being distributed to school children, and others received food kits that fed their families for several days.  The kits contain rice, beans, corn meal, oil, canned fish and spaghetti.

Our orphanage has received food every month in 2022!!  

In June, we sponsored a VBS program for children in Cite Soleil where they were fed, they played, created crafts and heard the Gospel message.  

Two wheelbarrows and 4 shovels were purchased for people in Cite Soleil to clean up after the gang war.  This is extremely important to prevent flooding after a heavy rain.  Flooding causes diseases!

With the scarcity of rice (which is imported from the US) and some of the other food staples for meals, we began an egg and bread distribution program in the fall to provide something for the children to eat.

Clean water has been purchased, either through delivery from a water truck or purchasing sachets of water for distribution in various neighborhoods, mostly in Cite Soleil where its more difficult to get clean water.

In November, we took and distributed 20 “new mother” bags in partnership with Cords of Love.  Each bag contains diapers, baby wipes, a blanket, burp pads, a kreyol language booklet on the “Roman Road to Salvation” and a kreyol language New Testament Bible.  Also, we distributed 30 kits of reusable menstrual pads for teenage girls and young women.  Additionally, each bag and kit contained a set of Cycle Beads to help prevent unwanted pregnancies!

Thank you for your donations this year!  Many people have experienced the love of Jesus through you and they have hope for a better tomorrow!  Prayers are always needed and appreciated!!!

howFar will you go?