2009 Mission Opportunities



(Click on image to enlarge)

UPDATE: East Africa Church Plant and Project Map

Seventeen churches have been planted through how Far Ministries in East Africa since June 2005.

Three New Church Plants

New churches continue to spring up along the Kenya and Tanzania border, and for the first time, in Burundi.

In Kenya, Isinet Baptist Church was planted in July 2007 and Illasit Baptist Church in December. There are now a total of fourteen church plants along the border. All of them planted since July 2005.



"Illasit Baptist Church, Kenya. (l-r) Pastor Kevin, Mark Maynard, Reuben ole Tiges, Associate Pastor Moses and a member of the church."

(Click on your favorite photo to enlarge.)

We also had the great joy of planting our first church in Burundi at Muramvya. This church was planted in partnership of Kingdom Fellowship Church in Kigali, Rwanda. My friend, Pastor Augustin Niyonsenga, will provide the pastor and oversee the new church.

The Muramvya Church was planted among the Batwa Tribe and is a sister church to the one planted last year amoung the Batwa in Gihara, Rwanda.



"A temporary home for Muramvya Baptist Church, Burundi."

(See the article dated August 15, 2007 for more on the Batwa Pygmi Tribe of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.)

Plans are underway to plant an additional church in Kenya near Rombo and two in Burundi - one among the Batwa, in a slum near Bujumbura, and the second in a remote village in the center of of the country called Bisoro.



"Members of Enderkesi Baptist Church, Kenya, Construction will begin on their church this month."

God continues to build His church...in places were there are no evangelical churches and among the forgotten...the poorest of the poor.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The Lord Jesus Christ quoting the words of the prophet Isaiah who was speaking of the nation of Isreal. - Luke 4:18-19 NIV

Mark Maynard
how Far Ministries, Inc.
Duurstede, The Netherlands

A Few Photos From the Field

"Demonstrating a WAPI, Water Pasturization Indicator, in a village near Bujumbura, Burundi. Clean water is a critial issue here...children still die because of bad water in this village." A joint project of The how Far Foundation and the Rotary Club in Buford, Georgia.



"One well that barely works...for 6000 people." Butererre Slum, Burundi



"A mountain river where five were baptized from a Batwa village in Burundi."



"Ten from the Batwa Tribe were baptized near the village of Gihara, Rwanda."



"Clif Knight and Reuben ole Tiges lead worship at Iltudui Baptist Church, Tanzania. "It is you Lord, it is You who are here", is the beautiful chorus.



"Sharing the gospel message with a group of children outside of Kagali, Rwanda. All have lost their parents to AIDS and many have HIV themselves. Where will their hope come from?"



"Dedication of the new building at Lossimingori Baptist Church, Tanzania."



"New building dedication at Python Hill Baptist Church, Kenya."



"Praying with members at Nondomito Baptist Church, Tanzania"


"Our pastors assembled for a conference at Taveta, Kenya"

With the completion of the East Africa Mission our attention will turn to fundraising. Our personal support account is nearly empty. To continue on we will have to raise nearly $2000 per month from new supporters.

Please pray about joining us in our "Great Commission" ministry of faith.


Mark Maynard - Missionary
how Far Ministries, Inc.
Submitted at Duurstede, The Netherlands

From the field....

The Mission is going far better than anticipated. Three new churches, many saved and baptized.

Watch for the full report in mid August when I return to the US.

Mark Maynard
Bujumbura, Burundi

MINISTRY & MISSION UPDATE

These are very exciting times...

Our Ministry

Our work continues across East Africa, and now, in Thailand. Fourteen churches have been planted in three countries since 2005. According to Pastor Reuben son of Tiges, our head Maasai pastor in Kenya, over one thousand people have come to salvation!

To keep up with the growth of our work we have formalized our mission and ministry. Maynard’s on Mission is now two brand new entities: howFar Ministries, Inc, and The howFar Foundation, Inc. Both are Georgia non-profit corporations. Additionally, we are in the process of applying for our 501(c)(3) non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service.

Our primary emphasis will continue to be evangelism, church planting, and discipleship and will be done through howFar Ministries, Inc. We have also organized The howFar Foundation, Inc. so that we can apply for grants and seek donations from secular organizations to fund humanitarian aid projects in the villages that we are working in.

Under this new structure we will be an independent Mission Agency but will continue to work with The Family Church, FBC, Sugar Hill, and other mission- minded churches, as a “Great Commission” ministry partner.

Our Mission



"A young Massai girl worships the Living God"

As you know, Kenya was thrown into political and tribal turmoil this past December due to a flawed presidential election. Thousands were killed and nearly 500,000 people were displaced. Things have finally stabilized, with the implementation of a bipartisan government, but the people remain deeply divided and the economy has been devastated. Costs have skyrocketed and life, if you can imagine, has become an even greater daily struggle. The need for a strong Christian presence is greater than ever!

I am returning to East Africa on July 9, accompanied by my friend and mission partner, Clif Knight. Clif will return on July 23 and I will stay until August 6.

Here are a few of the things that we need to get accomplished:

• Visit 12 of our 14 church plants in Kenya and Tanzania. (See the map below for their locations.)
• Dedicate 5 new church buildings, three in Kenya and two in Tanzania.
• Lead a pastor’s conference in Taveta, Kenya for all of our lead and associate pastors.
• Visit the site of our future East Africa Bible College in Mombasa, Kenya.
• Dedicate a new church plant and orphanage project in Miritini, Kenya.
• Dedicate a new Batwa church plant in Gihara, Rwanda.

We just received word this week that we are to have the privilege of baptizing 50 new believers from the Batwa Tribe!



"God is molding him into the Image of Christ"

• Visit the site of a new school project in Gihara, Rwanda.
• Visit our primary school in Orkung’u, Kenya.
• Visit the orphans we support in Mtongwe, Kenya.
• Visit sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi where we hope to plant churches this year. (Visas pending)

In November, I plan to return to Thailand with a small evangelism team. We will be witnessing to Burmese refugees along the Thai / Myanmar border near Ranong, Thailand. Ranong is just across the border on the very southern tip of Myanmar. Our long-term goal is to plant Burmese churches along the border in Thailand and, ultimately, send Burmese nationals back into their own country to share the gospel of hope.





"A Burmese refugee suffers in silence"

Looking forward, Renee will lead two women’s evangelism teams next year. The first team will return to Thailand to continue our work at The Well, a prostitute rescue ministry. She has also been invited to teach Biblical health and hygiene to Maasai women with the goal of eradicating their tradition of female genital mutilation.

As you can see, there is much to do in our Lord’s field. God is growing his church and we are tremendously blessed to be a part of it. (Matthew 16:18)

Thank you for your prayers and financial support as we take the Gospel of Hope and Reconciliation to the world.

Mark Maynard