The IAFR Blog

The Kenya government opened the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement in June 2016. It is located about 10 miles down the road from Kakuma refugee camp. About 40,000 refugees live there today.

Being a relatively new camp, Christian refugees are struggling to build suitable church buildings - a necessity as the harsh climate and terrain do not make it possible to meet safely outside.

At present, most of the churches in Kalobeyei look like the "today" photo above. As you can see, the heat, sand and winds quickly shred their simple structures.

When I met with local church leaders there in February, they asked if IAFR would partner with them to help build more durable church buildings. They proposed that we provide them with metal sheets. They will come up with the other building materials and build their churches.

100 metal sheets will build 1 refugee church. The cost per church = $1000.

Investing in life-giving faith and supportive community

Refugee churches are far more than buildings. They are communities of life-giving faith that play a critical role in helping people survive and recover from forced displacement.

Refugee church buildings serve as community hubs that buzz with activity throughout the week hosting worship services, prayer meetings, discipleship studies, choir practices, and programs for children, youth and women. They also serve as ministry centers through which the needs of orphans, widows, single moms, the elderly and chronically sick are met.

Refugee church buildings play a critical role in helping people survive and recover from forced displacement.

Thank You!

Our generous partners have already provided enough to provide metal sheets for 5 refugee church buildings! There are an estimated 45 refugee churches in Kalobeyei, of which most are in need of metal sheets.

Please pray with us that these churches will all have a suitable building before the end of 2019.