News : STORM: Vinton area men plan return to Kenya for mission trip in 2014

John Karrick and Chris Cantrell plan their second 'STORM' mission trip to Kenya in 2014.

Many of the people STORM attempts to help have virtually nothing.

As we bundle up and head outside to move snow in subzero temperatures, many of us think of warmer climes: a beach, cruise ship or even a hot July day spent poolside. However, most of us aren’t thinking of sparsely populated, arid, dusty remote areas.

John Karrick and Chris Cantrell, however, are pondering those dry areas, and thinking of the next STORM. No, not a snow storm, but a mission outreach with that acronym: STORM.

Every year, Share International (SI) coordinates a Short-Term Outreach & Relief Mission (STORM) in Turkanaland, Kenya. The STORM team consists of a mix of non-African and African missionaries. STORM teams planted 10 churches between 1997 and 2006 in remote Turkana villages. Following the extensive training between 2003 and 2006 on SI’s premises in Lodwar, and subsequent empowering of the indigenous church leaders in the planted churches, SI initiated Phase II of STORM ministries among the Turkana people in 2007. The STORM teams began to enhance the Gospel message through Bible teaching, holistic training, providing medical and humanitarian services, and initiating indigenous, self-sustaining projects in the mother churches.

Today, the STORM ministry brings together all the SI-supported pastors, missionaries, and teachers for a 2-day extensive teaching under temporary structures on the SI premises in Lodwar, then engages them in a joint 7 to 10-day practical, hands-on ministry within the four geographical blocks of SI’s initial church plants. These ministries may vary slightly each year depending on the team’s make up, but include teaching for gender and age groups (children K-8, young women, young men, adult men and adult women), medical (internal medicine, ophthalmology, dentistry, treating wounds, etc.), agriculture education, as well as other specialized ministries. In addition, the STORM team screens the Jesus Film each night in the remote villages and baptizes new believers.

John and Chris were both part of STORM 2012. Below is some information about that trip:

Attendees at the various preaching and teaching sessions = 5,724

Souls saved = 448

Baptisms = 15

Patients treated = 1,162

Livestock vaccinated = 6,961 including goats, sheep, and camels

Food provided = 35,000 pounds

John and Chris also had the opportunity to be present during the ground breaking for the SEND (Sharing Eternity with Nationals Daily) Center. SI is building the SEND Center to train indigenous pastors and missionaries to reach the people groups in Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia!

Many needs remain

The needs in Kenya are great and many. You will want to give everything you can because so many are so needy. In 2012, John and Chris saw a man in the middle of the street in the capital city of Turkanaand, Lodwar. He was naked and appeared to have nothing. “It breaks your heart.” Chris said. “The people of Turkanaland lead simple lives. They live in grass or mud huts while trying to scratch out a living in the harsh desert they call home.”

John and Chris plan to return to Turkanaland with STORM 2014. Thus, they are personally responsible for raising funds to provide for their travel as well as raising funds to help with the purchase of food and medical supplies. John and Chris are excited to find ways to raise the $10,000 needed.

The trip is sheduled for July 6-18, 2014.

If you have a fund-raising idea or would like to make a tax deductible donation, John and Chris can be reached at iowatokenya2014@peoplepc.com. See the Vinton STORM Facebook page HERE.