It is my prayer that the year 2012 has started well just as it has for GOA International. If you are struggling with issues just as we all do, please be assured that you are not alone. God has promised that; “and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b.
It is His presence that makes all the difference. GOA family too is in prayer with you. Just throw your prayer needs to us and we shall lift them before His throne. At GOA Pangani, this month of February is a month of prayer and fasting. In our cell group that meets in our family house every Tuesday and 6.00p.m. our focus is; “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”. (IJohn 5:14).
As you are probably aware, GOA financial year begins on April 1st and ends on March 31st of each calendar year. Our strategic plans are made to fit annually within each financial year. Our current GOA financial year is April 1st, 2011 to March 31st, 2012. You may recall that this has been the year of celebrating God’s faithfulness to GOA in changing lives and transforming communities. We have counted God’s blessings one by one for the whole year and we are not about to finish counting. With you we have made a difference in Kenya, East Africa and beyond. Thank you for your support. Please know that you are a very significant Partner to us, and we cherish our friendship.
We have 40 days to go before the end of the current GOA financial year and strategic plans. I’m sure you know that the number 40 is significant in the Bible. During the days of Noah it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and was seen on the earth for 40days after His crucifixion. It seems like 40 days period provides a time of testing, trial, probation period of restoration, revival or renewal. GOA anticipates great breakthrough 40 days from today.
So much has been achieved during this current April 2011/March 2012 financial year. 40 days to the end of this financial year, we still have some of the projects in our strategic plans incomplete. We have extracted the undone projects from the strategic plans for you to view them easily. Please see the attachment.
Please pray and let God lead you, your family, church, Bible study group and friends in the next 40 days to stretch your faith to take off at least one project from the list.
On behalf of my entire family (Joyce, Timothy, Grace, Mary and Dennis), we invite you to pray for funds to complete our residential house.
To share with us what God has done during this financial year please read the stories and view youtube videos at www.goaweb.org
Together in the 40 days challenge
Bishop David Thagana - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - GOA
May I belatedly bring you my New Year greetings.
On the Global scene, 2012 was the year when shocking economic and
business news seemed to lose its power to shock. Kenya withstood
another difficult year in 2012 as policy tightening and weaker global
demands slowed economic activity. With decisive fiscal and monetary
policies, the government managed to restore confidence in Kenya. The
year 2012 in Kenya was almost a mirror image of 2011. In 2011 the
economy started out strongly, but by mid-year, high fuel and food
prices led to a rapid rise in inflation, a weekend exchange rate and
ultimately a radical increase in interest rates towards the end of the
year.
The implication of these economic and business trend on GOA ministries
was that we had to not only make tough stewardship decisions in 2012
but also daily prayed for God’s Grace to complete the year. With
decisive ministry policies under the governance of an extremely well
educated and experienced GOA board of directors and a dedicated team
of staff at GOA head office in Nairobi we managed to restore
confidence in all stakeholders and continued to change lives and
impact communities.
As we head into 2013, Kenya is expected to stimulate growth by
loosening monetary policy. The Central bank of Kenya has lowered the
Central Bank rate (CBR) over the last several months to encourage
investment and economic growth. As a result, the second have begun
the year by seeing economic activity increase without inflationary
pressure. The Central Bank of Kenya is expected to continue these
policies in the first quarter of 2013 with investors expected to delay
major projects while waiting for the outcome of the elections.
GOA’s theme for 2013 “To proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favour”-Jubilee Luke 4:19. In the last three weeks I have been
blessed with opportunities training senior ministry leaders in
Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda with the eight core values of ILI/HM. I
can boldly proclaim that GOA is out to experience great favour from
God in 2013. This is the year that Kenya will celebrate her Golden
Jubilee-50 yrs since independence. It is also the year that GOA’s
Executive Director is celebrating his Golden Jubilee-50th birthday.
I’m double excited. To be a Kenyan who is celebrating Jubilee
together with his nation.
The World Bank in their December 2012 Kenya Economic update dubbed
“Kenya at work-Energizing the economy and creating jobs” highlighted:
Kenya withstood another difficult year in 2012 as policy tightening
and weaker global demand slowed economic activity. With decisive
fiscal and monetary policies, the government managed to restore
confidence in Kenya’s medium term prospects. 2013 promises to be a
better year. Yet hard realities remain –Kenya’s growth rate is still
below its potential and its peers, external balances remain which
threaten its future growth, and the pace of economic growth is not
generating enough modern sector wage Jobs. With the passage of the
new constitution in 2010 and its implementation, stronger institutions
are emerging, putting Kenya on a sound footing ready to take off. In
the very short term, what remains to be done is for Kenya to deliver a
credible and peaceful election in March 2013, and thereafter a smooth
transfer of power. In the medium term, Kenya will need to start
building a stronger foundation for growth, and undertake structural
reforms to correct the external imbalances. To generate more jobs for
the burgeoning educated population, Kenya will also need to reduce the
transaction cost for firms, by reducing job-smothering corruption and
the cost of doing business (particularly in transport and energy).
In the first half, we expect the Government to keep its focus on
controlled liquidity as it seeks to keep the cost of living at
manageable levels. We expect less easing of the monetary policy with
politics dimming the outlook with political pressure expected to
increase as the country gears up for the general elections. We expect
the outcome of the elections to have a major impact on the economy.
Following the elections, we expect the Central Bank of Kenya to head
back to the low interest rate stance as it seeks to propel
post-election economic growth in the coming years in line with the
vision 2030 objectives. With the Central Bank of Kenya expected to
ease monetary policy, we expect the stock market to stay on a recovery
path. The bond market is expected to see improved activity with
concentration expected to shift to the long end.
This is the time to invest in Kenya. GOA is looking for investors who
are interested in not only reaping good business returns but also
kingdom value through change lives in our four vision areas of Church
Growth, compassion, conflict Resolution and leadership Development.
The focus of the GOA board of directors is to move GOA towards a
sustainable future. With this goal in mind, GOA’s next 5 year
strategic plan has business ideas on investments that may initially
require high capital investment but eventually lead GOA towards
sustainability. We invite you to partner with GOA in 2013.
With you in this year of our Lord’s favour
Bishop David Thagana