Heartbeat in Kenya

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this…to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being poluted by the world.” James 1:27

In 2005, after Bishop Dickson Ochuto had spent 3 years asking Heartbeat to come to Bura, Kenya, the Lord spoke through his then final invitation. ” Heartbeat, God has told me that His heartbeat is for you to come and bring a team to our village. He has told us as we pray, that you will come and bring the River of God to us here. Dickson shared that his people needed healing in their hearts more that they needed healing of Aids. Unforgiveness, bitterness, etc. had deep roots in people’s hearts.

Dickson did not know that he was quoting our mission statement, but we did. To hear God’s heartbeat and join Him in obedient acts.

As we asked God what He wanted us to do, He made it clear we were to go and take a team to bring the teaching of His inner healing of the heart, and share about His wonderful Presence! As the team began to hear God’s heart for the trip, we started to realize that somehow He wanted us to help build an orphanage.

Why Project Joseph?

Many people since then have asked us why the work in Kenya is called Project Joseph?

In 1993 a prophetic word was given to Charlie that God was calling him to be a “Joseph”. That moment settled deep in his heart and then in 2005 before the first trip to Kenya, God confirmed and expanded this word with another prophetic word from a Nigerian woman who visited their home just a few months before the first trip to Kenya. She prophesied that this was not simply a trip to teach, but was in fact a trip planned by God, a “Joseph” trip. This trip would begin to bring about many types of provision. She said this trip would affect many generations to come, in a powerful way, through the young people.

Shortly after this word, God made it clear to the team going, to build an orphanage and to bring provision through others to this village. God confirmed this by supplying the money to start the orphanage and upon the team’s return to Canada, Heartbeat was given the funds to put the roof on the new orphanage. Today we are seeing the unfolding of all that God has spoken. What began as a trip to teach healing of the heart has resulted in an orphanage, a high school and most recently a fruit farm. The vision and provision of God continues with monthly sponsorships for many of the children and students, though we are praying for more.