NLCC History

Rev. Hezron Oyaro, my late father's vision was to see the poor, the widows and orphans taken care of. I saw him providing roofing material to help build houses to the poor at his own family's already overstreched budget. He provided food to the orphans with several people walking on foot for miles to our house every month to carry food for their loved ones.

It was about 6:30 one morning of 1975, when an old man, a church member from one of many churches Rev. Hezron Oyaro was overseeing, came to our home, picked up a hoe, walked to the north-east of my father’s property, dug a trench, and gave thanks to God for consecrating that location for people to come and worship. My father being a man who feared God, started church the following Sunday. It was started by holding, not a full fledged church service, but a children’s Sunday school.

While pursuing education at a bible college, my father saw my passion for ministry and for the local community. He then pointed to a portion of his land and property and said, “This is God’s. I will give this to any ministry that worships God in spirit and in truth. This ministry will have to have some projects that will help our people in this community".

I came to America with a burning spirit. I did not find solace in East coast after the two years (1994/5) I spent working at a summer camp. Instead, I was mocked by the camp director in front of all campers and staff as we ate lunch. I was embarrassed! I later came to Luther Point Bible Camp in the summer of 1996. I shared the vision with the camp director, the Rev. Craig Corbin, a man who with an open heart understood the burden I was carrying for the sake of my community and country. I was carrying a vision born by my father.

I met Dan Charpentier and his family the same year in Minnesota. Out of his generosity and willingness to help, he said he would consider bringing a group of youths to Ndonyo. Having had this assurance of friendship and potential partnership with Luther Point Bible Camp (whose campers had decided to donate their canteen change towards NLCC for the entire summer), I went back to Kenya rejuvenated. New Life Community Center was officially registered with the government in october 1997. It was this same year that Luther Point Bible Camp made it official to donate their entire "canteen change" collection to NLCC. Rev. Craig moved forward to sending letters partnering congregations thus opening doors for me visit them and speak about the vision.

The year 1997 was very fruitful. I met and worked with Pastor Jeremy Vander Galien who was a college student at the time. I later met the whole Vander Galien family and was struck by their openness and warm reception. Kelly's husband (Wendell Vander Galien and pastor Jeremy's father) was very motivational. I remember him saying, “Raising one hundred thousand dollars for me is easy. I will just call ten business friends for dinner and each will give ten thousand dollars to raise the much you need”. He asked me to send building plans and proposals to him so he could show his friends. His motivation, to me, is priceless. The three storey building that is under construction was born out of this motivation.

Great minds and very dedicated people are currently behind this orgnaization. The future looks bright, and fifteen (15) precious orphans call New Life Community Center, home!