In Lela Village in western Kenya, Beatrice Atieno Osumba launched an innovative evangelism project rooted in a simple conviction: sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ means caring for the whole person—spiritually, socially, and materially.
Osumba’s project, Evangelism through Kitchen Gardening and Basket Weaving, brought together marginalized elderly women, orphans, vulnerable children, church leaders, and other community members through Ralak Parish in the Anglican Diocese of Maseno West. Combining Bible study and pastoral care with sustainable gardening and basket weaving, the initiative sought to restore dignity, strengthen livelihoods, and help people who had become isolated from the Church rediscover a community of faith and belonging.
The project grew out of Osumba’s deep familiarity with Lela Village and more than fifteen years of experience working with elderly people and vulnerable communities. She observed that many older women carried significant responsibilities for children and extended family members while living with limited resources. Some spent Sundays working to provide for their households rather than participating in worship, while others had become increasingly isolated.
Osumba envisioned an approach to evangelism that began by listening to these women and responding to the realities of their lives. Rather than separating spiritual ministry from practical needs, the project brought the two together. St. Paul Lela Anglican Church became a place where participants could gather, share their stories, pray for one another, learn new skills, and experience Christian community.
Supported by a grant from the Episcopal Evangelism Society, the project began with community meetings and home visits to better understand the needs of vulnerable households. Participants received training in sustainable gardening practices, including soil preparation, composting, vegetable production, and harvesting.
Two demonstration gardens were established, while numerous households created smaller kitchen gardens of their own. Women also participated in hands-on basket-weaving workshops using locally available materials, learning weaving, finishing, quality improvement, and marketing skills. By the conclusion of the project, twenty participants had begun selling baskets locally, creating opportunities for additional household income.
Throughout the program, evangelism remained at the center of the work. Bible studies, prayer meetings, home fellowships, pastoral visits, counseling, and invitations to Sunday worship accompanied the livelihood activities. Anglican congregations also collaborated with neighboring churches to reach vulnerable families through Christian fellowship and practical support.
The results were both tangible and deeply personal. Elderly women who had stopped attending church began participating in worship again. Bible study groups grew stronger, home visits deepened relationships with isolated families, and participants reported renewed hope and belonging. The Church became more visible in the wider community as a source of compassion, practical assistance, and spiritual encouragement.
One participant captured that transformation simply: “Before the project, I felt forgotten. Today I have vegetables in my garden, friends to pray with, and hope that God has not abandoned me.”
Another described the connection between economic and spiritual empowerment: “Basket weaving has given me confidence. I can now contribute to my family needs while also growing spiritually.”
The project faced challenges, particularly heavy rainfall that disrupted transportation, gardening schedules, and community gatherings. With flexibility and additional follow-up, however, the community successfully completed the planned work.
For Osumba, one of the project’s central lessons was that evangelism becomes particularly powerful when proclamation of the Gospel is accompanied by practical service. The women themselves also brought valuable knowledge, experience, and gifts—demonstrating that ministry with vulnerable communities is not simply about providing assistance, but recognizing what every person can contribute.
That spirit of mutuality is helping the work continue beyond the EES grant. Participants have committed to maintaining their gardens, continuing basket weaving in community groups, supporting one another through savings and fellowship groups, and continuing Bible study and prayer. Ralak Parish will continue providing pastoral support and follow-up.
At its heart, Osumba’s project demonstrates an evangelism of presence: listening to people who have felt forgotten, responding to practical needs, nurturing relationships, and creating spaces where people can encounter the transforming love of Christ.
In Lela Village, a garden, a woven basket, a home visit, and a Bible study have become interconnected expressions of the same Good News—a Church drawing closer to its neighbors and a community discovering new possibilities for hope, dignity, belonging, and life together.
