Baby Centre Timeline

February 2003 -
Pastor Dave and Christy Engbrecht travel to Avon Park, Florida where Pastor Dave speaks at the World Gospel Mission Retreat. Melody Dearmon speaks to Pastor Dave afterwards and asks him what our church was going to do about the AIDS problem in Africa. He responded vaguely, so Melody told him she knew something we could do. She then proceeded to tell him about the calling she and Bill had to build a baby centre in Kenya. And she invited our church to help.

Summer 2004 -
World Gospel Mission Field Chair, Terry Duncan, met with the NMC Missions Management Team and shared the vision of the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre in Kenya.

September 2004 -
Tom and Terry Richmond lead the first NMC teams to Kenya to begin construction of the Baby Centre. Margie Helmuth, from Nappanee Missionary Church, is one of the team members.

Fall 2005 -
Bill and Melody Dearmon moved to Kenya to oversee the construction of the Baby Centre.

October 2005 -
A team from NMC helped install two water base platforms, a fence and a duplex. Verle Hochstetler and Dan Jacobs from NMC were among the team members.

April 2006 -
Twins Mary and Benson are the first babies to arrive at the baby centre. They are housed in the other half of the Dearmon's duplex. Soon after they were joined by Margret and Moses.

October 2006 -
A team from NMC helped paint cabinets for the new kitchen of the Baby Centre as well as cared for the 15 babies that were living in the duplex. Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher and their two daughters, Monica and Brittany were on the team. Dan Jacobs was also on his second trip to the Baby Centre.

November 2006 -
Construction stalled due to lack of funds.

January 2007 -
First meeting was held with World Gospel Mission representatives Peter Rhetts and Paul Shingledecker regarding completing the Baby Centre.

March 2007 -
Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher lead a team from NMC to the Baby Centre. Erected a water tank and explored what was needed to finish the construction. The 20 babies who were residing there were now living in the first wing of the baby centre. Met Missionary Steve Henry.

April 2007 -
Jamie and Jolinda met again with Peter Rhetts to discuss completion of the baby centre. He looked across the table and asked "what are you going to do about it?" Turning the tables and encouraging us to take ownership of the project.

May 2007 -
Bill and Melody Dearmon visit NMC to talk about the baby centre. Pastor Dave challenges the congregation to raise funds to complete construction.

June 2007 -
Dan Jacobs and Jamie Lengacher travel to Kenya to start plans for completion of project. Met with Terry Duncan and Steve Henry. They were moved to tears when told the funds were completely raised to finish the building. New plans were approved and construction began again. Steve Henry was asked to help oversee the project. He brought his equipment in to help.


November 2007 -
Verle Hochstetler took over the final phase of construction after Dan Jacobs was unable to because of a family illness. He was there for 6 weeks and was helped by small skilled groups of men from NMC.

December 2007 -
Jamie and Jolinda along with their daughters and Dan and Dana Jacobs along with their children came to see and help finish the building. Project was delayed because of violence after presidential elections. All work stopped for several months.

January 2008 -
Construction plans were changed and a few men were hired to complete construction one room at a time.

April 2008 -
Violence finally abated enough for Jamie and Dan to return to the baby centre to check on progress. Made plans for final push to be done before dedication.

September 2008 -
Pastor Dave and Christy, Dan and Dana Jacobs and Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher travel to Kenya to attend the dedication ceremony for the Baby Centre. Jamie was named to the Baby Centre Board of Directors. Former President Moi attended the ceremony.

October 2008 -
Jamie and Jolinda led a team to the baby centre.