A Mile In Their Shoes

By Sara E. Teller

A Mile In Their Shoes

ON JUNE 1, RENAISSANCE VINEYARD CHURCH (RVC) HOSTED A FUNDRAISING WALK-A-THON CALLED ‘A MILE IN THEIR SHOES’ TO ESTABLISH A CLEAN WATER SOURCE IN WOYIRABORA, ETHIOPIA.

For years, RVC has been dedicated to humanitarian efforts in the country, maintaining a partnership with Vineyard Churches to provide education, nutrition assistance, hygiene education, medical care, and financial wellness training for children and their families.

The church’s involvement with Woyirabora actually began in 2019 when its team visited a sister church in the area. They were deeply moved by the extreme poverty and the villagers’ struggle with an unsafe water supply, which placed residents at continued risk of contracting life-threatening waterborne illnesses. The nearest clean water source was a whole five miles away, requiring hours of daily travel for the women and children tasked with retrieving it.

Marcia Thaxton, Vineyard Kids Director and Ethiopia Partnership Leader at Renaissance, decided immediate action was needed. Upon returning home, she established a relationship between RVC and Children’s Hopechest, a non-profit already serving in the region, to address the water issue. Through this partnership, a Community Carepoint was established in Woyirabora, which now serves 40 children and their families with a goal of increasing this to 100.

FURTHERING THESE EFFORTS, RENAISSANCE AND HOPECHEST ultimately decided to drill a well, aiming to provide clean water to 8,500 people. So far, the team has reached 44 percent of its $50,000 goal, hoping the upcoming event will provide the remaining funds.

The walk started at Geary Park at 10:30 A.M. and followed a route purposely selected to not interfere with nearby Pride festivities from Pinecrest to Leroy, east on Leroy to Livernois, and back to 9 Mile. Culminating with a public celebration featuring live music, inflatables, face painting, bounce houses, games, raffles, and Ethiopian food, guests enjoyed entertainment from Musik Chic as well as James Brown and Kory Kopchick of Citizen Smile. Chef Helina of Konjo Me, a local food vendor, provided the dishes. As for catering to dietary restrictions, she explained before the event, “Many Ethiopians practice orthodox Christianity, which dictates a vegan fasting day twice a week. So many of their traditional dishes are by default vegan, so the non-meat eaters out there will have something to enjoy.”

THE CHURCH’S $50,000 GOAL WAS ORIGINAL-LY ESTABLISHED due mostly to Woyirabora’s remote location and elevation, which make drilling a well particularly costly. “Most African well projects are not this costly,” said Thaxton, adding that “there is no local, underground water infrastructure we can tap into, so engineers will need to drill more than 80 meters to access clean water, which increases the cost of equipment and labor. This also explains why no other nonprofits have taken up the cause.”

Contracting with local engineers to perform a survey enabled the group to move forward with “the most sustainable and successful option,” she said, and the well is expected to provide both immediate and long-term benefits. In the short term, “It will provide safe drinking water and reduce illnesses like cholera,” Thaxton explained. “It will also enhance safety, as villagers will no longer need to travel long distances, risking wildlife attacks and assaults. Long-term, access to clean water will lead to healthier, educated children and open up business opportunities, helping to break the cycle of poverty.”

RVC BEGAN IN ROYAL OAK, then later merged with First American Baptist Church (ABC), moving its location to Ferndale. Some of the oldest congregants from the original ABC church still attend, which Thaxton believes is a testament to its welcoming culture and commitment to the community. She stated, “Renaissance Vineyard Church is a small church with a big heart. Our oldest member remembers shoveling coal into the furnace before service on Sundays. He’s been around a while!”

As far as other ongoing humanitarian efforts, Thaxton said, “Renaissance Vineyard has one of the biggest and most active food pantries in Oakland County. Anyone with food insecurity is encouraged to contact the church to seek assistance. It’s one of our biggest ministries, and one we are most proud of.”

Of course, ‘A Mile in Their Shoes’ also illustrates the church’s devotion to making a positive impact, not only locally but globally as well.

For more information about the church or the event itself, call Marcia Thaxton at 313.415.5572, email her at vineyardkids@renvc.com, or stop by 1841 Pinecrest. www.renvcoutreach.com.