An outpouring of love in Africa

Missionary Janine Stellatos explains how Metro World Child is bringing the gospel, food and practical care to children facing poverty, danger and despair across Africa. She spoke to Chris Rolfe.

Shortly before Janine Stellatos began working as a missionary overseas, Metro World Child asked her a question: “We might need you in India, in the Philippines, in New York. Will you go where we need you?”

Janine took a packet of sugar, tore it open, poured it out on the café table and replied: “Wherever you send me, I will pour myself out.”

She was sent to Africa, where for the past 14 years her heart has stayed true to that promise – no matter how hard missionary life has been.

Last time I spoke to Janine she shared poignant stories from her work in Kenya.

This time, we caught up to talk about her wider role in Africa.

Janine, let’s start with your new role. Where are you working now? 

I’m still CEO for Metro World Child in Kenya, but I’m now regional director for East, West, Central and North Africa too.

That also covers Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria, with other nations pending expansion as God opens the doors.

The situation you face in Kenya can be harrowing and unstable. Tell us what’s been happening there recently.

It’s been hard. We’ve had a lot of demonstrations against the cost of living and many have been shot dead. Just in the past week, 16 young girls lost their lives when a fire was started deliberately in their high school. Every week things like this rip your heart out.

The poverty is extreme, too. Every day I get calls saying a family has no food or a family is on the street because they can’t pay their rent.

There are no free food programmes here, and parents struggle to find a few shillings for school lunches because they don’t have stable work. Then there are school fees and uniforms too.

Very often kids end up on the street begging instead of going to school. Some go for days without food.

story continues…