Men’s Fellowship

Men’s Fellowship was initiated as a direct result of the success of JENGA’s Women’s Ministry. Reports of women being physically and emotionally mistreated, often under the cultural mindset of gender superiority, led JENGA to realise that men also needed significant relational investment. Although different in nature to the women’s groups, the trainings’ purpose was the same – to improve the lives of the whole family and to decrease poverty in the community.

Married men meet on a monthly basis to talk through culturally taboo issues and support each other in their daily lives. Taking the format of guided discussion, topics raised are often to do with home and family – improving household income, parenting, marriage and sex. Lessons are then introduced providing teaching on primary health care, agriculture and ‘Farming God’s Way’, entrepreneurship and savings and loans.

William had been neglecting his family for many years. He had abandoned them, was not giving any financial support towards their food, medical bills, school fees or any of their needs and he had been spending time with lots of different women. As a result of this his children were no longer able to attend school and one of his daughters married very young, as this was seen as a way that she could financially support herself.

After attending the fellowship, William realised the significance of his actions and the way that this had been impacting his wife and children. He decided to go back to his wife and apologise, and with the support of the group, he has been living a changed lifestyle. He is again living with his family and they are all much happier, and he is enjoying spending time at home with them and is now working hard to provide for their needs. There was an occasion where one of his sons had been caught stealing and so he and his wife sat with their son and counselled him together. Since this, they have noticed positive changes in his behaviour and William can see the positive impact that he is having in his children’s lives and when he and his wife share the parenting responsibilities.

William’s wife was in tears telling our team, “Thank you for what you have done and for the impact this group has had on my husband and our family.”