Naomi Leremore serves in the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) department of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA). Naomi has been serving in this role since 2013 and is based in Nairobi.
The TEE department offers "basic theological training to all church members especially those who would otherwise not access theology due to factors of age, access, educational and financial reasons. The aim is to prepare the learners to understand their faith, know their church and be effective in serving God as church leaders, preachers, counsellors, and child nurturers. To accomplish this, the department produces and administers TEE study materials to members of the PCEA church as well of other churches who may wish to use such materials".
Over the past seven years, with a team of writers, two new programmes have been developed. The first, known as the Holistic Nurturing of Children diploma course, is aimed at helping adults care for children in the home, church and community. The second course is a two-year programme written for teens preparing to transition from childhood to teenage life (primary to secondary school life). It is known as 'The Crossing'. It is available as a physical book and as an online course.
In preparation for the centenary celebrations of the Woman's Guild, Naomi has been working alongside Rev Elizabeth Kimani, the director of women's ministry in PCEA. With a team of writers, they have developed a two-year curriculum for 'followers' to go through as part of the process of joining the Guild. The current writing project is a leader's guidebook for women mentoring girls which focuses on prayer, Bible study and living a Christ-like life. There will also be a journal-style book for the girls to use.
Naomi says, “By creating educational materials that are readily available to congregations throughout Kenya and beyond, a greater impact can be made on the spiritual life and witness of the Church of Christ. I am passionate about using these writing opportunities to encourage and challenge others to obey the call of God on their lives. My prayer is that changes will come for his glory and to advance his kingdom.”
Naomi Leremore (née Martin) trained as a teacher before being commissioned and sent overseas by her home congregation of Craigyhill Presbyterian Church, Carrickfergus Presbytery in 1991. Her first assignment was teaching in a secondary school in Malawi. Following this she relocated to Kenya firstly lecturing in Rubate Teacher Training College, then working in children’s ministry within PCEA Ruiru Parish. She has also trained pre-school teachers at the Lay Training Centre and helped in the writing of Sunday school teachers’ guide books. Naomi is married to Thomas and they have two sons. Thomas is the chief executive officer of Peace and Development Network, which is a civil society in Kenya, working in the sphere of peace and conflict resolution.
Prayer Points
- Pray for Rev Elizabeth Kimani as she leads the Woman's Guild and remember the writing team as they work on designing the guidebook and journal to be launched during the centenary year - 2022.
- Thank God for his calling and guidance over the years since Naomi began her overseas service.
- Ask God to bless the Leremore family with good health and for God’s protection over their lives.
Digital Dispatches
Naomi has recorded a short and long film clips which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
(For previous Digital Dispatches video clips click here)
Latest Report
March 2024
Reflection
Peter Olumile has been a member of the Theological Education by Extension (TEE) writing team since it was created in 2013. He led our devotions recently, sharing from Romans 12:9
“Don’t just pretend to love others.
Really love them.
Hate what is wrong.
Hold tightly to what is good.”
These words encourage and challenge us to copy the example of Christ towards those around us, loving them practically and standing against evil.
Revision
The first writing project the TEE team embarked on was the Holistic Nurturing of Children (HNC) course. One of the books focuses on child rights and advocacy. Positive feedback was received from some of those taking the course, however, the technical writing style of the book posed a challenge to others and so, ten years later, we are embarking on a revision of it. It is the first of three projects the TEE writing team hopes to take on this year.
Reaction
Statistics can be difficult to take in, therefore, each of the 20 lessons within the new edition will start with a real-life story from Kenya (or another African country) which connects to the lesson’s topic. Our source material usually comes from local newspapers or people we know. The aim is to write from a biblical perspective while highlighting diverse issues that negatively impact on the life of a child, such as child abuse and trafficking, cyber-bullying, violent gangs, radicalization, climate change, and harmful cultural practices.
HNC students are encouraged to question how they, as parents, neighbours and part of the local church, can protect the vulnerable and needy children within their sphere of influence and find solutions just as one graduate did who shared their testimony: “I was able to speak up for a child who was being abused by a relative she was living with and in a great way improved her status.”
Prayer Points
- Pray for the HNC students to learn how to copy Christ’s practical love towards children in Kenya whose basic human rights have been violated.
- Lift up the work of the TEE writing team as they seek to finish the revision of the Child Rights and Advocacy book as soon as possible.
- Praise God for answering last month’s prayer request concerning the two passport applications – one has arrived, please continue praying for the other.
To download a printable PDF of this bulletin or for a previous bulletin visit the Mission Reports listing at the top or the Global Mission monthly bulletin archive.