From Fear to Hope: The Journey of Hope Alive! in Koch Lii

Bringing Hope Alive! to Koch Lii has been a dream in the making for more than a decade. From the beginning, it was clear that God was leading us to this rural, agrarian community—but His leading didn’t mean the road would be easy or without obstacles.

In the early years, as we purchased land and prayed for the future of the ministry, we encountered deep turmoil. Spiritual warfare, lies, and deception wreaked havoc on our efforts. Samuel Opiyo, a Hope Alive! staff member, remembers a particularly dark day in 2017:

“People were very aggressive—some even threatened to kill us because of the propaganda spreading through the community.”

At that time, we hadn’t yet done anything tangible with or for the people. Suspicion clouded every interaction. Many in the community doubted our intentions and questioned whether we had come to bless or exploit them. Would we really invest in their children and families in the name of Jesus—or just buy land, turn a profit, and walk away like others had done before?

These fears and challenges delayed the launch of our ministry in Koch Lii for years. But everything began to change in January 2025, when we hosted our first child-focused event: a weeklong Vacation Bible School-style program and community-wide outreach. Partnering with a visiting team from Centerpoint Community Church in California, along with Hope Alive! mentors and alumni, we invited the children of Koch Lii to come and hear about the life-changing love of Jesus. And they came—in droves.

Each morning, the team would arrive at 9:00 a.m. only to find that children had already been waiting since 7:00 a.m., having swept the floors and arranged the chairs. What began as a weeklong outreach quickly grew into something more. The children kept coming, and six months later, they’re still coming to the church that began that week and meets at Hope Alive!’s pavilion every Sunday. 

The God who put the dream in our hearts has, in His timing, made a way for His work to happen in Koch Lii. 

Now, excitement fills the community. Anticipation is building as we prepare to officially launch Hope Alive! Koch Lii in January 2026.

Today, Koch Lii feels like a different place. As Sam puts it, “When people hear about Hope Alive!, they come running!”

God has turned fear into friendship and suspicion into trust. He has paved the way.

“The challenge wasn’t meant to frustrate us,” Sam says. “It was meant to make us strong. And now, we are strong. Even when things get hard, God will be on our side. I am ready to go and serve—but I still need His grace.”

Thank you for standing with us on this journey from fear to hope. Together, we are building a community where every child can thrive.