Cleveland Indians Pitcher Justin Masterson Parners With Bright Hope to Raise Money for African Slums

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 09, 2013

AL All Star pitcher, Justin Masterson of the Cleveland Indians is partnering with Bright Hope to help the people of Mathare Valley slum in Nairobi, Kenya, who live on just a dollar a day.

The pitcher along with his wife Meryl are leading the Feed Their Future campaign, which is dedicated to helping 1,400 students living in Mathare Valley who are currently enrolled in one of four schools Bright Hope supports. The campaign will run from July 1 through August 16 and has a goal of $140,000, which will provide food and education for the students up to one year.

The group has raised $18,220 in just one week so far.

"God gives us gifts and we are to use them for His purposes," Masterson told Christian Newswire. "I'm looking forward to contributing to what God is doing through Bright Hope."

One of the goals is to show the positive effect the local church can have on changing people's lives in those communities.

"We are thrilled to have Justin join the Bright Hope team," said C.H. Dyer, Bright Hope's president and chief executive officer. "We are thankful for his heart for children in need and desire to bring greater awareness to the reality of life for 1 out of 7 people in our world living in extreme poverty."

November 2013 Masterson will be joining the Bright Hope team in the Mathare Valley slum to encourage, interact, and help feed the children they are supporting.

"Meryl and I have received many blessings in this life and strongly believe that to whom much is given much is expected," said Masterson. "Bright Hope's goal to partner with the local church to help bring transformation to some of the poorest regions of the world is something we are humbled to be a part of."

Bright Hope "envisions a world where under-resourced local, in-country church transforms their communities and brings hope to the extreme poor," according to their site.