At BlueSky Global we are committed to showing financial transparency so you can see how your donation is making a difference in our organization and impacting the lives of others.
At BlueSky Global we are committed to showing financial transparency so you can see how your donation is making a difference in our organization and impacting the lives of others.
BLUESKY GLOBAL MINISTRIES
2 0 2 0 A n n u a l R e p o r t
BlueSky Global Ministries' vision is to see the multinational community of Nairobi, Kenya, spiritually transformed and equipped to influence the world for God's glory.
We pursue this by building relationships through adventure, using three core platforms: BlueSky Adventures (rock climbing gym and team building), Camp BlueSky, and BlueSky Community (year-round relational ministry).
Dear Friends,
Thank you for walking with BlueSky Global Ministries in 2020--through your prayer, partnership, and generous giving, the ministry thrived, even under stretching circumstances related to the pandemic that has touched all our lives.
A key practice we value at BlueSky is “reinvent continuously”, found in the SERVE model of leadership that many of you also subscribe to! We challenge ourselves to work to improve or change systems, processes, and personal leadership levels by evaluating norms, asking tough questions, and pursuing growth opportunities that will benefit the team and organization. Last year launched us into an entire new level of embracing this practice!
We are excited to share some of the ways 2020 allowed us to reinvent in order to continue impacting lives across the multinational community in Nairobi, Kenya. Our team serving across platforms of Adventures, Camp, and Community captured the opportunity of an unexpected time by increasing technological proficiencies, strengthening our team through growth groups, creating new programming, and engaging major projects in our facilities in preparation for reopening.
Mobilizing our new Country Director, Eric Cone, and his family in September was one of the most impactful things to happen for BlueSky in 2020. Eric’s servant leadership and organizational experience was immediately and tangibly influential on both our team and strategy during the pandemic. We are so grateful for the Cones!
The financial update in this report shows the full impact that COVID-19 had on our program revenue generating abilities. With programming shut down for just under eight months, BlueSky Global reserves helped us continue forward progress by maintaining employment of all team members, creating new programs, and keeping our lease agreements current. Additionally, we adjusted our spending to conserve as much as we could. With God’s help and your faithful giving, the ministry finished a very stretching year in a stronger than expected position.
We are hopeful and expectant for what is before us in 2021 and cannot wait to share more with you as lives are impacted for Christ through authentic relationships and adventure experiences in Kenya.
With sincere gratitude,
Tammy Preston
BlueSky Staff
Last year provided the opportunity to spend special, intentional time focusing on staff development. Our team grew in their technology skills, encouraged one another through small groups, built community and trust while working hard together to create new programs and content, and supported one another through a gym refresh project. We're so thankful each team member was able to continue to be cared for and thrive for the duration of the shutdown.
31
Kenyan Staff
11
International Staff
4
U.S.-based Staff
Pictured above is part of the team at our 2020 Christmas party!
ADVENTURES
We had to pause our climbing and team building programming from March until late October of 2020. Despite having to be closed for 8 months we still were able to have an impact on the community we serve.
442
people participated in our team building activities
497
climbers visited our rock climbing gym
31
participants in Jamrock, our annual climbing competition
We were able to complete a refresh project for our gym during the time we were closed.
After weeks of cleaning, painting, rerouting climbs, and implementing new COVID-19 protocols, we were able to re-open our gym to our climbing community for the last couple months of the year. Scroll through the pictures to see the process and outcome!
CAMP
Although this summer wasn't one any of us would have planned, Camp BlueSky still had the privilege of serving our camper community in a creative way!
Our Camp team worked tirelessly to provide a virtual camp experience for the camp community in Nairobi and abroad. For the four "sessions" of camp, the team built out one full camp-day's worth of online content that campers could enjoy at their own pace throughout each week. Content included silly camp songs, crafts, games, competitions, devotionals, worship, and some favorite camp traditions.
519
campers registered throughout the four weeks of camp, ranging in ages from 5-18 (and we imagine some younger siblings joined the fun!)
29
Alumni and current staff contributed to Online Camp content.
182
registered kids were first-time campers who we hope to continue engaging and see return for future camp seasons!
100
different schools were represented, and because of the virtual nature of camp, we had campers register from 16 additional countries beyond Kenya!
We are so thankful to report that our virtual camp allowed us to stay engaged with our camp community and make new connections! We're excited for what this means for Camp this coming year.
COMMUNTIY
We are thankful for technology this year as it allowed our Community team members to stay connected to their students for many months until we could implement safety measures and meet in person again. While this year presented challenges, our team was very creative! They hosted a virtual 5k run, a virtual lock-in, a mother/daughter virtual retreat, and many other events. We are extremely grateful for the ability to continue nurturing relationships with our students!
130
students attended our Discipleship Now Conference (pre-covid)
83
students involved in weekly & monthly youth group
98
students participated in community groups*
*weekly dicsipleship groups
BlueSky Community Highlight
From Nate & Shanna Mast
"Hiking with Susan was a super special gift this week. It gave us a glimpse of God’s bigger picture and refreshed our hearts with purpose.
Susan was in Shanna’s 7th grade Bible study (4 years ago!) and has since moved to boarding school in the UK, where she’s now in 11th grade. Due to Covid, she’s back in her home country of Kenya and doing classes online for the semester.
Susan shared how she has grown in her faith recently. She is very much in the minority as a Christian, but has boldly shared her faith on campus and she even started a weekly Christian club for fellow students.
Since we moved to Kenya in 2016, God has put in our hearts a pursuit of longevity in our ministry. The international community suffers a great amount of turnover, creating an extra hurdle when seeking deep connections. Now that we’ve been around for nearly 5 years, special occasions, like Susan reaching out while she’s back in town, can happen! Longevity also produces a sense of stability and sameness in the international world that feels very temporary and unpredictable.
Praise God that, in a similar, more perfect fashion, he provides us with stability in an ever-changing world. He is the same loving Father yesterday, today and forever!
Pray for Susan, as she grows in faith and confidence in what she describes as a “dark environment.” Praise the Lord for giving her boldness and for being her firm foundation!"
NOTE: For security purposes Susan's name has been changed
2020 Financial Report
BlueSky's overall funding model includes three distinct avenues: contributions to the general fund, individual missionary support raising, and revenues generated through Adventures, Camp, and Community programs in Kenya. This unique approach allows gifts to the general fund to be leveraged with income received through revenues, along with individual missionary support, to fully fund the total operations and programming budget.
Contributions & Revenue:
Contributions*
$1,259,216
Camp Program Revenue
$46,256
Adventures Program Revenue
$39,375
Community Program Revenue
$8,712
Total
$1,353,559
Contributions 93%
Camp Program 3%
Adventures Program 3%
Community Program 1%
* Contributions included $726,757 to the General Ministry Fund and $532,459 to Missionary Staff Support
We were fortunate to apply and qualify for a small SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan of $53,180 that helped us continue to pay our staff during the pandemic.
Expenses:
Program Expenses
$931,411
Operational Expenses
$327,813
Total
$1,259,223
Program 73%
Operational 27%
*General Ministry Fund reserves were used to subsidize expenses in Kenya due to lack of revenues in Adventures, Camp, and Community work
Looking Ahead
As BlueSky Global Ministries transitions from three years of stabilizing and rebuilding, our vision compels us to look forward with confidence and plan for the long term.
Our three-year plan includes focus on the following strategic priorities:
Priority 1: Presence
Further establish BlueSky's long-term impact in Kenya by building a new Climb and Community site in the Karen neighborhood of Nairobi
Priority 2: People
Improve results and capacity for impact by recruiting key positions and growing our team
Priority 3: Programs
Increase global engagement by creating and launching a BlueSky Alumni program; support the efforts in Kenya to further develop current ministry platforms
We also recognize that the current global reality requires us to closely evaluate the timing and implementation of these priorities, while staying committed to the plan. We invite you to pray with us as we seek wisdom on important next steps to position and equip our team for impacting more lives in Kenya.
Our goal this year is to raise $1,180,000 in total contributions. Specifically, $650,000 raised in 2021 for the General Fund and $530,000 for Missionary Staff Support. We look forward to sharing more with you about what God is doing through BlueSky in Kenya.
2020
Board of Directors
Craig Elder
Chairman
Manager, Athletic Training-Centura Health
A.B. Puckett
Investment Consultant
Rachel Lockman
Ministry Consultant
Kelli Pace
Wife/Mother
Jon Messarra
SWAT Ministries, Executive Director
LeAnne Gochee
Ely-Corporation, CFO
Zach Harter
WinShape Foundation, Assistant Director, Leader Development
Tammy Preston
BlueSky Global Ministries, Executive Director
Contact BlueSky
101 World Drive, Suite 350
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Office: (470) 771-2015
Ways to get involved
PRAY
for individuals to walk through BlueSky's doors, build relationships with staff, and experience life-change that shapes how they live and work in the world.
GIVE
to enable the transformational work to continue and thrive in Nairobi! Our ministry partners' generosity helps facilitate programs, staff care, and the operational growth so vital to BlueSky's ministry.
SERVE
by volunteering your time, skills, or resources. Host a small group event in your home, recruit prospective camp staff at your church or college campus. . . or consider serving on our Nairobi team yourself!
SHARE
the BlueSky story, vision, and work with others! Stay connected through email, social platforms, and BlueSky's alumni network so that you can invite your community into the work as well.