Published on 11, Oct 2023

Faith and Philanthropy: The Inspiring Journey of MLIFE Foundation Founder

Charitable giving is one of the most effective ways to make a positive impact on society. Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the potential to make a difference in the lives of those in need. By giving to charities, individuals can support causes that align with their values and help bring about positive change in their communities and around the world. 

But sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to decide which charitable organization to donate to. How do you know that your hard-earned money will be well-spent and truly go toward those in need?

The MLIFE Foundation has a track record of successfully carrying out its mission to support and empower underserved communities, particularly children and youth. The foundation has been operating for five years and has made a tangible impact through its various programs and initiatives. Additionally, the foundation is transparent in its financial management and regularly provides updates on its activities and impact. MLIFE Foundation's commitment to making a positive difference and its demonstrated success in doing so makes it a trustworthy organization for individuals and corporations to donate to.

In its commitment to transparency, MLIFE Foundation is pleased to introduce the life story of its founder, lead pastor, and president, Mwangi Mukami. His story will provide valuable context about why MLIFE has become such a trusted charity and why donors and volunteers can feel confident in their contributions.

Mukami - full name Moses Maurice Mwangi Mukami Mwariri Medina - was born in the Mũhĩrĩga wa Aceera clan in the Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi nation, where his mother dedicated him to God and named him Moses after a complication during childbirth. He was raised Catholic and chose Maurice as his confirmation name. Despite his desire to become a priest, he struggled with the idea of celibacy. He later came to an understanding with his priest that there were other ways to serve God.

In the late 90s, Mukami joined the Pentecostal Movement in Kenya and founded CETA (Christ End Time Ambassadors) Global Ministry. During this time, he met Medina, his first spiritual father, and they became very close. However, they had unresolved issues and never finalized the legal adoption process. A decade later, Mukami was studying at Atlanta Bible College and came out as gay, ending his pursuit of becoming a priest or a pastor in a non-affirming Pentecostal church. Instead, he pursued community organizing and humanitarian work, serving as Kenya's youth president and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Foundation. In 2007, he visited the United States for the first time under the Fulbright's International Visitors Leadership Program and returned home inspired to model his country like the United States.

In 2009, Mukami traveled to the United States for the second time as a young diplomat to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama. This event was a significant moment for Mukami, and The New York Times even featured an article on him, titled "Hope Crosses the Atlantic." However, less than a year later, Mukami returned to the U.S. under different circumstances. He arrived in San Francisco seeking asylum due to threats of persecution for his sexuality. During the asylum application process, Mukami was forced to identify his race and discovered that he was Black, which led to a painful realization and the need to confront assumptions about his identity.

Mukami hit rock bottom in 2011, struggling with his faith and sexuality, and was almost homeless. He found solace in City Church and made a promise to donate 10% of his income to people like him. He then landed a job at the Next Door and Sanctuary Shelter, serving as a supervisor for five years and eventually becoming the Chair of the Shelter Monitoring Committee. Later on, he returned to ministry as the Senior Pastor of Dapstep Ministries and founded MLIFE Foundation, which supports children, mentors youth, and amplifies the voices of underserved groups. The foundation celebrated its fifth anniversary last year.

Mukami shares that he was raised in a prophetic/pentecostal Ministry and believed that hearing God's voice was only possible through prophets. However, he realized that God was calling him to expand his understanding and find Him in new ways and places. 

“I found God in the bedbugs of a homeless shelter after being used to sleeping in 5-star hotels,” he recalls. “I found God in the encouragement of friends who never gave up on me, even when I had given up on myself. Over the past decade, I have been given the gift of finding God in numerous situations and places. I have found God in spaces where I didn't believe he could be present: in the under-resourced children we serve, among youth leaders who want to change the world, and in families who have so little but give their all.”

While he has at times questioned his vocation and calling, he now knows that he is where God wants him to be. Years ago, he prayed Mother Teresa's prayer: "God, break my heart so completely that the whole world falls in." Now, he sees answered prayers in the spaces he’s been blessed to co-create with God.

“I am privileged to stand in places where people find dignity, love, and acceptance,” Mukami says. “These spaces have allowed me to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. I have found that love and friendships blossom from these places, including City Church, I can be whole.”

About MLIFE

MLIFE is a non-profit organization that operates as a faith-based organization with a focus on learning from the lived experiences of those they work with. The organization aims to support children with learning disadvantages by providing them with reading programs, as well as motivating youth and young adults to lead and help families meet their basic needs.

One of MLIFE's core principles is to trust the individuals and organizations that are doing good work on the ground in challenging conditions. Rather than relying on paternalistic models, the organization seeks to work collaboratively with communities to address issues of poverty, education, and basic needs. By empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own development, MLIFE hopes to create sustainable change that will benefit future generations.

Learn more: https://mlifefoundation.org/ 

– https://docs.google.com/document/d/16lZsiI1LkkxqimyEXXnAEMKyzODmYg41EpYxKpVNJ14/edit?usp=sharing