About Us
The Benjamin Wellness Center provides Medical Care, Mental Health Services, Public Health Education, and Community Development in Gatamaiyu, Kenya.
Vision & Mission
The Vision of the Benjamin Wellness Center is to provide access to high quality services to meet the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of people in remote parts of the world while encouraging and equipping them to become productive citizens.
The Mission of the Benjamin Wellness Center is to share the love of Christ by providing medical camps through international service teams, as well as establishing long-term quality facilities, which provide medical and mental health services, spiritual counseling and discipleship, public health education, and community development.
Our History
Why Benjamin?
The Benjamin Wellness Center is named after the late H. Kenneth Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin served most of his career in the instrumental music department of Cairn University. During a two-year hiatus from the university, he and his family served at the Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. While in Kenya, he befriend- ed Peter Mbugua and served as a personal mentor to him. Mr. Benjamin himself visited Gatamaiyu during his time in Kenya, and actually got involved in Kenyan life beyond the school where he was teaching. His relationship with Peter facilitated Peter’s coming to the U.S. to study music under him personally, and opened Peter’s eyes to the real needs of his home community. Mr. Benjamin exemplified giving in his own personal life, trusting God for his own needs and encouraging others to do the same. When presented with a need, he responded to it simply and effectively, and it is in that spirit that this ministry is being established.
Our Founders
Peter Mbugua was born and raised in Gatamaiyu, Kenya. He later went on to study at Diguna School of Evangelism and Trumpet and Moffat College of Bible. After serving as an AIC Pastor, he came to the U.S. to study music at Cairn University. He proceeded to earn his master’s degree from the university in Counseling. Working as a Family Therapist, Peter’s burden for his home community intensified as each visit home showed the deterioration of the health of both individuals and families due to lack of available services. His own parents suffered medical problems for which they were not able to obtain adequate care. His mother died of cancer, and his father died of a fall that was presumed to be related to complications from diabetes. Peter and his family reside in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
What We Believe
BWC International (BWC) maintains no affiliation with any denomination or association. BWC purposes to follow the Bible, the Word of God, and to conduct the organization based on the principles therein.
BWC adheres to the following doctrines:
I. THE SCRIPTURES (THE BIBLE)
We believe that the Scriptures, the Bible, comprised of the Old Testament and the New Testament, are the inspired Word of God, without error in their original writings. We believe that this inspiration applies to all parts of the Scriptures, and that they are the ultimate authority in faith and life.
II. GOD
We believe that God exists through a unity of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Together they are called the trinity or Godhead. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, present everywhere, just, and holy, having never sinned.
III. MANKIND
We believe God created mankind, male and female, in His image. We believe that Adam disobeyed God (sinned) and was thus subjected to the judgment of physical death and spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Adam’s sin nature was passed onto all humanity, so that all human beings, with the exception of Christ Jesus, are born with this sin nature, are individually accountable for their sin, and need to be reconciled to God.
IV. JESUS CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, an always existing full member of the Godhead, became fully human (born of Mary through the Holy Spirit). He lived a perfect and sinless life, died as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people, rose from the dead in bodily form, and returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father as our savior, reconciling us to God the Father. We believe that Jesus will come again and will rule over heaven and earth.
V. SALVATION
We believe that that way for all human beings to be reconciled to God is through the completed work of Christ Jesus, the shedding of His blood upon the cross unto death and His resurrection unto life. No person can earn this salvation either by works or by merit. Any person who believes in the completed work of Christ and trusts solely in Him for salvation becomes reconciled to God, receiving a new birth, sharing the inheritance of His divine nature, and thereby becoming a child of God. This salvation is to eternal life with Him, and those who have not believed and accepted the finished work of Christ will be lost to eternal punishment, separation from God.
VI. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit came in a unique way at Pentecost to indwell those who believe. Since that time and through the present, the ministry of the Holy Spirit includes bringing people to a knowledge of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit continues to indwell all believers, to seal their redemption and to regenerate and empower them for service.