Friends,
Rainbow Network’s founder, Keith Jaspers, passed away last week, leaving behind his wife Karen and their beautiful family. In a time when so many are grieving, we encourage everyone to pause and celebrate his life and the legacy he left behind.
We will forever be grateful for Keith’s conviction to help the economically poor. His holistic vision to help people become independent was ahead of its time and something others have sought to model ever since.
Keith made it his mission to “bring the Kingdom of God to Earth”, and thousands of Nicaraguans have come to know God in a tangible way because of Rainbow Network. Countless prayers for comfort, shelter, food, health, and community have been answered through the network of people and programs Keith so skillfully put together.
There were many great stories Keith loved to share from Nicaragua. Here are just a few:
Justo and Dori Luz nearly died of malnutrition, but they are now high school graduates with the help of our healthcare, nutrition and education programs.
Edelma would not go out in public due to her eye socket malformation. She received several surgeries and a prosthesis, which provided her with a life of confidence and hope. She then went on to serve on her community’s leadership committee.
Sara and Harvin were previously unable to walk, but they received surgery to help them become mobile. Both graduated high school through our scholarship program and Harvin is now a teacher in his community.
Erick and Elvin are two scholarship students who became school administrators.
Stories like these can and will continue for many generations.
While Rainbow Network’s focus is on rural Nicaragua, Keith impacted many people in the US as well. Here are some words from a few of them:
“It has been the privilege of Barbara and I to visit, start, or work with the Christian community development work in 26 of this Earth’s countries, and we have found nothing to equal that of Rainbow Network in Nicaragua– it’s depth, it’s loyalty to scripture, it’s sustainability, it’s sensitiveness to local people and culture, and the magnitude of the change it brought about.
The change wrought in the Rainbow Network region of Nicaragua since I first visited some 30 years ago is far too extensive for me to detail in writing. On a major scale it has followed Karen and Keith’s love for the scripture calling us to enable the lame to walk, the blind to see, the hungry to be fed, the youth to be taught, the ill to be healed, the homeless to be housed, and the elderly to receive care.”
– Mel West
“Keith was a mentor, friend and inspiration to me. He was driven in his ministry to provide for others using his own resources and talents. He held all of us to this higher standard asking his friends to do more than we thought we could do. Keith made a difference and left a legacy by being God’s hands and feet on earth.”
– Jay Guffey
“Keith was such an inspiration to me on how to put my Christian faith into action. His legacy as the founder of Rainbow Network is a testament to his commitment to live a life with compassion and hope for those who, otherwise, would not have had hope. An amazing man!”
– Dr. William Moore
If you would like to join Keith’s family and friends to celebrate his life in person, a service will be held November 25th at 10:30am at Campbell United Methodist Church. Click here to view the full obituary.
Megan Herrera, President