Saturday, May 02, 2009
Fence n Music at Light n Power
A new music programme has also begun at the Light and Power. One of the mentors, Tim Omwanza, teaches daily lessons to those interested in learning drums, saxophone, or keyboard.
----photos r coming. . .darn u slow internet. . . . :)
Youth Fun Day
Interns at Work
So far, the interns have participated in a variety of missions and outreach activities, including visiting orphans affected by AIDS in Embakasi, cleaning at Church Army Academy, and serving at Light and Power Centre.
Visiting Orphans Dying of Starvation and AIDS
During our trip we visited four families, all of them affected in some way by HIV/AIDS and living in conditions of destitute poverty. Despite their own challenges, each family agreed to take in and care for at least one orphan or vulnerable child as best they could. One of the families we visited was run by a single mother named Mwende. She was supporting eight needy children along with her sick brother. Through encouragement from Pastor Augustus, she also adopted her niece when the parents died of AIDS. In total, there were 10 people living in one small room with poor ventilation and no running water. The family had not eaten on the day we visited and Mwende's brother was sick with atypical pneumonia. He was also drunk on a locally made brew and appeared to be near death. We shared a few words of encouragement and challenge for the family and also gave them some food to last for two days. . .It was difficult to leave the family in such a situation, not knowing if or how long they might survive. Many are dying in the informal settlements and throughout Kenya right now as a result of famine and high food costs.
Sharing the story of Jesus
After the first two days of seminars, teams of two were sent out to witness on the streets for a period of 45 minutes. The 28 people who participated in the training reached out to 61 individuals during that time, and 31 responded by surrendering their lives to Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Amazingly, some of those who accepted Christ came from religious backgrounds that are normally hostile to Christianity. The high rate of response demonstrated the clear working of the Holy Spirit and was an indication of a deep spiritual hunger in the area.
The next day, on 25th February, the Jesus Film was show at Homa Bay. Over 680 people, both adults and children attended the full event and were exposed to the life and love of Jesus Christ. Among those who were counted, 210 individuals accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Even after the event was over, people continued to come to us and share their testimonies. The following morning, a man called Otieno came to the room where we were meeting for training and confessed that “Christ had been formed in his life”, and he asked us to make sure that we do all we can to help him “remain a faithful child of God.” Many of the pastors were also deeply moved as they watched the film. Rev. Raphael Shade shed tears of joy and recommitted his life and ministry to Jesus Christ.
We are trusting God for a major follow-up to see new believers connected with the church and strengthened in their faith. The local churches are actively involved in counseling and discipleship efforts for these new converts, and we thank God for the lives that have been forever transformed.
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Colourful Celebration

March 7th, the day we had been waiting for was here. After a year of praying, preparing, and planning, the day was finally upon us. There was colour everywhere and shouts of joy and ululation as women ushered their daughter in to the wedding venue, St. Mark's Church in Nairobi, Kenya. We didn't know how many guests to expect, but were delighted to see so many friends at the wedding. The church was beautifully decorated in orange, green, and yellow and for once people kept time (Kenyans are notorious for up to four hour delays at weddings). The bride was beautiful, the bridal party, colourful, and the groom, nervous:) The ceremony was led by Rev. Tom Otieno who is our vicar at Christ Church, Westlands, and was assisted by Rev. John Mark Oduor. It was beautiful to look into each others eyes as we exchanged the vows that would bind us together in this beautiful course of love. The ceremony was long by American standards, but considered short for a Kenyan wedding.
Launching Vision 2015
Much has been written about the plight of Africa, including issues of economic injustice and poverty, corruption and war, disease and lack of infrastructure. Addressing these challenges is the task of the 21st century for many government and non-governmental organizations across the continent. The question is often asked, but seldom answered, “what is the role of the church in such times?” At Church Army Africa, we believe that the key for enduring change is bound up with the local church. Local churches can and should play a vital role in shaping the spiritual and social development of individuals, families, communities, and even nations. We believe that the church is God's primary vehicle for positive social transformation and as such should play a central role in achieving social change in Africa in areas such as those outlined in the United Nation's Millenium Development Goals or in national strategic plans.
In June of 2008, the President and Prime Minister of Kenya released a new long-term planning strategy for the nation known as Vision 2030. The plan includes a variety of reforms and new initiatives to produce positive change in the economic, social, and political arenas. The ultimate goal of Kenya's Vision 2030 is to produce a “globally competitive and prosperous nation”, and it aims to accomplish its objectives by facilitating development and reform in areas such as agriculture, education, energy, environment, health care, infrastructure, and justice. The vision document and strategic plan are highly ambitious and are grounded in a wealth of research and good intentions. In reality, however, most Kenyans are skeptical of the government's ability to achieve even a fraction of its stated goals. Mismanagement, tribalism, corruption, and greed continue to plague leadership across the country. At Church Army Africa, we've been asking the questions “How should the church respond to Vision 2030?” and “What role can the Anglican Church play in bringing substantive and sustainable change not only to Kenya, but to the entire continent of Africa.”
As an Anglican missions agency, our response is encapsulated in something we call Vision 2015 or H.E.A.L. Africa. H.E.A.L. Africa is an effort to bring healing and positive transformation to communities across Africa by establishing holistic churches. Our goal is a minimum of 3000 holistic churches by the year 2015. Each church will be mission shaped and share the message and love of Christ while offering contextually relevant services in Health care, Education, Access to justice, and Leverage wealth creation. By serving as centres of change, local churches will reach out to meet the needs of their communities in these key areas. The first phase of Vision 2015 is H.E.A.L. Kenya and was officially launched through Church Army Africa in Nairobi on 18th March, 2009. Specific targets for Kenya are based on mandates from the A.C.K. Bishops and include: the creation of 1500 holistic churches, 20,000 new jobs, planting over 1 million trees, 500 digital villages, 500 trained chaplains across Kenya, and an Anglican secondary school in every province. In addition, Church Army Africa hopes to facilitate fostering of over 250,000 orphaned children and the implementation of a variety of health care, justice, and other H.E.A.L. programmes. The work has already begun. Grassroots training initiatives in various parts of Kenya have equipped nearly 80 pastors and evangelists who will work to plant or develop holistic churches during 2009. The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Most Rev. Dr. Capt. Benjamin Nzimbi, explained: “We have had many revivals in Africa, but never a reformation. What we need is a reformation of the church.” By reforming and equipping churches for holistic ministry, Church Army aims to dramatically transform communities across Africa and play a central role in achieving positive change for Christ.
Like a Thief in the Night
They came late in the night. Overpowering security guards, slicing bars of iron, and shattering door frames. By the time it was over, most of our computers and office equipment had vanished.
For the third time in less than one year, we have faced a major burglary at Church Army Africa.
Despite the presence of a metal gate, a perimeter wall of stone covered with broken glass, three security guards, a vicious watch dog, a panic button alarm system, three metal outer office doors, reinforced cedar office doors, iron bars on all the windows, and impenetrable padlocks, we find ourselves once again victims of late night thievery.
For some reason, this particular gang of thieves likes to steal church and missionary computers and do away with them in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the police have been of little help, but we are thankful that no one was seriously injured in any of the incidents. Most of our data is saved. At this point, we are renting computers by the month and back up as often as possible.. . .Please pray that the the thieves in the night are found and that these regular raids on our offices cease!
Pupu Paper and Energy Efficient Jikos
New Beginnings and the Nairobi Fellows
Since it's inception at The Falls Church, Fellows Programs have spread across the country and challenged college graduates to grow as leaders and live for Christ in the ministry as well as in the marketplace. We have begun recruitment for the first Fellows Program in Africa and hope to have representatives from Kenya and around the world. The Nairobi Fellows will emphasize discipleship, leadership development, and missions. The program is set to start in September 2009. For more information contact: kenyaconnection@gmail.com
Welcome Visitors
Missions Updates (from missionaries we support at Church Army)
- To begin the new year, a Church Army mission team ran a medical camp and presented shoes to Turkana children in Northern Kenya. They then traveled to Kapoeta, Sudan and shared the message of reconciliation and hope with the semi-nomadic Taposa people.
- At the start of 2009, Church Army sent its former C.E.O., Rev. Steve Maina to serve as a missionary and direct the activities of Church Missionary Society, New Zealand.
- In January, 40 evangelists and lay leaders in Marsabit, were trained in holistic church planting. They look forward to continuing their ministries in the semi-arid regions of Northern Kenya with the newly appointed missionary Bishop, Rt. Rev. Martin Robert.
- In early March, 200 people in Southern Nyanza responded to the Jesus Film by inviting Jesus Christ into their lives. Follow up is being conducted by local churches.
- Sudanese students of Theology at Carlile College are currently training hundreds of pastors in Southern Sudan through classes and seminars held in remote and difficult to reach areas.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Mission to Turkana
Monday, January 19, 2009
A New Year and a New Intern
After finishing his studies in History, Joe Hadfield decided to come to Africa and spend some time exploring and growing in his faith while serving the poor. Joe is from just outside London and is my new intern at Church Army Africa. Over the next five months he'll be assisting with some of the communications and missions work, and he should be joined by another four or five other interns soon. Below is a photo of Joe and I in Kibera.
Today, we traveled with some friends to Mashimoni in Kibera to meet with members of a small church. Below is a shot of the path to Mashimoni.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Happy Moon
Monday, November 24, 2008
A New Home
Master Bedroom




