In a move unprecedented in the history of the Nairobi church, a member of the congregation has sacrificially contributed money specifically so that the church may support two volunteer interns on a basic stipend to train and work in the full-time ministry. Editor's Note: These stories were posted on the East Africa Churches website. To read more stories from East Africa, go here: http://www.icoceastafricachurches.org/.
Spreading The Word Through Sacrifice
Disciple extends money to support new ministry interns
In a move unprecedented in the history of the Nairobi church, a member of the congregation has sacrificially contributed money specifically so that the church may support two volunteer interns on a basic stipend to train and work in the full-time ministry. Matching the heart of the donor with the zeal of sold-out dreamers are James Mwang???ombe and Nellie Macharia, who are serving in the Students (College and High School) ministry.
James is close to completing a degree course in Law at the University of Nairobi and Nellie has wrapped up a Bachelor of Education course at Kenyatta University.
James, who was baptized in 2002, says, "I have had the desire to preach God???s word since I was a young disciple and was given the chance to share God???s word to the church for 10 minutes. At the time I thought I couldn???t do it but with God???s help I shared what I had learnt from the Bible and several brothers and sisters told me they were encouraged."
"Being a ministry intern is a great challenge for me to grow" and realize "my goals for this year ... to help those in my Bible talk to grow in the area of studying the Bible with non-Christians, and to develop deep friendships with other disciples."
As he holds out the perfect law that gives freedom, James also dreams of graduating with a law degree this year and helping many to "graduate" from darkness to light.
Nellie, too, became a disciple in 2002. It wasn???t quite her dream to be in the full-time ministry, she intimates, "I would think about it once in a while but it always came with a lot of fears, so I chose not to pursue it." So how does she feel now? "Excited!"
"I???ve loved serving God, but from the back seat," Nellie says, though she has been upfront often as a songleader and member of the church choir.
Trained as a teacher, Nellie???s goal for this year is to teach women spiritually ??? "to strengthen weak and young disciples and to make disciples."
As the two young and eager ministry interns serve in the Students Ministry and are discipled by its leaders, William and Victoria Auki, James finds himself mentored by a brother who was a powerful disciple years ago at the University of Nairobi where James is now is a student, and Nellie is under the tutelage of one who years before her was at KU, just as Nellie has been, and studied the same course. It???s inspiring to see how God replicates his leaders in the kingdom, raising up a new generation of stewards.
Like the widow in Luke chapter 21 who gave two small copper coins, all she had to live on, the brother who is supporting the interns is worthy of imitation for his sacrifice. Like the widow, we don???t know his identity, but we can appreciate his faith and imitate his heart. We cannot all be in the full-time ministry and may not all need to be in the ministry, but we can and must all have sold-out hearts and make great sacrifices to see that the world around us is won for Christ and one in Christ in our generation.
10th Anniversary Service Of Arusha Church In Tanzania
by George Khisa
On the 12th November 2006, the Arusha Christian Church in Arusha, Tanzania celebrated ten years since the church was planted. Several disciples traveled from both Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi cities and arrived in Arusha on Saturday 11th to join the Arusha disciples for this celebration. On Saturday, disciples were busy reaching out to friends and neighbors and rehearsing songs in preparation for the anniversary service. It was a time of great joy and reunion as several disciples who had either led or planted the church in Arusha met with the disciples whom they had converted and who had stayed faithful through the years.
Sunday morning was full of anticipation and excitement as warm hugs and high-fives were exchanged on arrival at the Golden Rose Hotel, where the church meets. The singing was led powerfully by Wycliffe Mbimwa and Fred Arogo, both from Nairobi, and Elibariki, a song leader in the Arusha church. Wycliffe has led the church in Arusha at two different times and visits the church in Arusha often to encourage them.
George Khisa, who also led the Arusha church for three years, shared the communion message from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. He pointed out that while there were many great things in the church, ultimately what really matters is that the faith of all rests not on anything but on the power of the cross of Christ. George married Susan in Nairobi in May this year. The two, pictured right, met in Arusha while George was serving there.
Each of the Nairobi disciples who had served in the church in Arusha got to share briefly. Freda Mcharo sang a song and shared her joy in seeing the church continue to advance. Ken Kisiang???ani, who reached out to Joachim Palangyo, the current church leader, shared the joy of staying together with the rest of the original team at a local hotel from where many conversations were held, prayers were said, and dreams were formed. Ken shared how nice it felt to meet his spiritual children and grandchildren.
"I look forward to seeing more (spiritual) grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren," Ken said. For Risper, who was among the ten disciples in the planting team, this moment was indeed incredible. She had not returned to Arusha since she left almost nine years ago. She said, "It is such a great joy to be here. I fell in love with James, my husband, while here and today God has blessed us with two children. I want to urge those of us who are single to trust in God and wait upon him. God has in store a great partner for you."
The day???s message was preached in English by George Irungu and translated to Swahili by Joachim. George Irungu is co-lead evangelist of the Nairobi Christian Church and oversees the Arusha church among his responsibilities. In his message, "Pursue Holiness," built from several New Testament scriptures, he pointed out that the only way that the church could continue to powerfully influence souls for Christ is by all of us pursuing holiness. Sexual immorality, a topic which many shy away from, was at the center of his message. He described how this sin pushes God away from his house, the temple, which is our body. The call was for us all to not only avoid sexual immorality but to not even allow a hint of the sin.
Listening to this message were, among others, several people who had been disciples at one time and many visitors and people studying the Bible. A total of 128 people were in attendance.
The church???s 10th anniversary coincided with a wedding between Meshack and Agnes. Agnes was among the first disciples to be baptized in Arusha while Meshack has been a disciple for over five years. Two hours after the service, Meshack Sakume and Agnes Ayo were married in a colorful wedding service conducted jointly by Gitau Ng???ang???a and William Auki. William and his wife, Vicky, led the church in Arusha in the late 90???s and early 2000.
On Sunday evening, some of the visitors had fellowship time at Joachim and Eva Palangyo???s house in Mianzini. It was a time of catching up, sharing visions, playing games and having fun.
Being in Arusha on this day and seeing all those faces revealed to us all the possibilities that are open in the largest country in East Africa. The church is growing slowly but surely in Arusha and the seed has been planted in Dar-es-Salaam, the largest city and commercial capital of Tanzania, where three families of disciples meet weekly. The challenge is clear: Pursue Holiness, focus on the cross. What do the next ten years have in store for Tanzania? God will indeed continue to be glorified. Amen!
Marriage Without Regret
Kampala Marrieds Retreat
The marrieds of the Kampala church held a retreat under the theme, "Marriage Without Regret". William and Victoria Auki from Nairobi were guest speakers and the hosts were Kampala leaders Richard and Florence Ahenda. Apart from members of the church, there were also five non-Christian couples who attended the get-away.
The retreat was held at the romantic setting of Kalangala Island on Lake Victoria, three hours from shore by ferry. The ride to the island was a chance to reflect on scripture, as some sought to imagine Peter walking on the lake. Once on land, the opportunities to learn only increased.
The retreat began with a class, "What Makes The Difference," shared by Kampala church leader, Richard Ahenda, calling on those gathered to make efforts in their marriages on things that make the difference, like building on the Bible and developing spiritual goals and ambitions for their marriages, and not just setting their hearts on making more money as a sign of success.
William and Victoria then shared several classes. There were men and women discipleship group meetings, where individuals discussed openly about areas in marriage as husbands and wives where they need help. It was an excellent time of giving and getting insightful input.
Recounting the retreat as "very uplifting spiritually, emotionally and physically," Richard describes the event: "All the couples were thrilled, spending time with each other on the beach, having romantic walks in the evening and sitting around the fire on the beach every evening. We danced, traded stories and shared experiences, played beach volleyball and soccer, swam, had aerobic sessions in the water, and went for prayer walks" ??? truly a time of rejoicing and not regret.
One of the couples, Ronald and Ronah, had been married only seven days. They practically came from their honeymoon the day before to join us on the cruise to the retreat. "We thank God so much for the retreat because without it our marriage was going to take a totally different direction. After learning from all the classes and from the other marrieds, we now have a very good idea of which direction God wants us to take."
Another couple, Prossy and Charles, shared, "We have learned that the Bible has solutions to every problem in our marriage, especially in our communication."
William, grateful to be there with his family as a guest speaker, said, "Couples were greatly inspired and the lesson about communication was cited by many as having been of particular impact. I was inspired to be there. The venue made the occasion special. It was peaceful and ideal for having time to talk and learn as couples."
Truly there was no regret at the retreat ??? except maybe that it could not continue for longer ??? but instead much romance, rejuvenation and rejoicing among the marrieds on Kalangala Island.