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ArticlesAreaThe Bad News Followed By The Good News in Kenya
Submitted by John on Wednesday Jan 31, 2007 and viewed 443 timesTotal Word Count: 648
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I grew up in the traditional way of my people, begins a new believer in Kenya
Have you ever wondered what life is like for Christians in the African country of Kenya? This article will bring to you some of the bad news, but also some of the good news, so please read on.
In the North of Kenya, isolated indigenous tribes live in animism and Islam. In the South, a population that has been blessed with two long centuries of Christian influence is now weighed down in many places by spiritual shallowness, divisions, and weak or corrupt leadership.
To make matters worse, the country now teeters on the edge of possible economic collapse and intensifying inter ethnic conflict. AIDS continues to overtake many lives in silent disaster. And Islam, formerly a passive minority, has begun to advance stealthily from the corners of the country, building mosques and offering easily affordable education.
Agitated by escalating spiritual uncertainty, Kenya is a country whose future is hanging in the balance.
Making inroads
The journey ahead is gutted with rocky roads, but evangelical Christians in Kenya are determined to reach out to their people with the transformation and hope of the Gospel of Jesus.
In the north, trained workers are being equipped to bring Scriptures and instruction to many tribal people who have never heard of the love of Christ. Ministry to new language groups and tribes is expanding every year.
In the south, which has been oversaturated with crusade type evangelism, thousands claim membership in a church but have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. To overcome that problem, we encourages a relationship based strategy, focused not on adding converts, but on making disciples. Through these efforts, Christians in Kenya can reach out to those who trust in religious tradition, to show them the deeply personal love of the Savior.
Roads less traveled by
Many Kenyan groups are considered unreachable. But with the partnership of local Kenyan churches, we want to reach these unreachables.
And we have seen, indeed, that Gods arm is long enough to reach them. Now let me bring to you a heart warming testimony from somebody who has been touched by the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I grew up in the traditional way of my people, begins a new believer in Kenya about his life before Christ. Cattle rustling was a way of life for any man. I joined other warriors and got much absorbed into this risky and life threatening business. We also killed people and raped women in the villages. The government authorities were constantly on our heels.
Afraid and on the run, this man spent much of his time hiding in the bush, feeding on wild fruit and whatever he could scavenge. But one day he met a Christian who opened Gods Word to this gang of thieves. The men were intrigued.
We followed his Christian teaching very keenly, says this man. I was convicted of my sinful ways and began to cry.
Finding inner peace
His introduction to Jesus Christ had a dramatic effect. All of a sudden, a power came upon me, and I fell down. When I woke up, I felt so happy and light as if some heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders! I sensed inner peace that I had never felt before. I was saved, and that Christian man visited often to encourage me.
A new man now reaching others
Not only was this mans life changed by the Gospel, but he has gone on to change other lives. After one year of praying and studying the Word of God, he says, I felt God calling me to deeper ministry. I sold my belongings and part of my land so that I could settle afresh and live at peace with members of my community and the government. I am now a free man saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I teach from the Bible in my community
In the North of Kenya, isolated indigenous tribes live in animism and Islam. In the South, a population that has been blessed with two long centuries of Christian influence is now weighed down in many places by spiritual shallowness, divisions, and weak or corrupt leadership.
To make matters worse, the country now teeters on the edge of possible economic collapse and intensifying inter ethnic conflict. AIDS continues to overtake many lives in silent disaster. And Islam, formerly a passive minority, has begun to advance stealthily from the corners of the country, building mosques and offering easily affordable education.
Agitated by escalating spiritual uncertainty, Kenya is a country whose future is hanging in the balance.
Making inroads
The journey ahead is gutted with rocky roads, but evangelical Christians in Kenya are determined to reach out to their people with the transformation and hope of the Gospel of Jesus.
In the north, trained workers are being equipped to bring Scriptures and instruction to many tribal people who have never heard of the love of Christ. Ministry to new language groups and tribes is expanding every year.
In the south, which has been oversaturated with crusade type evangelism, thousands claim membership in a church but have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. To overcome that problem, we encourages a relationship based strategy, focused not on adding converts, but on making disciples. Through these efforts, Christians in Kenya can reach out to those who trust in religious tradition, to show them the deeply personal love of the Savior.
Roads less traveled by
Many Kenyan groups are considered unreachable. But with the partnership of local Kenyan churches, we want to reach these unreachables.
And we have seen, indeed, that Gods arm is long enough to reach them. Now let me bring to you a heart warming testimony from somebody who has been touched by the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I grew up in the traditional way of my people, begins a new believer in Kenya about his life before Christ. Cattle rustling was a way of life for any man. I joined other warriors and got much absorbed into this risky and life threatening business. We also killed people and raped women in the villages. The government authorities were constantly on our heels.
Afraid and on the run, this man spent much of his time hiding in the bush, feeding on wild fruit and whatever he could scavenge. But one day he met a Christian who opened Gods Word to this gang of thieves. The men were intrigued.
We followed his Christian teaching very keenly, says this man. I was convicted of my sinful ways and began to cry.
Finding inner peace
His introduction to Jesus Christ had a dramatic effect. All of a sudden, a power came upon me, and I fell down. When I woke up, I felt so happy and light as if some heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders! I sensed inner peace that I had never felt before. I was saved, and that Christian man visited often to encourage me.
A new man now reaching others
Not only was this mans life changed by the Gospel, but he has gone on to change other lives. After one year of praying and studying the Word of God, he says, I felt God calling me to deeper ministry. I sold my belongings and part of my land so that I could settle afresh and live at peace with members of my community and the government. I am now a free man saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I teach from the Bible in my community
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