Holding Out Hope

I keep reminding myself we’re not here to ‘fix’ these towns. Only to hold out hope… That if the church can work together, to care for the hurting and to build and maintain peace, then nothing will be impossible. That we’re only a catalyst. The true test of Msafara will be what happens in these places after Msafara is gone. But this is where faith comes in. I have faith that God is using our small contribution as a seed, one that He will water after we’re gone. And one that will grow into a beautiful tree that will hold our nation together in peace and justice…

Clear that there is much yet to be done. Pastor Ken of Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church told me of a young man he met at one of the camps we visited in Nakuru. His wife had been killed by militia the night before (contrary to popular belief, the Anan accord hasn’t ended the tension and killing in all parts of the country). He had gathered 100 of his friends from the camp to go back the same night on a revenge mission. Ken asked what he thought would happen next. Off course they would also come back and revenge. And the vicious cycle would continue. Someone had to break the cycle of violence. Why couldn’t it be the young man? Young man promised to think about it. Ken prayed for him. I’ll find out from Ken today whether he saw the young man again before we left Nakuru

Hope In Nakuru

Nakuru was quite something. Initially the pastor’s fellowship didn’t want Msafara in their town. Reason being that the church was so divided ethnically and politically they didn’t think it would be possible to meet together. It was only by God’s grace that they finally agreed to host us. Unlike the other towns, the Msafara pastors went into a meeting with Nakuru pastors while the rest of the team went to visit the two IDP camps in town. The pastor’s meeting was intense. Against all expectations, a large group of local pastors attended, many of whom I came to learn hadn’t spoken to each other for a long time.

I can honestly say only God could bring about what was accomplished. During the pastor’s meeting, we had a chance to pray for our brothers and sisters who are hurting, and to pray for forgiveness and reconciliation. Many had not been in the same room since several months before the elections. There was an opportunity to challenge these leaders to put aside differences and to work together as the spiritual leaders of the city. As we concluded on the second day, there was a clear sense to all present that despite the seeming impossibility of it all, God had somehow broken through. As we shared Holy Communion with each other, a sense of love, unity and oneness filled the room. Leaders walked across the room to hug those from other tribes. Once more, words fail me to express the miracle that we had witnessed.

Meanwhile, the rest of the wasafiri were visiting the two IDP camps in town. You’ve got to see and experience the camps in the Rift Valley for yourself, to understand the scope of the suffering. Somehow TV pictures don’t quite transmit how hopeless the situation is for these fellow citizens. Our wasafiri had a chance to share the care packs and food with the people there, many of who had seen their own homes burnt in the last couple of months. The musicians on the team also put on a concert and during the times of prayer that followed, our wasafiri had a chance to pray, empathize and cry with many of the multitude who came to listen. Their testimony is that even there, there was a heart connection that only God could have engineered.

Afterwards we all drove in a convoy around town to the places worst affected by the violence led by the Nakuru pastors. Using loudspeakers mounted on a van, we conveyed words of hope to the residents of these areas. In many, there was a warm response. In some, a weary and hollow look in people’s eyes that could only have come from the trauma of post-election violence. One section we drove through that was once a thriving, bustling settlement was now a ghost-town.

As we left, I spoke to one of the Nakuru pastors, who was overwhelmed. He felt much more had been accomplished in that short meeting than he would have imagined in his wildest dreams. I thank God for a chance to distribute 24 tones of food to Nakuru. But of even greater long-term impact in my opinion, will be the impact of the unity among the town’s spiritual leaders.

In Naivasha

An early rendezvous (7am) saw the whole team at Nairobi Baptist Church, hauling care packs onto trucks that would be accompanying us on our trip to the west. After the logistical drama of getting everyone on the right bus, we were finally off around 10.30am, way behind schedule! Our 6 buses made it to Naivasha where we were met by a convoy of cars driven by pastors from there and led by several piki-piki outriders! The convoy dramatically made its way around the town (not our idea but it certainly had an effect!) and ended up at the ACK church where had an action packed 30 minute prayer service with the Christians there. One of our teams stayed out during the service to simultaneously unload a 12 ton lorry of food and around 1000 hygiene packs. Serious military precision… I hadn’t believed so much could be accomplished in such a short time! Very proud of the Wasafiri 300

In an earlier post, I described how divided the pastor’s fellowship had been as a result of the post-election violence. One of the people who commented on that post shared the pain her mom had felt when she realized her own pastor was in cahoots with the people who evicted her. I’m glad to say there’s been much progress in Naivasha subsequently. It was clear to see that the pastors had worked hard at coming to agreement and were working in unity. They are glad for the opportunity to serve the displaced in both camps together (like many Rift Valley towns, there are two IDP camps here – with displaced people from different ethnic groups). I see much hope for lasting peace & unity in Naivasha.

In almost no time, we were on the way to Nakuru, leaving behind a much encouraged church.

The Msafara 300

The team comprises people of different generations, tribes, and churches from across the whole country. About 120 are pastors while the rest are Christians who’ve taken time off from work or school to be here. All so different, but with the same heart and purpose. Things haven’t always worked as they should. But there’s a lot of grace and flexibility. A good sense of camaraderie among the wasafiri… I believe lifetime friendships are being formed as we march together across the nation. What an adventure!

And as we seek change in the hearts of others, our own hearts are surely being changed...

Msafara in Nairobi

After such an intense time at the Coast sandwiched by the long journey there, I wasn’t sure we’d have energy for the meeting in Nairobi. I kept praying Isaiah 40:30-31 for the team…

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

And you know what? When we finally met on Monday afternoon, I was amazed how cheery and energized everyone looked. The venue of the meeting was the courtyard at the KICC where there’s a famous statue of our first president. What a strategic place to pray for our city and nation; in an open space surrounded by the seats of the Judiciary on one side (High Court), the Executive on another (KICC itself), Parliament on the third side, and finally our city government (City Hall).

We’d already had weekly meetings with Nairobi pastors for over a month. Good times to seek direction together and pray for our city. And to encourage every church to participate in caring for the displaced and to build networks of peace with other churches across our city…

By 4.30pm, you could feel the energy in the place and there were already several hundred people gathered in the hot sun. The meeting finally began at 5pm with music by several artistes. There were around 5000 seats put out and they were soon almost all taken. After an amazing time of worship led by a team from various churches, what followed was an incredible time of prayer for our nation (I know, I’m running out of superlatives for these prayer times). We finally ended at 7.30 and it was amazing that despite the time and outdoor venue, very few people left till the end. It was one of those meetings where it was almost impossible to tear yourself away.

The evening ended with a charge to churches to work together. And a commissioning of the Msafara 300 as they head West across the rest of the country

Msafara at the Coast

It began last Friday night (7^th) when a team of 300 headed East to Mombasa after a commissioning during the First Friday worship service (thanks First Friday team!). Off course as expected, there was enough spiritual resistance to the team getting there, with two of the five buses breaking down during various points of the journey, resulting in the team arriving in Mombasa at 9am Saturday (instead of 5am)! But this team was determined to do what had brought them this far…

That Saturday morning, we had an intense prayer session with the around 200 Mombasa pastors that showed up to receive us. The main thrust of the time was a message of unity. John 17 says that unity in the church, along tribal, social, political, gender and all other lines, clears the world’s ability to see & understand the ultimate Truth (Jn.17:21).

This is part of why I’m so passionate about Msafara. There is a church in every single part of this nation. And I believe that as church leaders from different tribes learn to stand together and refuse to let the church be divided, the church will be released to be the glue and hope for our nation that it was created to be.

I won't go into all that happened ~ suffice to say that as the pastors repented of disunity and pledged to work together in unity, it was clear that God was in the room and that some incredible things were happening in the spiritual realm. That afternoon then we did a prayer march around Mombasa. It was amazing to see the hundreds of Christians march through the streets with banners proclaiming hope for Mombasa. We stopped to pray at various important areas in town. The next morning we all attended different churches. Then in the afternoon we met for what proved to be the climax of our time at the Coast.

As the thousands who gathered at Mombasa Pentecostal Church representing many different churches prayed for Mombasa, the sense of unity was palpable. In Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus tells his followers,

‘Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.’

It became clear at to everyone during that meeting that God is going to do some incredible things in Mombasa as a result of our prayer.

Words feel inadequate to express what we experienced together in Mombasa.

On The Road

Oh my, what an amazing time we’ve had so far! Halfway across the country already and seen God doing some incredible things… Of course that explains why I’ve been offline. Early mornings and late nights with almost non-stop action in between! (For those who’ve not been keeping up with what I’m talking about, see www.msafara.co.ke). I have to say though, that God has provided a supernatural source of strength to keep the 300 going. So far, the Msafara has met all my expectations and then some!

Got to say, the giving has been awesome! Many individuals and companies have donated gift packs and other supplies. Many churches have given remarkably. One, Lighthouse Church gave over 600,000 shillings for packs while the Kenya Assemblies of God, through their bishop donated 6 tones of bottled water that we've really enjoyed (by the way, you need to try the brand 'Milimani'; is the best tasting bottled water I've tasted so far).

I just mention those to give you a picture of the scope of giving - many others have given just as generously. and not demanded any credit for it.

I'm learning the truth of the saying, 'its amazing how much people can get done when nobody cares who gets the credit'