My Three Greatest Impressions of Kenya from our February Mission Trip (Part 1)

Monumental Importance of the Church

The Taxi Driver and the Bishop

The name “Kenya” Means “God’s Resting Place” It’s a beautiful land resting right on the equator. Her people are warm-hearted and love the United States. Many want to travel here.

In 2016 God spoke to Kari a single word—Muranga. Not knowing what it was, and thinking it might be some kind of ice cream(!), she googled the word and discovered Murang’a exists as a city and county in Kenya.

For 3 years Kari prayed over Murang’a. We travelled there in February 2019 for the purpose of encouraging pastors and strengthening churches, especially smaller churches in rural areas.

I came home with three major impressions.

First, the Monumental Importance of the Church.

Here’s a short background. Kenya has a long history of Christianity. Both Anglicans and Catholics missionized the area as early as the 1800’s. There are 300 pastors in Murang’a County alone. It seems churches are everywhere.

At the same time, the country has a reputation for corruption. We were told it’s first or second of the most corrupt nation on earth. (Worse than Venezuela?) The nation’s major newspaper headlines new scandals day after day. While we were there a billionaire beer dealer was busted. Another day, a well-known soccer goalie was exposed for throwing games.

I asked a taxi driver, “Why is it that Kenya has so many Christians, so many churches, and is still such a corrupt nation?”

“Because the pastors are corrupt,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “All the pastors are corrupt.” “What about your pastor? Is he corrupt,” I inquired. “Yes, they’re all corrupt. There is not a single honest pastor in Kenya,” he opined. “They’re all after money.”

Later, I asked a Bishop the same question. He returned a similar answer. “It’s because of the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________ church,” he claimed. They got here first. They’ve been here a long time and they don’t fear God. Because they don’t fear God, no one else does either.”

So there you have it. From the Bishop to the taxi man, they both pin the corruption in the country to the corruption in the church.

Modern day apostles are God’s chosen instruments to help churches impact culture. Jesus call us to be salt and light in society. Most pastors are gifted in caring for the flock, the individuals and families within the local church. Apostles and prophets are gifted to lead the church outward to reach the city. The monumental importance of the church is also a monumental call for the rise of God-fearing apostles and prophets.

Following a prayer meeting of Spirit-filled pastors, Kari and I encouraged the pastors to take seriously the injunction in 1 Timothy 2:1. The Bible says the number one priority in a gathering of believers is prayer for the government.

“At the Church of the Living Water in Muscatine, we began about 5-6 years ago to begin every worship service with prayer for our government and also for another local church,” we explained.

The leader, an intelligent and articulate man named Peter, got excited. He announced how God was using President Trump to promote Biblical values in the US and Kenya, especially in the pro-life area. “If the other party would have won,” he proclaimed, “it would have been bad for the world.”

We reported how Iowa has elected a God-fearing governor and how God is blessing our state. “Yes, Iowa! It’s one of the states that put Trump over the top!” remarked the leader in excitement.

Another pastor explained a common perception among Kenyans. “If America does it, it seems right to us. Whatever America does, it seems right. So we do it too.”

Upon reflection, I could see the monumental importance of the church. She is greater than we realize! Because of growing, massive intercession in the churches; because pastors are taking a stand and educating people of what the Bible says on social issues; because 81% of evangelical Christians and a majority of Catholics voted for a conservative candidate, a God-fearing culture is rising.

Because the Church became active, socialism was cut off at the knees. Opposition to childhood murder is increasing. Not only in America, but also around the world.

I came away from Kenya with a renewed sense of the monumental importance of the Church, the role of apostles, and how together we impact society.

Parts 2 and 3 of My 3 Major Impressions of Kenya will continue next week.