Note from the Board – Rod Robison – July 2026

When God Redeems the Land

Over my seven decades of life, I’ve been to a lot of Easter services. But this past Easter, while visiting Unite 4 Africa’s work in Kenya, I experienced what was arguably the most joyous Easter celebration I’ve ever attended. And when I learned about the history of the land the church was built on, it made the significance of that celebration even more meaningful.

Not all that many years ago the land had been a gathering place for occult practices.  Spiritual darkness enslaved the region, impacting the people of the community relationally, economically, emotionally, and spiritually. But this past Easter when I attended the service at Zion Church, Christ followers danced and sang in celebration of the resurrection of the Light of the world. Where animal sacrifices had once been practiced by followers of witchcraft, followers of Jesus now praised God for His Son’s “once and for all” sacrifice for their sins.

The story of how God redeemed this piece of land is itself a story of resurrection from death to life. 

Several years ago, Unite 4 Africa’s Moses Rianto, along with a few others, gathered under a tree – the very tree where sacrifice rituals had been practiced.  They boldly implored God to redeem the land and transform the surrounding area one heart at a time. And that’s exactly what God did.  A year later a church was built on that very ground. They named it Zion, meaning “holy place.”  How appropriate that name is. 

I’m reminded of another piece of land called Zion that God redeemed three thousand years ago. It was a hill in the heart of what was to become Jerusalem. It too had been the site of dark occult practices and sacrificial rituals to honor false gods.  But God raised up a humble God-honoring shepherd boy named David to conquer the land. About forty years later God commissioned David’s son Solomon to build His Temple on that redeemed parcel of land. You couldn’t ask for a more fitting parallel. 

The land where Zion Church in Kenya now stands had once been as parched and barren physically as the community was spiritually.  But today there is a lush oasis garden surrounding the church building where maze, bananas, and other produce are grown as part of the church’s agricultural training farm. A school next to the church educates children and a discipleship training center mentors men and women. Unite 4 Africa’s leader Moses Rianto, who led that band of faithful prayer warriors beneath the tree, is the pastor of the church.

A well next to the church provides fresh, life-giving water for not only the oasis farm but for the people of the surrounding area. And even more importantly, the Living Water of Jesus now flows, bringing life-giving sustenance to the community. Today this lush little oasis in Kenya serves as a real life example of God’s power to transform lives.

Remember that tree?  The one where occult rituals had once been performed? They kept it standing as a reminder of God’s redemptive love. And so that the people of Zion Church would forever recall what God did. This past April I took a photo of the tree to show you. It’s right next to the discipleship training center, just behind the wall, partially hidden by the oasis banana trees.

I share this story with you to remind you of what God is doing through your gifts to Unite 4 Africa. When you give, you are sending hope to the hopeless, water to the thirsty, families to orphans, medicine to the sick, empowerment to the poor, and the Light of Jesus to the darkness. 

I hope you’ll take a moment right now to share the very best gift you can with Unite 4 Africa.  I’ve seen first-hand how God will use your generous gift to transform lives through the redemptive power of Christ’s resurrection not just at Easter, but every day of the year.  Visit www.Unite4Africa.org/donate.