Kenya Updates – June 2023

IMPACT OF DISCIPLE MAKING PROGRAM (DDM)

Obedience to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 is U4A’s passionate commitment. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Eight years ago, Unite 4 Africa in collaboration with local Maasai leaders planted a church after an Outreach where they shared the gospel among the Maasai in Ilpartimaro and Ololepo communities. Through the Discipleship Making Movement {DMM}, we were able to raise leaders who later were ordained as Pastors and as a result, we have by God’s grace, planted eleven more churches within the unreached Maasai villages.

The disciple making efforts has been fruitful such that in early June 2023, all the twelve churches held a joint Gospel outreach and over one hundred people gave their lives to Christ and were all baptized. There is a genuine hunger and thirst for God in this community and it’s a joy that U4A is part of the labor force in the harvest.

Fig 1,2,3 &4 Some of the new believers being baptized by Dr. Okongo, Pastor Titus and other pastors from the local churches.

SANITARY PADS PROGRAM

In the month of May, U4A team visited over thirty schools in the rural Maasai communities and distributed sanitary pads to one thousand five hundred girls in the different schools. In some of the schools visited, both teachers and students shared that these essentials were timely and came in the hour of need. In Impoori Primary School, we noticed that immediately after issuing the sanitary pads to the girls, some of them rushed to the washrooms to use them. On inquiry, Mr. Meshach who is a teacher in the said school, shared with us that he had noticed that one of the girls had earlier on been uncomfortable in class.

We thank the partners of U4A who see to it that such a girl doesn’t have to go through the embarrassment of stained clothes or even stay out of school during their monthly period.

Fig 1. One girl giving thanks to Pastor Titus, U4A Outreach Director, sharing that she needed the pads.

Fig 2. Lydia Rianto posing for a photo with the girls and one of their teachers, Madam Josephine.

Fig 3. Pastor Titus praying for the girls.

MOTORBIKES FOR PASTORS

As new churches continue to be planted among the Maasai community, one of the challenges that pastors face is the long distances they have to walk from their homes to the church premises. Thankfully, U4A has been coming alongside pastors to provide motorbikes for such needy, deserving and hardworking pastors. In the last one month, 4 motorbikes have been gifted to them.

These pastors have testified to how the motorbikes have transformed their lives in that, whereas previously they could only go to the church only on Sundays due to the long distances, now they can do that several times in a week since they have quick means of transportation. Additionally, they are using the motorbikes for income generating purposes which has improved their livelihood economically as the proceeds from motorbike “taxi” are used to buy food and other necessities for their families. This is true empowerment for these dedicated disciple- makers.

Figures. 1&2

Dr. Okongo leading in the handing over of two new motorbikes, Pastor Titus praying for the Pastors and their families while giving thanks to God for the motorbikes.

Figure 3. Pastors Jackson and Isaiah ready to ride off on their new motorbikes.

PRAYER ITEMS

1. We give God all the glory for all the great harvest in our outreaches and ask for prayers for the new believers to continue being faithful followers of Christ.
2. We thank God for all the newly planted churches and for the provision of motorbikes for the leaders and the construction of three new churches Impoori, Namunyak and Ewangan. We request for prayers for the upcoming church planting endeavors in Maasai land and other areas.
3. Join us in Prayer as we plan and prepare for the Men’s conference scheduled for August 2023.