Through the work of African pastor and leadership team member, Tony Wasike, we discovered a new area in Kenya with two tribes we have never worked with before. In the harsh desert area of northern Kenya two tribes have been at war for many years. This war, caused by cattle rustling, water rights, and other issues has been the cause of many deaths in both communities. Through Tony, Phil met with Pastor David from the Turkana tribe and Pastor Amos of the Pokot tribe about the need for evangelistic churches in this arid area. While we know we cannot change an entire culture of violence, we believe our God can.
To begin work in this new area, Church Missions Network sent funds to build our regional “hub” church. This church is home of the pastor training school will eventually be the base for K4K, our orphan feeding program.
We began the pastor school in July with fifty-five men entering the program. Because the distances in this desert environment are great, a third of these men walk three days to travel from their homes to the school. Our typical schools meet one week a month so the students can return home for the rest of the month to use what they learned and provide for their families. Here, because of the distance they travel, students attend for two weeks, study two subjects and go home for six weeks.
The students are not the only ones willing to sacrifice for the furtherment of the Gospel. In each of our training schools, we make sure there are a minimum of three teachers to ensure they get a blend of thinking and teaching. To get our third professor in this region we had to reach out to a trained pastor on Mt. Elgon. Mt. Elgon is on the border of Kenya and Uganda. For Pastor Patrick Sabai to teach in Pokot, he must hire a motorcycle taxi to take him around the mountain and through Uganda to get to northern Kenya. It takes him eleven hours and $30 one way to ride a motorcycle from his home to the school. These men inspire us daily. They are committed to learning and furthering God’s word and are willing to serve Him in any way possible. They are willing to go to “literal” great lengths!
Through Tony’s leadership, we began to use The Jesus Film for evangelism in these areas. Because of the light of Christ being shared, the Pokot and Turkana tribes have begun to treat each other with respect and a sense of peace is coming into the area slowly.
Knowing the Prince of Peace gives people a new perspective!