Many new churches are planted every year. Some survive, some do not. Sunday I had the opportunity to celebrate the one year anniversary of a church plant.
Kyumbi Chapel
Moses is the pastor of the Kyumbi Christian Chapel. I first met Moses in 2017 during a three-week orientation with Africa Inland Mission. This year I have met with him and heard his desire to see the church he pastors become a missionary sending church.
After traveling about an hour East of Nairobi there is a junction. You can keep going all the way to Mombasa and the coast. Or, you can turn north toward Machakos. At this junction is the small town of Kyumbi.
As I waited at this junction for Moses to meet me Sunday morning and show me the way to the meeting place, I observed this little town. Many transport trucks slowly making their way down the road. People selling everything from food to shoes to cleaning supplies. There was a lot of activity and many people moving around.
Spiritual Contrasts
At this small junction, one prominent structure jumped out at me. The Kyumbi mosque. Admittedly it is a beautiful structure with aesthetic architecture. Yet, that beauty hides the bondage of the people and their families who worship inside. As I sat and looked at the mosque, I began to observe the people moving around. Many wearing Muslim dress, but not all.
I had heard about this mosque from Moses. He had told me it was one of the neighbors of the church and there were many influential imams who visit.
Seeing this mosque reminded me of one of the reasons for being in Kenya. So many are trapped in darkness. Blinded by Satan and his demonic army. Whether through Islam or ancestor worship, praying to idols and dead saints, there are millions who are lost and need Jesus. Many who need to become disciples and followers of the One True King.
Moses arrived and I began to follow him to gathering of the church. We drove directly beside the mosque and then down dusty, bouncing roads for a few more kilometers. It was not a long drive and we arrived at the gathering to celebrate the birthday of the new church.
What a contrast I saw last Sunday morning. Bondage, rules, and regulations to a religion on one hand. Freedom to worship the true and living God because he has bought us with the blood of his Son Jesus on the other.
The Battle is Ongoing
There is an ongoing battle. A spiritual one. It takes places constantly all around us, in every corner of the earth. Jesus has been victorious, but the battle rages still. The result of this spiritual battle is that often new churches do not survive. They fail for various reasons, but spiritual battles are always part of the reason why.
For this reason, celebrating with this new one-year old church was such fun. They were excited, and rightly so. They have survived their first year that included a global pandemic in addition to other obstacles. However, their fight is not yet finished. They have much work to do in Kyumbi. Many are bond by sin and by the darkness. Idol worship, prosperity teaching, Islam, traditional religions, and all sort of false teaching are all around them.
Yes, the battle has been won for this year for this church. Yet, the war still rages. However, it was good to celebrate their survival and pray for their continued growth.
More churches are needed. More disciples need to be made. More truth needs to be taught. Unfortunately, too many of what we call churches in Africa are not biblical. They mix African Traditional Religion with scripture. They focus on prosperity teaching (which is not the good news at all) over the joy of knowing and being known by Jesus.
Pray for Kenya. Pray for solid theological education for pastors. Pray the Kingdom of God will advance against all false teachings and religions, and believers will stand firm in their faith.
Will you pray with us?