It takes a huge leap of faith to step into the unknown, but Moses did when he heard God’s calling. Not referring to Moses in the bible, but the story of Reverend Moses “Bantu” Oduor, an Anglican pastor who left the familiar, his life in Nairobi to follow God’s leading of becoming a missionary in Chakama a remote village of Kilifi county in the coastal region of Kenya.
The Journey to Kilifi
Kilifi County is characterized by extreme poverty estimated at 71.7% compared to the national rate at 47%. This has led to many children dropping out of school due to lack of school fees leading to high teenage pregnancies and many parents are forced to marry off their daughters at tender ages thereby exacerbating a vicious cycle of poverty and illiteracy in the county. The county also has widespread food insecurity, inadequate water supply, and health facilities which are not fully utilized due to the belief that a disease has been caused by witchcraft therefore most people do not seek treatment in health facilities.
“The call to move to Kilifi came while I was working with young people at Mavuno church in 2017. After 18 months of prayers and dialogue with God, he finally made it clear that I would be going to Raukani- Chakama”, says Moses. God linked him with Kenya Connection whose founders had also been given a vision to do a discipleship program a year earlier in Kilifi but they didn’t know who would help do it and how it would be done. With this connection, Rev. Moses permanently moved to Kilifi in September 2019 and the Kilifi Mission and Transformation Centre was born.
Kilifi Mission and Transformation Centre
The Kilifi Mission and Transformation Centre is a multi-acre Christian campus envisioned to serve the residents of Kilifi County, and the surrounding counties with a combined population of about 4 million people residing in the greater coastal region. The Centre aims to establish a fully-fledged focal point for community activities with a spiritual and resource centre, conference and training halls, community market, sports academy, administrative block, a centre for youth discipleship, training, mission, and economic development. The ministry aims to directly and indirectly raise the education level and literacy rates and model sustainability through organic agriculture, sustainable energy sources, and exemplary community leadership. The centre also hopes to promote health and hygiene; safe water and sanitation programs, education programs on HIV/AIDS, malaria, nutrition, and reproductive health, good leadership by and empowerment of women and young people as well as provide opportunities for missions and cultural exchange; among other needs.
An Empty Piece of Land
When Rev. Moses arrived in Kilifi, he stared at an empty piece of land and not despising the day of humble beginnings, he and his team cleared the land and started a church under a tree; 11 people turned up as the first lot of church attendees in September 2019, and as of this writing the church has no grown to over 70 members. In addition to weekly services, a homework club and tutoring program for school aged children meets in the church and there are also farming activities, and fields for youth soccer and field hockey programs.
So far, the Kilifi Mission and Transformation project has been able to reach over 50 families with help during the COVID-19 pandemic through offering jobs, distributing food baskets and direct cash transfers. A girl’s club for girls aged 8 years and above has been established to address cases of teen pregnancies and every Saturday, the centre meets with parents, village elders and the area chief to come up with solutions to stop teenage and child marriages and ensure girls do not miss out on their education. Three students have benefited from the missions and culture exchange programs. Joseph Kuria an agricultural economics student at Egerton who has taken a break from his studies is assisting Rev. Moses and is tutoring class 8 and high school students and he is using his knowledge in agriculture to help the community plant crops that will be most beneficial to them.
“My mission is to inspire transformation through faith, word and action. Romans 12:1 is the verse that guides my mission”, says Rev. Moses. God is indeed using the Kenya Connection and its partners to be transformation agents and bring the message of hope in Jesus Christ to transform Chakama and its people. To God be the glory.
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Article by Geoffrey Njenga for Kenya Connection.
