Vol
7/009 SEPT—DEC. 2009 ISSUE.
The Kinango News letter.
The Glorious
Awakening.
Pentecost Edition 2009.
A Spirit Filled Service in Kinango.
The big photo graph-a day to
remember! Many people! The ACK Mombasa Diocese (Girls Friendly Society) GFS
prayer Day was held on the 15th March during Lenten season. We had a spirit
filled service. The preacher was Naomi Karisa a GFS girl from St. Jude
Miritini Parish. The picture tells it all, girls and young women from all over
the Diocese who all took part in a thanks giving cum-GFS service in honor of
Kinango Christians held in Kinango Parish. A variety of acts including magic
show, poems, songs and dance routines were performed. More stories and pictures
page 4, 12, 14, 18 & 19.
By:
The Rev Kennedy O. Ofundi
A.C.K. MOMBASA DIOCESE
The Glorious awakening
is published by the Vicars’ Desk every three months P.O. Box 59 Kinango.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Alleluia! Praise to
Christ our Saviour! Grace and peace to you all from God our Father and from the
Lord Jesus Christ! I believe you are all well over there! Thank you for taking time to be part of my
world as my time here at the Glorious Awakening’s desk is well spent.
Pentecost happened 50
days after Jesus came back alive. It was exactly ten days after Jesus ascended
back to heaven before the day of Pentecost at which time there was no
established church. The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the church being
born. During this occasion, 2000 years ago, many Jews had gathered in Jerusalem
for religious festivals. “The King of Jews”, the healer, the crucified
carpenter was the talk of the city.
Peter got up and lifted
up his voice to address the people assembled together on this auspicious day.
Before Jesus ascended
back to heaven, He commanded his disciples to tell his Good News as they
travelled everywhere in the world, but they were not to do so until Jesus gave
them power through the Holy Ghost. On the day of Pentecost many other people
from other countries and provinces were in Jerusalem. It was a special feast
for all the Jews. The apostles and other believers, about 120 men and women,
were gathered in one place (Act. 1:15) when God did something miraculous to
indicate the importance of what was about to happen.
They heard a great
rushing sound like a powerful gale, a violent wind. Then what looked like balls
of fire rested on each one of them. This was not a bad thing! It was a
wonderful thing! The baptism by the Holy Ghost! The apostles were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in languages other than their own.
They started declaring the wonders of God in their new languages (Acts 2:11),
making such a noise that a crowd of bewildered people gathered to find out what
was happening.
Peter got up and started
to preach to the crowd. He spoke about how God had raised Jesus from the dead
after he had been crucified. Peter explained that God had restored Jesus, the
same one they had crucified on the cross, to be the Lord and Christ.
The Church was born on
that day! A small, struggling baby church, born to rise and become the Church
of great strength might and power! Three thousand people were added to the
Church that day. The new infant church matured to become the Church militant,
triumphant and righteous of which Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my
Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. Birthed in the afterglow of resurrection and
bathed in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church of Christ started its
life-long changing journey through the annals and pages of history. The Church
grew and matured and exists now, signified by a cross, everywhere throughout
the regions of the whole earth.
Happy Pentecost to you
all!
The Rev. Kennedy
Ofundi
Editor,
Associate Editor,
Marlene Reid
Pentecost
2009
A woman who
loved life and people finally retires after 38 years of active service:
Carolyn Masaku, a
longtime member and worker of the Mother’s Union, retired from active church
service on the 31st December 2008. She was aged 58 and had served as
a diocesan coordinator for the Mothers Union of the A.C.K Mombasa Diocese for
nearly 34 years.
Sister Caro, as she was
affectionately called by those who worked closely with her, was employed by ACK
Mombasa Diocese during the mid seventies and was privileged to serve under
three different Bishops, Bishop Peter Mwangombe, Bishop Crispus Nzomo and now
Bishop Julius Kalu. Prior to that, she
served as a lecturer for evangelism at Coast Bible School.
Sister Caro was known as
a down-to-earth, approachable, soft spoken, humble lady. When she conducted
worships during diocesan women’s conferences, her positive attitude and love of
life were often reflected in her opening words “It is a good thing to be
alive to serve the true and living God” Shimba Hills (July 2008 with
the Bishop).
As a public speaker, she
encouraged other women, giving such talks with themes as ‘How to live well
with stubborn husbands’; ‘Happy parenting’; We and our children’; among others”.
In 1977 sister Carolyn
married Mr. Samson Masaku, a lay reader at the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral whom
Carolyn describes as a “God-sent support”. They served the church together for
over 31 years.
During her service to the
church, sister Caro served in various departments, including parish and youth
affairs. Then in 1977 she was appointed the Mothers Union coordinator for
Mombasa Diocese.
For over 30 years Sister
Carolyn worked in this diocese and was characterized by her intense love of
people. She encouraged many with her golden voice, always drawing attention to
the importance of serving the Church of Christ. Carolyn constantly emphasized
that true happiness does not depend on external factors but on our relationship
with Jesus and our attitude towards life.
Despite the fact that our
sister Caro is greatly missed by the ACK Mombasa Diocese fraternity, her legacy
as one who truly loved life and people will live on. We here at the Glorious Awakening’s desk are confident
that sister is included in what the Bible says in Philippians 1:6 “Being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.
Happy retirement Sister
Caro.
Arch Deacon Chengo
visit to Kinango
Ven. Harrison Chrngo
visited Kinango Parish during palm Sunday to commemorate the triumphal entry of
Jesus into Jerusalem with the Kinango Christians. He is here seen addressing
the Christians during palm Sunday. He encouraged Christians to be faithful to
their God even during tough times such as these when there is no food to feed
people. He helped distribute relief food to over 50 different families after
the service. To God be the Glory.
Kinango
Devastated by Drought and Famine!
One of Kinango’s greatest
problems is the unreliable rainfall patterns. In good years there is plenty of
rain to grow crops. Kinango’s main crop is corn, which provides most families
with their staple food. But a good year is often succeeded by two or three poor
years when the monsoons fail to bring rain or come too late or sometimes not at
all. When this happens, the crops do not
grow at all. Most families go hungry. Sometimes things are so bad that they
become malnourished and become ill. Some even die of starvation.
When this happens like
during this year, we rely on foreign food agencies like the Red Cross and the
World Vision to bring us food. When they bring food it only lasts for a few
months then we go hungry again
“This year’s drought
is the worst in our history” remarked Mary Mwaka, a resident of Vigurungani’s remote
district.
The animals of the forest
were also not spared nor the birds. Everywhere you go you smell the stench of
decomposing carcasses she poses.
The Effects of
Drought and Famine
The monsoons failed to
come, the crops in the garden all dried up and there was poor or no harvest at
all. This was a terrible moment for most people. What could be seen was dry and
bare land. The only surviving plants were the desert shrubs in the fore ground.
The singing of the birds in the garden was no where to be heard.
Food Security.
Food security exists only
when citizens have more than enough basic food, at all times, to provide them
with energy and nutrients needed for them to lead productive lives. Food
insecurity exists when people do not have enough basic food supplies to provide
them with energy thus making them malnourished and starving.
The Kinango Parish Vicar
has taken up a leading role by addressing food insecurity in Kinango by
providing farmers with an agricultural extension service! Farmers are advised to grow drought-resistant
crops like cassava, simsim and sorghum. In the majority of cases most people
are in fact farmers, they are not able to produce enough food to feed their
families. This therefore means most families have to import food or rely on
food aid. Hunger and malnutrition are greater here in Kinango than other parts
of this country, even though most people who live here try to make a living
from farming.
Research studies indicate
that growth in the agricultural industry has a greater impact on reducing
hunger and poverty as compared to urban industrial growth. Diversification of
agricultural productivity is therefore a very important factor in addressing
the food insecurity challenge here in Kinango.
One area which needs
attention is irrigation. Half the world’s food is grown using irrigation methods.
Though these methods are so successful and laudable there are important
environmental implications that need to be addressed as unsustainable
irrigation can result in environmental degradation, making the overall result
disastrous and ineffective over time.
Desertification is on the
increase here in Kinango due to deforestation of trees to burn charcoal.
Although people living in this ecosystem have tried to conserve the trees
through government agencies over the years, increasing famine and hunger together
with population pressures have driven people to carry out some agricultural
malpractices that have totally damaged the environment. Climatic changes have
also increased the likelihood of crop failures and food insecurity.
SPYN feed Kinango,
GFS repeat the performance, St. Paul’s, Ukunda join the force:
The youths from our
sister church in Mombasa, popularly known as SPYN- St. Peter’s Youth
Nyali, yet again made a flamboyant visit to the little parish of Kinango in
Lent this year with the message: “Love and kindness to the Kinango
Christians”. SPYN, led by the
youthful Joseph Mukholi, drew a lot of attention from all the people across the
neighborhood of Kinango. SPYN’S intervention to save the hungry came at
the right time when most families were dilapidated by famine.
Joseph Mukholi, popularly
known as Jose, is a dynamic young man full of compassion and care.
Joseph and his team of
young men distributed maize flour, milk, beans, sugar, salt and clothes to the
Kinango people
Speaking during the food
distribution exercise from the pulpit, Joseph said “we need to embrace each
other with the spirit of love and kindness”. “For I was hungry and you gave me
nothing to eat . . . I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and
in prison and you did not look after me”. (Matt 25 vv 42 /43)
Joseph also challenged
people who he described as “dream killers” and said their days are long
gone, quoting from Gen. 37:19, about Joseph and his brothers who wanted to
destroy the vision of their young brother. Even today we have such evil-minded
brothers around and we are rising against that by having trust and confidence
in our Father in heaven who reigns with Son and Holy Spirit.
After SPYN left
rumour leaked to the neighboring parishes and other parts of the diocese, of
the overwhelming good work done by SPYN for the Kinango people, during
the disaster!
The Girls Friendly
Society (GFS) from all over the diocese were also not left behind when two
weeks later they repeated a similar performance with a bigger magnitude,
compared to the SPYN.
Hundreds of GFS girls
from all over the diocese, led by their organizers, thronged Kinango with the
Good News of our salvation, to the Kinango Christians.
St. Paul’s Ukunda, led by
Ven. Harrison Chengo, reinforced the same by feeding over 100 families with
foodstuffs worth 100,000/-. Please see
our pictorial coverage of all these divine exercises elsewhere.
SPYNS former
President Arrives in Kinango
Joseph Mukholi SPYNS’
former president arriving in Kinango with the Gospel in March thanks again.
GFS Emmanuel
Kisauni
The GFS Kisauni put up a
spirited performance of a song entitled am a radical girl during the GFS prayer
day in Kinango
Missionary
Conference held in Kwale.
A great missionary
training conference was held in Kwale during the month of May 2009.
The sponsor of the 7 day
conference was Global Teams Pwani, an arm of Global Teams Africa. Global Teams
is an international Episcopal fellowship that is responsible for training and
sending out missionaries around the world. These trainings are done through
Horizon conferences, aimed at equipping the missionaries for mission work.
The theme of the Global
Teams through the Horizon conferences is ‘To See the Heart of Christ
on the Skin of Every Culture’.
The grand 7 day event
attracted participants from all walks of life, varied cultures and backgrounds
across Africa and the Atlantic. These were as indicated on the table below:
Name
|
Country-Diocese
|
Rev. Francis
Matumba
|
Dioceses of
Lake Malawi
|
Rev. Mukiza
Amos
|
Diocese of
Kigali Rwanda
|
Yvonne North
|
North Carolina
USA
|
Rev. Benjamin
Mbaga
|
Tanzania
Diocese of Dodoma
|
Rev. Lipanda
Bizimana
|
DRC
|
Rev. Canon Dr.
Alison Bar foot
|
Assistant to
the Archbishop for international relations Church of Uganda (USA)
|
Kathie Philips
|
USA
|
Esther Miller
|
USA
|
Rt. Rev. K.
Higgins
|
USA- Global
Teams International Director
|
Fr. Phocus
Nshimiyi Mana
|
Dioceses of Central
Tanganyika
|
Murabyo Amos
|
Diocese West
Ruwenzori
|
Rev. Fr. K. Ofundi
|
Global Teams Secretary General Pwani
|
Local
Missionaries were
 |
Name
|
Country-Diocese
|
Emily
Rose Mkono
|
Kenya
|
Chandugu
M. Roders
|
Kenya
|
Devis
Kalama
|
Kenya
|
Philip
Kilonzo
|
Kenya
|
Isaiah
Mwadama
|
Kenya
|
Alice
Joseph
|
Kenya
|
Wilfred
Nyamugero
|
Siaya
Kenya
|
Rev.
Symmington Tsofwa
|
Diocese
of Mombasa
|
Rispa
Olaka
|
Kenya
|
Rev.
Newman Mwang’ombe
|
Diocese
of Mombasa Kenya
|
Rev.
Joshua Mwamb
|
Diocese
of Mombasa
|
Rev.
Charles Yerga
|
Diocese
of Mombasa
|
Rev.
Elizabeth Agumba
|
Turkana
Team leader
|
Rev.
Dr. Bryson Samboja
|
Director
Global Team Africa
|
The missioners during the
Horizon conference were: Rev. Dr. Canon Alyson Bar foot who gave a lecture on
the vision and mission of Global Teams.
One of the aspects which
came out clearly during her talk was the impact of the incarnation of Jesus
Christ on cultures of human beings all over the world. Before incarnation – the
Word becoming man (John 1:1)
Jesus had to understand
man before He was born. This was the missionary vision of God. It was also
noted that all cultures are the same hence we need not impose our own cultures
on other ethnic groups. This therefore calls for the contextualization of the
gospel of Jesus Christ as Jesus Christ is made known better to all men through
their own languages. Contextualization means the translation and interpretation
of the bible into local dialects.
Global teams therefore,
through Horizons missionary training, aims at seeing the gospel of Christ
penetrate
The conference was also
informed about some of the unreached or the least reached communities in east
and central Africa. These included Tingidas found along lake Manyara region, the Batua, Wabangubangu and
Bakusu in DRC, the Lugbara, Kakwa, and the Anyanya, Jie and Pygmies in Uganda.
‘The Heart of Christ
in the Skin of Every Culture’ confers to us that God can express his loving grace within
the scope of every culture. Followers of Jesus in every culture must
continually reflect on how they are exercising their faith within their own
cultural setting. “At the heart of Christ in the skin of every culture” implies
the proper exposition of scriptures to distinguish between what is universal
and essentially applicable to all culturally specific groups of people. Others
speakers were Esther Miller, Kevin Higgins, Elizabeth Agumba, Dr. Bryson
Samboja and Amos Mkiza.
The Rev. Dr. Alison
Barfoot the personal assistant to the Archbishop of Uganda in-charge of
International Relations was such a blessing to delegates during horizon held in
May. Alison is a gifted teacher and speaker. She is very much conversant with
African socio-cultural issues. Was also our teacher during the conference.
The Rt. Rev. Kevin
Higgins does what he likes to do. Bishop Higgins is such a gifted speaker and a
story teller. His gifts of Pathos and Ethos moved the participants during the
Horizon conference. Bishop Higgins is also the International Director of the
Global Teams.
Witch Craft
and Sorcery
The story of
witchcraft and the burning of suspects on the ground of suspicion of sorcery
here in Kinango:
In the recent past we
have received reports, sad reports, about the killings and mass execution of
people, especially the elderly, on the ground of suspicion that they are
sorcerers and witchdoctors from Kinango and other areas. Here we have been
forced to reprint the story from volume 1 pg
8 of the Glorious Awakening
for our esteemed readers to know what is happening here:
Recently a young boy of
about 14 was circumcised by evil spirits in Dumbule sub-location: see photo
below. Here is the story:
“We are always living in
a state of fear of being bewitched”. He said, we’ve wizards too here in Duruma.
The night dancer is one of them. Where houses have no doors like now in Duruma,
this wizard sends the inmates into deep sleep and then urinate on the sleepers
mouths and escape unobserved. He normally moves nude and in the middle of the
night.
Night dancers sing evil
songs, knock and rub their buttocks against walls. When they are tired, they
drop and swell into an enormous size. While unconscious it’s easier to catch
and discipline them. The night dancer is also believed to poison people,
especially fat lovely babies, by throwing poison on the shadow of the victim.
This sounds incredible, but such is the amazing power of a wizard that many
people have lost their lives in this way. Among the Duruma `atsai` wizards are
characterized by dirty clothes, dark eyes, shaggy unkempt hair, long and filthy
nails. A harmless person who posses such features is treated with suspicion.
Parents warn children against wizards. “When I was a child”, one Duruma woman
who declined to give her name said “there used to be a witch in those sides of
Ndavaya our local village. She had to pass our compound when she went to fetch
water at the river. When we saw her coming we used to bolt indoors we thought
even her sight was deadly poison. The other group of wizards do not dance at
night.
They are called “atsai”
too. He or she moves silently and envies people and possessions and want to
destroy them. This kind of wizard is most feared in Duruma land. He can prevent
young women from giving birth. He gets hold of a piece of cloth that any young woman has either worn or used for
sanitary reasons, the wizard goes and hides it in a hole inside a fire place so
that whenever the woman menstruates she suffers a server disorder which
prevents fertilization from taking place. Since child bearing is the prime
object of marriage among the Duruma you can imagine how hated this sort of
wizard is. This wizard is also notorious for killing babies. He waits until
when babies are blooming with health and destroys them. This is a great blow to
the Duruma who love children. It is the favorite baby loved among village women that usually fall
victim of this ‘atsai’. He is believed to get hold of the baby’s
nappy, stool or piece of hair from its head and use the object for his cruel
sorcery.
Crops
It’s staggering and
significant to note that there are hard working families in Duruma land who
despite every favorable circumstance get a poor harvest. This too is the work
of a wizard.
Motivated by envy and
malice the wizard hides distractive charm in the centre of the victim field or
in each of it’s four corners. The charm will stop the seed from germinating
properly. Crops will wilt and die.
A poor harvest means famine.
The wizard also chooses to persecute
a large family by multiplying disastrous consequences of hunger. The underfed
children drop and grow thin. Those of school age are tired, dull and can not
profit from their lessons despite free education. This explains why
malnutrition is rampant all over Duruma land. Our society measures a man’s
greatness in terms of
children, food and livestock. Men marry to have children. Then he feels secure. That is why the
wizard who strikes children and food are detested.
By our standards a great
man is he in whose home many people can feed-the neer-do well, the elders and
visitors. A man will be littled if he has no granaries. He is ashamed if there are no cows, pets and
goats droppings in his compound. These would be signs of poverty, laziness, ill
luck, sorcery and wizardry.
Cattle
Jealousy and envy choke
the wizard. If a man has a large herd of cattle or goats the wizard yearns to destroy them all. He
uses magic charm which he may hide in the kraals soon the cows start growing
weak lose appetite and the milk in the adder dries out.
The calves cow and bulls
die if the local medicine man does not discover and stop the evil by moving the
charm the whole herd will be destroyed. This is a great disaster. In Duruma
land like many parts of Africa, if a man has no cattle, his son cannot marry.
They will die without an heir. This is a mortal blow.
During the ancient times
when villagers were enraged by the loss of children, crops and cattle, they
round up the entire notorious wizard in the area and torture them to death. The
Duruma society approved such a punishment. This was a kind of a revenge for
suffering a whole family of wizards might be exterminated in this manner.
Presently people no longer take the low in there own hands to exterminate such
social misfits. People curse the government laws that tolerate wizards and
protect them against ruthless punishment. The bible on the other hand also says
thou shall not kill.
Stories to
Remember.
God is in control even
under difficult circumstances!
Ruth 1: Longtime ago, in Bethlehem - “In the days
when judges ruled, there was a famine in the land” i.e. all over Judah and Bethlehem.
This is one of the
sweetest stories to be ever told in the Old Testament. The story of Ruth is
full of intrigue and the reader is left to puzzle over many of its details. It
is a very unusual story within the Old Testament featuring as it does the
troubles and joys of one particular family unit, a man and his wife and two
sons. The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name Naomi and the names of his
sons were Mahlon and Killion. The experiences
of this family unit arise within a certain cultural context, very different
from our own today.
The author of the story
of Ruth we are not told, but it could be a lady because the flow of the story
is from the woman’s point of view. These
characters Elimelech, Naomi and their children were Ephrathites from Bethlehem,
Judah, and went to Moab, probably because of famine, and settled there.
Naomi becomes a widow and
so do her two daughters-in-law. Ruth
1-V3 tells us that soon after Elimelech passed on, his two sons married Moabite
girls Orpa and Ruth. Within a span of ten years the two sons also died under
mysterious circumstances thus leaving behind the two widows!
A Double Tragedy!
Three widows within one
family unit, what a tragedy! This
depicts the devastating nature of Naomi’s losses!
Ruth 1V says that within
a span of 10 years Naomi’s complete family is taken away from her. In Old
Testament days a widow’s position was regarded in the same way as that of
orphans and foreigners. Widows were
vulnerable and insecure. While living in Moab Naomi was a foreigner without
provision, protection or prospects. Not
surprisingly Naomi felt the bitter pain of her experiences and tells her women
friends:
Ruth V20: “Call me Mara because the Almighty has made
me very bitter”. It is also significant to note that Naomi is also a woman of
great courage and faith!
Ruth V6 tell us that when
she heard that God has blessed her people, Naomi and her daughters-in-law
prepare to go home from there, back to the land of Judah. Naomi also prays for
her two daughters-in-law and wants their future to be marked by God’s kindness
as well as human kindness in the form of new husbands.
Ruth VV 8 and 9: “May the Lord show kindness to you as you
have shown to your dead and to me”
Naomi is very much
concerned with Ruth’s and Orpa’s orphan-like welfare, not her own.
Naomi expresses her
confidence that the God of kindness would reward the kindness of her two
daughters-in-law by His blessings. This irony becomes reality at the end of
Ruth Chapter 4.
Ruth 1 VV 11-18: Ruth is
determined to stay with her mother in-law Naomi. This is a symbol of the love and kindness
Naomi had earned from her daughter-in-law.
Ruth VV 20-21: Naomi shares her family story with the
village women from her town, reality and faith intertwined. Graphic words of
tribulations, bitterness, emptiness, afflictions and misfortune are expressed.
“I went away full, but
the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted
me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me”.
Naomi uses the name
‘Shaddai’ (Almighty) for God, meaning that God is the root cause of her
sufferings, yet he is still in charge of her life. The name ‘Shaddai’ in Hebrew
Old Testament is used in connection with God’s mighty hand of deliverance and
judgment. This teaches us that God’s work is beyond the scope of human scrutiny
and comprehension and Naomi seems to agree with this.
Special features to
note:
Naomi’s outstanding
character has been carefully described to us. She has not broken down under her
painful and bitter experiences, her position remains secure and her faith
intact. Her character has revealed to us what she is made of and has, at the
same time, reconciled her afresh to her God.
It is significant to note
here too that the book of Ruth is full of contrasts and chapter one is no
exception to this; for example the despair brought by bereavement, contrasts
with comfort and loyal friendship.
Ruth V 21: “the Almighty
has brought misfortune to me,” is recognition that God brings difficulties
contrasting with the belief that he shows kindness (verse 8). “May God show
kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and me”
The leaving of home by
Naomi and her family Ruth 1:1 and Ruth 16-19 contrasts with her return to
Bethlehem in verse 22: “Naomi returned
from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess”.
The famine in Ruth1 V1:
“there was famine in the land” is replaced by the beginning of barley harvest
in V22 “…arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning”
(To be continued in our
next issue Ruth Chapter 2.)
God Provides Refuge
Character names in
the book of Ruth! Amazing facts.
The story of Ruth and
Naomi, Elmlech, Mahlon and Killion is craftily and artistically designed and
illustrated. The names appearing in the text are significant too. Chapter 1:
v 2. We are introduced to Elimelech. Elimelech in Hebrew means ‘my God is
king’.
‘My God is king’
parallels Naomi’s use of the name ‘Shaddai’ in verse 20 to describe the
Lord. The meaning of ‘Shaddai’ is not quite clear although it appears
frequently in the OT to emphasize God’s redemptive power e.g. Joel 1:15: ‘Alas
for that day! For the day of the Lord is near, it will come like destruction
from the almighty’.
The title is, at the same
time, applied to emphasize God’s power to bless, for example:
‘May God Almighty bless
you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you became a
community of peoples’ (Gen 28:3)
God’s power to
protect; and to discipline.
‘I will say of the Lord,
“He is my refuge and my fortress”’. Psalms 91:2
‘Blessed is the man whom
God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty’ (Job 5:17)
Using the name ‘Shaddai’
Naomi is acknowledging that God’s power is the driving force of her life! His
work is irresistible and must be accepted as we see as the story unfolds.
According to ancient near
eastern traditions, (ANET) people changed their names when catastrophic
events occurred in their lives. There are several examples of this in the Bible
e.g. ‘Naomi’ means ‘pleasant’ or
‘beautiful’. This becomes ironic in view of her earlier life experiences so she
requests to be called ‘Mara’ meaning ‘bitter’ (Ruth Chap 1 v 20). We
also read in Genesis 17:15, Abram changes his name to ‘Abraham’ Sarai
changed to ‘Sarah’, Jacob to ‘Israel’ and Joseph changed his name to ‘Zaphenath
– Paneah’, in honor of his ability to reveal hidden secrets. ‘Pharaoh gave Joseph the name
Zaphenath-Paneah’ (Gen 41.45)
Mahlon and Kilhon,
Naomi’s son’s names, are Canaanite in origin meaning ‘illness’ or ‘general
weakness’ while Ruth and Orpa are Moabite names. ‘Ruth’ means ‘comfort’ while
‘Orpa’ means ‘turning back’.
The narrator of Ruth’s
story is basically interested in the meaning of the name Naomi which is seen to
be paramount as the story progresses. Finally we can say that Naomi’s life is
characterized by a cycle of pleasantness, bitterness and pleasantness that
dominates the story’s development.
People behind the
stories:
We are glad to bring you
interesting stories of successful personalities here in kinango who have excelled
in different fields and disciplines and who in our opinion are outstanding.
Top Student gets
5000/- Award.
A KCPE top student at ACK
Bishop Kalu primary school benefited from the bishop’s award scheme when he got
a five thousand shilling cheque from Bishop Julius Kalu, Bishop of Mombasa,
towards his high school tuition. Omar Julo, Bishop Kalu’s School’s top KCPE
pupil during the previous examination season scored 379 marks and was admitted
to Alliance High School, Kikuyu. Omar is one of our pupils who despite famine
and starvation fought against all odds to be successful in exams. It’s our hope
others will follow in the same suit.
ACK Kinango Gets
its First Degree.
Linda Nzembi Kumbu,
baptized at Kinango Parish and now a communicant, graduated last December with
a 2nd class honors degree, upper division, in social science from
Moi University, Eldoret, thus bringing
the first degree to the parish of Kinango. Born 22 years ago in Kinango, Linda was educated at St. Josephs Catholic
primary and Mama Ngina Girls’ schools in Mombasa. While in Mama Ngina Girls
Linda got a mean grade of B+ before being admitted to the university!
Linda is the first born in a family of five and is the daughter Mr. and Mrs.
Nicholas Kumbu, a lay reader in Kinango. Linda is not given to too much
talking, but she is not rude it is just her quiet nature. God bless you Linda.
Reading Power
The Vice Chancellor and
the Dean of Students of all university students in Kinango Parish, the Fr.
Ofundi, confers the power to read to Linda, the first graduate of Kinango,
recently! Below the Fr. reminds Linda of
Francis Bacon’s saying, as she listens attentively with a smile.
“Reading maketh
a full man; speaking a ready man and writing an exact man” and “When you
come bring . . . .and my scrolls (i.e.books) especially the parchments” (2 Tim.
4:13)
The Quadruple Now
on Wheels
Do you
remember the love of Christ on the skin of every human person we highlighted in
our 3rd Edition of the Glorious Awakening
The Almighty God, through
the Bishop of Mombasa, donated a tricycle for our lady last Pentecost. See the
picture below! She is no longer
quadruple she is mobile on a tricycle. This far the Lord has helped us!
Ebenezer!
Former SPYN
president, Joseph Mukholi, in glasses, together with the Kinango Vicar, command
the SPYN entourage to move to the left in an operation ‘ saidia
Kinango’ during famine. Several families received food stuffs and clothes.
During his sermon, Joseph encouraged the Kinango Christians that God is always
in control even during difficult times such as these
A Girl from Uganda
Visits Kinango
Nancy Mwaluda, our
associate girl from Nyali, studies in Uganda and recently graduated with BA.Com
degree from Makerere University, Kampala. She was in the SPYN entourage
that visited Kinango in Lent.
She encouraged the
Kinango students to work hard in their studies to make their dreams come true
and to face the challenge of life positively. Kudos Nancy!
The SPYN organize
special prayers day in Kinango.
The Kinango ‘Special Famine
Prayer Day’ was held on the 8th Feb. 2009 by SPYN. We had a
spirit-filled service. The preacher was Mr. Joseph Mukholi, a one time SPYN
president.
He elaborated on the
story of Joseph and his brothers in Gen. 37. He admonished us not to be like
the Egyptians because of envy. SPYN
also enabled the installation of power at the Kinango church with a generous
donation of 30,000/- during a separate Thanks Giving service. He also made
reference to Corinthians 16: 14 - “Do everything in love”
After the service,
members spent the rest of the day fellowshipping and distributing the food to
the Kinango Christians. A great moment for Kinango to remember!
These toddlers could not
hide their joy when they received their ration of food when SPYN came.
The next Photo shows a
Kinango church elder thanking God for friends such as SPYN for feeding
The pride of being loved
as is indicated in the face of this church elder Elkana Mwalukuku during the
time SPYN came to feed the kinango people.
So many
hungry people!
Hundreds of families who
travelled from far and wide in Kinango district when news reached them of SPYN’s
disaster intervention.
Despair, anxiety and
hunger could be read on their faces. Later on there was relief.
G.F.S. – ‘Kinango,
here we come’!
On the 15th
March 2009, girls, young ladies, members from other diocesan parishes and staff
came together at ACK Emmanuel Church, Kinango parish, to worship and strengthen
the GFS movement in Mombasa as a whole and Kinango in particular. The purpose
of the occasion was to worship in Kinango and celebrate the GFS platform, past
present and future. Delegates from different parishes all over Mombasa Diocese,
were invited to attend the occasion and were treated to a spectacular range of
entertainments performed by young girls and women from different parishes.
The young girls had been
involved in weeks of thorough training and preparation and performed a variety
of acts including dances, choral verses, poems and songs.
All performances were
geared to what GFS means to all. These performances gave everyone something to
ponder about. The event also succeeded in bringing parishes and young girls
together and showed a united society working hard to meet the needs and
challenges of girls and young women all over, whatever their circumstances and
wherever they are.
Our gratitude to the
Vicar of Kinango’s wife, Annie Omusugu for her good organization on this
auspicious occasion!
About the Day’s
Preacher
The chief missioner
during GFS visit to Kinango was Naomi Karisa of St. Jude, Miritini Parish.
Naomi preached using the reading from Deut. 24. She spoke eloquently about the
value of GFS to the wider community and the effective manner in which to work,
not giving of ourselves for our own glory but with love, concern and care for
others.
Capt. Anderson
Matebwe - a Tribute
People from around the
A.C.K Mombasa Diocese have send words of sympathy, condolence and prayer upon
hearing the sad news of the sudden death of the church army evangelist, Captain
Anderson Matebwe of Rabai, following a prolonged illness after a road accident
in Easter 2009. A requiem was held in St. Paul’s Church, Rabai, presided over
by the Bishop of Mombasa the Rt. Rev. Julius Kalu and a host of the diocesan
clergy and hundreds of worshipers.
The Glorious Awakening takes this
opportunity to pay a glowing tribute to the late Anderson Matebwe, his widow,
children, friends and relatives. Upon his demise Captain Matebwe was in charge
of Taru parish. We are confident that Capt. Matebwe is included among those the
Bible speaks in Rev. 14 : 13 “Blessed are the dead who die in Lord from now on”
“Yes says the Spirit, they will rest from their labour their deeds will follow
them” May he rest in peace!
People Dioces an
Episcopal Appointments New Primate for Kenya.
His Grace the Most Rev.
Dr. Eliud Wabukala is the new primate for the Anglican Church in the province
of Kenya!
He succeeds the retiring
Arch Bishop, the Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi of All Saints Cathedral Nairobi. The
new primate is a former Teacher at ADC Nai, Endebess and is the Bishop of
Bungoma Diocese. Congratulations teacher for your new appointment as the 5th
primate of Kenya. Other Primates who have served as ACK Archbishops are Festo
Haggai Olang’ (1970-1980), Manases Kuria (1980-1995), David Gitari (1995-2003)!
Elsewhere in Kwale
archdeaconry, the Ven. Harrison Chengo was appointed the new Kwale arch-deacon
replacing Ven. Dr. Bryson Samboja who now becomes the Vicar in Jadini chapel
and also the Global Team’s leader.
Rev. Charlot Mangi former
Waa Girls chaplain becomes the pioneer Vicar in Ribe parish while Rev. Margaret
Ndisha from Taita diocese becomes the new chaplain at Waa Girls.
The Rev. Reuben Kirimo of
Lungalunga Parish moves to Bamba parish whereas Rev. Titus becomes the new
Vicar in Lunga-Lunga. Capt. Safari of church army is the new Vicar of St.
Michael’s and all Angels in Kwale replacing Rev. Nga’nga who has retired. The
best of luck to you all, men and women of God, in your new Episcopal
appointments!
His Grace The Most Rev.
Dr. Eliud Wabukala is the new primate of Kenya. He replaces Benjamin Nzinbi who
has retired. Wabukala is the fifth Arch Bishop of Kenya in the Anglican Church.
He was a former teacher in ADC Nai and the Bishop of Bungoma.
The Horizon
Conference Aftermath.
After returning home from the 7 day Global Teams Horizon
conference held in Kwale, we had so many wonderful stories to tell and
wonderful experiences to share with others who were not fortunate enough to
attend. What a wonderful conference it was! For some of us it was truly a
lifetime opportunity in experiencing the Global Teams’ Horizon Conference. The
wonderful memories of the 2009 Horizon are still vivid and fresh in our minds.
The experience will remain with us for quite some time. We salute Dr Bryson,
the Global Teams’ Pwani director, the Rt Rev Kevin Higgins, the international
director, for a good job well done. Every detail was so well planned and
executed with grace. The Horizon experiences have been the talk of many
conversations and meetings among our clergy and other church leaders. Many of
our Global Team members have come back home expressing a desire to become
Global Team missionaries around the world so as to share the good news of our
salvation with the unreached communities around the world.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations” (Mathew 28:19)
The man in fore ground
back to the camera is Bishop Kevin Higgins listens attentively to a
conversation between the two men in background Rev. Amos Mukiza of Rwanda
stressing a point to Wilfred from Siaya Kenya. Elizabeth Agumba partly hidden
looks on as the gentlemen share Global Teams missionary experiences.
A ‘Big Big’
Photograph -
A Day to Remember.
GFS
St. James Mishomoroni follow proceedings during the GFS Sunday in Kinango
Parish. Singing, dancing, and other magic shows were performed to the glory of
God. Is a memorable moment to this young ones many years to come.
So
many hungers. Faces of despair, and loss of hope caused by lack of food due to
prolonged drought and famine. Thanks to the SPYNS intervention many of them
received a kilo of Posho and rice.
This man on the right is
a traditional medicine man was called to exorcise the evil spirits which
circumcised this young man. This is a terrible experience.
The whole family of this
boy was tormented by this terrible experience.
Food Security
Food security exist only
when citizens have more than enough basic food at all times to provide them
with energy and nutrients needed to lead productive lives. The Kinango Vicar
provides agricultural extension service to Christians to ensure there is enough
to eat.
Testimony
Gladys Bibi Nyale is a Christian of
the Anglican church of Kenya Kinango Parish. Gladys stay’s in Gwadu. Before she
came to know about Jesus she used to visit magicians and sooth Sayers for
divine intervention. Her daughter was diagnosed with a heart problem and was
supposed to under go surgical operation
in India. She says she visited 21 different magicians for help but could not
get. Instead they took away her money, chicken and other valuables for nothing.
When she came to Christ her daughter was healed and now goes to school. What a
good thing to praise God with. What a Mighty God we serve.
Food Security
Food insecurity exist when people do
not have enough basic food supplies to provide them with energy thus making
them malnourished and starving. This is an example people need to emulate.
Horizon
Pictorials up to date
Kathie Philips from North
Carolina USA stresses a point during the conference held in Kwale early this
year. The conference brought together over thirty participants of all walks of
life from all parts of the world.
Esther Miller from USA is also seen
taking the participants on how to be local missionaries in their own country.
The aim is to see the heart of Christ on the skin of every culture. Miller has
a vast experience in African Affairs having stayed in Malawi for over twelve
years.
The Rt. Rev. Kevin Higgins centre,
the international Director of Global Teams has a chat with Dr. Bryson Samboja
while the editorial staff of the Glorious Awakening with a cap left
looks on. Higgins visited Emmanuel Community school sponsored by Global teams
in Golini Kwale after the horizon 2009.
Delegates to the horizon conference
2009. On the right is Rev. Amos Mukiza from diocese of Kigali Rwanda relax out
side Emmanuel Community School after the horizon. On the right is Rev. Francis
Matumba from the diocese of Lake Malawi from the Republic of Malawi. Nancy
Mwatenga from Kwale centre, looks on.
The Rt. Rev. Kelvin Higgins Global
Teams International Director matches majestically to officially open Emmanuel
Community Kindergarten school in Golini Kwale. Bishop Higgins is a gifted
speaker narrator and story teller. He says people in Pakistan are always in a
hurry! But in a hurry going where! Going places that they don't always reach.
Yvonne North from North Carolina was
also the chief speaker during the conference. She is in-charge of the Turkana
region. Yvonne is a very spiritual and prayerful lady . With gifts of ethos she inspired many local
missionaries who had come to study missiology during the horizon conference.
The Global Teams Pwani
Director Dr. Bryson Samboja, back to the camera with a checked shirt leads a
pack of Global Teams missionaries inside Emmanuel Community School in Kwale
during it’s opening . The Global Teams International Director the Rt. Rev.
Kelvin Higgins graced the occasion.
Local Missionaries during
the horizon a training workshop for missionaries arrive in Kwale. On the right
is Rev. Newman Mwangombe, Abel Mwachia and this lady whose identity the writer
forgot share a light moment during the occasion.
A Pygmy’s Family in
the Congo
A family of the Pygmies
in the Congo are a group of the many people who have not been reached by the
gospel. The Pygmies still lead primitive lives in Africa . It is the role of
the Global Teams to see the heart of Christ on the skin of such people. This
photo courtesy of the diocese of Kigali Rwanda. (Kigali Cathedral)
Cathedral
News
Ordination
News
Bishop Julius Katoi Kalu of ACK
Mombasa Diocese sitting on a Cathedra in ACK Mombasa Memorial Cathedral during
the last ordination service. Six ordinands were made Priest while eight others
were made deacons. Ordination
is the conferring of authority to perform what could not be properly done
without it.
Deacons
Amukowa, Kioko and Woja kneeling before the Bishop to receive Ordinal powers to
serve. Deacons in those days were waiters hence the manner in which the stole
was put on running a cross the shoulder down words. In our Episcopal setting
Deacons belong to the ordained ministry but in other religious bodies they are
laymen.
Bishop
Julius Kalu in full Ordinal regalia confers blessings to ordinand David Amukowa
during the last Ordination Service at the Cathedral. Amkowa was among the six Deacons that were Priested.
Kinango Pictorial Round up
Kinango women
interdenominational Fellowship gathered for a days seminar at the ACK Emmanuel
Kinango Parish during the fourth week after Pentecost. The theme was to bring
all the women together in fellowship and sharing experiences in ministry facing
women in such areas. The chief speaker was Margaret Nganga from ACK Kwale
centre. In the picture from left to right Mrs. Kilonzo of AIC, mama Dan of MCK, Mdm Esther Mwaniki of RTU, Mrs. Ruwa of
EAPC, Mrs. Ann Ofundi of ACK and Flora Kesi of ACK.
Glorious Awakening Sells like hot
cake!
Scrambling to buy the Glorious
Awakening in St. Stephen’s Jadini in April this year. More than 150 copies were
sold in a day. Mark you the awakening sells like a hot cake as is seen her as
our readers scramble to get a copy each. Hurry up while stocks last to get your
copy too.
Worshiping like never before in
kinango. The GFS Sunday in Kinango Parish during Lenten season was a day to
remember. It was a spirit filled service led by the Kinango Parish Vicar in
collaboration with the GFS officials from all over the Mombasa diocese. The GFS
donated cloths, food and other items to the Kinango Christians to the glory of
God during famine that devastated most families in Kinango.
Skinning up a Carcass
ACK Kinango’s people’s warden Joseph
Mutua skins up a carcass of a he Goat to feed the guest from St. Peter’s Nyali
early this year. Kinango’s standard of entertaining their guests is of a goat.
Mutua is also a butcher man, peoples warden and a skilled business man.
Mr. David Kamau in black suit back to
camera brought a lorry full of food stuffs
to feed the kinango Christians. More than fifty different families
received food, cloths, flour, sugar, cooking oil, safety matches, blankets and
other items needed for livelihood. The items were worth 80,000/=. Mr. Kamau a
Christian from St. Paul’s Ukunda was in company of Ven. Harrison Chengo the
Arch Deacon Kwale. God bless you men.
The Vicar’s daughter back
to the camera, distributes cloths to the Kinango Christians in Vigurungani in
early lent this year. More than twenty families benefited from the scheme sent
by the SPYN during Kinango’s save the people campaign during famine. To God be
the Glory come again to Kinango and pray with us
The Ven. Harrison Chengo the Kwale
Arch Deacon left, and David Kamau in a black suit sing hymns during palm Sunday
in Kinango Parish with other Christians. Kinango Christians also received
relief food from Christians from St. Paul’s Ukunda.
The love of Christ on the skin of every human person
Before Beatrice got her
wheelchair this is how she used to move. She used walk on fours that is
quadruple for almost 10KM every day. Thanks a lot to the Bishop on Mombasa
Julius Kalu for donating a tricycle for her. This is the far the Lord has helped us –Ebenezer!
The 2009 District Secondary School Soccer games held in Kinango Parish
in June was a humiliating defeat to the home team Kinango Blue eagles. Kinango
lost to Mazeras in the semi finals on penalty shoot outs even after displaying
an outstanding game yet again. The champions were Mazeras High beat defending
champions Mwavumbo in the finals.
GFS St. Stephen’s Bamburi
GFS St. Stephen’s Bamburi were also our guests during the GFS
Sunday in March 15th 2009. They are taking part in a spirit filled
service in kinango Parish led by the Kinango Vicar and other GFS leaders from
all over the diocese of Mombasa.
The pride of Kinango ACK, GFS Kinango display their artistic skills of
worship during a spirit filled service held in Kinango Parish. Kinango will
never be the same again.
Thumbs up Snack Time!
This little girl below, from St. Jude Miritini could not hide her pride
when she visited Kinango Parish during the GFS Sunday . It is Snack time and
she poses with a smile after singing in a spirit filled service the song “I am
a radical girl” to the Glory of God.
“Thank God am now smart”
This man on the right had every reason to thank God for bringing
faithful friends from St. Peter’s Nyali who brought him new cloths. Here he is
seen in a new suit brought by the SPYN. This man comes from Vigurungani some
30KM from
Kinango town.
HAPPY EASTER
1. “Father forgive them; they do not
know what they are doing." Jesus
speaking to his father. (Luke 23:34)
2. “I tell you the truth, you will be with
me in paradise”. Addressed to the criminal who
acknowledged Jesus’ innocence.
(Luke 23:43)
3. “Dear woman, here is your
son’ (directed to Mary-John 19:26)
and here is your mother” spoken to the
beloved disciple- (John 19:27)
4. “My God, my God why have you forsaken
me?” dereliction cry addressed to his
father in heaven. (Math 22:46 Mark 15:34)
Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1
The Psalm expressed agony of the messiah’s
death for the world sin.
5. “I’ m thirsty” It’s not known who Jesus
was speaking to though soldiers responded-
John 19:28.
6. “It is finished” Jesus’ cry for victory-a
general proclamation to all. John: 19:28.
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my
spirit” - spoken to the father. (Luke-23:46)
The sixth word on the cross was spoken
after our Lord Jesus had received wine vinegar
to drink.
With this portrait of Jesus Christ on
the Cross, and the seven words on the Cross, we wish all our dear readers a
happy and a blessed Pentecost 2009
.
The
utterance “it is finished” is more than a mere statement that he had completed
drinking from the physical cup of suffering. The picture language used here
highlights arrest, trial and the climax of crucifixion as a much greater
spiritual cup which the father had given to Jesus, and which he had now
finished drinking.
The mission which started when Jesus left heaven for earth was being
accomplished during his suffering on the cross.
Vicar’s Wife
Kinango Parish
Annie Omusugu Vicar’s
wife Kinango Parish was the host during the GFS prayer Day Sunday held in
Kinango it was such a blessing day to all the Kinango People to the glory and
honor of God. A good organizer bravo!
Delegates to
Kinango Women Pastors’ Conference.
A one day women’s
conference was held in ACK Kinango during Pentecost. Women of all denominations attended. There
were over 80 women. The chief missioner
was Margaret Ng’anga, third left. Thank you women!
So Many Hungers
The Maasai community was
not spared either by famine. This family trekked several kilometers to look for
food brought by the SPYN early this year
Diocesan GFS
Officials
These Diocesan GFS
officials, from left to right Veronica Mutua, Timina Muoki and Mrs. Mwamburi
were the organizers of the GFS prayer Day in Kinango. Tribute to you all
wonderful women of God. God bless you for the good organization of the work not
forgetting the Vicar’s wife Kinango Parish for hosting the event.
College Student
Prays for Rain in Kinango
Bible school student
Winnie Gitonga prays for rain during GFS Sunday in Kinango. “Our Father who art
in heaven have mercy on the people of Kinango bring enough rain such that crops and animals will be in
abundance to the Glory of your name Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment