bi but it developed at a slow pace. Mo- tivated by the famous CHE lesson ... wood and soft wood trees that he had bought
A publication from the CHE Kenya office
COMMUNITY HEALTH EVANGELISM KENYA MONTHLY UPDATE
Issue 1 Vol. 14
June 2014
Experiencing spiritual growth at the Coast
I
t all started in January 2014 with one family from the Digo community. They underwent CHE’s Healthy Homes Training. This is the manner in which the CHE Mabokoni hive off church began. A hive off church is one in which a few members belonging to a bigger church recruit members from there to form a new church As a result of this, the Mabokoni CHE Church began with just one family. As the trainings went on, they attracted passers by and within no time, they began to multiply. So far was the reach that even people from other faiths became interested in it. Consequently, 5 people from other faiths, who were willing to receive Christ’s gospel started being discipled.
Mabokoni CHE Church
To page 2
In this Issue: p1
p2
p3
p4
Experiencing spiritual growth at the Coast
Planting a church at Maili Saba
Taking CHE to the next level
Escaping from the clutches of drug addiction
Planting a church at Maili Saba
2
T
wo years ago
a children’s CHE was
started at Maili Saba slum area in Nairobi but it developed at a slow pace. Motivated by the famous CHE lesson
termed: the 4 men and the paralytic’ in relation to development: this is a teaching instilling the importance of development as a long term solution to poverty as opposed to short term relief; using the biblical story from Mark 2:4. the 4 men who took the initiative to remove the roof so that they could lower their paralytic friend to grant him access to Jesus so that he could be healed. Drawing from this teaching, the local CHE trainer attracted more children into the group until they reached 67. While interacting with them, he learned that their parents were irresponsible and some were even drunkards. This prompted him to reach out to them too.
Maili Saba Church To page 4
Experiencing spiritual growth at the Coast From page 1 The number of people from other faiths would have been more had they overcome their fear to come to the church. Therefore the rest of the members prayed for them to overcome their fear of being disowned by their communities.
In addition, their health habits have changed for the better thanks to CHE’s previous malaria campaign: they now sleep under mosquito nets.
Moreover, God accorded this church so much grace and favor such that it increased from just one family to a whooping 7 families. The Mabokoni CHE church now stands at a whole 22 members (9 children, 13 grownups). They have taken up double-digging vegetables such as mchicha, managu and okra since 2012.
The only challenge they are experiencing is covering costs to hire a motor bike to get to the church on Sundays. Otherwise, all they can do is praise God with all their hearts for sending CHE to alter their lives positively!
Health tips:
Eating a balanced diet fights depression The nature of your hand grip can show how well you are aging
Taking CHE to the next level
3
A few years later, the scenario is different. When I made a visit to Narok, Isaiah Muntet a 60 year old man from the Olngechemi CHE group beckoned me to follow him through a small gate facing several trees. As I perused the area past the small gate, I noticed several 2m high trees covering a long profile. This is the forest he planted as a result of the CHE trainings and to make things even better, he led us to a cluster of seedlings-these were more hard wood and soft wood trees that he had bought thanks to CHE. He hoped to sell the white podo and the red cedar when they came of age.
Isaiah Muntet from the Olngechemi Narok CHE group
A
t such a time as this, they idled around their homes not doing anything meaningful. The Olngechemi community in Narok once lived like this. To make matters worse, they helped themselves in the nearby bushes whenever nature called, without thinking of the repercussions of their actions. Fortunately, a CHE training was carried out that was well attended by the Olngechemi community. Apart from spiritual growth, they were taught about digging pit latrines, rubbish pits and planting trees to conserve their environment. Soon after, they began to share their love in the community and their faith in God increased. So they asked God to give them wisdom on how to positively change their lives.
Jokes:
What kind of joke do you make in the shower? A clean joke!
From there he led us to his chicken structure with a few chicken and showed us the well plastered kitchen belonging to his second wife. CHE once again had played a major role in these two deeds. Furthermore, he took us through a tour of his large farm. He has been growing potatoes and cabbage which he has been selling and reaping profits from. Moreover, he dug a pit latrine and his compound was well kept because he keenly adheres to CHE principles: maintaining a clean household and protecting the environment. To add to that, he motivated his two wives and sister in-law to dig pit latrines and rubbish pits. Looking at all the activities this 60 year old man has been doing, one would hardly have expected him to have done 5 vigorous activities simultaneously without a sweat. Yet he attributes it all to the Lord: He gives all the glory to God for giving him wisdom and faith. He thanked CHE so much for helping him to grow spiritually, for educating him and for instilling useful values in him that has enabled him to positively transform the Narok Community.
Escaping from the clutches of drug addiction
D
rug abuse as put in their words had almost totally destroyed their lives. This is the story of 2 former drug abusers who had been invited to speak at the Budalangi CHE group Drugs Abuse Training held on 13th June 2014. The drug abusers quarreled with their families on a daily basis, were crippled with poverty, found themselves in and out of jail and were disrespected by their communities. Fortunately that all ended that bright day when they received Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As the training progressed, the CHE trainer informed the participants about CHE and by the end of the training, CHE was perceived as the best organization, in comparison to the rest of the organizations in the area by the participants. This is because it stoops low to the community level and involves community members in defining their problems and finding their respective solutions.
Drug Abuse Awareness Training (Seed Project) at Budalangi
Such was their positive feedback that they pleaded with CHE to organize such a meeting again.
Planting a church at Maili Saba
God came though in such a special way because some parents gave their lives to Christ. A growth group (this is a group of believers who disciple new -believers) consisting of 8 parents began. After a year’s work of discipleship done by the growth group, the most exciting event occurred, as a result of using the CHE strategy. The Maili Saba Church officially started on May 25th 2014.
It comprised of children in the Children’s CHE and their parents as the first members of this church. The urban facilitator was more than inspired and grateful to be given the privilege to inaugurate the commencement of the Maili Saba Church!
Community Health Evangelism Kenya East Africa School of Theology (EAST) opp. Tuskys Supermarket, Buruburu, Nairobi P. O. Box 46328-00100 0722 312 199, 0722 263 009, 0720 067 997 www.chekenya.org Facebook: Community Health Evangelism Kenya Twitter: @che_kenya
