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A letter from Marta Bennett in Kenya |
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October 2006
Dear Friends,
I never would have guessed that by coming to serve in Nairobi,
Kenya, I would be part of an ongoing outreach to mainland China.
A week ago, I had the rare privilege of being part of the commissioning
of a new Chinese-speaking pastor who will begin a more in-depth
shepherding of a Chinese fellowship that has been meeting in my
local Kenyan church since 2002. Over 5,000 Chinese businesspeople
and government personnel (news agencies and embassy personnel),
primarily from mainland China, use Nairobi as their base, and
it is here that Kenyans and other resident foreigners are reaching
out to them and sharing the gospel. |
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Though attendance at the weekly fellowship is
only around 50 people, during the last few years, over 100 Chinese
have been publicly baptized as part of this fellowship, in response
to their confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Due to the nature
of their businesses and contracts, however, there is high turnover;
many people only stay in Nairobi for two years, so the challenge
of building |
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Pastor Lily and her husband (center) listen as Pastor Oscar Muriu
commissions them on behalf of the church. |
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continuity in the fellowship is
great, as well as the challenge of long-term discipleship for
these new believers.
Another challenge has been the language barrier. Many of the
Chinese know some basic English, but some know virtually none,
and their Swahili is non-existent. Thus the desire for worship,
teaching, and fellowship in their own language has grown. Through
a network of connections, last month their first full-time Chinese
pastor arrived to settle in Nairobi. Pastor Iris, along with her
husband Matthew (their chosen English names), are originally from
Hong Kong, where she has planted several churches. Iris has just
recently completed Bible school in Australia, and Africa has been
on her heart for some time, especially for the Chinese who are
living and working here. Thus, the connections were made, and
now she is here. |
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Pastor Iris (in glasses) and husband Matthew” listen to the
words of Pastor Oscar Muriu at their welcome and commissioning.
Behind are (l-r) a member of the Chinese fellowship and a Kenyan
elder.
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The church is moving to a new space for their
worship and fellowship, and so on Saturday, September 21, our church
hosted a special gathering to welcome the new pastor, and to commission
her, her husband, and the growing fellowship as they begin this
new chapter. A wonderful traditional Kenyan feast was prepared,
including “nyama choma” (roast goat), symbolic gifts
were given, and there was much sharing of stories, testimonies,
and prayers of thanksgiving to God, by |
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both Kenyan pastors and leaders
and the members of the Chinese fellowship.
One Chinese businesswoman said that at the end a planning meeting
last week for a special outreach event, as she and the group prayed
over their plans, she heard the voice of Pastor Iris praying over
them and those who would be touched by this event. The businesswoman
said that her eyes welled up with tears as she realized that they
now actually had their own pastor, and one who could speak and
pray in Chinese!
Please pray for the Chinese church, both here in Nairobi, and
for those returning home after their time here. People transplanted
here are often especially open to the gospel, as is often the
case when people are out of their normal surroundings and routines.
Some of the believers in the fellowship have been frequenting
the Chinese restaurants around town to befriend the owners and
to share with them the gospel. I myself have gotten to know Chinese
neighbors in each of the three places I have lived in Nairobi,
and I still email one couple I met the first few years here, who
now are back in mainland China. They had learned their English
in China from a teacher who had used the Bible as one of their
texts, so when we met in Nairobi, they asked if they could come
and see a Christian worship service. Of course I agreed, and they
accompanied me to church on several occasions, as well as joined
a trip with some of my Daystar University students, mostly so
that they could see more of the country, but also because they
were curious about us Christians. God continues to be at work
in their lives, as well as the lives of so many as God builds
the Chinese church—even here in Nairobi, Kenya.
Marta Bennett
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
335 |
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