Kenya

Partner with Local Missionaries in Kenya

Located in the 10/40 Window

Hard-hit by both drought and flooding, and then locust swarms, Kenya is an economic leader in Africa, and yet half of its population lives below the poverty level. Ailments associated with poverty such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition remain common threats, killing many children. Corruption in government is responsible for an inability to address these concerns.

Kenya has a diverse population of many ethnic groups. The largest native ethnic groups are the Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo and Kamba. The northeastern border area with Somalia is inhabited by many ethnic Somalis, and Muslim extremists from Somali rebel group Al Shabaab or their sympathizers have launched many guerrilla attacks on migrant workers from the interior and other Christians.

English and Swahili are the two official languages, with many rural communities speaking their native ethnic languages. At least 69 languages are spoken in Kenya.

While 78 percent of the population identifies as Christian, many belong to nominal denominations, while others blend animistic tribal religions into their church practice. Islam, practiced by 10.9 percent of the population, is the country’s second-largest religion, with most Muslims living in either coastal areas or along the border with Somalia.

Indigenous missionaries are reaching more than 30 unreached people groups. They need assistance for training and support, Bibles, discipleship materials, and bicycles and motorbikes. Other ministry tools such as sound systems and projectors for gospel films are needed, along with simple structures for churches that meet outside.

To combat Kenya’s widespread poverty, ministries are undertaking income-generating projects to support their workers and the communities they are serving. One ministry seeks funding to supply goats so that 40 families can achieve economic stability. Another ministry plans to provide cows to 10 pastors. Local missionaries seek to provide poultry projects to 10 widows and sewing machines for 10 others who complete sewing classes. Local missionaries also seek assistance to provide a brick-making machine to youths who are helping to support their families by selling hand-made bricks. Workers are also providing food, clothing, medicine and education to the children of a community they hope to reach for Christ.

Missionaries and the people they’re serving have been devastated by natural disasters like locust swarms and drought, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Hunger is widespread, and people must migrate or starve. Local workers are providing relief aid to the poor and helping orphans and other needy people with basic necessities and schooling.

Sources: Joshua Project, Wikipedia

53.7 million

Population

47.6%

Evangelical Population:

110

People Groups:

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Kenya

Pray for churches to be unified, biblically grounded and sources of light and warmth in their communities, and that they will be kept safe from hostile animists or Islamic extremists.
Pray that poor children will be become educated or learn trades so that they can obtain work that will lift their families out of poverty.
Pray that local missionaries and those they are serving will survive COVID-19, drought, flooding and locust swarms and glorify God with their lives.

More stories from Kenya

Tell of Christ’s Mercy and Love in Kenya

A local ministry’s church is located in the city’s most dangerous slum, and recently, a team of missionaries evangelized door-to-door near the church. “Within one hour, they were able to reach 134 people with the gospel, and 31 people intelligently indicated a salvation decision in Christ,” the ministry leader said. You can assist with such evangelism through a donation of $25 or $50. Pray the Lord’s protection over missionaries.

Lift up the Downtrodden in Kenya

A little girl came to a local ministry alone, carrying all of her belongings. Her mother had died from cancer several years earlier, and the child had since suffered abuse and forced labor. A missionary went with her to receive medical care because she had tremendous back pain, and the child underwent an MRI. Despite the difficulties she has faced, she is the top student in school, and the missionaries’ hearts were broken to see her in such pain.

Bring the Light of Christ to Dark Places in Kenya

The pastor of a local church was killed by robbers early one morning as he opened the church in preparation for worship later that day. "He was a young pastor that I have known very well," said a local ministry leader who trained the young man in evangelism and discipleship and also brought him on many evangelistic trips into rural areas. "Pray for our safety. The insecurity where we are working has really increased. But always my heart beats for missions and the Great Commission." Your donations support missionaries who persevere for the sake of the gospel.

Risking All for Christ in Kenya

When Akello*, a young Kenyan pastor, arrived at his church early one morning, he had no idea that day would be his last. As he fitted the key into the lock, robbers suddenly surrounded him, demanding entry in hopes they could steal whatever valuables might be inside. Maybe Akello resisted. Maybe that’s why they killed him. But the details became irrelevant when he fell to the ground, church keys still in hand. “He was one of the Christian youth leaders that I have trained in evangelism and discipleship,” a local ministry leader later said. “The burial will be next week; it is very difficult for them.”

Preach the Message of Salvation in Kenya

Pray for hearts to be transformed as the gospel message is preached. Over the course of a year, local missionaries showed the Jesus film in more than 130 villages and 17 public schools. As a result, more than 1,400 people heard the gospel, 510 people gave their lives to Christ, and 394 believers were baptized.

Help Form Strong Christians in Kenya

Local missionaries were stunned by the transformation they saw in a shy 15-year-old girl after she accepted Christ. As they discipled her, she developed courage in Christ to serve in her slum community and proclaim the Lord’s salvation, including helping to turn a boy away from the drugs he was starting to take and leading him to Christ. Workers in the native ministry recently reached nine people groups with the gospel, including four new tribes. They and other local missionaries need donations to undertake such evangelistic outreach and follow-up. Pray that more people would grow in their knowledge of the Lord.