Tim and Gertrude Wambunya - Kenya |
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Prayer Letter August 2008
It is now six months since we arrived in Nairobi and this is the first ‘proper’ mission partners newsletter we are writing. It has been a hectic, challenging but fulfilling six months.
We began our ministry at Carlile College in a volatile and anxious situation. We had to adjust to a new culture, a new job, new schools, new homes and new people. It is hard to believe that five months have passed. We hope you will understand why it has taken us so long to write - we promise to improve and aspire to match the excellent communication record set by our predecessors David and Rachel Williams, who are now serving in Australia.
As we said in our last two hasty updates, life has been hectic and challenging because of the numerous issues we had to deal with on arrival and yet fulfilling because of the endless gospel opportunities we have had.
When we arrived in January, Kenya was literally up in flames. The phrase you hear now is that ‘the country has been to hell and back’. We found staff and students at the college anxious about the future and devastated by their experiences. The ‘Church’ was confused and unable to offer any kind of Christian leadership. It took Kofi Annan, a politician/diplomat to guide the country including the ‘Church’ back to its senses. At that time you could have been forgiven for suggesting the gospel had not yet reached Kenya. Kofi Annan spent the first week in the country asking and looking for an acceptable and respectable Christian Leader who would stand with him as he sought to determine a solution to the political crisis – he found none. This is surely the most compelling evidence of the lack of gospel depth within the Christian church in this country and it reminds us of the urgent need to invest resources in re-planting the Gospel here.
12 HIGHLIGHTS
1. In January David Banting of St Peters Harold Wood visited us and was able to preach to students and staff in the College Chapel. It was refreshing to have an overseas friend visit the country when every other foreign person was finding their way out to avoid the post election crisis.
2. In February, Church Army and Carlile College organised a Bishops' Retreat Conference in Mombasa to reflect on the future of Mission in Kenya and the role of the Church in peace building and reconciliation process. The Bishops gave Church Army a mandate to lead the mission and social transformational agenda of the Anglican Church in Kenya.
3. Also in February, we had the first of the three recently introduced annual Schools of Biblical Preaching at Carlile College led by Doug Johnson (now Director of AICMAR- Chadwick Library in Kenya) Agnes Brough, Ed Moll, Phillip Sudell and Greg Prior.
4. Then in March we had our Inaugural School Chaplaincy Graduation. 25 teachers graduated as School chaplains. This was a milestone moment as Carlile is the only college in Kenya training school chaplains.
5. In April we had another new course – the School of Excellence in Biblical Leadership and Management led by Pastor Peter Oyugi a Kenyan Pastor based in Harrow, London.
6. Then there was the Crosslinks mission partners’ conference in Turtle Bay, Watamu (Mombasa). It was so refreshing to spend a week with other mission partners and to hear their stories.
7. In May we were joined by Mark Redhouse and Andrew Baughen for a series of lectures on various subjects including prayer and a college mission to Maasai land.
8. Then Jean Wangari joined us from Islington - Tollington Park in north London - for a three month placement to share sharing with us over fifteen years experience as a SOAS (University of London) administration officer. Wangari is doing wonders streamlining admin systems and training staff.
9. Rev Professor Emil Chandran joined our staff in May. He is a great asset and will be very useful in advising us in the university application process.
10. Also in May the Centre of Urban Mission based in Kibera was re-opened. We have now resumed teaching there.
11. It was also a joy to be invited to be a special governor on St Andrews Turi governing board where our eldest, Tim, is in Boarding school. My job will be to provide a Christian input and support the School Chaplain.
12. We finally moved to a ‘permanent’ house. The house still needs a lot of work, the water pipes are blocked, the electrics are dangerous but we are grateful for the big garden, fresh air and affordable rent.
FUTURE AND PRAYER POINTS
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Pray the Lord will continue to equip us to faithfully lead the college community. Give thanks for the way the Lord has sustained us thus far.
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Pray that we will continue to establish the good work here. Give thanks for the faithful service of our predecessors David and Rachel Williams.
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Pray for staff and students at Carlile College, that we will be united and focused on training and preparing people for gospel ministry. Give thanks for the quality of staff and students and for their passion for the Gospel.
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Pray for all the needy students who rely on the college to find them scholarships and bursaries. Give thanks for those who have donated to our emergency fund.
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Pray for all our friends, supporters and visitors. Give thanks for those who continue to support the college financially and visit us to facilitate conferences.
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Pray for the leadership of the Anglican Church in Kenya that they will focus on mission. Give thanks for the Bishops mandate to lead the mission and social transformational agenda of the Anglican Church in Kenya.
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Pray for all our new programmes - annual Schools of Biblical Preaching, School of Excellence in Biblical Leadership and Management, School of Missions and the ongoing School Chaplaincy Training. Give thanks for all who have benefitted from our programmes.
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Pray for more staff (mission partners) especially in biblical studies, finance, planning and marketing. Give thanks for Professor Emil Chandran who joined our staff in May.
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Pray for our Centre for Urban Mission based in Kibera. Give thanks for this unique and strategic training ministry.
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Pray for the University status application process with the Commission for Higher Education. Give thanks for the progress we have made in the last five months.
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Pray for a good student intake. Give thanks for the many students currently studying at Carlile. ! Pray for our new home, that all the repairs will be sorted out and that we will soon settle so we can concentrate on the work here. Give thanks for such a spacious and yet affordable house.
Yours Sincerely
Tim, Gertrude, Tim Jnr, Okari and David