The Diocese of Marsabit battles famine, poverty and drought, intertribal conflict and the threat of Islamic radicalisation in the north. But in this arid land, the gospel has found good soil and is bearing fruit in the lives of many.
We sat down with Jomo Nderitu (top right, with Anne his wife), the youth and children’s worker in Marsabit Diocese, to hear a bit more detail about the vast harvest field, the gospel need and Jomo’s ministry to the local young people.
Jomo, how did you come to serve in the Diocese of Marsabit as the youth and children’s worker?
I grew up in Nakuru, in the Central Rift Valley, to the south of Kenya. I first came to Marsabit in 2014, while serving for a year as an iServe Africa ministry apprentice at ACK St Paul’s Moyale, in the north of the Diocese of Marsabit, bordering Ethiopia. This exposed me to the huge need for faithful, passionate and courageous gospel workers in Marsabit. I began praying, asking the Lord to raise and send labourers to this land. But then, as the Lord often works, I began to consider whether I could be part of the answer to my prayer. Could I be a labourer whom the Lord was raising, equipping and sending to build his church in the region?
I felt aware of my lack of experience and sought formal theological training. Andy Harker, my mentor at iServe Africa and Rt Rev Rob Martin, the first Bishop of Marsabit, recommended me for a Crosslinks BEST bursary and I went on to study a Bachelor of Theology at George Whitfield College in South Africa. After my studies, the Lord opened a door for me to return to Marsabit, to build on the gospel youth work that had been started by Rev Daniel Odhiambo.
Marsabit Diocese is a huge region and you’re responsible for 64 churches! How do you manage that?
To be honest, it’s hard. I wish I could have more concentrated and regular gospel moments with youth and children’s workers in all of the 64 churches. Even if I were to visit each church every Sunday, I’d need more than a year to make one cycle. And the distances are vast, so travel can take hours, even days. That’s an exhausting, ineffective and expensive way to serve.
Instead, it is much more fruitful and sustainable to spend whatever resources we have on preparing and running regional workshops, concentrated training courses and conferences. These gather local gospel workers and equip them to teach young people faithfully. We’re absolutely convinced that this means we can reach more young people while simultaneously growing the number of faithful gospel workers who will return to minister in their local parishes and communities.
I also serve as the Diocesan Schools Chaplain, and seeing the youth get excited about Jesus is a personal highlight, which I wouldn’t otherwise get through training, as I’m one step removed from them. The Diocese runs two secondary schools, and about 15 further schools are open to me coming in each week to run Bible studies and give talks to the students.
You’re also involved in running the iMarika conference – tell us more about that?
‘iMarika’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘steadfast’. The iMarika youth conference happens once a year and draws young people from all corners of the Diocese for a week of in-depth teaching, mentorship, discipline, prayer, training on how to teach the Bible in a Christcentred way and fellowship. The aim of the conference is to help raise a generation of young people who are rooted in Christ, living fruitful and transformed lives and steadfast in their faith. There are practice expositions, seminars on the practicalities of youth ministry, training in servant leadership, Bible studies and a Q&A session. We want to give young people confidence in God’s word, space to ask their questions and equipping to live out their faith.
What joys are there in your ministry?
Seeing young people grow in their knowledge of Scriptures, especially those who I’ve been walking alongside for some years now. This is then reflected in how they live, in their hope expressed in times of adversity, and in their love for one another even for those outside their tribe is immensely encouraging – the gospel does change lives.
But perhaps my greatest highlight is seeing the seed of faithful Bible handling planted and slowly beginning to grow and take shape in the diocese. Praise God for the team of ten young men and women who we have been sending to Gerald and Louise Mwangi (more on page 7) for intensive training courses on God’s word and Christian leadership. Despite the many challenges, the Lord is surely building his church in this land.
What are some hardships and discouragements?
Ministering to people who cannot afford basic necessities like food, clothes and shelter is a huge challenge. Often they come with genuine requests, but I can’t offer immediate assistance. The lack of resources for ministry can also be an obstacle; often people are willing to serve but without provision, work cannot go ahead. It’s hard to see young people battling with things of the world that are enticing but ultimately enslaving: Islamic radicalisation, sex, alcohol, drugs.
The distance between churches is big logistical challenge. The roads are often almost impassable, and travel is slow. And because there is such a need, finding time to rest is a challenge. I always feel there’s something I could be doing. I find myself struggling with ‘Saviour Syndrome’: ‘I must do this and that, help that person, reach this village with the gospel’. Those are all good desires, but they confront me with my limitedness, and I end up feeling exhausted, and inadequate.
What is your prayer for the people in Marsabit?
That the Lord will open their eyes to the true hope and imperishable inheritance believers have in Christ Jesus. That they will stand firm in faith through persecution and trials. I pray that the Lord will raise more faithful local gospel workers passionate to share the gospel and see it bear fruit in people’s hearts. And I pray that in an area where darkness seems to reign, the church will thrive and offer hope as a beacon of light.
