WHY APOSTLES CAME FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA INTO KENYA

A growing number of Christians are increasingly becoming aware of Kenya’s role in global evangelism. Whether the reader falls in that group or not, the purpose of this post is to enlighten further on the matter. As already explained on this site, there is no other continent other than Africa that will be the center of the last global revival. Within that continent there is a country called Kenya and today we focus on its role in particular.

From outspoken voices worldwide, Kenya in included, there is a growing consensus that the country will be very central in the last revival. There are many voices speaking about the same. Some say the revival has been delayed and the country must go through challenging times. For the benefit of those who may not have listened to any such voice, allow one link from YouTube that a pastor from Zimbabwe, Ian Ndlovu, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7nem3eBDGU&t=77s – who has nothing to do with the Gospel of God Church explains the matter.

There are many others who have spoken on the matter, some will be found by searching. Others will be more subtle on the matter – as it may be mentioned among other topics. The reason for not posting them is to avoid taking positions on some of the other contents of those records. But whoever is keen on the matter will research independently.

As to when this topic gained traction may be difficult to point out. However, in the case of Apostles from Gospel of God Church, this is what they knew and were asked to execute more than half a century ago. It is the reason they left the comfort of Southern Africa and ventured into Kenya - where in many respects there were many challenges – including statelessness – until Uhuru Kenyatta granted the Shona citizenship on 12^th December 2021. This in itself was a big step in evangelical work because the little that had been done especially travel far was done in difficulty – due to many challenges arising from statelessness and lack of documents.

Had it not been about awareness the role of Kenya God’s future plan, apostles would never have left Zambia – for it is in the Zambia years that many churches were established across borders it is the time they ventured into Malawi, Botswana, Tanzania, and eventually Kenya. Remember, in that era, it was also rather unusual to find indigenous churches established in Africa to have traversed borders as many remained confined to a region of the country – typically not going beyond peoples of one ethnicity. Moreover, the Zambia years were rather prosperous as businesses which apostles relied on became well established and for the first time, they were able to operate in a country whose government was sympathetic to their cause and struggles with colonial misrule. In addition, Zambia’s independence government led by Kenneth Kaunda was extremely hospitable to Africans from countries in Southern Africa that were under white domination and this was not confined to civilians but even guerillas from the many nationalist movements of the time such as ZAPU (Zimbabwe), FRELIMO (Mozambique), UNITA (Angola), MPLA (Angola) ANC (South Africa) and SWAPO (Namibia).

The Councils of Peter and Jacob

From the brief mention on the organs page https://www.gospelofgod.church/organs.php some readers may know that these two councils are central to the administration of this church. The first to be formed was the council of Peter (called Dare rePitros) in Shona and the Council of Jacob (Dare reJacobo) was formed later to coordinate the churches back home.

The word Dare can be mistaken for a different word in English but is the name of a council or oversight group. There are other Dares in Church but here we are talking of the supreme two.

For whoever cares about the pronunciation (a is as in for apple or avocado; and e is like elephant; r is not silent). DARE

One may wonder why there were so named, but they mirrored on the early Christian Church mostly in Europe, Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Peter and a group of Christians were away from home in Rome. From that one should guess that Dare Pitros is the Evangelical Council. Jacob who many know as James the disciple of Jesus was in Jerusalem (or at home). This should indicate that Dare Jacobo is the council back home. Someone may say that they have never heard of a disciple of Jesus called Jacob but that was the actual name. Something like Yacov. The English version of this name is James. The reason the English version is what many know is simply because King James who led one of the major early translations wanted his name to appear in the Bible. Otherwise, if one goes to a Kiswahili Bible, the name is Yacobo.

Obviously, in the early days, missionary life was hard. That is the challenge those who had to leave home faced. It could mean selling or parting way with assets such as land or animals that were very central to African life. Living away from home could mean that you would end up landless and having to pay for accommodation – which was free back home. As such when Apostles were leaving South Africa, some felt that they needed to settle back home rather than go to Zambia. The messenger was not for this reversal but it was within their right. Reportedly, they were even given land to settle by the state. But it was expected that they were going back and would not return to mix with the missionary group.  The missionary group under Dare rePitros moved to Kitwe, Copperbelt, Zambia. Their children and those who would join them would be counted as missionaries. They would spread the gospel worldwide form Kenya – where the Evangelical Council was to be based. Consequently, to this day all missionary work in the Gospel of God Church is coordinated from Nairobi – regardless of whether it takes place in Sudan, India, or Australia.

As far as evangelical work (called Matiwimana – a name derived from four corners of the world) is concerned, the group under Dare reJacobo is to support Matiwimana work being done by Dare rePitros – financially or materially. They do not do evangelical work. The only reason why you would find people from Southern Africa doing missionary work elsewhere is because like any other organization, the church broke into various versions and denominations. Otherwise, there is not ambiguity of roles in the Gospel of God as it was set up. It is important to remember that Zambia for example to this day is counted among the missionary group. The Gospel of God Church there is under the jurisdiction of Dare Pitros. Some weighty matters including the ordination of Evangelists there is done in Nairobi. They also work very closely with Nairobi because of related responsibility. One may ask: What if the Kenya group failed in their evangelical responsibility – could they be assisted by those from Zimbabwe? The answer according to the messenger was no, their success or failure will be judged by God. They are not immune to any consequences even punishments that can result.

Therefore, it is essentially one organization with two parts that function differently. Think of it as that country where there is one military but some are marines or national guard. But they all constitute the miliary of that country.  Or the church that has some called missionaries and others diocesans – but is still a unified church.

The Ark, or House of Covenant

Now that we have established that global evangelism in this institution is the responsibility of Kenya, it is time to look at the other important organ that was set up. The House of Covenant or institution of sisters. The story about this one is short. It is Dare Pitros that was given the responsibility of oversight or looking after the House of Covenant. If Baba Johanes words were to be kept to the letter, there would be no sisters living year-in-year-out in other places other than Nairobi, Kenya. For all those who hear that there was a compound that he purchased for the sisters, it is in Nairobi, Kenya. They can have residences elsewhere as sanctioned by the council – like they have in Gede or Nyandarua but they usually go there on a rotation basis or during their tour of duty – whereas they still return to Nairobi. The same would apply if they have a residence elsewhere – as nearly happened in Ethiopia. They would still go there rotationally but not permanently. But finally matters of the sisters were left in the hands of the council of Peter to administer.

Having said this, one may ask: Why is it that when Baba Johane left (physically), most of the sisters were in Zambia? This question would not be difficult if one remembers that Zambia was the immediate place they were coming from. From Zambia preparations had to be made about where they were going to stay – and how they were going to be maintained there. The people who were going to take care of them had to settle and organize themselves. This could only have been done systematically. At the same time Zambia and Nairobi were one administratively – being answerable to Dare Pitros as already explained. Zambia was better established – and for a long time Nairobi was very dependent on Zambia for money – which would be brought in form of dollars by a courier at times in a briefcase. Today, Nairobi is able to contribute a lot – because, even as missionaries the first responsibility is to ensure that their objectives are met. So whatever members earn in their business or employment also supports the church. Those who are not expected to work as a matter of duty but may still have their income generating activities are the sisters. Ideally, the elders or council should also be supported – even partially – though this is sometimes overlooked.

Let us go to Eden to restore what was lost

Let us go to Eden and restore what was lost. This is a song in Shona language that Baba Johane was singing about his mission into East Africa. It is therefore left to apostles to look at scriptures and try to find out where Eden was. Looking at Genesis 2:10 it is stated that a river flowed through the garden of Eden and beyond Eden it is divided into four rivers.  The second river Gihon (Nile) gives us a clue – for it passes through the Country of Cush – which was a known country. The name Cush is sometimes used interchangeably with a later name that came to be called Ethiopia – meaning black or burned faces in Greek or with Sudan – derived from Sud (meaning black in Arabic). Ethiopia of the Bible years was an area South of Egypt and was known to include present day Sudan and Ethiopia.  Changes in names of places over the years will be revisited in a brief post.

From Genesis is however clear that Eden was not in Cush – because as explained, it was only beyond (or after/outside) Eden that the rivers arose. The possibility of Eden coming from the Blue Nile in present day Ethiopia is unlikely because it would have been very easy to say that Eden itself was in (not beyond) the country of Cush.

Having reflected on those thoughts, the reason Apostles were asked to go to Kenya and not any other country is clear. At the same time, the key organs of the church were organized with Kenya in mind.

 P/S: Next will be a brief post on Nyahururu, Kenya which lies on the equator and will be followed by a post about the first Kenyan pastors.