2. Thika Diocese, Kenya, 'Umoja' project
CONNECTED CHURCH
Thika Diocese, Kenya, 'Umoja' project

3. Living Stones
October 15

4. This is Gitwe church. When Rev Kang’ethe arrived, the church was close to dying. Out of a congregation of 40, at least 10 people had stopped coming due to lack of good leadership and feeling that things would not improve. The church were unable to pay their diocesan quota allocation or support the vicar, their electricity supply had been disconnected and internal conflicts had torn the church apart.
In this seemingly bleak situation, the new vicar began to take the church through the Umoja process.
The congregation began to see and envision a new way forward together. They committed to change their attitudes and convinced those who had stopped coming that there was hope for their dying church. Someone likened the fallen state of the church with the fallen wall of Jerusalem, which instilled a strong commitment for them to join hands and give their church a new face. They woke up to the role of prayer and began a strong intercessory ministry.

5. Living stones in a spiritual house, Rebuilding the walls
Debts paid
Electricity in vicarage
New chairs
Money matters had been a major cause of division and conflict in the church due to mismanagement of the little that the members reluctantly gave. After going through the foundational Umoja Bible studies, their perspective on giving was completely changed and they are now joining hands as living stones in a spiritual house. Compared to last year where the total giving was £577, this year the church had raised £2,286.
They have been able to pay their diocesan quota and the vicar’s allowances up to date. The outstanding electricity bills have been paid and the church has also installed electricity in the vicarage.
The church members also decided to phase out the old and uncomfortable benches they had used since the church began in 1994, replacing them with plastic chairs. One lady who would never participate in church activities even rallied her family members to help with this to rebuild the ‘wall of Jerusalem’.

6. Bible studies and Chicken farming!
The community in Gitwe depend highly on tea farming whose returns don’t guarantee sustainable income due to low market prices, exploitation by middlemen, late or no payment, corruption, etc.
But the Umoja Bible studies helped the church members to understand that God has a great vision for His beloved people.
As a result, six families started raising an improved breed of chicken that matures within five months compared to the indigenous breed that takes up to a year. The church plan to help every home to do the same which will be a reliable way to diversify their income.
Rev Kang’ethe was so impressed by the transformation he saw on a learning visit to another community who were further along the Umoja journey that he decided to revive his chick hatchery business. He distributes chicks to church and community members and the machine has not been switched off since he began in October. At full capacity, it provides the family with an income of £144 every 21 days.

7. ‘After restoring the hope of the church, they are now able to confidently dream about the future in transforming their community.’
Rev Kang’ethe admits that if he hadn’t had CCMP in his toolbox for ministry, he would have found it hard to restore the church given the state it was in when he arrived. He says that after restoring the hope of the church, they are now able to confidently dream about the future in transforming their community.
Rev Kang’ethe

8. PRAYER Thank God for restoring hope and unity at Gitwe Church
Pray for guidance and wisdom as they grow and reach out to their community
Pray for the chicken farming and other successful income generating activities
Thank God for restoring hope and unity at Gitwe Church
Pray for guidance and wisdom as they grow and reach out to their community
Pray for the chicken farming and other successful income generating activities