Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Culture Reading
· Read in Culture Smart: Kenya: Chapter 1, “A Brief History,” 27-35.
Note the ancient impact of this area on history.
Also, note that Colonialism and European development came only about 150 years ago—and that Kenya has been under self-rule for only 60 years.
They follow a British form of government, and have been relatively stable.
When visiting to Kenya, one must keep in mind the impact of British Colonialism and Christian missions in the development of the modern political system. It is almost impossible to separate Western-Anglo Christianity from the social, educational, and religious developments brought about by England and other European colonial powers.
Devotional Thought
Did you read the “brief history” of Kenya? It is a great summary, especially in comparison to the 700-page Kenya: A History Since Independence by Charles Hornsby. The history of Kenya has been a story of tribal connections, rivalries, bartering, peace and conflict, and response to European colonialism. The Europeans (primarily British, Germans, and Portuguese) who settled and colonized the region managed to build a nation out of 47 unique tribal identities, most of which have roots in ancient western Africa (the Bantu language group). The Europeans were motivated by treasure hunting, land accumulation for trade, and various moral contributions such as mission points, medical aid, and education.
The truth is, much of Kenya’s relationship to western influences has been one of exploitation. Fortunately, the British missionary societies of the 1800s saw Kenya and Uganda as a prime place for “enlightenment” through education and religion. Thus, the Gospel message has always been connected to British education. And education has always been viewed as a way out of poverty and into “enlightened” Western society. You will see this in the way that most Kenyans adopt “Christian” or “western” first names.
But we must remember that we are not here to take advantage of Kenyan hospitality, nor are were here to make converts to our economic, political, or even religious expressions. We are here to represent God and to proclaim the grace of Jesus and to empower Kenyan adults and children through discipleship and educational training. It is our job to elevate the status of the worthy Kenyan leaders with whom we will be working. And it is our joy to build on foundations that have already been established by God. We do not come as experts or powerful people (even though our training warrants that kind of respect). We come as partners who journey with our Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ. We are advancing the Kingdom of God by sharing our lives, knowledge, and testimony, while listening to the experiences and stories of our hosts. We have come to journey (safari) with the people.
Reflection and Prayer
1. Pray that God will keep our focus on the mission and not on our wealth, status, and pride.
2. Pray that God will show us how to best partner with our hosts.
3. Ask God to use our resources and knowledge to elevate our Kenyan team members who lead in areas of evangelism, discipleship, worship, and service.
4. Pray that we will be “Gospel-first,” using our cultural advantages to further the work of the Kingdom of God.
5. Pray that we will be true ambassadors for Jesus.
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