Sunday 6 January 2008 was the first time in 2 weeks that disciples in Nairobi were able to gather together for worship service. Earlier, many were away for Christmas holidays and then the country was rocked by bloody and gory violence in the wake of announcement of the result of the presidential election. The violence gained ferocity as it quickly turned into ethnic war.

The turmoil meant that people could hardly move freely. Many were forced to remain indoors. Essential services ground to a halt and food became scarce. Areas in Nairobi became theatres of street battles. Houses were burned. Shops were looted. Hundreds were hacked to death. Many were raped and sodomized. Families fled. Anger and hatred filled the air. Chaos reigned. Darkness descended.

And so on Sunday 6 January was a day to pray for peace. Many brothers prayed, in different languages, but with one same theme. All along, heavily armed soldiers stood vigil at the gate to the venue and along part of its perimeter, as an adjacent public park, a potential hotspot for further agitation, had to be guarded.

Evangelist Steve Mukenya (right) exhorted disciples to stop being party to rumour-mongering, taking sides, and descending into anger and hatred. “You can blame people or you can find God,” Steve preached. “We mustn’t be like everyone else,” he continued, “casting judgment on people because of their tribe and enforcing ethnic stereotypes.” Instead he called all to be the light and the salt of the earth.

The joy and relief at being together again was obvious during and after church. Individual disciples and HOPE worldwide Kenya distributed food and clothing (left) to disciples from the slum of Kibera, which was gravely affected by the turmoil.

One of the brothers who generously gave towards the distribution expreesed his motivation to assist, “I believe God has given us a chance to give and I just thought how that all was well for these disciples then all of a sudden they are homeless with no food and no clothes to change into. It’s really cold out there and some also have kids with them.”

Kenya needs prayers – prayers for peace. The disciples in Kenya need prayers – prayers for peace. And they need support – food, clothes, blankets. Pray for peace.