A WORLD OF HOPE
Gilbert Wandera
(Gilbert is a member of the Nairobi church and is a sports writer for one of Kenya's leading daily newspapers)
On March 2 my employer sent me to Kampala to cover a high-profile soccer game between Kenya's World Hope FC and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
I left the country for the assignment at a time of great uncertainty after hooded men had
attacked our work premises. I felt fear and concern for my wife and daughter whom I was leaving behind as in similar circumstances, "hit men" have bee known to the target individual journalists and their families.
A day after arrival on a Friday evening I read a story on the church website about the planting of the Church in Malaba and how about seven disciples had managed to bring more than 200 visitors. This was really inspiring for my faith and challenged me to do something immediately. A few hours later I decided to put my faith on the line by inviting the whole World Hope FC team to the Sunday service of the Kampala International Church of Christ.
The leader of the Kampala church, Richard Ahenda, came to see me on Saturday at the stadium where the match was being played and gave me details about the church venue and even asked me to share in the communion message. After the match I followed up again on the church issue and was amazed that majority of the players were willing to turn up other than just one official of the team who was suggesting that they go to a different church.
However, I firmly told them that I would take them to my church and the official was overruled by the rest, who insisted they would come to church with me.
On Sunday morning I woke up apprehensive, excited and fearful. I called a Ugandan journalist who is a friend of mine to confirm that he would come to church. Taking a taxi to the hotel where the World Hope team was staying, I found the whole team waiting for me eager to go. There were about 25 of them.
At church, the disciples were very welcoming and encouraging to the visitors. All in all we had a great time. The soccer players and team officials really loved the service and promised to visit in Nairobi.
When I got back to aitrobi,I found my family fie and well.
For me it was so encouraging to see how God can use me if I decide to trust in him and not give in to fear or intimidation, or care what others might think. It is sad how we sometimes fail to see the many ways that God can use us because we are afraid or because we allow many other barriers hold us back.
It was also great to be in a foreign congregation and listen to the same message with the same standards and convictions. I am really proud to be a member of the International Churches of Christ.
I left the country for the assignment at a time of great uncertainty after hooded men had
attacked our work premises. I felt fear and concern for my wife and daughter whom I was leaving behind as in similar circumstances, "hit men" have bee known to the target individual journalists and their families.
A day after arrival on a Friday evening I read a story on the church website about the planting of the Church in Malaba and how about seven disciples had managed to bring more than 200 visitors. This was really inspiring for my faith and challenged me to do something immediately. A few hours later I decided to put my faith on the line by inviting the whole World Hope FC team to the Sunday service of the Kampala International Church of Christ.
The leader of the Kampala church, Richard Ahenda, came to see me on Saturday at the stadium where the match was being played and gave me details about the church venue and even asked me to share in the communion message. After the match I followed up again on the church issue and was amazed that majority of the players were willing to turn up other than just one official of the team who was suggesting that they go to a different church.
However, I firmly told them that I would take them to my church and the official was overruled by the rest, who insisted they would come to church with me.
On Sunday morning I woke up apprehensive, excited and fearful. I called a Ugandan journalist who is a friend of mine to confirm that he would come to church. Taking a taxi to the hotel where the World Hope team was staying, I found the whole team waiting for me eager to go. There were about 25 of them.
At church, the disciples were very welcoming and encouraging to the visitors. All in all we had a great time. The soccer players and team officials really loved the service and promised to visit in Nairobi.
When I got back to aitrobi,I found my family fie and well.
For me it was so encouraging to see how God can use me if I decide to trust in him and not give in to fear or intimidation, or care what others might think. It is sad how we sometimes fail to see the many ways that God can use us because we are afraid or because we allow many other barriers hold us back.
It was also great to be in a foreign congregation and listen to the same message with the same standards and convictions. I am really proud to be a member of the International Churches of Christ.