Philip in the book of Acts had seven daughters who prophesied, and while Elias and Margaret Aketch of the Nairobi church do not have seven daughters who prophesy, they do have three daughters who at one time professed Christ. Here they tell the story of how after their daughters fell away, every single one of them returned to the kingdom of God.

Truly, salvation is by grace!

Between 1998 and 1999,we went through our toughest time since as disciples. Our three beautiful daughters, who were disciples, decided to turn away from God. Mary was 19 years old, Helen 17, and Veronica 16.

After being a disciple for four years, Mary fell away in 1998 to be married. She and her husband were blessed with two children, one of whom later died, sadly, then, in early 2003, Mary’s husband was attacked by tuberculosis and passed away.

In August 1999, Helen and Veronica also fell away after being in the Kingdom for only two-and- a-half years. They both married young men who didn’t have jobs.

God blessed Veronica and her husband with a baby boy in 2000, but as they encountered marital challenges, their relationship descended into constant physical altercations. Eventually, they fought so badly that Veronica sustained serious rib injuries and was taken to hospital. Her husband was arrested and jailed for four months and their troubled relationship came to an end.

Helen and her husband lived together and had a child in 2002, but Helen’s husband fell sick two years later and died in early 2005.

From the day that all these issues started in 1998, not a day passed by that we did not pray for them. It is clear now that God had a plan, but we wouldn’t have understood it earlier even if we had been told. Today we are happy to share with all disciples in God’s kingdom that God answers prayers, and today all our daughters are back in the kingdom of God by His grace! In each of these situations we were able to be there for our daughters and offer them love as they suffered grief. Mary, Helen and Veronica have not only come back to us, their parents, but more importantly have returned to their heavenly Father! Through their loss they have learnt to find God.

Someone may ask, “How can a loving God take away lives to fulfill his plans?” It is hard to understand, but we know that God is God and his plans are not our plans.

We thank God for all our disciplers, who gave us their best day and night, praying with us and encouraging us to trust God at all times even and especially when we were tempted to lose hope.

To God be the glory!