Mavuno Life - Volume 006 - April 2015 by Mavuno Life

ORDINARY PEOPLE – EXTRAORDINARY LIVES • APRIL 2015 • 006 • FREE

2015

Position Yourself

Things

your Pastor’s Wife

Wishes You Knew

ALEXIA

Rwanda’s Next TOP Model

WEBI Airtel TRACE Star

WHO WE ARE

LEADERS’ LOG

W H AT W E D O

CAMPUS PULSE

CHANGE THE WORLD

WORD from CONTENTS 29

Pst. M

WHO WE ARE A Word from the Senior Pastor’s Desk.................... 3 Success Foundations for 2015................................... 5 Relocating the City..................................................... 24 Webi – Kenya’s Airtel Trace Star............................... 29

LEADERS’ LOG Positioned for Transformation................................. 8 Year of Many Firsts..................................................... 22 We are Home............................................................... 32 A Year Full of Promise............................................... 38

WHAT WE DO This Space Mavuno.................................................... 6 Welcome to Discovery 2015...................................... 14 Lifting the Shame of the Past.................................... 34

CAMPUS PULSE

Rwanda’s Next Top Model ........................................ 4 Discovering Burundi.................................................. 12 20 Things your Pastor’s Wife Wished You Knew... 20

CHANGE THE WORLD

Marto – A Ruby in the Making ............................... 10 Fearless Teens of Mavuno.......................................... 17 Clicking that Gets the Job Done............................... 36 Entertainment Reviews.............................................. 39 A Step in Someone Else’s Shoes................................ 40

THE TEAM Editor: David Kuria

COVER Benjamin Webi Photography by Joe Makeni

Assistant Editor: Elijah Mokaya Contributors: Muriithi Wanjau, Carol Wanjau, Kyama Mugambi, Kevin Nderitu, Angela GatamahKimaru, Anthony Mwaniki, Chris Lyimo, Enock Chinyenze, Esther Mwaniki, Wangeci Kanyeki, Wandia Njoya, Laura Walubengo

Design & Layout: Vikki Keingati - Under the Baobab Productions Ltd. Email: letsmeet@underthebaobab.net Photography: Mwangi Kirubi, Kokan Kirisuah, Nick Smilez, Daniel Akoyi, Levi Gachanja, Christopher Hansen, CH Photography, NIB Studio Photography, Mark Nduati

No doubt each one of us wants to succeed in life, whether it be in our families, our careers or even our ministry, and I believe God’s desire for us is that we would enjoy Godly success in 2015 and beyond.

ormer marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang’s achievements are as long as my arm. He has won major marathon titles from New York and Berlin, to the Paris and London marathons. I recently read an interview he gave to a women’s magazine, and discovered that being a good marathon runner is just as much about strength and resilience, as it is about smarts. You must be smart to win the marathon.

A good runner must assess the field to understand who the competitors are, how the weather will affect the race, and how the athlete will manage their energy levels throughout the race. But they must also position themselves at all times of the race, so that they can know when to lead, when to break away from the pack, and when to sprint to the finish. Position yourself! These are the two words God laid in the heart of the leadership for the 2015. No Pastors Muriithi and Carol Wanjau

doubt each one of us wants to succeed in life, whether it be in our families, our careers or even our ministry, and I believe God’s desire for us is that we would enjoy Godly success in 2015 and beyond. To do so, there are some qualities we must place in our lives. As you flip through the pages, you will read about some of these qualities, and encounter ordinary men and women, positioning themselves for a lifetime of success. From ordinary people transforming the lives of low-income traders, and alcoholics turned around in Mizizi, to singers and models using their celebrity to impact their generation, this is an edition of Mavuno Life you will want to hold dear. As the Mavuno family, we are also positioning ourselves for impact. Our annual staff retreat this February had a record ten different nationalities represented, some of who have joined our internship program, Discovery Africa. 2015 is also the year we venture out to plant churches in Bujumbura and Addis Ababa. Oh! And I can’t leave out Mavuno Thika Road. And as all this happens, 2015 is also the year Mavuno Church turns 10! I am amazed at how faithful God has been to us. From a ragtag group of 400 in 2005, to a fearless army changing Africa and the world…greater things are yet to come. You can be sure a great celebration party is on the way. So let’s dig in; there are fantastic stories ahead that will blow your socks off. My prayer for you is that like Kipsang, you would run in such a way as to win the prize (1 Cor. 9:24). Positioned for success. Muriithi Wanjau, Senior Pastor MAVUNO LIFE

Alexia Uwera

Rwanda’s Next Top Model B Y E NOC K C HINYE NZE

Success Foundations for 2015

BY PASTOR K EV IN ND ER ITU

very year at Mavuno God has given us a word upon which we can anchor our faith; this as we align ourselves to His plan for us. In 2015, God placed this word on the hearts of the leadership at Mavuno - “Position Yourself ”. God desires for us to be successful in 2015 and beyond, and have the kind of success that will outlive us. The kind of success that leaves a legacy that will last many years after we are gone. As we started 2015, we had the opportunity of learning some foundational principles that can help set us up for this success. If you listened to these words, I suspect you were challenged. I know I was. If you didn’t, not to worry, here’s a great place to connect with what God wants of us at Mavuno. So here goes – three principles for 2015. Each one has a “mmmmhh moment” – a moment to make you pause and think.

ou know what confident people look like. You see the benefits they get from it. You emulate them. But somehow it doesn’t resonate with you because, frankly, you just don’t have it. Alexia Uwera Mupende is a top Rwandese model currently forging her way into the international scene. Inspired by the likes of Tyra Banks and Alek Wek, Alexia has graced the catwalk of events such as Rwanda Fashion Upgrade, Kigali Fashion Week and Runway Dubai, to name a few, and has worked with top designers in Rwanda including House of Marion, Inzuki Designs and Afrikana Exquisitness. With a job like hers you would naturally assume that she oozes confidence. Surprisingly, Alexia, winner of Rwanda’s 2012 Premier Model competition, is quite shy. How then does she walk with a proud swinging gait, in six-inch heels, on a slippery catwalk and with dozens of fashionistas gawking at her? The fashion industry is very competitive and one has constantly got to be at the top of their game. There are new models

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

joining almost on a daily basis. With emerging new trends in the fashion and modelling industry, Alexia has to better herself every day. This constant realisation doesn’t help much in building confidence. So what do you do to survive the game? Alexia, who serves in the Guest Experience department at Mavuno Church Kigali, says a quick prayer before she hits the catwalk is the easiest thing she does for confidence. It works for her every time. Alexia, holder of a Bachelor of Business (Information and Technology), also relies on her network of friends from her Life Group (Mavuno’s small group ministry), who encourage her along the way. It’s one thing to build a fan club out there, but to have real friends who know you and care about your wellbeing is a huge confidence booster. A dancer, actress and model, Alexia joined Mavuno Kigali through an invitation to a Life Group. “At the time, I preferred to go to Life Group rather than church because I didn’t feel judged,” she said. “Even though I had a passion for modeling from a young age, I never

imagined I could be a successful model because I didn’t think I was beautiful, had the right skin colour or type of hair,” she recalled. But people around her kept telling her otherwise, and now she has their support and faith to thank. Being able to be around people she can share openly with allowed members of her life group to support her accordingly. Her parents and siblings are also helpful to her. “Even if they didn’t think much of my career choice in the beginning they always came for the shows,” swanks Alexia. “Most young models don’t have that support and it means a great deal when you are starting off.” “Last year was our year to ‘Step Out’ at Mavuno. I took the challenge by quitting my job and going into fulltime modeling. That required a lot of guts to pull off. Now I know I am strategically positioned for an international modeling career in 2015,” said Alexia. Alexia is now crafting her own identity as a premier African model, and dreams of making it big.

Pastor Kevin Nderitu

SYSTEMS

SUCCESSION

CHARACTER

Many of us have an idea of where we want to go, and desire great things for ourselves. Problem is, not all of us take the time to set up the systems that will get us to where we need to be. Know this - Without systems, your success is short lived. Your success without systems is short lived. It doesn’t matter how successful you want to be, if there are no systems to support your dreams then you are marking time. Could it be that you need a “goal management system”, or maybe for you is a “financial management system” or a “time management system” or even a “people management system”? Whatever system it is, your success is as good as your systems.

The second foundational practice that we need in order to enjoy success that will outlive us is, “Succession planning”. It is critical that we are constantly pouring into others so that we are always raising people around us. “No successors, no future!” If we are not raising the next generation to take up after us and be more successful than we are, then whatever we are working hard for, will die with us. And if what we are living for will die with us, then is it really worth living for? A question for each one of us is - Who are the people whom we are raising to take up after us?

Lastly and very importantly, we must realize that we cannot enjoy this kind of success if we are not people of great character. In the Bible, God pays Moses the ultimate compliment when he refers to him as someone he can trust (Numbers 12:7). We need to position ourselves as persons of integrity in order to have success that will outlive us. As a person of integrity, you enjoy the benefits of people trusting you and most importantly, you receive God’s backing in the things that He has called you to do.

Q: Do you have some systems that you need to consider tweaking or implementing?

Q: Who are you raising to be more successful than you are?

Q: Are you the most trustworthy person you know?

“Your Success Is As Good As Your Systems”

OUR PRAYER

No Successors…No Future

Success Is Built From The Inside Out

Our prayer for you as the leadership is that you will position yourself to succeed in 2015 and beyond, as this is exactly what God desires for each of us. Remember, where your success is concerned, this is the year to…POSITION YOURSELF!

The following day, I decided that my experience at church had been a fluke, and I resolved not to set foot in Mavuno again

This Space

Mavuno BY CH RI S LYI MO

y name is Chris and I am a grateful recovering sinner. In early 2009, in my 11th year of recovery from alcoholism, I caught a discussion on Capital FM on the topic of men, which was the subject of a sermon series going on at Mavuno Church. The speaker on radio caught my attention when he indicated that the sermon of the upcoming Sunday would be titled Father Wounds, and it would highlight the issue of absentee fathers. For the last decade or so as a recovering alcoholic, my own trauma as the son of an absentee father remained unresolved. I would bring up that issue at any chance I got. I had heard of these discussions everywhere but in the church. Besides, I wasn’t much of a churchgoer anyway. When I was drinking, and even when I was sober, Christians always came across as being condemning, selfrighteous and dismissive. I often got irritated by their inability or unwillingness

When I was drinking, and even when I was sober, Christians always came across as being condemning, selfrighteous and dismissive to listen to me for me. So by 2009, my church attendance had been reduced to occasions such as funerals, weddings and when a pal would insist that a particular church had a different approach. So I attended many churches in Nairobi only once. I ignored my skepticism that a church could effectively discuss absentee fathers, and went online to find the exact time and location of the Mavuno sermon. The service was like nothing I expected. The pastor spoke to my bitterness against my absent father, and the impact of that bitterness, which was the fear of being a present father to my then 9 year-old son. The pastor then made an altar call for those of us who had absent fathers. On behalf of my absent father, the pastor

apologized for the hurt I had suffered…I wept helplessly, and I took comfort in the fact that no one could possibly know me here. That experience was very confusing and disarming, because I had experienced something inexplicably powerful in, of all places, a church. The following day, I decided that my experience at church had been a fluke, and I resolved not to set foot in Mavuno again. By September 2009, I was out of a job, still sober but terribly unfulfilled. My pal Patricia, who had been inviting me to all the different churches, invited me to take a Mizizi course. Anticipating that I would refuse, her Lifegroup offered to pay for me. I promised I would attend the Mizizi launch with no commitment to complete the programme.

I got to the Mizizi launch half an hour early. I waited for Patricia and her Lifegroup to arrive, but they didn’t show. I don’t remember much of the launch now, except that there was too much Jesus talk, and it sounded like a program that I did not want or need in my life, despite the rut I was in. I slouched in my seat with deep disinterest, and full-on skepticism. The guns of my cynicism cocked to shoot down everything that was presented. At Mizizi, I questioned everything. I adamantly denied and doubted that Jesus could or would have a real influence in my life. Yet, I attended all classes and weekend sessions mainly because I did not want anyone to gloat that I missed out on the Mizizi promises of connecting with God, with His purpose for me, and with a Community. So I completed the program in December 2009 the way I started; a non- Christian. My Mizizi class was split into two groups and both transformed into two small groups, and I was appointed the leader of one of them. The appointment truly baffled me, and I thought it was a conspiracy to keep me coming back to church. When I asked why I, of all people, was asked to be leader, the facilitator replied, “We prayed!” But to where was I to lead the group? As a non-Christian, I had no clue what that meant, and I seriously considered resigning. Then I remembered the prayer. It was God’s will that I lead, and who was I to mess with it? So I resolved to

do whatever it took to effectively lead my Trendz4Maz Lifegroup. My skepticism about Christianity gradually wore thin and in 2010, I gave my life to Christ. I got baptized on 1st May 2011, my 40th birthday. My baptism was a bold and public assertion of my faith as an adult. It was a declaration of trust. It was a desire to experience God’s love; not just to know it. The guns went silent. Serving in Mavuno has been a true game changer. My relationship with my son continues to flourish, and he eventually came to live with me. In Simama, I’ve seen men speak openly about their flawed pasts and seek healing. Even though I may never see the fruits of the possibilities I am sowing now, future generations will reap

the fruits of healing and transformation from the lives I have touched today. I am grateful that God takes more interest in my own welfare than even I do. My Lifegroup Trendz4Maz, which has been meeting weekly and at several hangouts for the last five years, exemplifies God’s care for me. And the miracles keep pouring. I am now doing Ndoa (marriage preparation) with a fine woman I met last year, and I am grateful for another expanded space of community and connection. I am grateful to God for Mavuno Church, which ignited my faith, and for the Trendz4Maz Lifegroup which fanned those flames, and for the community that keeps refining my faith.

Even though I may never see the fruits of the possibilities I am sowing now, future generations will reap the fruits of healing and transformation from the lives I have touched today. I am grateful that God takes more interest in my own welfare than even I do TOP TO BOTTOM: Chris Lyimo, Chris’ Trend4Maz Life Group

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

MAVUNO LIFE

LEADERS LOG: Discipleship

Trans Trans Trans Positioned for

formation B Y PAS TOR A N G E LA K IMA R U

Pastor Angela Kimaru Executive Pastor (Discipleship)

e knew that 2014 had exciting things for us as a church, and we stepped out in faith! The spirit of pioneering engulfed both the congregation and the staff team as we claimed our promised land and settled into our new venue, Hill City! What we did not know was that 2014 would be a year that would force us to strip down to the core: a year when we would have to re-examine our core beliefs, core values and even our mission. We are called to, (say it with me) ‘Turn ordinary people into fearless influencers of society!’ This phrase is repeated over and over at Mavuno – we can even say it in our sleep! And thanks to the deliberate discipleship strategy we have at Mavuno, transformation has become the new normal. Through our different discipleship experiences, we have seen

...we are obsessed with carrying out our mandate to connect people who are broken, bitter, lost, discouraged and limited to God, community and purpose! many lives completely changed. In 2014 we saw 1,463 people engage in our various discipleship experiences – Mizizi, Ndoa, Lea, Simama, Ombi and Hatua. 654 people connected with God in Mizizi, 394 people stepped out to

Discipleship Team: Pastors AnneMarie Nakimera, Frank Ondere, Angela Kimaru, Shalom Munyiri, Milton Jumba, Michael Onen

overcome personal battles (Simama), became grounded in prayer (Ombi) and took a step of faith to engage in their God-given purpose (Hatua) and 415 people stepped out to build their marriages (Ndoa) and intentionally parent their children (Lea). In 2014 our consciousness was raised to make seeking the lost a priority! Stepping out last year was not just about entering our new land; it was also a reenvisioning, a re-alignment of God’s purpose for us as Mavuno! 2014 was an internal audit of sorts – where our hearts, families and finances were stripped to align us to God’s cause… to get us obsessed about God’s mandate. Obsessed: to have the mind exclusively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic – A heart for the lost The human condition is that we are broken! People in society around us are discouraged by failure, angry with people who have wronged us, frustrated by opportunities not received and limited by obstacles. We need a Real God to reach into

our lives and give us Real solutions! This is what Mavuno is all about! This is what the marathon is all about! This year we are positioning ourselves for the harvest! As a staff team we are obsessed with carrying out our mandate to connect people who are broken, bitter, lost, discouraged and limited to God, community and purpose! We are positioning ourselves to be more deliberate about outreach and connecting people with the marathon experiences. We are expecting new innovations, new momentum and many transformation stories. At a personal level, 2014 also saw the leadership ask me to transition into the role of Executive Pastor in charge of Discipleship, a role previously held by Rev. Linda OcholaAdolwa. She had just transitioned to head up our leadership development program, an office that develops leaders for the entire Mavuno movement. This is an exciting and challenging role, and one that I am looking forward to.

Day 1

Nisaidie na pesa ya food

Marto a Ruby

in the

Making

(Help me with some money to buy food)

B Y C H RI S LY I MO

Sio leo (Not today)

Day 2

Woiye nisaidie na kitu kidogo ya food (Please help me with even a little for food)

Sio leo (Not today)

*Marto - real name changed to protect his identity

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

his is a stock conversation between many working Nairobians and the street children they meet in town or at the shopping centres. When Marto* asked Alice of Yakuti life-group (LG) for something small to help carry her shopping bags at Caltex (now Total) Petrol Station at Donholm Shopping Centre, she took the opportunity to minister to him, and Yakuti LG embarked on a journey of fearless influence. Yakuti lifegroup, whose name means “ruby” in Swahili, was formed in May 2012 after a season of Mizizi at Mavuno Mashariki. It comprises 17 active members - 9 ladies and 8 Men, four of whom form two couples. In every LG member is a precious desire to live a life of fearless influence. Alice then invited Marto to a church service at Mavuno Mashariki. She was pleasantly surprised that he accepted the invitation and showed up. Coincidentally, or is it God-incidentally, another Yakuti member, Hadassah, also a Mizizi facilitator, enrolled Marto into a Mizizi class. She sought assistance from the LG to help raise the funds for Marto to attend Mizizi. The Yakuti members had a fund set up to either meet the costs of hangouts outside their regular Tuesday evening meetings, or help when an extraordinary event such as a wedding or bereavement occurred in a Yakuti member’s family. They decided to pay

for Marto from this fund. Miraculously, Marto consistently attended Mizizi, even as he continued living out on the streets. As he completed, a new dilemma showed up for Yakuti. “What next for Marto?” Him going back to the streets after Mizizi was not a welcome option. It wasn’t even a just one. The LG resolved that Marto needed to go to rehab first to get weaned off the drugs and glue that had become part of his street lifestyle. On Yakuti’s behalf, Hadassah identified a rehabilitation Centre in Kiambu County. With every stage of Marto’s transformation, God seemed to call on Yakuti LG members to expand themselves beyond what was normal or comfortable. Their commitment was intact, but the demand was higher because this time, they needed to dig deeper into their pockets to meet the costs of Marto’s rehab stay, which was going to cost KShs 15,000 (USD 165) per month for three months. The members prayed, renewed their commitment, and through God’s grace and provision, they raised the funds to meet the rehab costs. A now familiar question of what Marto would do after his discharge from the rehabilitation centre needed answering. Going back to the streets would have nullified all the efforts of Yakuti and their partners.

As he completed, a new dilemma showed up for Yakuti. “What next for Marto?” Him going back to the streets after Mizizi was not a welcome option. It wasn’t even a just one.

The director of the rehab centre shared the same concern, but keeping him in the centre, where the vast majority of patients were adults, was not a healthy option either. Yakuti consulted with their Mavuno networks to find a suitable living arrangement for Marto. According to Richard, the LG leader, they searched for children’s homes in places such as Eastleigh, Syokimau and Kamulu. However the homes all felt that at sixteen, Marto was already too old for them to admit. Although the rehab director had offered to keep Marto at the center, Yakuti Lifegroup strongly felt that the rehab environment lacked the necessary psychosocial support. But, Richard says, “God’s providence was on our side.” A Mavunite couple from a different Mavuno Mashariki LG who lived in Limuru agreed to host Marto, and Yakuti LG would meet the cost of his upkeep. And in the third term of 2014, Marto joined

standard 5 at St Paul’s Primary School. Given that Marto had been out of school for several years, his performance in his first mid-term examinations was so remarkable that the teachers decided that for the end of term examination, Marto would sit the finals for standard 6, rather than for standard 5. He scored in the 290s range out a maximum of 500, a real accomplishment for someone who had not been exposed to the coursework. The teachers unanimously felt that Marto was fit to be promoted to Std 7 in 2015. When I asked how Yakuti was positioning itself for 2015 as far as Marto is concerned, Richard replied that the key priority during the April holidays was for Marto to develop his reading skills and get further academic grounding. “We need to get him story books and past papers to aid in his revision. We envisage getting him

With every stage of Marto’s transformation, God seemed to call on Yakuti LG members to expand themselves beyond what was normal or comfortable.

medical cover, and making regular fortnightly visits to see him in order to add on to the excellent home and family environment.” To provide mentorship, Yakuti LG regularly visit Marto. They also have an annual budget for his upkeep. As the members formulate the big vision of Marto’s secondary education in 2017, they also hope to get support from wellwishers in forging the gem that Marto is turning out to be. In my meeting with Richard, I was quite impressed by the LG’s organization, and commitment to their own mission, which aligns perfectly with Mavuno’s overall church mission. It is no surprise that Yakuti LG won the Mavuno Mashariki Lifegroup of the Year award for 2014. I can hardly wait to hear Marto’s side of the story of an amazing God of second chances.

Well-wishers can reach Yakuti via email

yakuti.lg@gmail.com or contact the Treasurer Alice on 0721 715 359

Members of the Yakuti Lifegroup

MAVUNO LIFE

Discovering B Y E L I JA H MOK AYA

ecause of its shape and location within Africa, Burundi is known as the ‘heart of Africa’. It’s also the latest entrant into the East African community, and God willing, will soon become the home of “Mavuno Bujumbura”, where an advance team is already on the ground. I had the great opportunity to converse with the two lovely ladies who have brought some Burundi flavor into Mavuno’s Discovery Leadership Program.

What were you doing before Discovery and how did you hear about it? Emmanuella: I was working with a telecommunication company, Econet, as a customer care consultant when I first heard about Mavuno from my friend Malvine. She invited me to a session led by two Kenyan gentlemen who talked to a bunch of us about something called Mizizi, and invited us to check out their website. Later, Malvine would inform me about a program she was excited to join, and after checking it out on the website, I wanted in. Malvine: I was attending a young

L to R: Malvine Nkurukiye, Emmanuela Ngororano

professionals’ meeting in our church when I was introduced to these two gentlemen from Kenya. We had a chat and an immediate connection ensued. We had gone out for coffee when they informed me that they were in Burundi to ascertain the possibilities of starting a Mizizi class and planting a church in Bujumbura. At first I was confused by all the Swahili terms, but when I shared what my passions were with them, they couldn’t stop talking about this program I needed to join. Discovery, they said, would prepare me to live out my passion.

A conversation with two relative strangers and now here you are. What informed your decision to join Discovery? Emannuella: I always had a feeling that I could be more, and that my existence wasn’t just about the hustle and bustle of daily life. When I saw the mission of Mavuno and what the Discovery program was about, I knew this is what I had been looking for. Malvine: I had never heard anything like

the Mavuno mission before – ‘Turning ordinary people into fearless influencers of society. When I heard it, the yearning to see my friends, who still live in fear, transformed, was ignited. I have discovered that it is fear that drives people to engage in drug and alcohol abuse as well as immoral sexual behavior – it’s a fear of staring life straight in the eyes.

Wow, interesting perspective. So, do you speak from experience? Malvine: I became a Christian in

February of 2014 just about 10 months before joining Discovery. Before that, not only would I try to cover the fear within through drugs and alcohol, I was in fact a Rastafarian. That’s why I still wear this bracelet (shows me the bracelet), not because I’m still a Rastafarian but because I don’t want to forget my friends. They have sidelined me because I am no longer like them, but I still love them and hope someday they would change.

When you shared with your loved ones about Discovery and

your intentions to join, what was their reaction? Emmanuella: My mum and brother

didn’t have much objection to it especially after my brother checked out the Mavuno website. They gave me their blessings and I applied on the 22nd of December 2014. I got a reply and was to report on the 9th of January.

Malvine: My parents would hear none of it. They refused to allow me the opportunity to come to Kenya for the program, leaving me resigned to the fact that I would not go through Discovery. However one day while on a business trip to Rwanda, my mum met a complete stranger who said he had a word for her from God. His exact words to her were: “You and your husband are blocking what God wants to do in your daughter’s life.” After that, they were the ones pushing me to apply.

What are you looking forward to as you journey through the Discovery process? Emanuella: I have been a Christian

for a while now, but didn’t know God much. I am hoping that this will change through this experience. In Burundi, I served in the children’s church and encountered very many young people who were abused in their younger years (especially by house helps), but only revealed this in their teenage years. I am passionate about this, and desire to not only sensitize parents on this, but also offer training and guidance for domestic workers. It is my prayer that I will not only acquire the relevant skills for this, but also connect with the right networks.

Malvine: My greatest desire is to see my vision become clearer – I am passionate about drug addicts and seeing them transformed. I also hope to interact with people of the same passions as mine and look forward to making new friends and… (Chuckles) maybe also get a husband. (Bursts into laughter)

What have been your highlights and the not so high ‘lights’ so far? Emmanuella: The sermons have been refreshing, and the realness of Mavuno is something to talk about. And meeting pastor Muriithi - what a humble leader! The Kenyan food and the climatic conditions around the church are a huge difference from what exists back home. Let’s just say it will take time to adjust… I miss home! Malvine: The Discovery classes have

been eye-opening. Also, the first Sunday after we arrived, pastor Muriithi was speaking on raising successors and talked about Joshua. My sister who is expectant called me that same day and informed me that she would name her child Joshua. What a pleasant coincidence! Just like Emanuella, adjusting to the Kenyan food and the Hill City weather has not been easy.

The Mavuno Mission, how would you say it in French? Emmanuella and Malvine: (after

much consultation in Kirundi and French) Transformer les gens ordinaires… (There was no consensus on that last part.)

MAVUNO LIFE

DISCOVERY PROGRAM 2015 O

n behalf of Mavuno Church, I am pleased to welcome a new cohort of members onto the Discovery Africa Program. This is a one-year leadership development program designed to help men and women not only discover their true passions and abilities, but also prepare them to become the fearless leaders God created them to be. This year’s cohort is as exciting and diverse as it gets. We are also glad to be welcoming for the first time, members from DRC and Burundi.

Rev. Linda Ochola-Adolwa Executive Pastor – Leadership Development

Kimari Maina (Kenya) Kimari is a wedding MC and a holder of a Bachelor of Business (Business Administration) from the St. Paul’s University. He has been married to Linnet Kimari for two and a half years, and they are blessed with one child. His flat feet make him an excellent swimmer.

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

Wambui Wahome (Kenya) She holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree in Purchasing and Supplies Management/Marketing from Daystar University. Her free time is spent in theaters watching plays, in art galleries marveling at art, or at random gigs for the spice of it all.

Agnes Nabirye (Uganda) She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Adult and Community Education from Makerere University. Not only can she cook up a storm, she claims to love doing it as well.

Wanjiku Waweru (Kenya) An accountant by profession and 2 papers away from being a certified public accountant, she was an events planner prior to joining Discovery. You can call her a friend of the sea because she loves deep sea diving.

Kwiocwiny Ringtho Diana (Uganda) She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Uganda Christian University (U.C.U) and confesses that cooking good food is her Achilles heel.

Gift Kithome Kalenga (Kenya) He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He is also a certified lawn tennis coach by the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (K.L.T.A).

Freddy Sebuyange Rugambwa (DRC) He graduated last year with a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Kampala International University (K.I.U). You can literally call him a man of the kitchen because that’s where he was born.

Barnabas Samuel Naliku and Christine Mutesi (Uganda) They have now been married 10 years. Samuel holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Tourism Management from the University of Greenwich, London, while Christine was a practicing pharmacist before she resigned to join her husband in the Discovery Program. They are blessed with 3 children; Aaliyah, Josiah and Arianah.

Wangui Waigwa (Kenya) She is currently pursuing a degree in Counselling Psychology from St. Paul’s University and is the proprietor of Bamboo Floors and Interiors limited, a business venture focusing on bamboo floors and finishes. If laughing was a profession, she would make an excellent pro.

Malvine Nkurikiye (Burundi) She is currently pursuing a double major in Communication and Psychology from the University of South Africa (U.N.I.S.A). She is a heavy eater and has to gobble up something at least four times a day.

Ngororano Emmanuella (Burundi) She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences (Communication for development) from Light University of Bujumbura. She worked for Econet as a customer care consultant before resigning and joining Mavuno for the Discovery Program.

George N. Kinyanjui (Kenya) He has a bachelor of arts degree in Bible and Theology from Global University in Missouri, USA and a Masters of Arts in Leadership Studies. He is a leadership and personal development trainer, writer and motivational speaker and is married to Faith Njeri. On a random day, you would find him watching the television series, 24.

Florent Bahizi and Sheila Kanyambo (Burundi) Florent was formerly a pastor and his wife a social worker before they resigned and relocated to Kenya for the Discovery Program. He pursued a course in Bible Theology from All Nations Theological College, Uganda while Sheila holds a bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Great Lakes University in Bujumbura. They have been married now for 4 years and are blessed with 2 children, Shalom and Chaim.

MAVUNO LIFE

FEARLESS

avuno Church exists to turn ordinary people into fearless influencers of society. Our young adults and teenagers have taken a front seat in ensuring that we achieve this mission. We talked to 3 fearless young guys who are influencing their society through various initiatives.

S N E TE AVUNO OF

I R M W A N IK BY ESTHE

Vanessa Chinyenze

Purity Wanjohi

Daphne Simaton

Vanessa is the founder of an initiative known as Happy Strings. Happy Strings brings music education to underprivileged children who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Of her inspiration, she says, ‘A couple of years ago, my family and I wanted to visit Mogra Rescue Centre and share Christmas with them. We wanted to buy the children Christmas gifts and so we asked the administration what the appropriate gifts would be. The response we got shocked us. They wanted us to buy school books for the children in readiness for school the following year. I was shocked! ‘Who would want books for Christmas’? Vanessa could not get over the fact that the children had asked for books for Christmas. She decided instead to give the children a music-filled Christmas. This turned out to be one of the most fun Christmas days for the children, and was the birth of Happy Strings. Since then, Vanessa and her family visit Mogra Rescue Centre on a weekly basis and provide music education to the children.

Purity Wanjohi is the founder of Mazingira Safi, a community based organization (CBO) that seeks to inspire communities to take the responsibility of keeping the environment clean by promoting environmental awareness through clean up activities and awareness programs. “As I thought about what has contributed to Nairobi being so environmentally unfriendly, I realized that people were at the center of the problem. Many people point their fingers at the City Councils for the state of their city, yet they themselves are the problem.” Mazingira Safi, in partnership with Nairobi City Council, organizes clean ups in various parts of the city on a monthly basis. Those who take part in the clean up become ambassadors of Mazingira Safi, and educate others on the importance of promoting a clean environment. So far, Mazingira Safi has conducted 14 clean ups. Running this organization has grown Purity’s leadership skills tremendously, taught her how to manage volunteers and given her skills in resource mobilization. Most importantly, she has learnt to trust in God on a whole new level.

‘I grew up in a village in Kajiado called Oloyiankalani. My life, and that of the girls around me was full of challenges. I watched firsthand as girls were married off at an early age, and I saw girls keep away from school during their menstrual period as their families could not afford sanitary pads. Many girls woke up at 3am in order to do the housework and still have time to walk to distant schools.’ She was one of the lucky ones to finish high school and join university. Recently Daphne went through Mizizi. ‘As I went through Mizizi, I realized that God’s purpose for my life involved engaging the communities that I grew up in.’ She runs “Sister-to-Sister”, an organization that mentors and empowers the girl child through community engagement sessions where the organization helps communities to identify ways to address the challenges they face. In addition, the organization has partnered with others to provide sanitary pads at a lower cost. Daphne believes that she will live to see many others like her educated and turning around lives of other young girls.

(Happy Strings)

(Mazingira Safi)

(Sister-2-Sister)

MAVUNO LIFE

MAVUNO STAFF

Connect (L-R) Pastors Joshua Maina, Jade Gichuri, Phares Kinyanjui, AnnMarie Nakimera, Beverly Mlale, Daniel Lanco

GREENHOUSE (L-R) Pastors Eric Masheti, Mark Nduati, Leah Kirugumi, Wanjiku Kaburu, Shalom Munyiri, Mordecai Njoroge, Joseph Mukiama

(Heads of Department) (L-R) Pastors Milton Jumba, Frank Ondere, AnnMarie Nakimera, Angela Kimaru, Richard Chogo, David Kuria, Carol Wanjau, Nancy Mukabi, Grace Ndege, Nick Kimaru, Shalom Munyiri, Emma Sawa, Michael Onen.

MASHARIKI CHURCH Standing (L-R) Pastors Nicholas Namale, Emmanuel Kariuki, Richard Chogo, Allan Kefa, George Oyogo. Seated (L-R) Hawa Iddi, Janet Chogo, Janet Nzilani

(Missing Kevin Nderitu)

MAVUNO 58 TEENS KONNEKT

MANAGEMENT TEAM

(L-R) Pastors Allan Kefa, Hawa Iddi, Nicholas Namale

(L-R) Kinyanjui Njoroge, Towela Ngondi, Njeru Runji, Emily Wakeji, Debby Mwanika, Frank Ondere

Standing (L-R) Sam Naliku, Freddy Sebuyange, Agnes Nabirye, George Kinyanjui, Florent Bahizi, Wambui Wahome, Diana Ringtho, Sitenda Kisakye, Emanuella Ngororano, Rossie Wachira, Malvine Nkurikuye, Casper Agunga, Jane King’ori, Hawa Iddi, Leah Kirugumi, Joshua Maina, Christine Naliku, Nicholas Namale Seated on stools (L-R) Wanjiku Waweru, Rev. Linda Ochola-Adolwa, Wangui Waigwa

DISCOVERY

MAVUNO BERLIN

Seated on floor (L-R) Kimari Maina, Elijah Mokaya, Gift Kalenga, Joseph Mukiama

SERVICES (L-R) Neema Ntalel, Mukhula Were, Sitenda Kisakye, Michael Onen (Missing: Paul ‘Pau’ Otieno)

LIFEGROUPS (H-R) Pastors Charles Maina, Joe Kobuthi, Beverly Mlale, Rossie Wachira, Jade Gichuri, Milton Jumba, Thomas Omollo

MAVUNO LIFE

B Y E NOC K C HINYE NZE

20 Secrets Your Pastor’s

Wife Wishes You Knew E

very Sunday she’s faithfully present and often sits in the front row, nods and says amen to every line he preaches, and smiles as often as she can. This is what we expect from her – the Pastor’s Wife. But it almost seems a task that no ordinary woman can accomplish without special grace. In fact, a quick survey amongst churchgoers quickly revealed these seemingly insincere expectations. Male church members said a pastor’s wife had to be warm, friendly, accessible, responds

to people’s needs, encouraging, presentable, supportive of her husband and present for all church services. The ladies added descriptions like prayerful, down to earth, easy to approach, talks to everyone, good cook, great etiquette, well-read and (to sum it all) the ‘perfect wife!’ We asked pastors’ wives from Mavuno Church Kigali, Blantyre, Kampala and Lusaka to share secrets about them that they wished you knew.

Pastor Cynthia Mwenje (Kigali) 1

I’m usually nervous most Sunday mornings. Mainly because I don’t know how

Sometimes I seem and look like I have it all together, but I’m actually very overwhelmed. I am a laid back person who thrives in doing things last minute,

the day will turn out or whether my associates (volunteer leaders) will show up. Will the roof cave in on the people?

Pastor Miriam Njoroge (Kampala) 11

I am very shy. I barely know how to start a conversation. People mistake this for being snobbish. But what to do?

I talk very fast when I’m nervous. When I’m hosting service and all

May name is not ‘Pastor Njoroge’s Wife.’ It brings so much joy when someone cares to know and remember my name.

I enjoy conversations that are not about ministry and church too. Most people give me feedback on what worked and what did not

those people are looking at me I just want it to end, so I speak faster. I have to hold something, like a pen or notebook, or have someone next to me to calm me down.

work in church on Sunday. Let’s talk about other things! I like sewing and home improvement, and love family for example.

I love knowing that someone is praying for us, or for me. This is the most important gift you can give my family and I. It’s just nice to feel loved and appreciated sometimes.

hence I’m usually overcome. Yet somehow I enjoy being this way.

3 4 5

church) and leave very refreshed and energetic, although it’s never the case.

Sunday afternoons are the hardest. It feels like I have depleted all my emotional,

I am extremely shy and not a crowd person at all. Left to my own devices

Spending time with people, friends and family rejuvenates me. That’s the best

Once I love someone I love them fully and I’m able to forgive them for anything. Women wonder what I want when I call them over to hangout and

mental and physical reserves in the church, and in people. The only thing I want to do after church service is blackout!

part of my job. I sit and randomly talk to people about anything.

Pastor Evie Waweru (Blantyre) 6

Being a Pastor’s wife is not easy. It’s too much pressure and expectations from the

congregation and society as a whole are way too many. I’ve however been able to keep a few friends who see me as ‘Evie’ and that I can talk to, laugh with, cry, catch a movie or a series with, and enjoy life without any ulterior expectations.

I’m not a typical pastor’s wife. I love getting out of that title and just being me, and serving in different capacities. Serving is my biggest gift and joy.

I don’t like seating in front. I just think there is so much action behind the scenes.

9 10

I prefer serving rather than being seated at the front twiddling my thumbs.

I struggle with people who think my marriage is perfect just because I’m married to the pastor. Just like everyone else, we go through all the stages of marriage, if not more. Pastors’ kids battle with excessive expectations from the church and society at large. Give the kids a break! Just because mom and dad are in ministry does not make

them perfect. Let them make mistakes and they’ll learn from them.

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

Pastor Dorcas Gatuha (Lusaka)

I Love kids. I could spend the whole service in Greenhouse (Mavuno’s children’s

I would probably never talk to anyone. I find it hard to approach congregants sometimes and therefore appear anti-social.

talk. I really have no agenda… I just love you! Unfortunately, the reverse is sometimes true. If I struggle with someone, it is very difficult to change my mind about them.

Small talk is like pulling teeth for me. I’m into deep conversations, and that

My family always comes first. Sometimes church members ask me to do something or be somewhere and I turn it down because I want to be with my family. If I have to give up comfort, money or anything else for my family’s happiness I would. No questions asked!

I love do-it-yourself projects. From making my own hair to cooking, if I can Google it then I can do it! Church members expect me to go to a hairdresser but I much prefer doing it myself, and for others too. I invite women over so I can do their hair or bake for the worship team, for example.

sometimes seems intrusive when I talk to new people. I really try, but I find if I have a relationship built on mainly small talk, I run away!

Now that you know she’s no ‘perfect pastor’s wife,’ perhaps this Sunday (in her place) you could show up looking presentable, sit in front, say amen to the pastor, smile and talk to everyone!

MAVUNO LIFE

MAVUNO

LEADERS LOG: Expansion

KAMPALA

Year of Many Firsts

consider it a great privilege to have had a front row seat to experience the things God was doing in the different parts of the world that Mavuno calls home. Our vision as Mavuno is to ‘Plant a culture defining church in every capital city of Africa and the gateway cities of the world by 2035’, and as we set out to be faithful in what God has called us to, we have been amazed at how God has multiplied the effect of His work. NAIROBI Two of our Nairobi campuses birthed new Mavuno families, with Mashariki extending their reach into the highly populous Eastlands area by planting Mavuno 58, and Downtown planting Mavuno Lifeway along the very busy Thika Highway. And if that’s not enough, Downtown had already partnered with the Hill City campus to plant a Mavuno Church in the heart of Lusaka, while Mashariki were instrumental in the establishment of the church over in Blantyre, Malawi. The Hill City campus was the perfect big brother, modeling what it means to settle into one’s own space. Not everyone is there just yet, but we were extremely eager to see the good folk at Blantyre, Kigali and Kampala find fantastic new venues.

AFRICA & BEYOND The first moved into a rented building in downtown Blantyre, but not before running their first ever kids camp (where 30 kids attended over two days), graduating 25 adults from Mizizi, and seeing their numbers steadily rise. They also ran Mizizi classes for campus students and corporates, and had a special class for the top management of Steers Restaurant. In Kigali, their numbers have more than doubled, from 60 to almost 150 each Sunday; this in addition to 7 new life-groups being formed and 35 people coming to Christ. Ndoa, our marriage ministry, has also been huge, and they have seen over 250 people go through it – affecting not just their marriages, but generations to come. Mavuno Kigali are now located in a cinema hall right in the heart of the city center. Out in Kampala the church just keeps growing. Unable to contain their numbers, they have now multiplied into two services. One big reason for this is “The Lockdown”, a musical experience that serves as a major outreach tool, with some of their events attracting up-to 600 people. Also noteworthy is that God has granted them great favor in the city, and have recently moved venue to one of the most exclusive schools, “Kampala Parents

Pastors Waweru Njenga, Allan Kefa, Daniel Fleschig, Kevin Kilonzi, Kyama Mugambi, Kigwi Njoroge, James Muchai, JerryRawlins Opiyo, Richard Chogo, Kevin Nderitu

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

Pastor Kyama Mugambi Executive Pastor (Expansion)

School” – a venue that, prior to this, was completely sealed off to outsiders. The community in Berlin, one of the most secular cities in the world, has been excited to witness not only more visitors joining them, but also more people coming to Christ. They have also started a capital campaign to remodel and expand the church, and amazingly over 50% of the money required has already been pledged. Finally in Lusaka, they completed their first Mizizi season since the launch of the church, and in the last two months of 2015, held their very first Associates’ Appreciation Day (to celebrate all those who serve as volunteer leaders), as well as their very first Leaders’ Day. EXPANSION 2015 This year we are positioning ourselves for even greater impact. Under the leadership of Pastor Timothy Kaburu, we are looking to establish Mizizi discipleship experiences in at least 3 new cities, including Bujumbura and Johannesburg. On a more personal note, I am glad that Mavuno Church has granted me a sabbatical break for part of 2015, where I plan to spend some time to refresh, reconnect with friends and family, but also focus some energy on my doctoral studies. How excited am I to see the very capable Pastor Richard Chogo step into my capacity, with another gifted leader in Pastor Kevin Nderitu deputise for him. My earnest prayer remains that, in our generation, Africa will be saved. MAVUNO LIFE

SCALING

Pastor Simon Mbevi leading prayer

Rev. Linda Adolwa receiving a cheque

HILL CITY extremely sacrificial. To date we have raised of over Ksh. 235.7M (USD 2.55M). On the 2nd of March 2014, what is now known as the Hill City campus of Mavuno Church held it’s first service in its very own venue, a property that will serve as the global headquarters of the Mavuno movement. On the 30th of March 2014, we had a great celebration and official launch service. Attended by various religious and political leaders, it was a great opportunity to celebrate what God had been doing amongst us.

limbing a mountain, especially for first-timers, can be a hugely daunting task. It’s one thing to picture the mountain in your head, and romantically imagine yourself triumphantly planting your flag at the summit. It’s a whole other thing to stand at the base, and stare the brutal intimidating terrain in the face. You think about the twenty or so stairs at your house, and the occasions when, at the end of a long hard day, even they seemed impossible to surmount. Now you multiply the number of stairs by a factor of ten thousand, and the challenge becomes mind-boggling. This was the challenge Mavuno Church faced. On 29th July 2010, we were preparing to celebrate five years of our existence as Mavuno, and throw a great celebration party. There was a festive mood in the compound, as artists and painters were weaving their magic through the compound trying to spruce the place up. Shortly, and without warning, the landowner stormed in, and chased away all and sundry. Why was the property being ‘altered’? He proceeded to put a huge padlock on the exit gate. Prior to this, conversations had been ongoing about purchasing the property. They now went into high gear. If we were

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

to become the world-changing movement of fearless influencers that God was calling us to be, we could no longer afford tenancy. The vision of seeing fearless influencers impacting every sector of society in every African capital city, and beyond, was growing in leaps and bounds, and needed a global headquarters from where men and women would be trained and deployed for this. As time went by, conversations for an extended lease fell through. Conversations for purchase of the Bellevue property also fell through. Eventually the idea was born to pursue a joint venture with the property owner. To this end, one of Africa’s top architectural firms was engaged to develop a blueprint for Mavuno’s global headquarters. However, as time passed, it became apparent to the leadership that this joint venture would not work. ENTER THE MOUNTAIN Enter the mountain! Mavuno’s Development team, the team that gives leadership to the movement on property acquisitions and development, began the search for a new home. After scouring the city, and beyond, twenty acres of prime land were identified in Athi River, and we began the process of purchase. One little detail was that we required to raise Ksh. 350M (USD 3.8M) for the same.

For an organization whose largest capital campaign to date had been Ksh. 40M (USD 433,000), we needed to raise close to ten times that amount. Forget Mount Kenya…this was the Everest. But we started, just like how you would climb a mountain. By lifting the right leg, placing it in front of the other, then picking up the left, and doing the same. Step-by-step. We decided to make the process as uncomplicated as possible. We stayed away from the traditional bake sales, walks, golf tournaments and the like. We stuck with one simple strategy that stood on two feet. The first was to encourage God’s people towards faithful giving of their tithes and offerings to continue running ministry functions, and the second was a call to generous giving towards the relocation. And just like any mountain climbing excursion, it had its ups and downs. At certain points we had to change course and make adjustments, at others we accelerated faster than planned, but we kept at it. Through great prayer, deliberation and wise Godly counsel, we were convinced that not only was God leading us, but that through His people, He would meet each and every one of our needs. God’s people responded, and their giving towards the capital campaign was

NOT QUITE BATIAN Mount Kenya’s highest peaks are Batian (17,057 ft.), Nelion (17,021 ft.) and Lenana (16,355 ft.). As the Mavuno family, we are still at it. Still lifting one foot and placing in front of the other. We are still a way out from planting our flag at Point Batian. The air up here is very thin, devoid of much oxygen, and feet are tired and weary. The capital campaign is not concluded, as we are now trying to address an urgent financial hole of over Ksh. 100M – this financed through debt. Yet God has constantly energized and

affirmed Mavuno every step of the way. To date, over 1,000 people have come to know Christ through the ministry of Mavuno since we moved to Hill City. This through our services, our various marathon experiences, and through determined outreach efforts. We’ve also seen two new campuses born in Nairobi over this period – Mavuno 58 in the heart of Nairobi’s Buruburu suburb, and Mavuno Life-Way, along the Thika super highway. As lives of ordinary men and women continue to be transformed, everything about our journey over the last two years is put in perspective. Quoting Pastor Muriithi Wanjau, “Getting to Hill City has never been about land, or buildings, or making Mavuno a more comfortable church. We are not just creating a place of worship; this is a boot camp for world changers. Our success will never be measured by the amount of land we have, or the size of the church building or by the size of our budget, but by how much we join God in impacting our city, our continent and the nations of the world.” Point Batian…here we come!

FINANCIAL TARGET

350M

Ksh. 200M Land Purchase

Ksh. 150M

Relocation Costs

AMOUNT RAISED to Date

235,736,387 Kenya Shillings

AMOUNT STILL TO BE RAISED

114,263,613 Kenya Shillings

BELOW: The team on ground-breaking day

MAVUNO LIFE

JOURNEYT0

THE

HILL CITY

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od did it for Mavuno, and we believe He can do it for you too. As you see these pictures, may your own faith be stirred to believe in the impossible for you, your family and your business.

TWENDE TOURS Three times the staff and congregation went on site visits dubbed ‘Twende Tours’. We prayed that, just like the Israelites, the Lord would give us everywhere we placed our feet. On Saturday 8th December 2012, Pastor Simon Mbevi hosted one of the tours, and led us in dedicating the property to the Lord.

2. OCCUPATION DAY

2013 was our year to OCCUPY, and on June 1st 2013, Mavunites went to the land to prepare for the eventual occupation. We slashed grass, cleared bushes and planted trees.

3. GROUND-BREAKING

On 31st August 2013 Pastor Muriithi Wanjau led the congregation in a ground-breaking ceremony, paving way for the development of Mavuno’s global headquarters.

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CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY The construction and development crew worked round the clock to ensure that all facilities would be ready in good time.

5. FIRST SERVICE

Hill City hosted its first service on March 2nd 2014. Still a bit messy, Mavunites knew it was their home, and turned out in their numbers.

EPREN COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (Repen Complex at the Junction of Mombasa Road & Syokimau-Katani Road in Syokimau)

6. LIFE-CHANGE

On 27th April 2014 we saw Hill City’s first baptisms. We celebrate God that through our services, marathon experiences and outreach efforts, over 1,000 people have come to Christ through the ministry of Mavuno since we moved.

7. TODAY

The Mavuno Hill City campus continues to turn ordinary people into fearless influencers of society.

JANUARY 2015 INTAKE IN PROGRESS

SCHOOL OF HAIR & BEAUTY

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Dip. in Hotel and Catering Cert. in Hotel and Catering Dip. in Front Office Pastry and Baking Cake Decoration Cert. in Cookery

24 Months 12 Months 10 Months 3 Months 1 Months 3 Months

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • Diploma in ICT • Certificate in ICT

12 Months 6 Months

• Certificate in Web Design • Certificate in Graphic Design • Single Packages & SPSS

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SCHOOL OF FASHION & INTERIOR DESIGN • Dip in Fashion & Design • Certificate in Fashion & Design • Interior Design

24 Months 12 Months 12 Months

SCHOOL OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) • Dip in ECD • Certificate in ECD

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SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCE • • • •

Dip. in Business Administration Cert. in Business Administration Dip. in Purchasing and Supplies Accounting: ATC I & II, CPA 1-6

12 Months 6 Months 12 Months 5 Months

Foreign Languages also offered (French, Spanish)

SMS Your Preferred Course to: 0728558141

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

For Inquiries and Admission Tel: 0728558141, 0717444861 Email: info@eprencollege.co.ke All students registered by Friday 9th January2015, will get 10% discount off their first month’s tuition fee.

MAVUNO STAFF

WEBI

BY LAURA WALUBENGO | ADDITIONAL WRITING BY DAVID KURIA

MAVUNO BLANTYRE ABOVE (L-R) Pastors Evie Waweru and Waweru Njenga LEFT (L-R Standing) Pastor Jerry Rawlings, Nyamashara Vincent, Pastor Jonathan Mpindi, Denis Rukabu, Murindwa Sam. (L-R Seated) Pastor Cynthia Wambui Rawlings, Bridget Gashegu, Dorcas Kariuki

MAVUNO KIGALI

HUMAN RESOURCES

Meet Kenya’s Airtel TRACE

Star

MAVUNO Lusaka

(L-R) Gladys Hulahula, Emma Sawa, Susan Mwangi

(L-R) Pastors James Muchai, Dorcas Muchai, Qui Wanjohi, Rachael Tuhimbise, Bubele Apollo

MAVUNO KAMPALA ABOVE (L-R) Pastors Kigwi Njoroge, Doreen Kisembo, Carol Ekinu, Winston Mukasa

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

RIGHT (Clockwise from top left) Wangeci Kanyeki, Willie Kanyeki, Victor Yamo, Lillian Yamo, Pastor Rachel Maina, Pastor Jane King’ori (Missing - Pastor Benson Xavier)

FAMILY MINISTRIES 29

And the winner is…

The air is thick with anticipation: the tension, thick and palpable. Take a knife and you can slice right through it. Thousands of contestants, whittled down to six, and now only three remain. The winner not only walks away with a cash prize of Ksh. 2.7M (USD 30,000), and a brand new state of the art phone, they also get a special ticket to represent Kenya on a continental stage against contestants from 12 other nations. The stakes are high. On the line is a mentorship program with multi-platinum selling singer-producer Akon, a music deal with American record label KonLive Distribution, and a music distribution deal with behemoth Universal Music Group. Not to mention a cash prize of 30,000 Euros. Small wonder the hosts of the Airtel TRACE Music Star competition draw out the moment as long as their producers allow. After three hectic months where everything flew by at breakneck pace, the next ten seconds, that could change one’s life, are stuck in time. His heart is exploding out his chest. Beads of sweat drip down his brow. This is it! And the winner is…BENJAMIN WEBI! The auditorium erupts. It has been 12 years, but Benjamin Webi is just getting started. Forget his Groove and Kisima award nominations, the three One Gospel awards sitting on his shelf, and the recent Airtel TRACE stars victory – this is unchartered waters. The 30-year-old musician has never been where he is now, and he has greater lengths to go as God allows. It was 10 years ago, when he was just

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

past his teens, when Webi had the mind to dream. He believed in his vocals, and knew that music ran through his veins - he was determined to make a life of it. And as does anyone with talent, he had dreams. Dreams of flashing lights, crowds cheering his name, a superstar lifestyle to go with it, and loads and loads of money to boot. Not for free though, he was going to work for it - and this, very hard. But was he ready for it? Was he in the right place? “Its funny now, looking back. All the things I wanted, I was not ready for. In fact, if God gave me what I wanted, who knows, they may have even killed me at that point,” he says with a rueful smile. Webi became conscious of God at an early age, and all his dreams were topics he had discussed with the Father. But as he took the step of faith, he realized that he had a lot to learn, as God showed him just how He wanted things to happen. “You know, God is a gentleman. He will wait for you to tow the line... He began to teach me over the years that my focus should be on what He wants, and not what I want. Of course I wanted to serve him, I wanted His purpose for my life.“ THE WILDERNESS YEARS But God was not interested in Webi’s golden voice. He was more interested in the man. And as it so happened, 2010 to 2012 were some of the most challenging years in Webi’s life. Fortunately he had just married his long-time sweetheart, but shortly after Webi quit his job of six years to go full-time as a musician. These were dry years, with wellpaying gigs few and far between. He really had to put the pedal to the metal and work

hard at his craft in order to make a living. Around the same time he accepted a part-time position as the music director of Mavuno Downtown. He says, “A lot of people look at leading in the church as a simple affair; they only see the finished product each Sunday. But it was much harder than I initially thought. Numerous man-hours go into leading teams of singers and musicians, many of them creatives. You have to inspire them, get diverse personalities to work together and be in one spirit, and then get them to inspire the congregation each week. And remember these are mostly volunteers”. Webi adds, “Church is spiritual, and as a leader you can’t be a spiritual baby. It can be very fulfilling, but can also be an emotionally draining space. Church is a place to pour out; there is a lot of giving of yourself. I had to grow everyday and pass that on”. These challenging years in his career and as a leader really grew and stretched him. As his faith grew, so did his vocal abilities. The constant practice gave strength to his voice, and his journey in Mavuno – where he is now an associate (volunteer leader) - made his faith even clearer. Webi was slowly getting ready to be exactly where God wanted him to be. He realized that he had to make room for God to do what He wanted to do in his life if indeed his big dreams were to come true. Shortly after, he served as the musical director of the ‘Niko na Safaricom Live’ tour, and worked with established mainstream artists such as P-Unit, Octopizzo, DJ Kaytrixx and Kidum. He recalls how certain people were upset with his decision, sending text and Facebook messages, challenging this move as ungodly. His response? “The Gospel has never been for the four walls of the church, it’s for the world. There are people who need to see what a Christian, and Christianity, look like, and they will not be found in church”. “I love Mavuno because not only did it give me an environment to cultivate my faith, and provide a safe space where I was not judged for being a Christian, it also taught me what it meant to fearlessly influence the world. Mavuno says, ‘Go out there. Change the world for Christ’. He adds, “Mavuno really was an endorsement for someone like me, someone bold enough to live out their faith in the marketplace”.

SONGS OF LOVE Webi’s genre of choice in music is R&B and it goes hand in hand with love. “I know that the best way to share what God has given me is to put my experiences in a song. I ask myself, ‘What am I learning through my journey, and how do I share that?” “Some songs I recently released are Pamoja Milele (Together Forever) and Nikuskize (I’ll hear you out). Pamoja Milele is a love song written in Taita and Swahili about falling in love and wanting to spend the rest of your life with that special person. It was inspired by my story, and the story of those around me”. “Nikuskize, on the other hand is a song inspired by the reality of conflict in dating and marriage relationships. I’ve come to realize that communication and being able to understand each other is one of the greatest keys in building strong relationships.” WEBI MUSIC Webi, currently signed to Pine Creek Records, is now working on his third studio album, and says one of the special songs to expect off it is ‘The Love Stand’. “The Love Stand is basically, telling people that in everything they do, they should adopt the love stand. When you know someone is in need, you can take a love stand and help them out with food, cash, clothes – whatever they need. Love is about showing it. And yes, the world does need love! A small act of kindness can completely change someone’s perspective.” It has been more than a decade since Webi dreamed of his future, and the kid from the small town of Taita still has his big dreams. By the time of print, Webi was waiting on the finale of the Airtel Trace stars competition, where musicians from 12 nations would battle it out to be crowned king of Africa. The journey is not over, but along the way God has been teaching Webi to get out of his own way and watch his dreams become reality.

MAVUNO LIFE

We areâ&#x20AC;Ś

LEADERS LOG: Operations

THE SENIOR PASTOR SPEAKS

Home! BY PASTOR ANTHONY MWANIKI

Pastors Muriithi Wanjau and Anthony Mwaniki

Operations Team Alex Luchendo, John Mwisa, Catherine Koki, Simon Chepkwony, Nancy Mukabi, Grace Mwaniki, Peter Musyoki, Muthoni Njire, Pascal Otita,Veronica Birgen, Duncan Mukangai, Nick Kimaru

God used you; God used us - to establish a home for Mavuno! We have weathered strong winds, heavy rains, dust storms, and heat, and by faith we stand victorious in our own home. This is the biggest milestone that we, in Operations, celebrate for 2014. It has been my privilege to lead a team of unsung heroes whose exceptional service behind the scenes ensured that our main campus not only moved to Hill City, but we also thrived despite the challenges. Thank you Operations team! As a team we celebrate our colleagues in the staff team, under the leadership of senior pastor Muriithi Wanjau, whose

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

commitment and service were key to achieving these milestones. We celebrate the leaders and congregants of Mavuno, whose giving, prayer, encouragement and service made our move possible. We celebrate our partners who include the contractors, suppliers and financial institutions. Most importantly we celebrate God who made what seemed impossible possible. Momentous as 2014 was, we are convinced that the best is yet to come. As 2015 begins, plans are well underway to have Mizizi classes in 3 additional cities in Africa, as well as a new campus, Mavuno Lifeway, set up on Thika Road. This will

What can I say about Pastor Anthony Mwaniki. He is a friend, a brother, a colaborer, and one of the best men I know. For the past five years he has served as the head of our Operations Team, and the results speak for themselves. Our financial systems are greatly improved, we now have excellent HR systems, and our facilities and development teams have been excellently led. To be honest, our main campus would never have made the move to Hill City without him. He has opened up amazing networks to the team, and brought a wisdom and levelheadedness to Mavuno that we are going to miss greatly. We are sad to see Pastor Mwaniki leave, but also excited that as he and his family enter a new season, they are pursuing Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose for their lives. On my behalf, and behalf of the entire Mavuno family, THANK YOU for serving with diligence and excellence. We love you, and pray every blessing upon you. Muriithi Wanjau, Senior Pastor

Pastor Anthony Mwaniki

require the Operations team to enhance our systems at all levels to ensure they are robust enough to manage the growth. Finally I wish to celebrate Rev. Peter Adolwa, who will be taking up the position of Head of Operations. His exceptional skills and experience in Church Operations and Administration are what Mavuno needs in this season. He has a great team to work with and I am looking forward to amazing standards of service delivery, stewardship and reporting in the 2015. I thank God for the privilege of serving at Mavuno over the last 5 years, and look forward to continued engagement as an associate.

It doesn’t matter about your past, or the mistakes you’ve made. You may feel that God cannot forgive you, yet God is saying ‘It’s not over, there is still life for you to live. You can move on from your past if you just come as you are. God will clean you up and save you from all the wrongs you have done’

Lifting Shame Past

THE REDEMPTION STARTS

the

of the

AS TOLD B Y WANGE CI KANYE KI

Ciku Waweru

grew up a chubby girl, and struggled to fit in for most of my life. As a child, my first crush put me down saying he did not want to be seen with a ‘fat’ girl. As a result I developed a strong sense of rejection, and would cling on to any man who would give me attention. It seemed to go all down hill from there. Campus afforded me all the freedom I needed, but also the opportunity to make all the worst choices. Nursing hang-overs and missing class became my life, and it was no surprise that half way through my second semester I failed four units, requiring me to repeat the entire semester. I quit Law school and went to study accounting. In 2010 I joined a bank where I started off as an intern doing back office work in the clearing department. I moved up, became a teller, then cash office supervisor, and eventually held the post of senior cash

My frustrations rose, and I filled my life with clubbing, drinking and sleeping around. My life was empty 34

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

officer. I was verbally informed and made to believe that I would be taking over the operations for the branch, but ended up training somebody else for the job. My frustrations rose, and I filled my life with clubbing, drinking and sleeping around. My life was empty. My wild lifestyle needed funding, and it wasn’t long before I made more mistakes. One day while doing bank reconciliations, I ended up stealing money from my employer and diverting it to my account. Unfortunately for me, a colleague noticed the discrepancy and raised a red flag with management.

CONFESSION TIME

Shortly after, and while I was on leave, I passed by the bank for some transactions, and the assistant security officer called me aside to discuss the case. Before I knew it, I was on the hardest car ride I had ever taken – to the head office. I pictured myself in jail clothes and thought I would find policemen waiting to arrest me. I tried lying during interrogation, but the Head of security was not buying my story. Eventually I resigned

Everybody makes mistakes you are not the first nor the last – the best thing you can do is learn from it, pick yourself up and move on to my fate and confessed. Management’s ultimatum was to pay back the money in two days. Even after withdrawing all my savings, and borrowing from all my sources, I had a deficit of Ksh. 150,000 (USD 1,630). I felt like my life had ended. I stopped eatting, became sullen, and withdrew to my room. I did my best to hide it from my parents, but after much prodding, I revealed all to my dad. His reaction flawed me. Instead of talking down at me, he showed me grace. He said, “Everybody makes mistakes you are not the first nor the last – the best thing you can do is learn from it, pick yourself up and move on.” Without condemnation, he even gave me the remaining balance. That day I realized how much my dad loved me.

What followed was an incredibly dark season, where I wanted to die. I stayed indoors all day, cried every night, and hating myself and filled with shame, I kept telling God to take my life. Thankfully He didn’t listen to me, and instead sent a childhood friend and former schoolmate my way. Qui Wanjohi, who worked as a pastor-in-training at Mavuno Downtown (MDT), called me and sensed I needed a friend to talk to. She persuaded me to join MDT’s Mizizi class, and as far as choices go, that was one of the best I had made so far. There, even though I was feeling very dark on the inside, I made friends with my Mizizi classmates and would attend church on Sundays after class. I hadn’t kicked my whiskey and party habits, but knew I didn’t want to get to my next birthday, which was fast approaching, in the dark state I was in. On March 17 2014, I woke up extremely happy, and experienced a very odd day filled with joy, peace and hope – experiences I had not had in a long time. At church that Sunday, I danced with abandon at the service, and heard a sermon that changed my life. Pastor Kyama Mugambi preached and spoke directly to me. He said, “It doesn’t matter about your past, or the mistakes you’ve made. You may feel that God cannot forgive you, yet God is saying ‘It’s not over, there is still life for you to live. You can move on from your past if you just come as you are. God will clean you

What followed was an incredibly dark season, where I wanted to die. I stayed indoors all day, cried every night, and hating myself and filled with shame, I kept telling God to take my life

up and save you from all the wrongs you have done’.” That day I surrendered my life to Christ. My life completely started turning around. Inspired by a lab I attended during the 2013 Fearless Summit, where we were encouraged to tell our life stories so that God can use them to draw people to him, I began to share mine. First at Lifegroup, where even though I expected condemnation, I received acceptance. When I finally gathered the courage to share the story at Mavuno downtown, I cried till I had to hide behind the curtains - but I’ve seen God slowly take away the pain and shame of my past. I am amazed at how God has been slowly turning my life around. God had saved me from the jaws of prison, and I felt compelled to join Freedom Behind Bars, Mavuno’s prison ministry, and take the hope that Mizizi gave me to people behind bars. Through Mavuno, God has brought amazing girl friends around me who have walked with me and counseled me. I have connected with God at a level I never knew possible, and I’m enjoying the freedom that a relationship with Christ affords me. I’m free, and nothing is holding me back. I am free to go after God’s purpose for my life.

DISCOVERY PROGRAM

I recently joined Discovery, Mavuno’s leadership development program, and have seen God meet every one of my needs. I am learning that God is faithful, and I am experiencing the beauty and peace that comes from knowing God. I do not know what my life would have been like if my friend Qui had not connected with me when she did. Now I am happy and in a good place, ready to impact society for this Jesus who has lifted my cover of shame.

Ciku Waweru at Mavuno Church

I’m free, and nothing is holding me back. I am free to go after God’s purpose for my life

MAVUNO LIFE

Clicking GetsJob that

the

Done

B Y C HRIS L YIMO

Mwarv – A Snapshot Mwangi ‘Mwarv’ Kirubi is the Team Leader of the Mavuno Photography Team: a team of associates who tell the Mavuno Story in pictures.

us set up a practical and consistent mentorship structure, with each team being led by an experienced photographer. 2. How has that helped the Mavuno Story? Photography has helped document the journey of Mavuno and the Mavuno Story can now be told easily and in real time. 3. What drives you? A deep desire to make Africans believe in themselves, harness their full potential and fall in love with this wonderful continent we call home.

1. How did Mwarv the Mavuno Associate begin? I took photos of our Mizizi class, and an understudy from the class showed photos of the Mizizi retreat to her friends and one of them signed up for the next season of Mizizi on the strength of photos from the retreat. She thought it was an absolutely cool event. I started carrying my camera to church to take photos during the weekend services, and ministry activities – Leaders Day, Fearless Summit Over time other photographers started showing up wanting to take photos. This led to the creation of teams and helped avoid the overkill of having too many photographers in one service. Today we have a team of ten photographers, divided into teams of three that shoot every other month. This has helped

4. Who is Mwarv the trainee? I pursued my love for art and trained in graphic design at BIFA, graduated top of my class but have never worked as a graphic designer. 5. And Mwarv the professional photographer? I worked as an advertising copywriter for 10 years before deciding to pursue professional photography. In 2009, after it being a hobby for six years, I was inspired by the photography of others, and desiced to pick up a camera and start shooting. I registered Pictureworks Africa in 2011 and developed an online presence called Click.co.ke The more I shot, the better I became at it, however I didn’t receive formal training as a photographer. A heart for authentic photography and a camera are my training tools. 6. What next? I feel God leading me to set up a photographers’ hub, and we are currently

searching for office space to make that happen. Mentoring other photographers at Mavuno has incubated this desire to share what I have graciously received 7. Describe your spiritual walk in three words Work in Progress 8. The GLAM of your work in three words Forty Counties Done 9. The GOOD of your work in three words Bread Butter Bacon 10. The BAD of your work in three words Plagiarism and Over-lappers 11. The UGLY of your work in three words Theft of Equipment 12. Who are your Board of Trustees – Who keeps you on your toes and accountable? Gina my wife inspires me to think different, and Solomon, best men at each other’s weddings, who inspires me to think big. 13. What’s a typical weekday for Mwarv? The only constant is waking up and sleeping next to my wife. That and working in jeans and a t-shirt. 14. What does a typical weekend look like for Mwarv? Weekends are for relaxing and spending time with family and friends. 15. Parting Shot? There are many people who chase the cheque and not the dream.

LEADERS LOG: Vision & Alignment Office

A year

FULL Promise

Entertainment Reviews BY WA ND IA NJOYA

B Y PASTOR C A ROL WA N JAU

n the little book of Habakkuk, God reminds His people what they are to do when He gives them a task. “Write the vision and make it plain”. For us as Mavuno Church, our mission and vision could not be any clearer. We exist only for one reason - “To turn ordinary people into fearless influencers of society”. As the Executive Pastor for Vision and Alignment, my key task is to ensure that all of Mavuno Church is living out its mission, and that every campus and department is aligned towards the fulfillment of the vision. Part of my role is to set guidelines and foundations for new initiatives and ventures, as well as oversee and give leadership to our leadership events, including our annual staff retreat, our Leaders Days and the Fearless Summit. I also oversee the communication and strategy office. As I look back at 2014, two words come to mind. Challenging, and exciting! ‘Step Out’ was our theme, and as the Mavuno family we literally stepped out – relocating our main campus and global headquarters from its Bellevue location to its current Hill City home. The first season of the year, January to April, began very well. Our average attendance was nearing 5,200 people across both our local and international campuses, a slight increase of 6% compared to the previous year. The relocation to Hill City took a toll on the organization, and we experienced a huge dip in numbers in the second season, May to August 2014. More aggressive outreach efforts were engaged, and we celebrate the fact that they bore fruit, allowing us to see

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

Vision and Alignment Department (L-R) Pastors Jack Odeo, Jeanette Munyao, Mordecai Njoroge, Carol Wanjau, Elizabeth Njoki, Elijah Mokaya, David Kuria

the beginning of an upward trajectory in the last season of the year. Still we were greatly encouraged to see the campuses continue to experience phenomenal increase. Our Downtown, Mashariki and Kampala campuses grew by an average of 31%, and our more recent church plants over in Kigali, Lusaka and Blantyre averaged 50% growth. At Mavuno we have learnt to celebrate not just numbers, but people. We realize that with each new person reached, we have greater potential to affect not just an individual, a marriage, or even a family, but an entire generation. In 2014 we also celebrated the setting up of the long overdue ‘Frontline Initiatives Unit’. All through Mavuno there are fearless men and women who have set out to intentionally and boldly impact various sectors of society and make a difference in their world. We call them ‘Frontliners’, and last year we were able to consolidate our

efforts in reaching and empowering this group. They now meet monthly under the banner of the ‘Mavuno Frontlines Network’. A fresh venture that has captured my heart is a new children’s curriculum the team has been working on since early 2014, and look to implement in phases. We are looking to radically change how we do children’s ministry, and create an amazing experience for the children to learn and encounter God. So 2015 has great promise. We see the Fearless Summit, our life-changing leadership summit, make a return after a one year hiatus, and we have lined up some amazing sessions and speakers for the same. This is the year to ‘Position Yourself ’, and I am waiting in anticipation to see what God is going to do among us as we stay faithful to His call. My desire for 2015 is to see as many people come to know God, to love Him, and to discover and fearlessly live out the purpose for which they were created.

MUSIC

BOOK

Rauka by Kanjii Mbugua

Yafesi Musoke’s “One in a Million”

“The Four Levels of Learning” by Anthony T. Gitonga

Many sometimes wonder if today’s popular worship songs have sacrificed the poetry rooted in scripture, which was typical of hymns, for one-line songs with heavy beats. But we also know that we cannot copy hymns of yester years and paste them on 21st century Africa. The church must provide songs that interpret the scriptures for people to worship authentically today. Kanjii Mbugua has fulfilled this mission with his worship album, Rauka. The CD is grounded in scripture, and sang with today’s soul. The worship project is a collaborative effort with artists such as Chris Adwar, Enid Moraa, and Rigga. Mavunites will recognize some Sunday worship staples, notably the upbeat tunes “Rauka,”“Ako nami,” and the popular hit “Mfalme mkuu.” My personal favorites are “Karibu,” and the Kanjii-Kidum duet “Wewe tu.” Since the album is a 14-track treat, listeners are spoiled for choice.

Yafesi Musoke, a Mavunite and script writer of Kalasha-award nominated shows “Briefcase Inc” and “Groove Theory,” is due to showcase his skills in a new show titled “One in a Million.” The show, which is due on television in a few weeks, centers on a simple idea – what happens to the Kenyan families who strike it lucky and win the huge prizes offered in the several product promotions we often see in the media? “One in a Million” is Yafesi’s latest comedy drama which explores this through the lives of the Bolo family, who move from a low-cost housing area to an upmarket neighborhood. Soon the fault-lines begin to show within the family and in the neighborhood, and the gold-digging relatives only make things worse. Look out for an entertaining, locallyproduced program.

As a teenager worried about how I would perform in the national examinations, my mother would always tell me: don’t focus on exams; focus on learning, and on doing your best. I ended up doing okay, not because I was sharp, but because her assurance gave me the confidence to learn. I appreciate this legacy now after reading Anthony Gitonga’s book “The Four Levels of Learning.” Gitonga’s book is a challenge to us to transform from school goers and certificate holders into life-long learners. With simple, concise language, Gitonga articulates a profound philosophy of education: we learn to grow and to transform the world. This task may seem simple, except that in this information age, we cannot learn everything. This book guides readers in their decisions on what to learn, on their purpose for learning and on how to make learning meaningful. Gitonga’s book is a great guide for parents, students, employers and employees on gaining knowledge, putting it into action and leaving a legacy for the world.

MAVUNO LIFE

MERCY TAKES A STEP IN

I wish we were more open to the needs of others. God has opened my eyes and I know the way I live now, I am fulfilling my purpose.

MONEY PROBLEMS

And as happens where money changes hands, it is not uncommon to witness first hand the challenges of money. Most of the traders earn a comfortable income, but you also have a lot of people, including the ‘bebas’ (load-boys who carry around the bales), make as little as Ksh. 50 (USD 0.5) per load. In most cases, as quickly as the money comes, so it goes, with little to no planning behind usage. Of course you don’t have to be a ‘beba’ to know this; many Mavunites could relate to this before they “Exercised Their Way to Financial Fitness” or before they heard the sermon series “The Four Horsemen of Financial Ruin”! One day, one of the bebas was struggling to raise money to discharge his pregnant wife from hospital. It was very difficult for him, as he could barely raise the Ksh. 10,000 (USD 110) required, even after fund-raising with friends. “When we were going to see the baby, he bought some hot water in a plastic bag. I didn’t know what it was for until we got there… the water was used to wash the baby,” Mercy narrated. This left her pondering, ‘What kind of life is this?’ Her heart was broken, and this moment galvanized her into action. She

SOMEONE

ELSE’S

SHOES B Y LAU R A WALU B E NGO

any images flash through the mind when the word ‘Gikomba’ is spoken. Busy streets, loud hawkers, choking dust, a fist-fight or two and huge amounts of both human and vehicular traffic. Sometimes referred to as “a branch of London”, Gikomba Market is renown for being the world’s biggest second-hand market.

Set up in the 60’s, and with over 4,000 busy traders, this is where, after much haggling, you are likely to get the best prices on shirts, jackets, jeans, curtains, shoes – you name it! But through the eyes of Mercy Ndegwa, there is a lot to see and learn from Gikomba. Back in 2004, Mercy decided to stop doing her juice supply business. At the time she was supplying fresh juice to many of the large hotels in the city. Having been introduced to the trading business by a friend, she then started trading wholesale at the Gikomba Market. “It works for me. You start work early, finish around lunch-time, and go home…” she said over a cup of hot ginger water. Mercy’s days ordinarily kick off at

MAVUNO LIFE FEB 2014

6:30am, she knocks off about seven hours later, and she enjoys the hustle and bustle of it. But why business, you might ask? “I come from a big family, and we are passionate about business. I loved the idea of trading, and it was more appealing to me than being employed. It gives me joy and contentment. What I also like about Gikomba, as compared to the juice business, is that at the end of each day, you know if you’ve made a profit or a loss,” she explained. Gikomba provides a living for thousands of people; from importers who sell their wares wholsesale, tradesmen and women who buy the bales, transporters who carry them around, and even those who sell the clothes as retailers – just to name a few.

I come from a big family, and we are passionate about business. I loved the idea of trading, and it was more appealing to me than being employed

started by helping pay off this gentleman’s hospital balance. She then contacted a close friend of hers at the NHIF (National Hospital Insurance Fund), a fund mandated by the state to provide health insurance to all eligible citizens. “I got all the information required and asked my friend to get me a number of application forms so that anyone at the market who was interested could fill them and get a card.” Mercy admits that the uptake was slow, as many traders were suspicious of her actions, and thought that she was making money off of them. The turning point was when the same beba was expecting his second child. After another round of donations to raise the necessary cash, and this time with even leaner contributions than the first, he went to pick his wife up. When it was time to pay the bill, he was completely flabbergasted to discover that he had none. Because he had an NHIF card, the bill was settled and he and his family were free to go! He could hardly believe that such a heavy burden was lifted off his shoulders through such a simple solution. It wasn’t long before this story began to spread amongst his peers. Soon the demand for hospital insurance and NHIF cards amongst the Gikomba workers began to spread.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Since then, Mercy has made a tremendous difference in the lives of ordinary men and women in the market. To date, she has single-handedly helped over 100 families sign up for health insurance, many times at her own cost. “Today there is an NHIF branch at the market, but they often take very long to process the cards. I still help people collect forms and submit them at the main NHIF office. It doesn’t take much of my time. Sometimes, all someone needs is ten shillings to make a photocopy, or 100 shillings to take passport size photographs. That’s all it takes. I help whenever I can.” Rather than teach her to be closed and wary, God has managed to open Mercy’s eyes and touch her heart. “Working here and knowing God, it’s been really interesting. One thing that He has opened my eyes to is to be sensitive to the needs of others. There is a lot of wealth in Gikomba, but also a lot of need. “After serving at Mavuno and being an understudy for the Hatua experience, I wondered how to raise my life to relevance. I asked God to show me, and he did.” (Hatua is a ten-week transformational experience that helps ordinary people raise their faith to relevance). “I wish we were more open to the needs of others. God has opened my eyes and I know the way I live now, I am fulfilling my purpose. What Hatua has taught me is that it’s not always about me, I can wear other people’s shoes and treat them properly, and if I have the ability, I should help.” Mercy’s initiative is not hers alone. Several others have taken it up to help others access healthcare facilities already at their disposal. What a fantastic example of putting your faith to practice.

One thing that He has opened my eyes to is to be sensitive to the needs of others

MAVUNO LIFE

OUR MISSION

the Mavuno

MAVUNO

MARATHON

The Mavuno Marathon is our discipleship tool. It presupposes that discipleship is not a one-time event but a life-long process.

OUR MISSION: Turning Ordinary People Into Fearless Influencers of Society

OUTREACH EVENTS

FAMILY MINISTRY (NDOA/LEA) ARTISTIC EVENTS SPREAD THE LOVE ONLINE PRESENCE

2 3 4

SECTORS IN SOCIETY

MARATHON RESOURCES

SIMAMA OMBI HATUA

MEDIA & THE ARTS HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT CHURCH & MISSION BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDUCATION & FAMILY POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

STAGE

MIZIZI: STAGE

STAGE

From Complacent to Consumer

From Consumer to Connected

From Connected to Commited

From Commited to Compelled

The first step in the marathon is designing outreach events and ministries that attract people to church, where they have a chance of hearing God’s word. In our services we present the unchangeable Biblical truth in a style that resembles popular culture, using relevant contemporary ways (with contemporary music, video, drama and other media), to keep them once they come.

Relationships are critical to Christian maturity, and the next step of maturity is to learn to love others in the body. As a result, our next step is a small group. The tool used to help position people in life-groups is Mizizi, an experience designed so that close relationships will be built in small intimate groups that meet weekly.

The next step in maturity is when people learn how to serve. To this end we have several courses, done in life-groups, that equip you as you serve. These are (a) SIMAMA – Victory Over Personal Struggles (b) OMBI – Making Prayer an Adventure, and (c) HATUA – Raising Your Faith to Relevance.

Service in the church is just a step to prepare believers to impact every sector of society. At Mavuno, we have defined six sectors of society that we’d like to impact, and we help members discern which area of society God is calling them to influence. We encourage them to start ‘frontline initiatives’, which are institutions that can impact society in one of our six sectors.

MAVUNO LIFE APRIL 2015

Many Christians today move from church to church looking for an experience to help them become everything that God created them to be. The marathon series is a set of ten-week transformational courses that can help any church turn every member into a high-impact society influencer. As they go through the exciting discipleship pathway simply known as The Marathon, individual Christians experience tangible life-transformation. The result is high energy and passion in the church, high levels of ministry involvement and ultimately, major positive impact by the church on society. For those interested in learning about how to engage others in the marathon, please contact info@mavunochurch.org.

MIZIZI

RESOURCES

Plugging Into Your GodPurpose The first experience in the marathon series, Mizizi (Swahili for ‘Roots’) is tailor- made to help people connect with God, their local church and their purpose. In the process, the believer forms genuine, lifelong friendships with likeminded people who will support their faith journey and builds personal practices that will continue to help them grow in faith. Mizizi is authored by Muriithi Wanjau.

SIMAMA:

OMBI:

Simama (Swahili for ‘Stand’) is the second experience in the Marathon Series. Done by people in their Life Groups, Simama is designed to help believers deal with the hidden personal & family issues that often sabotages leaders as they seek to make a difference. Simama is co-authored by Muriithi and Carol Wanjau.

Ombi (Swahili for ‘Prayer’) is the third experience in the marathon series. It is designed to help believers in their Life Groups engage the most powerful force in the universe in order to bring transformation in their sphere of influence including their families, workplaces, neighborhoods and churches. OMBI is authored by Simon Mbevi.

Victory Over Personal Struggles

Making Prayer An Adventure

HATUA:

Raising Your Faith to Relevance Hatua is the fourth experience book in the marathon series. Even though many of us have a heart to influence society, our desires often remain at the level of sentiment. Hatua creates the basis for every individual to understand God’s heart for our society and to identify their particular area of engage. HATUA is authored by Linda Ochola-Adolwa.

Sermon Series are available for download at www.mavunochurch.org MAVUNO LIFE