“All l had with me were the clothes on my back and my phone. By the time l left the war zone, my house was swept clean by the looters, some of whom were my friends,” reveals a survivor of the Kenya conflict. “My windows had been smashed and doors broken. They kept calling out my name and saying they had come for what belonged to them. After the commotion, someone occupied my house, one of the looters and his family. I cannot go back there for fear of my life. Tension is just too high.”
The violence that has occurred in Kenya over the past few weeks following the elections has left tragedy, fear and questions in its wake. But a positive side is also emerging.
Kenya has never witnessed such unity among church leaders as it has recently. The people of Kenya are praying and the church is leading the way. The violence has brought church leaders from every corner of the country together. Local media is awash with press conferences held by a united front of churches calling for peace. Kenyan churches are also holding corporate fasting and prayer sessions for the country. Christians around the country are exercising their faith and rising up to the challenge.
The present violence in Kenya is partly seen as tribal, yet forgiveness is beginning to take root in the church among various tribal groups. A Kikuyu or a Luo or Kalenjin or a Kamba have been seen standing, confessing the sins of his or her community in front of the church and asking for forgiveness. These people are then embraced with forgiveness. This is unprecedented.
The Media Council of Kenya recently asked all media to exercise an hour of prayer, during which leaders from interdenominational groups came out to pray. Radio and TV stations were involved, and all the leading newspapers carried the same headline: “SAVE OUR COUNTRY.” This laudable concerted effort by the Kenyan press is also is unprecedented.
Prayer Requests
- Pray for God to continue to work in Kenya, and praise Him for what He is already doing among church leaders and believers in the country.
- Pray for God's protection on TWR-Kenya staff and facilities.
- Pray for the TWR-Kenya team working to get a local FM station on air with messages of hope, peace and reconciliation during this time of unrest.
Source: Adapted from a story on TWR-Africa's Web site