CBM Bridge Program, Kenya

Canadian Baptist Ministries' BRIDGE Certificate

Garissa, Cohort

This week is our second course in the CBM's "Certificate of Integral Mission in a Majority Islamic Context". We have called this the "Bridge" certificate program as it seeks to strengthen Christian leaders and the local churches of a community in building transformative relationships with their neighbours and broader community. It is a joy to have representatives from nearly every church in Garissa participating in this time of training and encouragement.

 Geoffrey, Pauline and William

We are especially thankful for our wonderful colleagues and friends who are the key facilitators for this week's course. Geoffrey Mwita and William Wako are leading CBM's ministries in Garissa in the areas of relief, food security, and integral mission. We are also joined this week by Pauline Kariuki, who is our main lecturer for this emphasis on project design and management. Pauline has both a strong academic background in community development and five years of experience in hands-on project management. Over the past two years, she has been managing the Guardians of Hope ministry with the Africa Brotherhood Church in Kenya.

 Pastor Ibrahim, of the East African Pentecostal Church

We are also thrilled to have some of our good friends from the Garissa Church Fellowship join as students in the program. Today was our first time, in over two years, to see pastor Ibrahim, who has been recovering with friends outside of Kenya. He praises God for the healing that he and his family have experienced, and shares his joy in being back at home in Garissa. Ibrahim, who began his ministry in Garissa in 1976, is the longest standing Christian minister to have served in Garissa County, and perhaps in all of the former North Eastern Province.

"I am so thankful for this training with my brothers and sisters, and the Canadian Baptists," shared Ibrahim. "I can tell you how practical this has been for our churches. The Farming God's Way training, in farming, has changed so much for us all. We are benefiting from what God is doing among all of his people!"

In Prayer

Please join us in praying for the church in Garissa, and throughout the Muslim world. In a time of great persecution and upheaval, we pray that God's Holy Spirit might spring up in each of our lives bringing healing, restoration, and peace.

Please remember the students who have left family, ministry responsibilities and personal commitments aside in order to participate in this time of training and reflection. We also pray for Pauline as she leads us through this week of training.