FiveKennys: Congratulations, The Bridge is Finished!!!

The 2016 Graduation of the BRIDGE Certificate

of Integral Mission in an Islamic Context

This afternoon, we celebrated the graduation of the Canadian Baptist Ministries' training program for pastors and leaders in Garissa, Kenya. Thirty-one of the students that had begun the program in November 2014 have completed the six modules and were awarded the BRIDGE Certificate.

Aaron teaching this week in the sixth training module of the BRIDGE program

BRIDGE has been an important way for CBM to walk alongside the churches of Garissa in strengthening the local church's ministry with their community. As a praxis based program, we have sought to build practical skills while taking time to reflect upon our work and to consider how we all might improve our approaches to outreach based on theological convictions and our unique contextual challenges and opportunities.

Rev. Maurice Potter teaching this week on the character of a leader

Throughout the program, we have benefitted from several wonderful guest lecturers from within CBM and from other partners and institutions in Kenya. Having multiple voices and perspectives has contributed to a rich experience for everyone.

Maurice and Geoffrey Mwita meeting with BRIDGE students in Thika

Outside of the classroom, BRIDGE has provided a great opportunity for Christian leaders from almost every church in the community of Garissa to come together for fellowship and encouragement. We are also privileged to have two embedded staff living in Garissa to provide support and mentorship for leaders who are mobilizing their congregations for integral mission initiatives.

From teaching and preaching about God's holistic mission in the world to starting community outreach projects with their churches, the BRIDGE participants are seeking to build peace and improve the well-being of their entire community. It has been wonderful to see churches establish literacy classes, community gardens, feeding programs for vulnerable children and ministries for the handicapt. These are tangible ways that God's love and hope are being shared in word and deed.

As BRIDGE comes to an end this week, it is encouraging to see how these leaders are making new goals for themselves and for their churches as they seek to continue to grow and develop. Over the next few months, we will be evaluating the program and prayerfully discerning how best we as Canadian Baptists can play a part in the ongoing work in this part of Kenya.

We would certainly appreciate your prayers for us and for the Garissa churches.

Aaron and a group of students congratulating pastor Ibrahim

We also want to thank all of you who have been remembering our friend Pastor Ibrahim in your prayers. Ibrahim was among the first Christian pastors to begin a church in Garissa and is considered a spiritual father to many of the pastors and Christian leaders in the community.

Ibrahim's faith and perseverance is an inspiration for many, as he has endured religious persecution, hardship, and attacks on his church and own life.

"We must not be led by fear!" Ibrahim encouraged the graduates. "We are already dead and made alive in Christ. No one can take our true lives away." You can read more about Ibrahim and the Garissa Churches Here

Our colleague William Wako congratulating one of the graduates

The graduation was a great celebration for the leaders and their families, many of whom travelled from Garissa to Thika to take part in the graduation service.

Pauline Kariuki with two of the graduates

We are also thankful for our CBM colleague, Pauline, who has been leading much of the community development training with BRIDGE students who have been eager to apply participatory approaches to community assessment, project design, proposal writing, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Along with teaching two modules and sections of two others, Pauline has assisted with projects in Garissa.