Kenya Summary Page

LCMS World Mission began work in Kenya in 1998, as part of a larger East Africa strategy for training leaders among several people groups. Because the Lutheran church was growing at such a large rate, many churches were being planted that had no pastor. A great need exists to train lay leaders who can minister to the large numbers of people who are newly baptized and to travel to many other villages that have asked to hear the Gospel. Therefore, the main thrust of LCMS work has been to support local Mission Training Centers, where 8-12 laymen meet several days monthly to receive biblical and doctrinal training from national Lutheran pastors. Currently, there are 18 training centers throughout Kenya. The strategy is to make these training centers self-sustaining so that they can continue their work without mission support.

The LCMS, by convention vote, joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) in altar and pulpit fellowship in 2004. The ELCK is therefore a sister/partner church. Its roots are in mission work begun in 1948 by Scandinavian mission societies. The ELCK has 121 pastors, 200 trained evangelists, 520 congregations and 100,000 members. It is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC).

Currently, mission work in Kenya is carried out in collaboration with the ELCK. They determine what locations are best to conduct training and who should be involved. The ELCK also has a pastoral training seminary in Matongo, western Kenya, which the LCMS has supported.

Many short-term teams have served in Kenya in the past few years through LCMS World Mission, helping in such areas as evangelism and teaching. Mercy medical teams also come to Kenya through LCMS World Relief and Human Care. LCMS World Relief and Human Care first awarded a grant for mercy work in Kenya in 1994, which distributed food to hungry Kenyans. Ongoing work has included health care, digging wells, providing support for a girls’ school, artisan support, a dairy goat breeding project, orphan support and orphan rescue centers, drought relief, flood relief, church pews, Bibles and theological materials and cows for Kenyan church workers.

Currently, LCMS World Relief and Human Care supports a women’s handcraft project; the Diakonia Compassionate Ministry, which reaches out to at-risk populations; orphan/disadvantaged children support through the 1001 Orphans program; assistance for deaconess training programs; and providing shelter and material goods for families affected by politically-induced violence.

• Britt Anderson
• Shara Cunningham
• Fred Reinhardt
• Shauen and Krista Trump

Kenya/East Africa-General Support
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) is growing rapidly through a strategy of mission training centers to develop lay leaders who go for further training for the ministry. The ELCK has four Mission Training Centers (MTCs) in each diocese, 16 in all. Each MTC trains 10-20 leaders. MTC managers gather quarterly to study and prepare for the next quarter’s materials. ELCK pastors are also being trained to reach out to the refugees from Sudan and Ethiopia who reside in three refugee camps near Nairobi. As in many areas of Africa, LCMS World Mission continues to provide roofing materials for worship centers that have been built by the local congregation, using their own resources.

Your support of the ministry in Kenya will ensure that pastors and future leaders of the ELCK will receive training to minister to those in their own communities and to refugees from other countries. It will give the new congregations an adequate place to worship that will withstand the harsh natural elements of sun and rain.

As a large field in which there are many LCMS entities serving through short-term mission events, church partners cannot facilitate or provide for all the needs of short-term missionaries. This project maintains the East Africa facilities providing maintenance upkeep, utilities, security, Internet, generator repair and other services, so that facilities are available which serve as a base for LCMS mission efforts in East Africa.

Women’s League Handcrafts 
Women’s groups with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) are making handcrafts to sell. LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) provided a grant to reimburse artisans’ expenses. Profits are shared equally among the artists, enabling them to expand their projects and purchase supplies. You may order these handcrafts in the LCMS Online Store.

Diakonia Compassionate Ministry Assistant   
The Diakonia Compassionate Ministry (DCM), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), seeks to restore hope by empowering communities to develop local solutions to problems associated with poverty, disease and environmental degradation. Grants from WR-HC support DCM programs that provide shelter, vocational training, educational assistance, income-generating activities, health services, spiritual care and more for vulnerable persons.

1001 Orphans Home-Based Care Program
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) is working to aid the vast number of children orphaned by AIDS. With a grant from WR-HC, the ECLK seeks to help the most disadvantaged orphans, providing them with basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, health care and education. Learn more about the 1001 Orphans program.

Matongo Lutheran Theological Deaconess Program
WR-HC provides grant assistance to the Matongo Lutheran Theological College in Sondu, Kenya, to train with theological and sociological knowledge. These deaconesses work closely with parishes and teach women handcrafts to help them become self-supportive.

Kenya Relief and Disaster Response
Vulnerable families in Kenya have continuously become disaster victims following ever changing environmental conditions such as flood or drought and political differences across the country. Violence after the controversial 2007 presidential election led to high numbers of vulnerable people losing their households, shelter or property. The Atemo Health Center lost a bridge to floodwaters, creating challenges for referral patients to obtain treatment for more than six months. A Lutheran Bible School and three congregations served by the bridge also were cut off. Disaster grant funds from WR-HC will assist congregations throughout Kenya dealing with a variety of emergency situations. Shelters and household items will be provided for people displaced by disaster or violence; churches affected by disasters will be repaired; school support will be provided to displaced pastors; and a temporary bridge will be provided to serve the Lutheran Bible School, Atemo Health Center and three congregations.

For more information on mercy work in the LCMS, contact 888-THE-LCMS (888-843-5267) or infocenter@lcms.org.

Field Office Address:
LCMS East Africa Office
PO Box 22
Karen
Kenya, East Africa

Partner Church:
The Evangelical Church in Kenya
PO Box 44685
Nairobi 00100
Kenya, East Africa