God has answered prayer in an unexpected way following the evacuation of the TIMO team that was working with the Didinga.
Shortly after they left God put it in the hearts of Didinga Christians, Hector Loki and his wife Joyce and their baby Jan Natukoi, to go as missionaries to start a church in Makiria. They took over the TIMO team leader’s compound and immediately started to spread news in the community that they would be holding church services in their house starting that Sunday (August 9th). Their first Sunday they had 30 people show up to hear the word of God. Then the second Sunday they had 225 people! Hector has even started having morning and evening devotionals that some people have been coming to - in fact they must like it because he said they stay until 10pm some nights. Continue reading ‘Didinga - “ Their hearts are being softened to the gospel”’
A report from Daystar University called Unreached People of Kenya Project, Boran Report, December 1982 highlights the life of the Boran people and their traditional religion. The report states:
“The Borana religious life is influenced by the circumstances in which they live. Most important of their religious goals are those which concern the cattle, the grass and the rain, and therefore these are featured most frequently in their rituals and worship. Prayer and sacrifice are common in their religious practice, with the idea of seeking God’s blessing and provision foremost in their thinking.
“Traditionally, the Borana believe that God’s wrath can be avoided only by consistent proper behavior, not by dependence on medicines or charms. Borana fear God, esteem charity and justice, endeavor to avoid evil and place great value on ritual precision. They pray daily and avoid the unclean.
“Much of life is wrapped up in ritual and ceremony. Events such as circumcision, clitoridectomy (pre-dating Islamic influences), marriage and the like, while not primarily religious in nature encompass a large amount of religious ritual and ceremony, and thus cannot be excluded from the social-religious realm of Borana life. In actuality, it will be safe to say that all of Borana life is inherently related to the religious and ceremonial sphere.” Continue reading ‘Borana - “Much of life is wrapped up in ritual and ceremony.”’
We’ve mentioned before that for the Bara, following Jesus means a radical shift in not only their spiritual beliefs, but their entire worldview and daily lives as well.
Bara man and boy
Men especially are very reluctant to leave the ways of their ancestors. They do not want to let go of the spiritual powers they have from their ancestors through charms etc…, or their promiscuous lifestyle where having many wives is a sign of wealth and masculinity and extramarital affairs are expected. Cattle stealing is also a strong part of their identity. Even though the practice is changing, young men still feel pressured to prove their manhood and bravery by stealing at least a few cows. Even if one is caught, serving a prison sentence is a mark of a “real” man.
These are just a few of the ways that Satan has blinded the eyes of the Bara and made it difficult for those sharing the Gospel to help the Bara, especially the men, understand what truly good news it is.
Pray that the Bara would really understand God’s message—and see it as good news—and recognize that what they must give up to follow Christ is nothing compared to what they gain in following Him. Continue reading ‘Bara - Barriers for the Bara’
Aweer woman and child
The rains have come! It had been extremely dry and a good part of the sub-Saharan area of the continent had suffered greatly (and still is). But, for the Aweer, the rains have finally come.
Praise God for sending rain. Over the last few years, the Aweer land has suffered drought and famine, which has cause great suffering in the community. According to some sources, this is the worst drought Kenya has experienced in over 12 years. In many areas wildlife has died because there was nothing for them to eat.
For a group that is changing from being hunter/gatherers to an agricultural society, the rains have started a flurry of activity in preparing and planting crops to be harvested in the months to come. A number of Aweer people have taken to subsistent farming which is a great departure from their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. With the blessing of rain, they can now have food! Continue reading ‘Aweer - “The rains have come!”’
