Students in the Rendille

An Evangel University student examining a member of the Rendille people

KENYA: More than 570 people accepted Christ as their Savior during March medical and evangelism outreaches in the eastern town of Laisamis, located near the Kaisut Desert. The events were organized to strengthen a 9-month-old congregation of about 50 people pastored by Mary Wangari, a student at Kenya Assemblies of God Extension Bible School.

Bev Loven, a nurse, directed a team of seven nursing students from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, for a medical clinic. Their ministry was delayed by a day after the group learned that bandits were patrolling the primitive road linking Laisamis with Nairobi, the nation’s capital. With help from a police escort, the team proceeded with no problems the next day.

TWO BELIEVERS AMONG 10,000

Most people who live in Laisamis are from the Rendille people, a semi nomadic group. The Rendille are considered unreached, since only two in 10,000 are believers. The town has few modern conveniences, with no running water, electricity, medical facility, doctors or pharmacy.

“The need is enormous,” says Loven. “We opened the clinic around 7:30 a.m. but by that time people had already been waiting more than an hour.” Some people walked as many as 30 miles for medical help.

At least 700 people received medicines for various ailments. Pastor Mary and several from the congregation also ministered to people’s spiritual needs and led 192 people to Christ.

The journey to Laisamis marked the first missions trip for more than half of the Evangel group, and none of the team had participated in a medical outreach or seen people with such great need. “This experience taught me the value of childlike faith and sacrifice,” says Meredith Bradford, a junior at Evangel. “I highly respect our missionaries who give up the comforts of the United States to minister in the bush country.”

Loven has participated in 12 medical outreaches, but this trip proved the most difficult because of Laisamis’ primitive conditions. “The Rendilles’ physical and spiritual needs are overwhelming,” says Loven. “The trip reminded me again that many people have never heard about the Lord.”

CHURCH PLANTED AMONG AN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP

The following week, 250 adults and 131 children made decisions for Christ when a 35-member team from East Africa School of Theology in Nairobi conducted evangelism services and built a tabernacle for the church. “This has been my most fulfilling church plant,” says missionary Jeff Nelson, the team’s director. “I never expected that our largest church planting effort would be among an unreached people group.”

Nearly 200 adults and 150 children attended the church dedication, and 21 people accepted Christ. “This is harvest time for the Rendille,” says Nelson. “Mary has planted seeds of the gospel for nine months, and God used the Evangel and EAST students to bring in a harvest.”