Evangelism sparks church growth in Kenya

Key points:

• When the Nairobi District superintendent started two years ago, he had no churches or members. Now, there are nine churches in four circuits, and membership has grown to more than 1,400.
• Evangelism is key, with pastors employing different strategies including person‑to‑person, house‑to‑house and open‑air preaching and outreach that demonstrates God’s love in action.
• Bishop Daniel Wandabula said Nairobi serves as a mission laboratory, noting that “evangelism and community engagement are inseparable expressions of the Gospel.”

When the Rev. Antony Maiga stepped into the role of Nairobi District superintendent in 2024, he faced a daunting reality.

“I inherited a vacuum district: no buildings, no members, no funds, no office, no parsonage, no vehicles,” he said. “I quickly realized strong evangelism strategies were the only way forward.”

Maiga was assigned to lead a district where all the congregations had left The United Methodist Church to join the Global Methodist Church. The theologically conservative denomination launched in 2022 after decades of intensifying debate over same-sex marriage and gay ordination and a tumultuous special General Conference in 2019.

 

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At that gathering, delegates passed the Book of Discipline’s Paragraph 2553, which allowed U.S. congregations to exit with property “for reasons of conscience” related to homosexuality if they met certain financial and procedural obligations. The since-expired church law was not operative in the former central conferences because of action taken at the 2019 special session. However, some members and congregations chose to separate without following the proper pathways outlined in The Book of Discipline, as was the case in Nairobi.

Formerly made up of 13 churches, the district lost all congregations and assets following a walkout at the 2023 Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference. Undeterred, Bishop Daniel Wandabula, who leads the conference, appointed Maiga to lead renewal.

Four circuits — Parkview Kitengela, Undugu Kibra, St. John Githurai and Fedha Embakasi — now thrive with nine churches and more than 1,400 members.

“Our vision was renewal, reviving spiritual vitality, strengthening congregational life and expanding outreach ministries,” Wandabula said. “This city is strategically positioned within an urban and rapidly evolving context. It requires leadership that is spiritually grounded, administratively competent and missionally innovative.”

He said Nairobi serves as a mission laboratory. “Evangelism and community engagement are inseparable expressions of the Gospel. Faith is expressed not only in words, but also in compassionate action. This holistic approach reflects our United Methodist calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Maiga smiled as he recalled the beginning of his new appointment.

“I started with myself — one person. Then I evangelized a friend from a Pentecostal church who had no congregation. We became two. At the second meeting, he brought one pastor, and I brought another, and we became four pastors. That is how I managed to start four circuits in one year.”

The obstacles were relentless, he said.

“We had to find worship spaces, furniture, funds for rent and transport, even access to worship books,” Maiga said. “To balance evangelism and community projects, I set quarterly pastoral programs. Every month, we meet, review our strategies, and I teach Methodist history and John Wesley’s vision.”

To make ends meet, he encouraged table banking, so members could start small businesses to support their families and church programs. Table banking is a group-based funding strategy that aims to improve economic life for the marginalized. Each time members meet, they save money from which they can take short- or long-term loans. 

“We opened schools at every circuit and tried farming to feed children, though resources remain limited,” Maiga said. “My plans are to strengthen evangelism and discipleship, buy land for church development, invest in healthcare and education and expand pastor training.

“We cannot do it alone since we need God’s guidance and the wider United Methodist Church to invest in Nairobi, a city that is an international hub.”

Robert Ngaira, Nairobi District lay leader, shared his passion for helping the church grow.

“After joining The UMC,” he said, “my focus was to bring more to Christ.”

He said all lay leaders meet monthly, each presenting reports with emphasis on souls won.

“We teach Scripture, lead prayers and encourage one‑on‑one evangelism in shopping centers, markets, hospitals and public gatherings. We also organize annual initiatives like tree planting and environmental cleanups. Through these efforts, we evangelize.”

The church leaders said the strategies are reaping results: expansion, numerical growth, stronger teamwork and increased community awareness grounded in the United Methodist Social Principles.

John Mueke Lavuta said after being invited by Maiga to join the denomination in 2024, they planted Parkview Kitengela United Methodist Church with four adults and five children.

Through evangelism, the church has grown to 80 members, said Lavuta, who serves as the church’s pastor-in-charge.

“Every week we engage in different evangelism strategies: person‑to‑person, house‑to‑house, open‑air and acts of mercy that demonstrate God’s love in action.”

Each offers different benefits, Lavuta said. Person‑to‑person evangelism allows pastors to listen to people’s stories, offer prayer and share the Gospel, while house‑to‑house evangelism extends this care to families, building trust and ministering holistically.

“Open‑air evangelism provides a public witness of faith in markets and communal spaces, while acts of mercy — food distribution, counseling, education support and healthcare referrals — show God’s love in action,” he said. “These efforts build credibility and open hearts.”

Faith Mueke, head of The United Methodist Church’s Mumo Educational Center, said she was privileged to be one of the district’s first members, joining Parkview Kitengela in 2024.

“Since then, The UMC has been my home, workplace and the school of my children. Our school started with just one student … but now we nurture 36 students. The children bring life to the choir, praise and worship and Sunday school. Our dream is to grow into a university. Together, let us build a beacon of hope.”

Pastor Jane Ngaira, director of discipleship and evangelism for the district, said she has helped to oversee structured discipleship through small groups, home fellowships and community outreach.

“Special attention has been given to inclusive ministry, ensuring that persons living with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, prisoners and their families, orphans and vulnerable children are fully integrated and supported within these family structures,” she said. “Through these initiatives, the church continues to raise disciple‑makers, transforming families into centers of faith and hope within the community.”

Joyce Syokau is president of the district’s women’s organization. She is seeing the fruit of the church’s evangelism work.

“After winning souls, we help each other by doing beadwork, which weaves faith into daily life and outreach. In church, sales fund ministry — outreach, youth programs and care for vulnerable members. It is also an evangelism tool,” she said. “Craft circles and market stalls create natural spaces for sharing faith.”

For the wider community, beadwork brings income and dignity. Forty‑two artisans — women, youth and widows — earn a living and gain marketable skills. The project currently generates about $380 per month for the church, supporting missions and benevolence.

Bishop Wandabula said his vision for the district is that it becomes a vibrant center of discipleship, evangelism and community transformation.

“With the current achievements, nothing can limit God.”

Chingwe is a communicator for the Zimbabwe East Conference.

News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest