The Relocation is Coming

Over the last 3 weeks we have put together 4 teams that will oversee our relocation to the new property

Celebration Team: The first team is led by Mr. Mwaniki Mageria and Pastor Janet Mutinda. It consists of those responsible to oversee the first service we will have at the new church. Their mandate is to plan that service; to publicize the event through popular media like radio, newspaper and bill-boards to Nairobians; to canvass the community with the news; to conduct outreach events and send out invitations; to welcome important community leaders like the Chief,  area MP, Police, etc.

Mr. Mwaniki is an event manager running a firm called “Balozi”, and has had much experience in this area. The team consists of Kamau Wanyoike, Mwania Masyuko, Claire Ruto, Steve Ananada, Joyce Mcharo, Juliette Odhiambo, Ephy Hunja, Anne Kinuthia,  Connie Aluoch, Irene Onacha, Charity Kimani,  Angela Murimi, Gikonyo Gitonga, Consolata Apondi

Technical Team: The second team is led by Mr. Michael Makumi and Pastor Tim Ryder. They are responsible for the site development – putting up the tents (3 tents : one little one (1/3 the size of our present tent) for the 500 or so children we estimate will be in Sunday school. A second tent (2/3 the size) for the 700 or so youth we expect, and a third tent (twice the size of this present tent) for the 2,000 adults we expect the church to have grown to by the end of the year. They will also design the layout and usage of the property, lay out 600 parkings, build a pre-fab office block, fence off the property, and provide all the attendant services needed by the church.

Mr Makumi was our relocation manager when we first moved out here to Impala. He works for NCCK  as a property development manager. The team consists of  Ken Onacha, Anthony Muriithii, Tobias Oloo, Gichu Wahome,  Eng. King'ang'i, John Gitonga, Ken Ndende, Charles Waituika with the assistance of architect Mutahi.

Fundraising Team: The third team is led by Ken Obimbo and Pastor Oscar Muriu. It has the awesome task of raising the 30 million we need to do all the above work! The technical team is still working at a proposed budget, but the estimate given on the total cost  (by our 2002 site developer – Mr. Anthony Mwaniki (QS)) is 30m. This team needs to start raising funds immediately so as to enable the other teams to begin their work. We will be saying a lot more on this from next week, but please prepare yourself for the journey ahead of us. Prepare to start giving in greater and more generous measure.

Mr. Obimbo works with East Africa Bottling Company. The team consists of Tim Mutinda, Ken Wathome, Joe Mungai, Wamuyu Mahinda, James Kairu, Mike Kariuki, Ken Ikiara, Alois Nderi, Gilbert Kibe, Okongo Mogeni, Jane Mungai and Rachael Reriani.

Pastoral Team: The final team is the staff team. Our work is to ensure that the pastoral care, and ministry systems of the church, do not go down with the move and additional growth we are expecting. We are believing God to double our numbers by the end of the year – from 300 to 500 children, 150 to 500 youth, and 1,200 to 2,000 adults. There is much work ahead and the focus right now is to establish firm ministry systems, expand the scope of ministries, build up new leaders, ensure the pastoral capacity is high, and reach out to the community (evangelism). We promised you that we would care for our members well when we first ever moved to Impala; we want to promise the same as we make this bigger move now.

This month’s preaching series – The Art of being an Armor Bearer

• The heart of an armor bearer
  
• The task of an armor bearer
  
• The challenges of an armor bearer
  
• The rewards of an armor bearer
  Preacher: Pastor Janet Mutinda

Unwell: Stand in prayer with the family of Julie Kihara. Her mum is admitted at hospital. May the Lord heal this lady and comfort the family at this difficult time of sickness.

New baby: Celebrate with Douglas and Julia Wachira who got a new baby on Monday

This last week, the staff team had a time of training and team building. We were energised and challenged to grow in new ways and move ahead with the vision God has given us. We sensed that the time to accomplish the vision of Lord for Nairobi Chapel is short. We are thankful that the Lord has done so much among us, but God is calling us to continue growing, leading the church in getting to where it is meant to be. Therefore pray that we will not to settle on the achievements we have gained so far, but will seek to walk with the Lord to our destiny.

Pray for the staff team. “To whom much is given, much is expected”, says the scripture (Luke 12:48). The Lord has given us much, in education, exposure, favour and his many precious promises. Our desire therefore is to honour the Lord with our work by practicing the highest levels of, integrity and professionalism so that our work will be the very best for the Lord. Pray for us therefore also that we would love one another, be focused and aligned so that we may function as a team.  United and with the Lord on our side, there is nothing we decide to do that we will not be able to do.

The rainy season will soon be here, in April. That raises a concern key, that it will get muddy and therefore difficult to walk from Ligi Ndogo to the tent. Pray, as we consider what we will need to do about that if we continue to park at the Ligi Ndogo. We are hoping and praying that we can park on the road reserve right outside our tent. Towards that end are seeking to find favour with the city council.  Pray earnestly about this matter. The ultimate solution is for us to move to the “promised land”, on our own property on Jamhuri road where we will have all the space and all the parking we need.  Pray that there would be speedy progress in preparation of the land in readiness to move.

The number of children in our classes has doubled over the last several weeks. Praise God for the growth, for it means that we can impact a lot more children for now and eternity. But it also poses a challenge, in that we need to double the number of tents so that we can multiply the classes that are already bursting at the seams. But we do not have much space on the grounds availed to us for more tents. At the request of the club, we always have to move either to the hockey pitch or the football pitch to set up tents for Sunday school and youth. Along these lines, pray for immediate progress in the relocation process, because when we move to the new site we will have stability and a lot of room for Sunday school. The increase in number of children also means there is need for more teachers and helpers in Sunday school. Pray that the Children’s Ministry will be able to build this capacity.

Project Fund-raisers : Are you involved in the work of raising funds for church or NGO projects or managing social projects? Do you have experience in the work of writing project proposals, grant proposals, overseeing & project management, etc? Our pastoral staff would like to meet with you and learn from you how to do this. If you are willing to help us, please give us your name and contact so we can meet you. SMS 0723-261-944, or leave us your details/card at the information desk.

Worship: today is being led by a relief team comprising of members of our church. The team is led by our regular worship pastor, Thomas Omollo.

Marriage Retreat: Our annual marriage enrichment retreat will take place this year in April
Venue: Turtle Bay Beach Club
Dates: Saturday, 28th April – Monday, 30th April
Travel Details: We travel down on Friday, 27th April in the evening, the sessions begin on Saturday, 28th April and we travel back on Tuesday, 1st May in the morning)
Costs: Ksh. 25,000 per couple (this does not include transport)
Facilitators: Pst. Muriithi and Carol Wanjau, Pst. Richard Munala (USA).

Mavuno Downtown: Please join us in thanking God for the Mavuno downtown chapel. We continue to see God at work in people's lives as we gather each Sunday at Tin Tin restaurant for our service. One of the most exciting things happening is that we are growing in number and will soon outgrow the restaurant space we are now renting. We are looking for a space we can rent within town. We need a 3000 sq feet space in the Nairobi central business area. If you know or hear of any such space, please contact us through the Nairobi Chapel office.

Ekklesia Fair: ….today—only for those who had already signed to join an Ekklesia by last week. If you have not signed in yet, today’s please sign up and we will work towards placing you in a group.