Stephen and Angelina have been serving amongst the Samburu and Turkana people in Samburu County in northern Kenya since 1989. They serve with PCI's partner in Kenya, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and are based in Tuum with other strategic outposts at Seren and Wuaso Rongai.
Their work of the past 30 years has built a strong foundation, introducing the Bible and Jesus to the Samburu and Turkana people. This has been done in many practical ways, as well as preaching. See Samburu Awareness and Action Programme (SAAP). Cultural thinking is still very strong, and only a few families would seek to put Biblical values above cultural expectations.
Their work is predominantly relational. They have built trust with communities taking interest in their animals. Gospel community has been established in many villages. Stephen and Angelina are teaching life skills, challenging young people to understand the changing world, while always teaching the central message of Jesus across cultures and generations.
This work is people centred, and recognises the value of people's animals as the main livelihood. The geographical isolation has helped them develop some good survival skills. Unfortunately increasing population means hardships are increasing and change will come. Improved infrastructure will lead to further marginalisation of the semi nomadic community, if they fail to incorporate change. Living the gospel has helped people see the Bible has the answers for drought, work, family and hope through Jesus for eternity
Stephen and Angelina have three children. Caragh and Jason are now in further / higher education in the UK. Annissa is still at boarding school in Kenya. Stephen and Angelina have close links with Waringstown Presbyterian Church, and links have also been maintained with Newry Presbytery.
Stephen has continued to serve in Tuum throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Angelina the first nine months of the pandemic in Ireland to home school their youngest daughter who normally attends boarding school in Kenya as the school closed. However when Kenyan schools reopened in January 2021, they returned to Kenya. Schools in Kenya have fairly strict protocols in place and education now continues uninhibited.
General Prayer Points
- Pray for the Kenyans, mostly Samburu, who are growing in leadership.
- Pray for Stephen and Angelina, as they ask the difficult questions as the gospel penetrates hearts and minds.
- Pray for the expanding youth ministry, and the three youth camps held each year.
- Pray that the wider PCEA would catch a vision for greater involvement in outreach amongst the Samburu and Turkana people.
Stephen and Angelina have recorded two film clips (a short 3 minute clip and longer 15 minute clip) which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
(For previous Digital Dispatches video clips click here)
Latest Report
April 2024
The first quarter of the year is almost over, and the Easter season is upon us. Neither of these two markers have much significance here. Samburu life systems.
As we seek to move the work forward here, taking the focus of ourselves leading, we want to see some standards being adhered to in the church and wider work. Sadly, church is not much different from cultural practices and church rites only galvanise the strong culture underneath.
Marriage is a real flash point here, and has always been overlooked as an issue. ‘Come we stay’ is becoming an increasing aspect in the society and church and accepted as a norm. We have kept praying for an intervention as we try to set standards knowing change takes generations. After 35 years it would be nice to think that some seeds of truth had been sown and that someone would step up. Unfortunately, a lack of accountability to God and the Bible means that the norm continues.
After much prayer two leaders were suspended over marriage/relationship issues and the Presbytery will now be dealing with the outcome. It is good that some group rather than us is now taking responsibility and causing workers to reflect, which we pray will have a ripple effect into the next generation. We are grateful for this step forward.
This society is becoming increasingly dependent on aid agencies driven by short-term goals. People forget the resource that God has provided in livestock needs to be developed and cared for, rather than left to die hoping for an aid package to rescue them yet again. With increasing population, the problems are being increased and the methodology is not adjusting.
We have been encouraged by the progress on the land rehabilitation area, although some people put their goats inside deliberately. A penalty was inflicted on the owners, creating an accountability marker for others. Some men have now enquired about replicating the model on another land area yet to be fenced.
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for the beginning of an understanding of accountability.
- Give thanks that education programmes and opportunities to teach the Bible in schools are immense and pray that the words and actions of teachers would be aligned.
- Pray for the April youth camps 9th to 19th, being led by a Youth for Christ team.
- Continue to pray for iteach and an increasing number of people preserving in learning to read.
To download a printable PDF of this bulletin or for a previous bulletin visit the Mission Reports listing at the top or the Global Mission monthly bulletin archive.