Today is day two of unfoldingWord’s Church-Centric Bible Translation Forum, a gathering aimed at strengthening global collaboration in Scripture translation. The event brings 100 leaders from 18 countries and 28 language groups to Nairobi. Read about last year’s CCBT Forum here.

“Some of them work in countries that have religious opposition, all the way up to death threats and assassinations,” Dane* with unfoldingWord says.

(Graphic courtesy of unfoldingWord)

Kenya provides the neutral territory needed to facilitate a meeting of this size. Dane says, “We chose Kenya because it’s a very welcoming country, and it seems much easier for many of our global partners to get visas to Kenya than other parts of the world.”

unfoldingWord supports church-planting work among every people group by equipping believers with open-licensed biblical resources and training to translate God’s Word into their heart language.

“If we tried to do all of this translation work ourselves, we would immediately exceed our capacity. That’s why we are equipping a network of church planters and disciple-making ministries across the world with church-centric Bible translation tools, technology, and training,” Dane says.

“That network continues to expand, and as a result, hundreds and hundreds of new languages are being engaged in a formative process for them, individually and for their people.”

Learn more about unfoldingWord’s approach here.

“We’re not alone”: building a global family

The Church-Centric Bible Translation Forum builds upon unfoldingWord’s global church planting network, connecting believers near and far. The four-day meeting is comprehensive, offering education, training, and opportunities for collaboration and networking.

“Almost half of the people coming are new, and so it will be an introduction to how church-centric Bible translation works,” Dane says.

In addition, “They’ll have testimonies, and breakout sessions on overcoming barriers, security, funding, technology, and all of those kinds of things.”

(Graphic courtesy of unfoldingWord)

Believers gain more than practical skills at the forum. “What they tell us is, ‘It’s very difficult what we do, but when we meet brothers and sisters from other parts of the world who do this with us, we realize we’re not alone,’” Dane says.

“When they get to meet each other for the first time, face-to-face, it’s like this family that they didn’t know they had.”

Pray that the Holy Spirit would fill all the presenters and breakout leaders. Pray for the work that God is doing and is about to do through church planters and Bible translators.

Believers in Benin tell unfoldingWord, “We see Muslims giving themselves to Christ, imams giving themselves to Christ, kings giving themselves to Christ. Give us more. We want to keep going.”

Consider partnering with unfoldingWord to support this work. A $45,000 matching grant will double every gift made through December 31.

*Name withheld for security purposes. 

Header and story images courtesy of unfoldingWord. 

“Lawrence had recently become a Christian, and was still hanging around some of his old friends,” says Kamstra. “One of his friends borrowed his house, and when Lawrence came home, he found his friend in the house with three other women engaged in some illegal activities. And eventually the police came knocking on his door, and they accused Lawrence of also being engaged in that activity. And before you know it, Lawrence was sentenced to prison for a very long time.”

While in prison, Lawrence was introduced to Crossroads, an international ministry that connects prisoners with mentors in Christ-centered relationships so that lives, prisons, and churches are restored through the Gospel. Their program is utilized by ministry leaders in more than 20 countries around the world, providing leaders with resources, training, and support.

“He began going through all of our material, he began studying God’s word, and he found he grew in his faith,” says Kamstra. “I asked him, ‘Would your faith be where it is today if you hadn’t gone into prison?’ And he said, ‘No way.’”

Since then, Lawrence has received a presidential pardon.

“He is a barber in his own community. He has his own barber shop, and he gets to share the Gospel with everybody who sits in his barber chair right now.”

Unlikely friendships unfold when two people with completely different backgrounds exchange letters and study the Bible together. As they encourage each other, develop a friendship rooted in Christ, and apply Scripture to their lives, God begins to transform their hearts.

“I’ve been working at Crossroads Prison Ministries for about three years now, and Crossroads is probably one of the most impactful ministries that I’ve ever been involved in, ever,” says Kamstra, “and I’ve done a lot of International Ministries. But one of the great things about Crossroads is our ministry. Crossroads involves the local church. It involves mentors. It involves prisons that involve students.”

So how can we help Crossroads Prison Ministry?

“We have three things that we always tell people,” says Kamstra. “Please pray for our ministry. Pray for our students and pray for our mentors. The next thing is, you can become a mentor, whether you’re in in the United States or in another country. Go to CPministries.org. You can see a list of the countries that we’re already in. You can become a Crossroads mentor to somebody in prison. And finally, we could really use your financial support. That’s another way that you can contribute to our ministry, and that financial support helps us to expand and grow the ministry worldwide.”

Header image courtesy of Crossroads Prison Ministries.

(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)

Kenya (MNN)—Kenya Hope exists to change lives in Kenya through the Gospel of Christ with a holistic approach to children, families, and communities. The single most life-changing thing Kenya Hope can do for the communities they serve, apart from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is providing a reliable and affordable source of fresh water.

“They’re dependent on the rivers,” Kenya Hope’s U.S. Director Steve Holman says. “Right now we’re out of that four-year-long drought, but only God knows how long we are. But what I saw during that period was these rivers are not fit for humans to drink the water, and it means that young girls and women carry loads of water great distances, couple miles or more, to the home, and that they just live with that awful water.”

Kenya Hope can help communities by digging wells, providing electric solar-powered pumps and storage tanks on their Hope Center property, with distribution points to go outside of their Hope centers, as well as building concrete water troughs for animals to come and drink. 

“It means drinkable water, safe water, is accessible to the same girls and women who would carry it from miles away from dirty rivers. It means it’s right there, within walking distance of their house,” says Holman. “It really is life changing.”

It also provides a bridge for Kenya Hope to reach people with the Gospel, by first showing communities that the ministry cares about them as people and about their most basic needs.

“It’s wrong to not proclaim the gospel,” says Holman, “but it’s ineffective to proclaim the gospel and ignore needs. They provide a bridge so that people will be inclined to listen. They will want to listen to the audio Bible put in their hands. They will want to come and see the Jesus Film. They will welcome teachers in their homes and settlements to talk about who Jesus was and what he claimed to be and that really the gospel is about the God of creation, and all those things they need to understand in order to call on the name of the Lord to be saved.” 

Providing water does come with challenges. The technology used needs to be made in a way that will last; it requires people who are familiar enough with the technology to properly operate it; and it requires security to keep parts from being stolen. 

So how can we be praying for Kenya Hope? 

Holman asks for prayers for personnel: “To raise up a person or persons that can be rapid responders, to keep all of our infrastructures going so it fulfills the use, why we spent the money on it. We can have all the money in the world, which we don’t, but we need people, and God always wraps his message in people as they live out and love and are faithful. And I’m speaking particularly and mostly about Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ, that’d be the right ones to join the team and serve and make all these things happen.”

Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope.

Bruce Allen with FMI says youth-led demonstrations have occurred in over a third of Kenya’s 47 counties. The protests began in June 2024 after a proposed increase in taxes angered young people. (More on that here.) In the year since then, the relationship between Kenyans and the government has become even more strained.

Recent protests have included vandalism, unfortunately. According to a report from the BBC, Kenyan President William Ruto said, “Kenya cannot and will not be ruled through threats, terror, or chaos.” Ruto has ordered officers to shoot protesters in the legs if they are seen vandalizing property. 

“The president’s comments sparked nationwide outrage, and many Kenyans see this as state-endorsed brutality amid an already tense political climate,” says Allen. 

One FMI-supported pastor says this wave of youth-led protests is more than just politically motivated.

“He says it’s spiritual and generational. He says the Gen Z protesters long for justice, inclusion in the national dialogue about sustainable policies, and a future with hope,” says Allen. 

“[The pastor] calls them courageous and says they’re voicing the frustrations of many who are even in the older generations. Unemployment remains a critical issue, as does the high cost of living and rampant corruption within the government.”

In the tension, Kenya’s church leaders see the spiritual needs of the next generation.

“The Church in Kenya must rise to this occasion with spiritual clarity and gospel-centered action,” the pastor told Allen. “As many Gen Zs attend church physically or engage online, we have a window to disciple them, listen to them, and continually point them to Christ, the source of true hope and peace. The church must advocate for justice rooted in biblical truth.”

How to direct your prayers for Kenya

“One, pray for the peaceful resolution and meaningful dialogue between the government and the youth leaders. Two, pray for wisdom for the national leaders to listen with humility and to prioritize justice,” says a pastor with FMI.

“Three, pray for the protection of protesters and law enforcement officers so that they can avoid any more loss of life or injury. And four, pray for revival and reformation within the Church, so that it can be a clear voice of truth, peace, and healing.”

Header photo: Nairobi, Kenya (Photo courtesy of Story Zangu via Unsplash).

Steve Holman with Kenya Hope explains that authorities saw last Monday coming. “The national government pretty much blockaded and closed down the centers of all those towns, and especially Nairobi,” he says.

The July 1990 protests called for a return to multi-party democracy, according to a report from Al Jazeera. Today’s unrest also reflects anti-government frustration, including deep concern over police brutality, as in the case of Albert Ojwang.

Clashes between rioters and police turned violent, damaging properties, injuring dozens, and resulting in more than 500 arrests. Kenya’s human rights commission reports that 31 people died during the July 7 marches nationwide.

Though the unrest isn’t over yet, Kenya Hope’s Nairobi-based national director, Reuben Kamau, viewed the July 7 riots as one-day events. Holman says Kenya Hope’s work among the Maasai people in Narok State has remained unaffected by events in the capital. 

“What happens there (in Nairobi) will not change their life (among the Maasai),” he says. “They’re already [in] a situation where, while money is given and money supposedly sent, the projects that you and I take for granted — like reasonable roads, public water systems, elementary schools — even though the money’s been allocated, it doesn’t reach there because of corruption.” 

What Kenya Hope needs these days is more gospel workers. 

(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)

“We have donations, we have programs ready to go,” Holman says candidly. “We just don’t have enough people to do it well.”

Young people in Kenya are searching for something — or Someone — to live for. Ask God to call young men and women in Kenya to serve with Him in His Kingdom.

“This is a new generation, and there’s a lot of university students who don’t have a lot to do, and they’re looking for a cause,” Holman says of the protesters. 

Header photo: Nairobi, Kenya July 2025 (Photo courtesy of Story Zangu via Unsplash).

“They say the blood of the martyrs [has] so fertilized the soil of Africa that everywhere you plant the gospel, it germinates,” says Ray Mensah with OneWay Africa. 

With that missionary history of sacrifice comes responsibility.

“The Bible says to him that much is given, much is expected or required. So now that Africa has the largest number of Christians, Africa has to play a significant role in world evangelization,” Mensah says.

“Africa cannot continue to be a mission field. Africa has to be a mission force. We believe we are [a] mission force but want to be [a] full-scale mission force, sending praying, supporting in every area.”

That’s why Mensah and other African leaders are planning the Africa Missions Conference September 23-27, 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.

(Photo courtesy of Annie Spratt via Unsplash)

“It will be a place for networking, for partnerships, for new movements to rise up,” he says, adding, “We’re hoping that some of the denominational heads in Africa will come and churches that are not missionary, and they will catch the fire for missions.”

The conference carries an open invitation for you to come in person. Mensah calls for anyone around the world interested in missions to attend — whether field workers, leaders, intercessors, trainers or [those] carrying other roles.

“I challenge all those with passion for missions to stand with us globally. Especially also if someone is listening and you are African in the diaspora… we are calling you, come!” Mensah says, sharing that many nationalities will be represented. “Be part of the mission movement. God is doing wonderful things in Africa, and we invite you, come back home.”

Jesus Film Riders (Image courtesy of OneWay Africa)

The conference committee is also praying that the gathering will lead to national missions associations being launched in every sub-Saharan country. These have already begun in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya and Malawi in the past decade or so.

“We have realized that mission movements, or national mission associations, help to push or propel missions in the country to reach the unreached,” Mensah says, adding, “Once those movements are formed, it will be a turning point in missions in Africa.”

Mensah sees [that] God is raising every part of His Church to be active. Learn more about the conference and register here. 

“I believe the Africa Missions Conference will be that part of the global Church in action, and Africa taking its place and playing its role, together with North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, together for the Great Commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth,” he says. “Amen!”

Header photo of Jesus Film Rider courtesy of OneWay Africa.

The suspicious death of 31-year-old blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody was one spark. That early June incident is under investigation. Then last Wednesday, thousands hit the streets of Nairobi to mark the anniversary of June 2024 protests.

But like last year, the demonstrations turned tragically violent. Clashes between police and demonstrators left hundreds were wounded and at least 16 dead. 

Bruce Allen with FMI spoke with a partner church planter named Caleb who witnessed these events — not by choice.

“He was in Nairobi for work, and then just saw the crowd of people,” Allen says. “Things got chaotic. ‘And suddenly,’ [Caleb] says, ‘I was caught between water cannons, tear gas and panic. It was terrifying.’” It was some time before he was able to contact his family to let them know he was safe.

Deep-set divide

There are real differences between the Kenyan government and its people, and neither side is innocent. The government denied that police used excessive force on Wednesday’s protests, which it labeled as an attempted coup. Officials ordered media outlets not to give live coverage to the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, protestors set cars and buildings on fire and looted Nairobi storefronts. Protests were also reported in communities surrounding Nairobi.

(Photo courtesy of IMB, CC 4.0)

Yet legitimate concerns exist beneath the chaos. According to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) in Kenya, 20 people have died in police custody in the past four months. Kenya’s next generation is frustrated by the police brutality, corruption, and economic hardship that seem to be going unaddressed. 

“They feel like their concerns are falling on deaf ears, or that even politicians are exploiting them and will use them as cannon fodder, sadly,” says Allen. 

For example, not all protesters are there for the same reasons. One said he was hired to join a demonstration — in his case, for the equivalent of around $40. There are serious risks to this: Four young men from Caleb’s neighborhood were among those killed this week. 

“[Caleb] said they were full of promise. He said they were used and discarded by politicians who paid them to protest,” Allen says. 

In the aftermath of these events in Nairobi, Caleb shared this: “But ministry has to go on. It’s the Church of Christ that offers any semblance of hope, even when life is being taken away. We press on.”

Here are ways Caleb asks for your prayers: 

• Pray for peace and calm to pervade the streets and for protection over all those who are caught in the unrest, especially the young people, who are the most vulnerable.
• Pray for justice for the lives that have been lost, and for healing in the hearts of families and communities that have been deeply affected. 
• Pray for the ministry of local churches, that they may be channels of hope, of comfort and strength to those who are hurting right now.

“Your prayers mean everything to us,” said Caleb.

Header photo: City scene in Nairobi, Kenya (Stock photo courtesy of Nicholas Gray/Unsplash).

Kenya Hope’s Steve Holman says, “The Gospel is widely known, but it’s more of a prosperity Gospel. The vast majority of churches are prosperity; it doesn’t matter what the label is.”

The Lord provided a strategic partnership between Kenya Hope and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Nairobi to help pastors get the training they need.

Last month, 41 pastors attended a conference organized by Kenya Hope and Ekklesia Afrika, a ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Representative photo
(Photo courtesy of Ekklesia Africa via Facebook)

“For the first time in our mission history, well-qualified Kenyans came to teach, and they taught a package of materials in a seminar format that laid the foundation for healthy pastoring and healthy churches,” Holman says.

“Out of that will come five or six pastors interested in being part of a formal program.”

Ekklesia Africa developed its Soma program to fill the training gaps held by many Kenyan pastors. As described here, the four-year program leverages cohort learning to expand leaders’ knowledge:

Soma is both a Swahili word meaning ‘to read’ and a Greek word meaning ‘body.’ The Soma program is divided into a four-year curriculum that covers key areas of study like Ecclesiology, Biblical and Systematic Theology, Pastoral Theology, Word-based Ministry, and Missions. Soma’s approach to learning revolves around cohort-based study and Socratic discussions. Each month, pastors in different cohorts receive a chosen book, accompanied by a study guide and report-writing guide, in preparation for a joint monthly cohort discussion. With cohorts comprising 6-12 pastors, these gatherings take place locally, allowing pastors to stay close to their homes and churches.

“If you’re being trained while you’re already on the job, it works really well,” Holman says.

“This is not a denominational thing. It is simply a good way to learn together.”

Strategic partnerships make it all possible. While Ekklesia Africa provides the training, Kenya Hope offers logistical support. “This was a test run, and everything we see indicates it’ll be an ongoing conference as the Lord provides,” Holman says.

Church partners in the US help through funding and volunteer work. “They partner with us for a specific place and period, and they help to establish a solid foundation for building Gospel bridges,” Holman says.

“When we’ve shown we care for real human needs, we get the opportunity to slowly, patiently, and systematically teach them the Gospel and call on them to put their trust in Christ in a genuine way.”

Contact Kenya Hope to learn more about church partnership.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Gracious Adebayo/Unsplash.

(Photo courtesy of Mueller family)

Steve Holman of Kenya Hope explains, “A year ago at this time, there was a decision made to go forward and open the school…. Going back two years, I wouldn’t have thought this was possible. But God really laid this on the heart of Dave and Joy Mueller, and that is why it’s an honor to name it after them.”

Mueller Memorial Academy opened in January, following Kenya’s national school calendar. It launched with three classes (PP1, PP2, and Grade 1) and a classic Christian curriculum in partnership with the Rafiki Foundation.

“The community has been very supportive,” says Holman. “We have these three classes [with] about 75 students. This means every succeeding school year, a grade will be added. And as, of course, grades are added, they have to add facilities for teachers because teachers are generally sent from afar.”

Mueller Memorial Academy’s official dedication will take place on May 7. The Muellers’ oldest son Ian, his wife Stephanie, and their young son are traveling to Kenya for the ceremony.

Mueller Memorial Academy isn’t just about academics. Kenya Hope’s long-term plan is to grow the campus into a full Hope Center — offering widow empowerment programs and sustainable agriculture projects. Already, the property has a strong start with cows, goats, and vegetable gardens.

Mueller Memorial Academy’s campus. (Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)

“The ideal is that each Hope Center grows enough of its own food to feed its kids,” Holman says. “Wouldn’t that be awesome? We can make a big dent in it at the Mueller Memorial Academy, but not fully. So it takes wise leadership.”

Finding an on-site administrator is the next step. Currently, Kenya Hope’s national director, Reuben Kamau, manages the school remotely from Nairobi.

Holman says, “Eventually, as the school gets larger, there’s going to have to be a full-time leader there, rather than Reuben trying to administer the program from afar. You do have cell phone communication, but there’s nothing like being there!”

How You Can Help

Student sponsors with Kenya Hope. (Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)

Child sponsorships are another significant need. For $40 a month, you can provide a student with a uniform, shoes, a sweater, daily meals, school supplies, and emergency medical care.

“In all the Hope Centers [with] all the students that go to class and are fed by us every day, not even 10% of them are sponsored,” Holman says. “There’s always a need.”

Sponsoring a student is simple! Just head to KenyaHope.org to donate, and designate your funds for “Child Sponsorship.” You also have the option to sponsor a specific student with Kenya Hope here.

As Mueller Memorial Academy finds its rhythm, Holman asks believers to pray that the school would grow wisely and remain stable through the early years. Ask God to provide for the students and their families, many of whom live in deep poverty. Pray also for a full-time administrator who can operate the school on-site.

Holman says, “Just having seen that brand new picture of the student body, it’s amazing. They are excited to be at school.”

Header photo: The first classes of Mueller Memorial Academy. (Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)

This Easter, believers have a chance to give in a way that reflects the very meaning of the season: hope, new life, and redemption. Through World Concern’s One Village Transformed project around the globe, practical gifts become powerful tools to meet needs and build up communities in the name of Jesus.

Whether it’s a Bible in South Sudan, medicine in Myanmar, or a beehive in Kenya, each gift supports long-term ministry efforts led by local partners — not just charity, but transformation.

Allison Farstad with World Concern says this type of giving aligns closely with the Easter message.

“The idea of redemption and resurrection goes along with giving other people the opportunity for a new life and sharing with those in need.”

(Photo by Bernd Dittrich/Unsplash)

These aren’t one-time handouts. Each gift is intentionally chosen to serve a broader purpose — helping families generate income, equipping churches to serve, and giving children a future through education and health. And they all come through ongoing ministry relationships in places like Kenya, Laos, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“A bee farm isn’t the first thing you would think of when you want to help someone in need,” Farstad says. “But we think long-term — how can this provide food, income, and a way to contribute to the community?”

The impact is deeply personal. A bicycle becomes a way for an evangelist to reach distant villages. A small bundle of ducklings can start a family business. Clean water, parasite treatment, or school supplies can mean the difference between survival and thriving.

And while the gifts vary in size — from just $5 to several thousand dollars — they each represent an opportunity to share God’s love in practical, life-giving ways.

This Easter, consider a gift that brings lasting hope. Join the story of transformation by supporting World Concern ministry efforts in hard-to-reach places — and pray that more communities will experience the light of the Gospel and its redeeming power.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Ganta Srinivas/Pexels.