Anglican Perspectives

Kenya: National Day of Prayer

Bishop Bill Atwood

Source:  AAC International Update

The following article by Bishop Bill Atwood first appeared in the February 12, 2013 edition of the American Anglican Councl’s weekl International Update. Sign up for this free email here.

In 2007, the Kenyan presidential election was hotly contested. In the time following the election in late 2007 and early 2008 there was terrible violence. Marauding gangs went through neighborhoods with machetes (called a panga in Kenya). By the time things settled down, more than 1,800 were dead.

A new constitution was forged to share power and set up a process for presidential election. Now, with the first election under the new constitution just weeks away, a huge amount of energy in the country is focused on reconciliation, healing, and release of bitterness. Last week, the Kenyan House of Bishops had a powerful time of healing, and a call was put out to the nation for calm, forgiveness, and peace.

Today, Archbishop Wabukala asked me to go to represent him at the National Day of Prayer for Peace at Holy Trinity Church in Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa. It is a volatile area during elections, so the thought was to have a prayer meeting there to call for peace and healing. Happily, there were representatives from other faiths present as well. I was particularly pleased with the conversation I had with the representative from the Supreme Muslim Council. He is a gentle and gracious man. Though we were meeting under a tent instead of inside the church, he was willing to be there with very specific Christian prayers being prayed and was able to speak to the group about peace as well.

I greeted the group with my limited Swahili, and, despite my limitations in that language, they were very happy. I told them that the devil knows where Kibera is and he is working to get them to hurt each other. “But,” I said, “Jesus also knows where Kibera is!” People laughed and clapped.

Archbishop Wabukala sent along a powerful statement which I read on his behalf because he was at another similar meeting in Limuru. Here is the text of his statement:

From The Rt. Rev. Eliud Wabukala
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya

God wrote letters to churches to encourage, challenge, and warn them. I believe he is speaking today, and here is what I believe He is saying:

To the Church in Kenya

I believe God has said to us, “Your response to the violence following the last election was inadequate.”

It is challenging to receive such a message from the Lord, but when He calls us, we must respond. When we received this word from him after the violence, the leaders of ACK confessed our shortcoming and joined with leaders from other churches to confess and ask for forgiveness.

Obviously, we have been and remain opposed to violence, but there have been instances where people were marginalized or excluded in some way from the fellowship and ministry of the church. It should not have been so. We do not want to live that way. We want to live faithfully, not only without violence, but with genuine Christian love, humility, and kindness to everyone. The Anglican Church of Kenya is committed to being found faithful in sharing the love of Christ and offering His care to all people.

To the leaders of the Government

I believe God is speaking to the leaders of our government and also to those who are aspiring to election saying, “You hold in your hands many of the keys to peace and prosperity.”

Your responsibility before God is to repudiate violence and tell your supporters that you will not tolerate any violence from them in your name.

Secondly, the widespread corruption in this nation is absolutely unacceptable. Everyone’s life is being adversely impacted. God’s word calls each leader and candidate to pledge publicly that you will not participate in, support, or overlook corruption. Then you are called to keep your pledge.

Decisions need to be made humbly with a mind to the welfare of all those in this country, not just for the benefit of individuals or groups who supported your election. Election to public office is a call to service, not elevation to privilege. Leaders must exhibit transparency, honest, accountability, fairness, and kindness. The failure to manifest those character qualities means that the moral authority to lead is lost.

To the People of Kenya, beginning here in Kibera

God’s heart is a heart of love. He has special care for the poorest among us. I believe God is saying to the Kenyan people, “Return to Me and I will give you peace.”
Departing from God’s will is consuming Kenya. After the last election, the violence not only wounded the victims, it wounded all of us. Kenya was left bloodied with a broken heart. Some are still suffering. Others carry bitterness. Unforgiveness will always lead to more pain and bondage. The Bible says that a bitter heart defiles many (Heb 4:15), but we are not called to defile hearts; we are called to heal them.

In Romans 12:18 we read, “As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” We must not carry bitterness in our hearts, we must forgive, even as God in Christ has forgiven us. (Eph 4:32)
The Prophet Joel could have written about Kenya when he wrote:

Joel 2:4 What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.
As we see problems in our nation, challenges with our leaders, tensions with our neighbors, and lack in our economy, what shall we do? We must do three things about which God gives us clear guidance:

First: Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the elders
And all the inhabitants of the land
Into the house of the LORD your God,
And cry out to the LORD.

We must fast and pray for Kenya. It is perfect that the election is coming during Lent. If we want to see a better Kenya, we must commit ourselves to being better before God.

well boreSecond: We must forgive and not harbor bitterness in our hearts. Matt. 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” If you forgive, both you and they experience freedom.

Third: Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Let us pray:

Our Father and our God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ redeemer of the world, we confess our shortcomings to you, O God and ask that You forgive us for the wrong things we have done and for the things we have left undone. Help us to release the bitterness that is in our hearts and walk with humility and love. Help our beloved nation Kenya in this time of elections. Help our candidates to be righteous, humble, and transparent. Help them commit to work for the good of all the people. Please help us, too, O Lord as we fast and pray that these elections will be held well and that the outcome will be peaceful. Bring us into the promise You spoke through the Prophet Joel that You will “restore the years that the locust have eaten away.” Bring this nation and all our people into the fullness of life in You. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

sheikDuring lunch I had good conversation with the Muslim leaders about the “bore hole” (water well) projects that we are doing. They seemed very encouraged and encouraging to me as well, talking about how “Everyone needs water.” It is that kind of simple, genuine conversation that gives the opportunity for humanizing issues. The tensions around the last election were not between Christians and Muslims, but were largely tribal. That gave us the opportunity to visit without having to do so around areas of disagreement. We were even able to talk about how in the future we might be able to talk about sensitive issues because we had such good conversation today about areas of common interest. It was very encouraging

Above is a picture of the bore holes that the crew we work with completed. We are hoping to deploy a partnership with the Kenya Assembly of God collaborating to put five wells in the far north of Kenya where people are literally dying of thirst.

I also had the opportunity to have a good conversation with the leader of the Sheikh community in Kenya. He invited me to meet with the global leader of his branch of the Sheikhs who will be coming to Kenya soon.

All in all, a very productive day.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood
General Secretary of Ekklesia
Bishop of The International Diocese, ACNA

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