The call to missions is one that is deeply rooted in Scripture. From the beginning of time, God has been a sending God, sending his prophets, apostles, and ultimately, His own Son, to bring redemption to the world. As Christians, we are called to continue this mission, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, making disciples of all nations.
The foundation of missions is rooted in the very nature of God. God is a missionary God, a God who sends. In the Old Testament, we see God sending prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah to call His people to repentance. In the New Testament, we see God sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. Jesus himself commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). This command is reiterated by Paul in his letter to the Romans, where he asks, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).
The Puritans, a group of Reformed Christians from the 16th to 18th century who had a deep passion for missions. Their writings reflect this passion, with notable figures like Richard Baxter, Jonathan Edwards, and Martin Luther emphasizing the importance of actively participating in spreading the gospel. Baxter preached “as a dying man to dying men,” while Edwards believed that spectators contribute nothing to God’s glory in missions. Luther stated that “if [the church] ceases to be missionary, it has ceased to be a church,” and Paul expressed his eagerness to preach the gospel to Greeks and non-Greeks alike. David Brainerd, a prominent Puritan figure, famously declared that he cared not where he went or what he endured, so long as he could save souls. As Edwards preached, every Christian is a missionary, and every pastor is a missionary. The gospel cannot be truly preached without offense and tumult, and it is the duty of Christians to seek the salvation of their neighbors. These quotes collectively highlight the crucial role of missions in the spread of the gospel and the need for believers to actively participate in it.
Mission work in Kenya dates back to the 19th century, with the arrival of European missionaries. Among the first were Johann Ludwig Krapf and Johannes Rebmann, who landed in Mombasa in 1844. Their aim was to spread the Gospel and establish a mission station at the interior. They faced numerous challenges, including hostile weather, sickness, and cultural barriers. However, they persevered and laid a foundation for the spread of Christianity in Kenya.
Despite the progress made over the years, statistics show that there are still many unreached people groups in Kenya. According to the Joshua Project, there are over 60 unreached people groups in Kenya, with a population of over 6 million people. This is a concerning figure and underscores the need for more mission work in the country. As Christians, we are called to make disciples of all nations, and we cannot afford to ignore these unreached people groups.
Several missions organizations are involved in mission work in Kenya. These organizations work in partnership with the local church to reach communities with the Gospel. They provide training, resources, and support to local pastors and evangelists to effectively spread the message of Christ. This partnership is crucial as it enables the local church to take ownership of mission work in their communities.
However, it is worth noting that the face of missions in Kenya is primarily white. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it highlights the need for more locally bred and discipled missionaries to take up the mantle. As David Platt puts it, “The gospel must be taken to the nations by the people of the nations.” Locally bred and discipled missionaries understand the culture, language, and needs of their people better than outsiders. They are better equipped to reach the unreached and make disciples of Christ.
The challenges facing mission work in Kenya are many. Among these are false gospels such as the prosperity gospel, cults, the word of faith movement, the new apostolic reformation, and the lack mentality. These falsehoods have infiltrated the church and are misleading many people. They promise quick fixes and material prosperity, which are not in line with the Gospel of Christ. The lack mentality also poses a challenge as many people believe that they do not have enough resources to support mission work. This is a wrong view of missions as God is the provider and can use even the little we have to further His Kingdom. Ignorance is also a challenge, as many people do not understand the importance of mission work.
The solution to these challenges is to preach and teach the true Gospel of Christ. As Paul says, “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” We must continually point people to Christ and His finished work on the cross. We must also pray for discernment and wisdom to recognize false gospels and avoid them. As John Piper reminds us, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” We must seek to find our satisfaction in God alone and not in material things. This will help us to have a proper view of missions and support it with our resources.
Individuals and churches can actively participate in mission work by praying, giving, and going. We must pray for the spread of the Gospel in Kenya and beyond. We must give our resources to support mission work, both locally and globally. We must also be willing to go and make disciples of Christ, whether locally or in other parts of the world. As John MacArthur puts it, “God’s people are called to be on mission for Him.” We cannot afford to sit back and ignore the Great Commission.
In conclusion, mission work in Kenya is critical, with a renewed commitment to the gospel and a willingness to get involved, we can see the gospel spread throughout Kenya and beyond. As the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22 Like Paul To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.