Bethel AME Church in Kenya Celebrates 10 Years
It was a landmark time as the Bethel AME Church in Nakuru, Kenya, celebrated its 10th anniversary of existence. “Mother Bethel,” as it is affectionately called, is the first AME Church planted in Kenya in December 2007. It came into existence under the then prelate, Paul J. M. Kawimbe, along with the Rev. Dr. William M. Campbell, Jr., former pastor of Anderson Chapel AME Church in Killeen, Texas, and now assigned to Union Bethel AME in Brandywine/Temple Hills, Maryland.
A decade later, the church has grown to 17 charges under the leadership of Presiding Elder Moses Onyango Achola. The work is now under the superintendency of Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah.
Dr. Campbell was the guest preacher for the 10th-anniversary celebration. Several AME Church pastors and other communions came to share in three days of empowerment and joyous fellowship. Dr. Campbellencouraged the believers from the series entitled “Courage and Conquest.” From the sermon, “Welcome to Camp Courage to Evidence of Courage,” the people were lifted in faith to know that God still has their promised land in His destiny and plan.
In partnership with his own ministry, Flaming Fire Ministries, Union Bethel AME Church, and his ministry underwrote the travel, lodging, and daily expenses for all AME pastors who attended. This was an added blessing as these stipends were vitally needed. Throughout the years, Dr. Campbell—on loan from the 10thEpiscopal District and superintended by then Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram—trained and prepared candidates for ordination. Anderson Chapel AME Church supplied Disciplines, Books of Worship,Hymnals, Bibles, and The S.A.T. Manual for African Methodismwritten by Bishop Ingram.
Another partner, Dr. David G. Reynolds, the senior pastor of the Greater Vision Community Church in Killeen, sowed substantial seeds into the AME Church in Kenya and joined Dr. Campbell with teams from both churches. Together, they led two mission trips to Kenya in 2010 and 2011. Dr. Reynolds also led his church on two more mission trips in 2012 and 2013, where they distributed food and supplies to the Manyani community.
Initially, the churches in Kenya were in the Rwanda Annual Conference. This was changed after the 49th Quadrennium General Conference in 2012 when they were moved to the newly-formed East Africa Annual Conference. The 12 current charges are: Bethel AME Church (Rev. Moses O. Achola, Nakuru), Soweto AME Church (Rev. Michael Alanya, Nairobi), Bethel AME Church (Rev. Priscah Onyango, Eldoret), Bethel AME Church (Pastor Stephen Omondi, Riat, Homa Bay), Berea AME Church (Rev. Godfrey Mwamunga, Kivumbini, Nakuru), Migori AME Church (Pastor Rose Ang’wen, Migori), Bondo AME Church (Rev. George Jaoko, Suna), Rhonda Berea AME Church (Pastor Francis Ouma, Rhonda,Nakuru), Mombasa AME Church (Rev. Esther Ashimala, Mombasa), Kericho AME Church (Rev. Nancy Kimani, Kericho), Ndusu AME Church (Rev. Emilly Biwott, Rongai), and Bondo Nyironge AME Church (Pastor Martin Masawa, Migori). The work in Kenya is steadily taking root with new church plants and the entry and growth of the AME Church in Kenya have continued to be a miracle that has withstood the test of many hurdles.
