Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

10/05/2026

Happy Mothers day

OUR DEAR AFRICAN MOTHERS 😭😭💗

Picture courtesy: K.V.A Muvavarirwa mother

When the food was not enough for everyone, our mothers would quietly say, “I’m not hungry,” just so their children could eat.
Not because they were full… but because our stomachs mattered more than theirs.

When we asked for more food after finishing our plates, they would take from their own portion and place it into ours with a smile.
They were always the last to eat, making sure every child had enough before thinking about themselves.

If visitors arrived while we were eating, our mothers would willingly give up the food on their own plates to welcome the guest.
That is the African spirit.
That is sacrifice.
That is love.

Even while watching us eat, their first concern was never themselves.
It was always:
“Have your brothers and sisters eaten too?”

They taught us never to waste food, because they knew the pain of going without.
Every leftover was carefully covered and saved for later, because tomorrow was never guaranteed.

And when the nights were cold, they would wake up again and again to ask if we were warm enough.
If we were not, they would remove their own blankets and cover us first.

Our African mothers carried entire families on their backs without ever asking for applause.
They sacrificed silently.
Loved endlessly.
And gave everything they had so their children could dream bigger than they ever could.

To the African mother:
You are strength.
You are sacrifice.
You are the heartbeat of the continent.
No words will ever fully explain your love.

We love you deeply.
We honor you endlessly. ❤️

Written By — K.V.A Muvavarirwa
Founder & President of Powerful Africa

07/05/2026

International News:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya withdraws from Lutheran World Federation

May 4, 2026

By concurrent unanimous votes of the ELCK Church Council (April 9, 2026) and its General Assembly (April 10, 2026), the ELCK formally notified LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt of its withdrawal. The General Assembly — consisting of a pastoral and lay delegate from every parish — is the supreme governing body of the ELCK, making this decision an authoritative and churchwide act of confessional conviction.

In his report of the Church Council to the General Assembly, ELCK Archbishop Rev. Dr. Joseph Ochola Omolo cited three central grounds for the withdrawal: the LWF’s embrace of a historical-critical hermeneutic that undermines the authority of Holy Scripture, its affirmation of LGBTQ practices, and its support for the ordination of women. The ELCK’s letter to the LWF grounds its decision in Scripture and in the Lutheran Confessions, citing the clear biblical teaching on marriage as the union of one man and one woman, the biblical prohibition of homosexual behavior and the reservation of the pastoral office to qualified men.

“Prior to the General Assembly,“every diocese of the ELCK conducted its own assembly while picking it's delegates and the resulting vote was unanimous — a remarkable expression of confessional unity across the whole church.”

In a letter of withdrawal written on April 15 to the LWF, Archbishop Omolo wrote, “In obedience to God’s Word and in faithfulness to our confessional subscription as stated in Article III of the ELCK Constitution, we cannot remain in a communion that promotes or normalizes teachings and practices that we confess to be unscriptural and unconfessional.”

The ELCK has long expressed misgivings and concerns regarding the theological trajectory of the LWF. The 2023 LWF Assembly in Krakow, Poland, brought these concerns to a head for the archbishop and he departed before the conclusion

There has been many commendations from confessional Lutheran Churches to Archbishop Omolo and the people of the ELCK for their faithfulness to Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

LCMS Director of Church Relations Rev. Dr. Jonathan Shaw. “We stand with them in this confession, and we pray that their witness will be an encouragement to other churches in the Global South and beyond who are wrestling with the same questions. We also join the ELCK in praying for the LWF and its member churches, that the Lord would grant renewed obedience to His Word.”

A word to confessional Lutheran church bodies still inside the LWF, the words of St. Paul apply: ‘Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty."

St. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:17–18.

07/05/2026

Central Eastern Diocese has sent a communication concerning their Bishop, Bakari Kea, who has had challenges with his knee for many years due to Arthritis.

It has been diagnosed as urgent by the orthopedist, who states that in order to prevent permanent damage and restore mobility, he needs to undergo a knee replacement procedure.

The surgery is scheduled to be conducted possibly at Kikuyu Hospital.

COST BREAKDOWN:
- Total cost of knee replacement surgery: KSh 400,000
- Amount covered by SHA: KSh 300,000- Balance for surgery: KSh 100,000
- Pre-surgery preparations - 20,000
- post-surgery accommodation at the recovery nursing Home: KSh 40,000
- Medication- 21,000
- Crutches required for recovery and physiotherapy: KSh 3,000
- Others- 15,000
Post care fund - 50,000
The total is 250,000 exclusive from the 300k expected to be covered by SHA

The Diocese is appealing to all friends and brethren within the Lutheran fraternity to stand with the Bishop in prayers and financial assistance so that he can undergo the surgery in good time.

Please channel your kind financial support to Bro. Aggrey Lajah,
Phone number
0724963093

06/05/2026

South West Diocese has announced the death of Rev. Elias Ochwang'i, after a long illness bravely bourne. The Pastor has been ailing for a period of six years.
The Church through christians and ministers has walked with him in visitations and prayers.
However the good servant has gone to be with His Lord.
The family has been there for him through hospital visits and hospitalizations and they have informed the Church that there is a pending bill to be paid.
The office of the Bishop, ELCK South West Diocese, and the larger Gusii Lutheran family and the family of Rev. Elias, is appealing to all Lutheran Christians nationwide and well wishers for generous contribution to cater for the outstanding bill and his sendoff expenses.

Please channel your contributions to Mpesa No 0725952574, this is the number of Rev Hezron Oyunge.

28/02/2026

Remembering our namesake Martin Luther, who passed away at age 62 on this date in 1546.

In his later years he struggled with poor health, including Ménière's disease, tinnitus, vertigo, a cataract in one eye, and fainting. His poor physical health made him short tempered as he aged, to the point his wife Katie was overheard saying, “Dear husband you are being rude,” to which he responded, “They are teaching me to be rude.”
Despite feeling unwell, he traveled to Eiselben to settle a dispute. He preached his last sermon there and died three days later of what is believed to be a heart attack.
(This is a cast of Luther's face and hands at his death, in the Market Church in Halle).

27/12/2025

The nation of Armenia has announced plans to unveil what would become the world’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ, presenting it as a symbol of faith, hope, and national inspiration. The monument is intended to stand as a visible expression of Armenia’s Christian heritage.
Armenia was the first nation in history to adopt Christianity as a state religion, and the planned statue reflects that historical identity. Supporters view the project as a reminder that faith continues to shape the nation’s values despite cultural and political shifts around the world.
The announcement has drawn international attention, highlighting how public expressions of belief can still play a role in national life and cultural memory.
Source: Public statements and reporting on Armenia’s Jesus Christ statue project. Shared for informational/Educational purpose only.

23/11/2020

The Rt Rev Francis Onderi Nyamwaro, who served as the last Chairman of the Church and later as its First Bishop has rested in the Lord. The Retired Bishop passed away on the 17th of November 2020.

The late Bishop was educated for ministry at the then ELCT's Makumira Theological College in Tanzania. He was elected the Chairman of the Lutheran Church, one of only three Kenyans, together with the Reverends Otete and Kururia, to hold that position.

Although the title 'Chairperson' for head of the Church was used since the ELCK's inception in 1948, there were always some proposals that the Church needed to change to the Episcopal polity.

In 1995 the ELCK Constitution was changed and the title bishop was adopted for the head of the church. On 6 October 1996, in a colorful ceremony at Gusii Stadium presided by the the then leader of the ELCT, the Rt Rev Bishop Mushemba; Francis Nyamwaro Onderi, formerly the Church's Chairperson, was consecrated and installed as the first ELCK Bishop, a position he held until his retirement.
It was during his watch that the Lutheran Church grew and reached all the then nine Provinces of the republic of Kenya, even having programs at the North Eastern province in the refugee camps to the Somali. Notable was the work among the Borana in Marsabit and among the Digo in Kwale.

However there were many Kenyan Communities that were reached during his time, and here we count the Kalenjin, the Masai, Samburu, Kamba, Kikuyu, Meru and Embu. Work in the traditional Lutheran zones in Kenya also expanded, here we speak of work in Kisii, in Luoland and amongst the Pokot.

The date for the burial will hopefully be known within the week, as the Church and the family agree on key points about the arrangements. So far there is mutual agreement that he was first of all a Pastor and servant of God and should be honored as such.

Meanwhile fundraising in the traditional Kenyan way is ongoing as all ELCK members want to participate in celebrating the life of this humble servant of God.
If you want to join them please send your donation by Mpesa to our Deaconess, the Hon. Mary Sally Otara on 0724 592995.

09/09/2020

The ELCK started the year actively before the pandemic slowed everything down. Some images from the Installation of Archbishop Ocholla.

02/09/2020

Let's keep up prayer as habit during this pandemic.