Church History
In 1996, the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church (AEPC) launched two presbyteries, the Mwingi Presbytery and the Central Presbytery. This has logically led to the formation of the General Assembly, fifty years after the first missionaries by Independent Board for the Presbyterian Board of Missions (IBPFM) set first in Kenya. In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Sanders Campbell among other mis
sionaries sent by the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Mission (IBPFM) came to Kenya and, at the invitation of the Africa Inland Mission, settled in Mulango, Kitui District for nearly two years. The study of the needs of the community in relation to mission work led to the establishing of a mission station at Mwingi, North Kitui. In 1948, Mr. Campbell began preaching at the market place at Mwingi. In 1951 another missionary couple: Rev. John G. Armes joined the Campells. Through converts such as Thomas Nduvi, George Kitheka, Samueli Nguli and others, several churches were planted in Tyaa-Kamuthale, Kakuyu and Thaana. In 1949, after a conflict with the district authorities, the Mwingi mission was forced to vacate the plot allocated to them. It moved to a temporary location at Makindu on Nairobi-Mombasa road. After appealing to London colonial office the mission won back its plot in Mwingi and returned to it in 1952. In ten years the Mwingi station build residences: a Bible school, a hospital, a church building and water catchment system. A presbytery was formed that included 12 churches in Mwingi, Kakuyu, Tyaa-Kamuthale, Nguni, G*i, Ngomeni, Itundua and other places. The Bible school took in three men, Vetelo (Peter) Mwangangi Karete, David Muthuvi and David Musyoki Mutava who completed the three-year course and went to be ordained as the first African pastors. In 1956, crises in the IBPFM in the United States of America led to its splitting and the formation of the World Presbyterian Mission, Incorporated. Sanders Campbell moved from IBPFM and joined the WPM. These missionaries made every effort to prevent the crises in the USA from affecting the Presbyterian churches in Kitui. When the two moved to a new mission station in Muruu some of the Kenyan pastors wllingly went with them. This was the beginning of what was to be Africa Evangelical Presbyterich Church (AEPC). In 1962, the AEPC was registered. The new denomination adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith and patterned its government on that of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, USA in general and the Presbyterian Church in America in particular. In 1973, the AEPC embarked on a church planting vision. A committee was formed the same year. Rev. Campbell was sent to plant a church in Nairobi. That led to the establishment of the Community Presbyterian Church, Nairobi (at Madaraka Estate). With the formation of AEPC Growth and Expansion Committee (AGEC) in 1986, the "Beyond Mwingi" mission has seen several congregations started in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu, Meru and Embu. These included Dagoretti, Mukuru and Lenana churches in Nairobi, Limuru in Kiambu, six in Nakuru, one in Meru and two in Embu. At that time, the AEPC accepted and dispached two foreign missionaries to Nakuru. They worked cooperatively well especially on outreach evangelism. James Park, an 1.5 generation Korean-American, had a strong evangelistic zeal who later planted churches and ministered as a local pastor. A theological institution known as Grace Bible College also was set up in Nakuru the same year with the assistance of a missionary named Rev. Kwang-Ho Chung who came from Korea. He is still actively teaching at Grace Bible College and working in AEPC. They both sparked a fire to the AEPC toward evangelism in Kenya and mission in the neighboring countries. In 1990 AEPC sent out three missionaries, Rev. Daniel Mathuva, Rev. Richard Kimanzi and Rev. David Kimanthi respectively to Meru, Mombasa and Embu. Today this mission vision still continues. "Who despises the days of small things? 1] Indeed, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." 2] We can, with great thanksgiving and praise to God say, "Thus far has the Lord helped us," 3] and He shall see us to greater achievements.
1) Zechariah 5:10, 2) Philippians 1:6, 3) I Samuel 7:12b
