Ushindi Baptist Church was given that name for a reason: “Ushindi” is Swahili for “victory.”
Since it was established more than 20 years ago with only eight members, this church in Mombasa, Kenya, has been victorious. Its membership has grown to 15,000.
Like its pastor, Joseph Maisha, the church stands as evidence that there is victory in Jesus. “Brother Joseph,” as he is known, came to know Christ as the result of International Mission Board (IMB) efforts and now is president of the Kenya Baptist Convention and the East African Baptist Convention, which includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Rwanda and Sudan.
While a postal worker for the Kenyan government, Maisha surrendered his life to Christ. Soon afterward, he felt God leading him to share the gospel with the Muslim people of Mombasa, which has a population of more than 1.2 million. Islam is the predominant religion.
Struggle to begin
There was continuous opposition from the Muslim people of Mombasa, who felt Maisha had no right to proclaim Jesus as Savior in their domain. “We couldn’t even meet under a tree without being run away,” explained Maisha, while speaking recently at Woodland Hill Baptist Church in Huntsville. Mark Maddox is pastor.
Still his congregation grew and was able to build a thatched-roof church. Nonetheless, members were deprived of peaceful worship.
Maisha recalled a special service when the building was filled to capacity. The congregation began to smell smoke and realized that those who protested the preaching of the gospel had thrown torches on the flammable roof. The fire should have spread rapidly. But by God’s grace, just one small spot burned.
Maisha told of the incident in the same spirit with which he speaks of his church’s incredible growth through the years: “All glory and praise goes back to the Lord.”
In June, 17 people from three Alabama churches were part of a 28-member team that went to Kenya to work with Maisha. The missions team was led by Doug Wever, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Harvest; David Thew, singles pastor at Willowbrook Baptist Church in Huntsville; and John Thweatt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pell City. The group served through the IMB and Tom Cox World Ministries.
Before the team’s departure, there had been media reports of possible terrorist activity. Undaunted, the team refused to alter plans and continued on to Kenya to rejoice in the salvation of more than 2,300 adults and a thousand or more children.
The numbers seem almost unbelievable until one understands that the fields in Kenya are indeed “white unto harvest,” said Thew. People there overwhelmingly respond to the simplicity of the gospel.
“We ask the Lord to give us a great harvest of new members, but are always skeptical of large numbers,” he continued. “If we don’t see that kind of response (in America), perhaps it’s because we need to ask more.”
To Thweatt, “the most amazing and wonderful thing was seeing my church members bringing people to Christ.” Both he and Wever said no one who went to Kenya this summer would ever be the same. They spoke of what the early Corinthians must have felt, as the Holy Spirit’s presence was manifested through spiritual and physical healing.
Thweatt himself told of leading a Muslim to the Lord and witnessing the man’s desire to change his name to a Christian one. He asked Thweatt his name and immediately decided that he would also be known as “John.”
Maisha’s understanding of the people, language and predominant religion has proven to be an asset to his ministry. In totally submitting to God’s direction, Maisha knew he must start with reaching Muslim individuals, beginning with older ones who are accorded the greatest respect.
Strength of prayer
While 40 of his church members prayed, Maisha visited one of his friends, an elderly Muslim man with a wife and eight children. Maisha asked the friend to teach him about Islam.
Instruction began and continued for three months, with Maisha bringing food to share. A strong bond developed between the two men. At the end of the lessons, Maisha asked if his friend would like to learn about Jesus. Within 15 minutes, the friend had accepted Jesus, then asked if his wife and children might also hear about Christ. All trusted the Lord.
By 1985, Ushindi Baptist Church had grown to 2,000 and needed a larger worship facility. During a prayer marathon, Maisha felt God telling him to build a church to house 10,000.
“Some thought it was audacious in a Muslim city,” Maisha recounted. “Others thought I was crazy and left the church.”
But those who shared the vision went on to claim God’s promise, which included land given by the government, something almost unheard of for a non-Muslim congregation.
Wever, who has been to Kenya three times to work with Maisha, described the new church this way: “It was 70 feet across and accommodated speakers and a choir of 180, many being Muslim converts.” The church grew to its anticipated 10,000, plus 5,000 more. Now, there are five Sunday services.
“Since January 2001 until June 30, 2003, 11,400 converts have been baptized,” Wever said. “The conversion rate has exploded.”
One of the greatest needs now is providing education for ministers. “More than 80 percent have had no formal training,” said Wever.
East African Bible Institute School of Ministry in Mombasa hopes to meet that need by equipping 1 million church leaders in the Swahili people groups by July 2006. The aim of the school includes a goal of 3 million conversions by 2007.
Jim Britt, a Samford University graduate, heads the Bible institute. Wever is the institute’s executive vice president, but emphasizes that he will not leave his pastorate at Harvest. He will work via Internet and telephone from Alabama, with occasional trips to Mombasa to perform certain tasks.
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