With idleness a constant pastime, Fadumo was excited by the prospect of a three-day event designed just for youth. It changed his life.
15 year old Fadumo lacked purpose and often wondered what would become of his life. His Muslim family crossed the border into Kenya from Somalia 10 years ago to escape the violence of warlord rule there, but terrorism remained a constant threat even in their new homeland as Al-Shabaab militants also crossed into Kenya. Classes at Fadumo’s school were sometimes cancelled due to Al-Shabaab raids.
A few weeks ago, Fadumo was invited to a 3-day youth conference. The prospect intrigued him, as nothing so special like this had happened in his district before. Even though the conference was sponsored by a Christian pastor, FMI partner Jaali, Fadumo received permission to attend. “The first day we had 92 [youth]” attend the gospel-themed event, Jaali joyfully reports. “On the second day and the third day there were more than 100!” Teens from Jaali’s church mixed with teens from the wider community. Several of them began a relationship with Jesus Christ during the conference. Fadumo was one of them. “I am beginning to understand that God has a purpose for my life,” Fadumo says.
Almost 40% of Kenyans are under the age of 15, so outreaches geared towards youth can have great gospel impact, as Jaali understands, not only now but for the future of the country. (The median age in Kenya is about 20 years old; in contrast the median age in the US is about 38 years old.)In addition to pastoring his church plant which now has a little more than 200 people attending weekly, Jaali’s ministry includes operating a school in his city of 22,000 residents. “This is a tool to reach the Muslim communities” and prompt spiritual conversations beyond just providing academic instruction, he explains.
FMI currently supports three church planters in the Kenyan counties bordering Somalia; our national leadership team there would like t empower more partners in that strategic region. While their ministries, like Jaali’s are fruitful, there are many challenges. Muslims make up 98% of the population in these counties and Christians are often discriminated against. Earlier this year, county commissioners in Jaali’s area banned any church meeting which is not on a Sunday; this impacts mid-week prayer services and other meetings and outreaches the congregations would like to hold at the church site. “And Sunday services must conclude by 1pm because there are high threats from terrorist groups,” Jaali adds. Pray for the Lord’s protection of his people here and for His provision of resources for them to achieve their vision for expanded outreach.
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