The Hour Has Come…Wake from Your Slumber (Romans 13:11)
Last week I traveled with the Kenya Community Development
Team and the Women’s Leadership Team from our lodging in Nairobi,
Kenya to downtown Nairobi. We were to join
a man named Pastor Boniface whom ministers to young men and women who live and
sleep on the streets in the downtown area.We were informed that many of these men and women abuse
and are dependent upon a glue-like substance.
It was 4 a.m., both teams woke early to experience the
street ministry of Pastor Boniface. It was immediately noticeable upon arrival that
there was not an assembled congregation. Why? It’s a street ministry and secondly,
we were told they were asleep. Few expected to have church at 4:30 a.m., with
the exception of those whom had previously encountered Pastor Boniface. He walked
the streets, tapping shoulders, waking men and women whom slept. He lined them
against the wall of a building in a seated position and instructed those whom
stood afar to “come closer”, until we formed a semicircle around our seated
congregants.
Upon seeing the dark streets and silhouettes of those waiting, I began
to feel uncomfortable. At one point as I focused solely
on my lack of comfort and the darkness of the streets, I felt like this mission
was hopeless and became despondent. It was in that moment, I began wishing my
street ministry experience would be brief and particularly uninvolved. While I
began to turn inward and withdraw it was Pastor Boniface’s voice which awoke me
and encouraged me to “come closer”.
Pastor Boniface began to speak in his native tongue. I could
not understand it, but knew he emphasized certain points as I heard Swahili
phrases repeated. After speaking in an impassioned manner for 10 minutes, he
asked if anyone had anything extra to share with the people. No one said
anything, so we kneeled down and prayed individually with those closest to us.
I was unable to see the face of the person with whom I prayed, as it was
concealed by morning darkness, but I remembered praying that God would reveal
his love and power to this individual. I prayed this prayer because I felt if
this man could just catch a glimpse of the power of God he would leave his
situation and run straight for the plan of God for his life.
Well…I Got my wish, my experience was brief. We were headed
back to Grace House (our lodging), the recent experience became a blur. I
thought on the following as I headed back: I’d stood inches away from a stranger on a dark street, in
an unfamiliar country, prayed with him, he smelled of urine, and his hands felt
unwashed…
Today, I was given the honor of visiting Pastor Boniface’s
home. It was beautiful, neatly set on 2 acres of cleared land. It was bright
not dark, like the place Bonafice frequents most mornings, while most savor their
remaining hours of sleep. It was comfortable, I felt welcomed and in my
element. Pastor Bonafice stated those whom made decisions to give up the street
life are welcomed to his home, adopted in as members of his family. He stated
when he travels places in the city he refers to his biological sons and his sons
of his ministry as sons! Maybe I would have prayed longer, worked harder,
knowing that God had an immediate and specific plan for those whom decided to
change their life. Maybe I could have communicated more clearly why they should
wake up.
My prayer: Awaken us Lord to the hurt and pain of those
around us, show us your vision for your people, help us to draw closer to you
long before you demand that we stand close to those in need and send us experiences,
men and women who will meet us where we are, shake us and wake us from our
place of slumber.
-2012 Kenya Community Development Team Member