A Divine Appointment

Thursday, April 23, 2015

In August 2013, a Kenyan pastor studying at Moody Bible Institute (MBI) began attending Harvest's Cathedral Campus. Right away, James Omwamba got connected and began serving in the weekend prayer ministry. His heart was gripped as he would come in weekly to intercede for our weekend services and pray through the Missions Prayer Calendar. He began to dream of taking Harvest Bible Chapel back to Kenya.

James Omwamba and family

As the semester was coming to an end, James felt an urgency to return to Kenya. He longed to be back in Limuru Town with his people and to preach the Word of God. I met with James in December and as we began speaking about the challenges and opportunities in Kenya, it became apparent to both he and I that God had brought him to Chicago not so he could obtain a degree, but instead so that our paths would cross. After much prayer and fasting, God made it clear to us that James was to return to Kenya early and that Harvest was to go with him.

Praying over James

I invited Harvest Spring Lake, Michigan, to step out in faith with us and survey the land. Pastor David Wisen and the elders of Spring Lake considered the request and came quickly to a decision. We arrived in Limuru Town in April 2014 and God confirmed all that we had heard. The fields were indeed ripe, and the opportunity to plant a biblical church committed to the 4 pillars of Harvest, contemporary without compromise, and with a clear passion for discipleship was what Kenya needed. 

You see, Kenya has been evangelized for decades with nearly 75% of the population considering themselves Christian.  Early missionaries and missions movements have focused on Kenya as a strategic country for reaching all of Africa. Over the years, however, complacency, culture, and a prosperity gospel has invaded the church. Christianity has become a mile wide and an inch deep, and although its values have been absorbed by the culture, the heart of the people has drifted from the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Immediately, we recognized an opportunity for something better, more authentic, and biblical.

In August of 2014, James joined the Harvest Training Center for Church Planting and completed the four month residency, as well as an internship at Harvest Spring Lake. Upon returning to Kenya in early 2015, Pastor James Omwamba hit the ground running, gathering his leaders, preaching the Word, and organizing the church ... and God added to their numbers.  

James Omwamba with the rest of the 2014 Harvest Training Center Class

James arriving back in Kenya

So here we are, team “Risen For The Nations," in Limuru Town, Kenya, for the launch of Harvest Bible Chapel. We are thrilled to see the hand of God at work to get us to this place. We have faith to believe that this is only the beginning, and that in our lifetime we will see revival and renewal in Kenya, and in all of Africa, by establishing, strengthening and multiplying the local church to the glory of God.  

Harvest Bible Chapel Limuru Town, Kenya

Pray with us and for Pastor James Omwamba and the first Harvest in Kenya – that God would be glorified as we make disciples and plant churches.

 In His Glorious battle,

Kirk VanMaanen
Pastor of Missions & Global Church Planting