Nancy and Shelvis

Please take one moment to view Shelvis’ “Introduction Video” of his time in Kenya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0C7WShydQ

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga (3rd from R) shakes hands with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki (3rd from L) as former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan (2nd from L), and several prominent African Leaders stand beside them during a press conference on January 24, 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting between the two rivals is the first since the disputed presidential election that led to violence in the country. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images News)

Each week, FECCLAHA’s staff participates in a Bible Study on the book of Nehemiah.  The scripture offers considerable wisdom about overcoming conflict and rebuilding our communities. Within the narrative, the reader encounters characters who have suffered years of ethnic genocide, political manipulation, cultural devaluing, and physical exile. The story offers a message of hope to us all because every community knows the sting of division, the results of poor leadership, and the importance of honoring each others gifts. Furthermore, the Nehemiah story reveals how obstacles are overcome when communities unite.

The entire community contributes to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s regardless of age, gender, or economic status. The community’s radical solidarity was birth from an understanding of each person’s ability and gifts. The scripture’s examples of solidarity, faith, and work ethic go a long way in any community.

“Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may longer suffer disgrace…”-Nehemiah 2:17

(photo by Henry Coates)

Posted on February 28th, 2009 by Shelvis
Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Here in Kenya, the Young Adult Volunteer Team and other Americans planned a worship/prayer service to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama called “Fulfilling the Dream.” The service provided Americans, Kenyans, and many others with an opportunity to celebrate those who “paved the way” for such a special day. It was an opportunity to recognize God’s work in history through the lives of civil rights leaders in the US and in this region. This service was the vision of our coordinator, Rev. Phyllis Byrd, who also made arrangements for the team to watch the inauguration with Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner.

However, I was at a clergy meeting in Eldoret (training ground for many of Kenya’s elite marathon runners), so I watched the ceremony in a cafeteria. The clergy meeting focused on the role of the church in reuniting the people of Kenya. Many clergy spoke of how their congregations fled when the ethnically and politically charged violence broke out in Kenya a year ago. They lamented that more church leaders did not speak out against the tribal division.

After a long day of prayer, discussion, and strategizing, I joined forty Kenyan archbishops, bishops and pastors in the cafeteria to watch the much anticipated inauguration event. We huddled around a projector and gazed at the images on a large sheet hanging from the wall. It was a little surreal, yet extremely touching to share the moment together.

The next morning, I was asked to start our meeting by telling the group the significance of the inauguration for the US. I did my best to share what it meant for me as an American and as an African-American. I told them about my conversation with my 89-year-old Grandmother on the night of the election. It meant more than anything, to hear the excitement in the voice of a woman who has seen more discrimination and racial hatred than I could ever imagine, and who still lives in a small southern town with train tracks dividing blacks on one side and whites on the other.

After I spoke, the bishops insisted that we take a moment to pray for the continued racial reconciliation in the United States and the leadership of President Obama. They prayed because they believed that if this level of progress could happen in the US, then it could also happen in their battle scarred country. They found strength in the example of the United States of America and the American people. In the midst of the prayer, I felt so humbled, yet so proud to be an American.

The day after the inauguration, every picture of every paper was about the new 1^st Family of America. There were articles about Barack’s dancing, Michelle’s fashion, the kid’s puppy…but the article that I think sums it all up said of Obama, “He is Nobody’s Messiah but Everybody’s Hope.” What a special moment in history.

To God be the Glory,

Shelvis

Posted on January 29th, 2009 by Shelvis
Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people." -Luke 2:10 (photo by AACC)

photo by Henry Coates

Posted on December 21st, 2008 by Nancy
Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

Ms. Caroline Menach, Founding Member of Yang'at

Magdalene Gathoni did not attend school as a child because of the cultural belief that education was not important for girls.  At the age of 37, however, Magdalene learned to read and write.  Once literate, she began to mobilize other women in rural areas to join classes.  Then, Magdalene formed the Kenya Adult Learners’ Association (KALA). 

“Literacy has changed my life,” states Magdalene.  Now, she travels the world, and she helped start learners’ associations in Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe.  “I am 61,” Magdalene recently wrote, “but I feel that I should continue helping the unreached, though many challenges face me.   With God I will overcome and reach my vision of changing Kenyans from poverty and illiteracy to empowerment.” 

Posted on December 21st, 2008 by Nancy
Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off

I just returned from Maputo, Mozambique where I attended the 9th Assembly of the All Africa Conference of Churches (http://www.aacc-ceta.org/en/ninth-assembly/home.htm). It was an intense couple of days in which my organization (Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa) hosted workshops on human rights.  Church leaders from every country in Africa were present and many others from Europe, Asia and the US.  The conference was like nothing that I have ever experienced.

photos by AACC

The greatest gift of the conference was the worship which was filled with the rhythm and pulse of drums, the energy and dancing of people, and the communal witness of God’s love.  During each service, the Lord’s Prayer was offered by every person in their mother tongue, which included: English, Portuguese, Shangaan, French, Kiswahili, Amharic, Zulu, and many others.  Surrounded by prayers in multiple languages, I felt like the early Christians who encountered the beauty and the challenge of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The worship illustrated the diversity of the family of God.

The experience was eye opening. We were all stretched to acknowledge people from across the world who worship and praise God differently. We had to admit that we are each just one member of God’s family, and no member is greater than any other. I also recognized the necessity for gatherings like the Assembly, because in such circumstances we are reminded that there are many ways to worship God. (A prayer Nancy wrote with CWS colleagues for the Gender-Based Violence service is attached as a page in right column).

In the final worship service, I was a part of the international clergy team offering communion. In addition, I was given the opportunity to lead the congregation in “How Great Thou Art.”  As soon as I began to sing, the choir and the entire congregation joined in singing the famous hymn. I left the pulpit, knowing that I was unworthy to share in the leadership of God’s people and at the same time in awe that God could and would use someone like me.

His Excellency President Chissano, Fecclaha Exec. Dir. Fred Nyabera, Rev. Shelvis Smith-Mather

In addition to the worship experiences, God gave me the opportunity to meet three African Presidents last week. First, I met the current president of Mozambique (Armando Guebuza), who gave the opening address for the assembly. Second, I met the former president of Mozambique (Joachim Chissano), who spoke in our workshops on Human Rights. Joachim Chissano was the president of Mozambique for 20 years and then voluntarily stepped down, even though the nation wanted him to stay in power. Everyone spoke of his character, integrity, and humility. He is currently working with churches to ensure the progress of the continent. Finally, I met Thabo Mbeki who is the former president of South Africa. I attended a small question/answer forum between him and about twenty religious leaders before getting to meet him personally.

God is doing amazing things on this continent. I feel extremely fortunate that I get to experience the Spirit moving in this land and that I have the opportunity to learn from God’s people in Africa.

Posted on December 21st, 2008 by Shelvis
Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off