Today there are more than 1 million Seventh-day Adventists in Kenya worshiping in more than 10 thousand churches and companies. One in 49 people is a Seventh-day Adventist. Let's go back to see how the Adventist message spread throughout Kenya.
On October 22, 1906, pioneer missionaries Arthur A. Carscallen and Peter Nyambo left England to begin work in Kenya. At that time it was an unentered territory known as British East Africa.
A Canadian, Carscallen was educated at Union College in the United States. His longing to serve took him to Britain. After only a few years, he was chosen by the newly formed British Union to go as a missionary to Africa.
The union also chose to send Peter Nyambo. Originally from Malawi, Peter had been studying in England at Duncombe Hall College, later to become Newbold College. Peter had become a Christian in Malawi and learned of the Sabbath through his own Bible study. He later became a Seventh-day Adventist.
The Carscallen-Nyambo team arrived in Kendu Bay on Lake Victoria on November 27, 1906 and quickly began work among the Luo people.
In just over a year, the pair reported that they had established a small mission station at nearby Glendia Hill. Soon other missionaries began to arrive to assist with the work at Glendia Mission. Peter Nyambo moved back to Malawi. On May 21, 1911, the first 10 Luo believers were baptized.
God has blessed His work in Kenya. Thank you to these pioneer missionaries who looked beyond their own horizons to unreached territories. And thanks to those Kenyans who also answered the call to mission.
Today there are more than 1 million Seventh-day Adventist in Kenya worshiping in more than 10 thousand churches and companies. One in 49 people is a Seventh-day Adventist.
To those pioneer missionaries we say “Asante Sana.”
