Pcea Kajiado PresbyteryPcea Kajiado Presbytery
To be a Christian institution that transforms lives through biblical knowledge and empowers members’ wellbeing in education, health, and poverty eradication through evangelizing the risen Christ.
To build a strong fellowship of Christian believers by proclaiming and teaching the good news of the risen Christ to all people.
Background
Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A) Kitengela Parish is a Christian Organization whose main purpose of existence is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that many will get to know Christ and believe in him as savior and Lord. Our Christian faith is founded on the Holy Bible which is the true word of God. We believe in the Holy Trinity; God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.
As an organization, we are part of the Presbyterian church of East Africa. We adhere to its form of governance ascribed in its administration as well as theological teachings and doctrines. In the administrative structure of the Church, we are in Nairobi Region under Kajiado Presbytery. Kajiado Presbytery covers the larger part of Kajiado County which is in the south-Eastern region of Kenya.
Profile of P.C.E.A Kitengela Parish
PCEA Kitengela Parish started as part of Athi-river outreach, in November 2001, when nine families and individuals totaling to 16 full members, moved from PCEA Noonkopir in Kitengela, which was under Kajiado Outreach, Ngong Hills Presbytery due to growth in membership.
The idea of Church extension was shared with the L.C.C but there was resistance from leaders. After substantial and valuable consultations, the group made a decision to go ahead and establish an independent congregation. This would pacify the situation and bring peace among the brethren. A group of 16 worshippers and six children began the first service at St Lilliana Preparatory School on November 25th, 2001.
The Nairobi Central Presbytery requested Athi River Church, which had a district in Kitengela to take the responsibility of spiritual oversight. The number of the congregants had now risen from 16 to 76 in only three weeks. On 16th December 2001, Rev. Nina inaugurated PCEA Kitengela church at St. Lilianna preparatory school as a constituent congregation of Athi-River Outreach. Elder Arthur Ngiritta was appointed as the 1st Chairman of the newly constituted Local Church Committee (LCC)
With God’s help the Church acquired land at the current site and construction of a temporary sanctuary started. On 23rd June 2002, an exodus to the new sanctuary where the Church stands today took place, led by Rev Zachary Gioko. On 12th December 2004 eleven new elders were ordained in the Outreach. This made shepherding of God’s people easier.
On 23rd September 2007 PCEA Athi-River outreach was upgraded to a Parish and due to tremendous growth, the Parish was split into two on 24th October 2010 giving rise to PCEA Kitengela Parish. This Parish was a constituent of the Nairobi Central Presbytery until 24th October 2013 when it was transferred to Kajiado Presbytery. The Parish has since then grown tremendously and currently has six congregations
In the year 2000, a dedicated team of seven members sharing a vision to start small came up with the brilliant idea of starting of PCEA Kitengela Township Church. The team were comprised of Late Samuel Macharia, Peter Karinge, Dixon Wachira, Raphael Kapai, George Riri, Lawrence Kiambi and Bernard Kinyanjui. This team after sharing their vision and dream were then joined by a team of 19 other enthusiastic members.
Carriers of a vision
The team that was led by Elder Arthur Mathaga Ngirita, Elder Newton Kung’u , Elder Leronka Kapai and Elder Lawrence Kiambi had the dream of one day building a beautiful church at the heart of the then growing Kitengela with the push of mission work and evangelism. They shared this vision with the relevant organs of the church starting from the local to the presbytery level. This idea was not received positively by all the concerned which made the group feel isolated and marginalized.
Nevertheless, they did not ditch this idea and continued to consult other worshippers in the neighboring Presbyterian congregations who gave them immense support. Among those who offered support were Ev. Daniel Njoroge, Eld. John Kimani, Eld. Newton Kungu, late Eld. Crispus Mbugua, Eld. John Wanjohi that time in the USA and Eld Muiruri Muniu. After substantial and valuable consultations, the group made a decision to go ahead and establish an independent congregation. This would pacify the situation and bring peace among the brethren. A group of 16 worshippers and six children began the first service at St Lilliana Preparatory School on November 25th, 2001 which is today’s New Mwanzo district.
The idea of P.C.E.A Stoni Athi Church was conceived in 2005 by a group of well-wishers led by Mrs Esther Njeri Njuguna who donated 2 acres of land for a church to be built. The other founding members were Mr and Mrs Titus Kimani, Amon Kimotho, Joyce Wanjiru, Rose Kanini, Mr and Mrs Julius Wainaina, Mr Chege, Jeremiah Gikube, Mr Kishuru and his family.
The P.C.E.A members started meeting every Sunday at a small mabati structure which they promptly named Bethel- Namyak Church. In 2007 however they resolved to hand over the management of the Church to PCEA Kitengela Township Church. Mrs Esther Njuguna handed over the title deed of the 2 acres of land to Elder Newton Kamau Kungu who was the chairman of Kitengela Township Church then.
In the same year, Elder Newton Kamau together with Elder Mugo Ngahu visited the church and brought the first pulpit bible to signify that the church had been officially planted by P.C.E.A. During these early stages several missionaries from P.C.E.A Kitengela Township Church would be sent each week to go and spread the gospel including Elder Mugo Ngahu, Elder Lawrence Kiambi, Elder Joseph Njunge, Elder Solomon Njuguna, Jeremiah Munyoroku, Evangelist Wamuyu, Anastasia Njeri, Zipporah Wanjiru, Henry Muchiri and Mathew Gikungu among others
In 2008, Evangelist Moses Siololo was posted to the church as the first Evangelist of Stoni Athi Church and in 2009 the first deacons were elected who included Susan Wambui Kinyanjui, Joyce Wanjiru, Milcah Nyambura and Titus Kimani.
In 2010 Elder Bernard Kinyanjui was appointed to chair the congregation and faithfully served until November 2013. In May 2014 Elder Beatrice Gachunga was appointed as the chairlady of the church and served until December 2015. Thereafter Elder Francis Njonge Mucheru was elected chairman and served faithfully till October 2020 when the current Chairman Elder Alphonce Opinya was elected following the expiry of Elder Njonge’s term.
The ground breaking ceremony for the church took place on 13th July 2014 presided over by the then Parish Minister Rev Benjamin Mbugua. On 23rd August 2015 laying of the foundation stone was officiated by Rev Alfred Kanga who was then the Parish Minister.
On 12th February 2017, the church was dedicated by the late Rev. Peter Kania Kariuki, the then GA secretary General.
The church has come a long way from the days when there were no formed groups to the current situation where all the church groups and standing committes are represented.
Bethsaida Church was started on 16/11/2011 under the stewardship of Rev. Benjamin Mbugua and Elder Ignatius Maimbu.
There were about 35 members mainly from Hospital District –Kitengela Township Church. The construction of the initial temporal Church structure was facilitated by P.C.E.A Township Kitengela.
The Church started making plans on how to acquire the plot from Mr. Maina’s family. Several fundraisers were done to meet the cost of buying the two plots of land which was done through the support of P.C.E.A Kitengela Township and later by Kitengela Parish.
P.C.E.A Ebenezer Church started in the year 2014 when intensive Mission work was undertaken by Kitengela Parish Kirk Session.
A mission was organized in April and August targeting Kimalat and its surrounding areas which led to many souls coming to Christ. This prompted the Session to rent a plot and put up a tent where these new believers would be worshipping.
The Session officially decided to start a new Congregation and on 14th September 2014 P.C.E.A Ebenezer Church was born. Elder Lawrence Kiambi who was the pioneer of the said mission was appointed by the Session to be the Chairman assisted by Elder Keziah Wachira.
PCEA Neema Church began from Magereza district, Kitengela Parish. The district grew prompting subdivision to Magereza A and B under Elder Newton Kamau Kungu and Elder Ronald Gitari respectively. The district was later renamed Neema district, and on 9th January 2011 Elder Dr Ruth Ruhiu became the district Elder. The district continued to grow, and it was subdivided into two Zones on 14th February 2016.
Neema district members desired to establish a church and this prompted them to write a request letter to Kitengela Township Church LCC on 12th May 2016 to spearhead church planting on a quarter-acre plot that had been donated by the Family of Henry Maina. The idea was well received by LCC and the session and marked as one of the future projects. In June 2016 Outreach foundation offered to construct a mabati church in the Parish. The offer was well received, and the session approved the construction of Neema church. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 8th July 2016 with Reverend Michael Njige and Kitengela Parish Members, and the construction started.
The construction committee, proposed the construction of a stone church since the cost difference was not major, the session deliberated on the issue and approved the stone church. The change in the outreach foundation model meant the project became a Kitengela Parish project. Initially, the construction was funded by Kitengela Township Church, the session and Neema District members. A Fundraiser was conducted on 31st July 2016 at Kitengela Township Church to complete the project.
A dedication date set as 21 AUG 2016 was a race against time for all, by the grace of God the project was completed in 42 days. The church was dedicated on 21 AUG 2021 by the Late Rev Peter Kaniah Kariuki and commemoration of laying the foundation stone by Rev. Festus Gitonga, Moderator Kajiado Presbytery.
The church continued to grow in numbers and this necessitated the creation of additional districts that are as follows;
Shalom District shepherded by Elder Mureithi Gitari
Mt Zion District shepherded by Elder Alex Wairashaw
Bethany district shepherded by Elder Ann Igamba
Galilee district shepherded by Elder Ruth Ruhiu
Trinity district was created later from the sub- division of Shalom District in September 2019 and is shepherded by Elder Samson Kariuki
The church’s physical expansion has seen construction on a youth center, church school block, and Kitchen annex and the purchase of off additional 1 quarter-acre plot adjacent to the church.
P.C.E.A Bethel Church was started by Kajiado Parish as P.C.E.A Olturoto Church under the initiative of Mrs. Josphine Mugo who is now residing in Naivasha Town.
The Parish minister of Kajiado Parish Rev. Dr. John Mwenje approached Kitengela Parish to take over the stewardship of the same and the Church was officially handed over to Kitengela Parish on 28th June 2016. By then, the Church had only one full member, Mrs. Mary Wangui Gachii and her two church school children.
P.C.E.A Bethel Church was initially in a single iron sheet rented structure that accommodated around 15 congregants. It was thereafter expanded continuously to accommodate about a 100 Members.
The growth of membership necessitated the acquisition of land and the building of a modern Sanctuary which was spearheaded by the Kirk Session – PCEA Kitengela Parish. Elder Lawrence Kiambi was sent as the chairman on the same date to spearhead the new church. Immediately there was door-to-door evangelism and the church grew day by day and in a month’s time an election was held.
P.C.E.A Kajiado Presbytery is part of the Nairobi Region in Kajiado County bordering the following presbyteries, Ngong Hills in the North, Tanzania Mission in the West, Nairobi Central in the South, both North and South Milimani in the East.
Pcea Macedonia Church, Ongata Rongai, Nairobi – Kenya
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