Church Mission Society (CMS) | Global Community

John Padwick

John Padwick has lived and worked in Kenya since 1970. He is helping indigenous African churches to weave together stories and to communicate to the wider world the passion that they feel for Jesus Christ and the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

His work has been described as ‘building bridges where they are not even footholds’ and it has taken him to many different parts of the continent.

African Independent Churches (AICs) are found largely in sub-Saharan Africa and their membership – numbering many tens of millions – is especially strong within the vast rural communities of Africa and the many shantytowns.

They are largely churches of the poor, working with orphans and other vulnerable children, those affected by HIV/AIDS and those stricken by abject poverty.

The strength of the AICs lies in the way that they build social and spiritual resources in communities, enabling them to contribute more effectively towards the alleviation of poverty and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

John is based in Nairobi and works from the offices of the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), which seeks to bring African churches together in fellowship and to equip and enable them to preach the good news of Christ, both in word and deed. To help them do so, the OAIC builds on local cultures and values and seeks to create abundant life in communities for their children and the wider world.

In 2000, John was consecrated an apostle in the Holy Spirit Church of East Africa (an AIC from Western Kenya). In such churches, an apostle is a roving teacher, preacher and advocate for the AIC.

John finds rest and fellowship amongst a close network of friends, churches and communities mainly in western Kenya.

Please pray

for peace in Kenya during the forthcoming General Elections on 27 December and for reconciliation afterwards as ethnic tensions are growing
for peace on Mt Elgon (on the borders of Kenya and Uganda): because of clan fighting over the issue of land, over 60,000 men, women, and children are sleeping under trees at altitudes above 10,000ft.
for wisdom and assurance as I work with CMS to raise my own resources (becoming 'Fully Resourced')
that the African Independent Churches (AICs) and indigenous Pentecostal churches can learn from each other as they seek to live out the gospel in contemporary Africa - the AICs have the African traditions and values but the Pentecostals know how to attract the youth, especially in the cities

Tags: "mission partner" aic africa nairobi kenya "african independent churches" oaic "organization of african instituted churches"
Last updated: 19/12/2007 19:07