From John Gray, Pastor in Australia

Here is a letter from John Gray, who just returned from a visit to Nairobi, Kenya and with Oscar at Nairobi Chapel.

G’day Ian,

We are back in the country and safe. While I am still on LSL I thought I needed to email you concerning the headlines we are seeing on the news re Kenya. Would you pass this info onto God’s people at St Paul’s with a view to raising prayer support – and, if possible - some finances.

And so I hope you will forgive me getting right to a very serious matter.

I have just spoken with Oscar and things are a nightmare for Kenyans. Oscar used the phrase: “This is what happened in Rwanda”.

At that point my blood chilled and everything became very surreal for we have just spent time in his church, his home and with his people. We visited families in the slums of Kibera and saw some magnificent work being done. To think that people are being hacked to death where we walked and visited …

Here is the update.

It seems that the President’s decision to claim victory in the elections is “out of character”. That decision has led to very serious violence and terror. Militia are now forming. Officially, there are some 25k displaced people in Kenya. Oscar estimates that number to be 3 – 4 times the official figure. There are, eg, some 5k people living on the showground right opposite the Nairobi Chapel (NC) site. These are mainly women and children who fled Kibera slums where much of the hacking to death is taking place. On this point I suspect Max and Hanna will be feeling quite heavy hearted for a major hot spot is right where he ran a clinic. The NC is trying to provide food and water and compassion for these people.

The violence is taking place along tribal lines. The 2 main tribes are Kikuyu and Luo. If you are from the wrong tribe you are in mortal fear. (Hence Oscar’s comment re Rwanda).

The churches are trying to work out how to respond to the humanitarian crisis which sees food and fuel supplies cut off because people are fearful to trade. Women are being gang raped. While the cities are relatively safe it is only at the moment. If things are not resolved in the next 2 weeks the situation will descend into total chaos.

Oscar is part of coalition of churches trying to be compassionate in voice and action. They have been on TV and Radio but there is much to do.

We need to pray that
the churches can find food and water. IF so, NGOs like World Vision can provide finance and transport. But we may be called upon to help out financially too (would you therefore ask our people to see if they can set aside some money so we might be able to respond quickly if called upon. How much? God only knows)
for protection for church leaders like Oscar, the Catholic and Anglican A’bps as they seek to provide leadership to a ravaged nation
that the gospel which proclaims there is no Jew or Gentile would translate into “no Kikuyu or Luo”
for protection of those who do gospel work in the slum of Kibera – they are the only light in a very dark place.

Oscar and his family made a decision just a few hours ago to take some of the displaced people into their home. They have decided to take in people from both Kikuyu and Luo. This, he said, could be dangerous if those taken in decide to go tribal. They could “do you harm or burn your house down”.

Oscar is need of prayer for wisdom for as he speaks he walks a knife’s edge. If the govt perceives him poorly they would take the land NC sits on away. If one tribe or other perceives NC poorly, their tents could be torched. NC could lose everything … or, it could be a great moment for the name of Christ.

So, my brother, would you communicate something of this email to our people? Would you ask them to pray as indicated. Would you ask them to prayerfully set aside money for food and water should we need to send some. IF we do need to send it, it will need to be available quickly.


We live in such a great land and know nothing of what Oscar and his people are living through.

Apart from this our time in Africa was very good and I began to feel my spirit catching up with me once more.

I am more than open to call from you if you want more info - I will keep you updated.

Yours in Christ’s Service,

John.