JESUS REVIVAL CENTER HISTORY
HOW IT STARTED
In august of 1994 Bishop, Mama Kairu, Mama Hiuhu, and I attended Morris Cerullo conference at Pangani girls. During this time Bishop was impressed to organize interdenominational crusade. We invited people from all churches in engineer. We started praying together towards and towards the end of August, a one-week crusade was held together with evening meetings. We invited Pastors Ndung’u, Kimani, Wanjala, and others. The key churches involved were full gospel members, KAG members, PCEA members, AIC members, and ACK members. Out of the crusade, about 300 people received Jesus. In one of the evening meetings, 70 people received Jesus. We distributed newly saved people to the churches of their choice. There was no intention of starting a church. Out of the success of the crusade, envy towards Bishop clipped in. This internal fighting in Full Gospel became so serious that by December 1994, Bishop and the wife were thrown out of the church. They stayed home with a few other people who decided to be sympathetic to him. In January 1995, Bishop was pressured to make a decision. The few who supported him could no longer continue staying at home.
THE BIG DAY 15/01/1995
Bishop tried to get a venue where he could congregate. Nobody was willing to be associated with him. Full Gospel had got rid of him wanting to start a church and campaigned against it. The only venue available was Mr. Mutungu’s garage where the hotel waste (Verjos) was going through. He charged Ksh. 3,000. Adjacent to the garage was carpentry workshop. The owner appeared to be busier on Sundays than other days. On January 15, 1995, Bishop woke up early in the morning to attend his first service. He was very anxious because if nobody came, he would be finished. My family had supported him to acquire a few forms. The first service had about 15 people. This was a big success.
FIRST PRAYER
Bishop chose 10 people, himself and Esther included. The prayer was guided from 1kings 8:31-46 and 2 Chronicles 6:22-34. The prayer has become the pillar of JRC ministry.
- Relationship with one another. Verse 22
- Relationship with our God. Verse 36
- Relationship with visitors seeking shelter. Verse 32
- Battles belong to God. Verse 34
- God is our provider hence need to trust and have faith in him alone. Verse 26- if God is for us who can be against us
- God is the only one who satisfies our needs. (Farming of any type) verse 28
- Our victory/prosperity comes from God. Verse 23
KEYWORD
Is to cultivate a good relationship with God and his people, we believe that everybody is somebody. We believe that people come to church to find rest. This is the perfect will of God.
EVANGELISM
During the early stages, JRC was very active in evangelism. We had lunch meetings, weekend koshas, crusades, and Sunday afternoon services. This was open to all. All these meetings ensured that we are getting known in the Engineer town and its environs. Many churches were not happy with this. During one of the meetings (Kesha) a word of the lord was spoken to the effect that we needed to do something within 3 months. This was in March 1995. We understood that God wanted us to buy a plot of our own. It should be noted that our meetings were packed to capacity. God was gracious because we were able to raise the Ksh. 3,000 for everything.
PURCHASE OF THE PLOT/CHALLENGES
The development day was scheduled to be July 9th, 1995. The church was able to raise Ksh 160000. This money starred problems. We had invited Pastor Ndung’u, Kimani, and Wanjala to minister with us. There rose misunderstandings with Ndung’u because of his weird character and we parted ways. He starred problems that the church was closed. The objective was to get the money which was banked with Aberdares Sacco.
MEETING AT D.O
We were invited by D.O to showcase why the church needed to be opened. Before the meeting, Bishop had been given a cover letter by Pastor Raphael. We were allowed to open the church. In August 1995, we were able to buy a quarter of the plot in the current site. We refused to accept a free plot located far away at Karoroha River.
10-DAY CRUSADE
In September 1995, we organized the above event. We had a connection with Ramaco, a black American. The crusade day came and our guest was nowhere to be found. We had taken a newly build plot to accommodate the guest. Ramaco finally came but was not able to meet our financial obligations. The church was left with a debt of 40,000 Ksh. to clear. In between, we received Evangelist Rodgers to minister in the crusade.
US/ UK FRIENDS
In 1996, Bishop had a breakthrough to attend conferences in the UK & the US. Out of these visits, he had good connections. These good friends supported the growth of the ministry. We were able to buy the second quarter of an acre plot.
PROVERB 5:15
Drink water from your cistern, and running water from your well. We noted that were depending on other people to help with church growth. We needed to dig our wells.
DIGGING OUR WELLS
We needed to know what type of wells we needed to dig. This started by stating the vision and mission of the church.
VISION: To transform ordinary people and the marginalized to become people of impact in the kingdom of God and the people of the world.
MISSION: To equip, empower, encourage believers to become people of EXCELLENCE.
The logo of the church has to key verses;
ACTS 3:19
Repent, therefore, and be converted (changed, transformed) that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that He may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you before.
ZACHARIAH 4:6
Not by might, nor power but my spirit says the lord of host.
From the above, we got a clear direction on how to shepherd the church. We have concentrated on four pillars to enable church growth.
SPIRITUAL PILLARIn the early stages of the church we relied on visitors to strengthen the church spiritually. We felt inadequate. This can explain the presence of Pastor Ndung’u, Kimani, and Wanjala. We invited many speakers to our crusades and keshas. These people brought different doctrinal inclination. We welcomed any new thing. We embraced “laughing” as a spiritual thing. We allowed tithe and offering to be given at any time during the service as one wished.
With our clearly stated vision, mission, and motto a lot has changed. Bishop went to University to study Theology, Psychology, and Counselling. This helped to get a new style of ministering. We took the steering wheel in the ministry of the word. Bishop opened the JRC school of ministry. The pastors and leaders were trained for three years. This gave the ministry a team that can handle the word of God confidently. Bishop emphasized simple clear sermons that are relevant. Sermons can be understood and remembered by both elderly and children.
Fellowship – To maintain the direction set on Sundays, the fellowships share the word given on Sunday. The members are encouraged to be a Berean church. A church that looks at the word given to see if there is any enormously.
- NUMERICAL PILLAR
In the early history of the church, we believe the church could only grow through crusades and keshas. We have come to realize that:
- Increase come when members invite their friends to the church. When these listen to the well-articulated word, they join us
- We encourage the members to be fruitful and multiply by cultivating a good relationship with neighbors at home, workplace, and the business community.
- Our motto is everybody is somebody in the ministry. People feel appreciated.
- We hold a thanksgiving Sunday every year. Our families are involved and a friend is invited. This has become popular.
- Our service to the community is open to all. During the burial ceremony, we take advantage to preach the word that minister to the wider community. This is done even when the involved do not belong to our church. This has endeared to many.
- The church is involved in serving the community in times of crisis. This has made the church acceptable by the community. This includes feeding the poor and the elderly.
From all these activities and many more, the church has grown from one service to two services. We praise God for this.
- FINANCIAL PILLAR
In the early stages of the church, we largely depended on donors. They even donated second clothes that were given to members. All this changed when we realized that this mode of financial resources cannot be sustained. We realized the greatest gift God has given has are the members of the church.
STEPS TAKEN
- We undertook to train our members to work hard in their farms, business and in thief employments. We visited homes to see what they were doing. We lost some members who felt that we were becoming too much. Happy are those who remained. The outcome of this is that our members today own a majority of business in engineer. Many of the teachers have been promoted
- We encourage the members to be faithful in tithe and offering. The church does not keep a record of who tithed what. Tithing shows our faithfulness to God who provides. Offering shows how we love god. The church realized that the best way to encourage our members to be faithful in tithe and offering is to be good stewards of God’s money. The members are happy to see what the money they give has done. This motivates them even more. They are proud to be associated with the church.
- PROJECT PILLAR
We encouraged the members to carry personal projects so that they can boost their financial status
CHURCH PROJECT
Every year or two the church has been undertaking major projects worth millions of shillings. The main source of money has been from the members.
RAISING OF FUNDS
Whenever the church plans to take a project it is
- Announced early so that people can pray about it and commit it to God during thanksgiving service.
- The members are encouraged to pledge at the beginning of the year according to one’s ability.
- The date of the project is set usually the month of August. This period is enough for members to plant and harvest, for business people to obtain profit
- The members are given a chance to bring in their pledges as God bless them
- The development day is a time of celebration and thanksgiving to God. The money pledged is usually already in the bank.
This style of management has encouraged all members to participate with whatever amount they feel to give
EDUCATION
The education of our children is a major component of our projects. The members are encouraged to educate their children to their highest level possible. This far we have had more than 200 graduations ceremonies in the church. Towards this end, Bishop has been very instrumental. He and his family have sponsored many students in secondary, colleges, and universities. The church has assisted whenever called upon to do so.
CONCLUSION
We believe that the JRC Ministry is a church of the people, for the people for the glory of God.
KEY SLOGANS
- In matters of time be there early and wait. This has made JRC members unique in timekeeping
- In matters of work, do it as if you are going to be here forever and in matters of heaven live as if you are going anytime. This helps to balance and our relationship with God who is all in all
- Everybody is somebody. The weak and the strong have a place in JRC. We are because you are.
- The church is as strong as its weakest link. This has helped us to be sensitive to every problem that comes to our notice.
- We have no dumping site. We believe that every person given a chance can be restored. This has helped us to be patient with everybody
- Do today what you can do avoiding procrastination
NB: ALL OUR BRANCHES ARE MODELED ON THE ABOVE STYLE OF MANAGEMENT. BISHOP HAS BEEN THE MAIN DRIVER OF OUUR PHILOSOPHY AND DOCTRINE.
THIS ACCOUNT IS ONLY A TIP OF THE ICE. JRC ACCOUNT CAN FEEL A WHOLE BOOK.
THANK YOU.