Empower recently facilitated a New Man, New Woman, New Life training at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya. Our ongoing partnership with the university’s Institute of Lifelong Learning and Leadership Development Centre (SPILL) has led to countless lives being changed.
Bishop Phineas Mwiti and Faith Kabiro conducted the training under the leadership of Dr. Njau. This is Faith’s report. To see a video from Faith, click here.
Thirteen participants came from different parts of the country and from different sectors. This made the contribution by the participants very rich. It is always a great experience when the participant share the context of the NMNWNL teachings in their own life and community. Some participants were businesspeople, others were pastors and others pastor’s spouses. We even had one participant that came from Uganda who is a pastor and a businessman.
Preliminary Assessment
In our preliminary assessment, we noted that the team was eager to learn about the New Man, New Woman, New Life teachings. All of them had been invited to the training either by past participants or by the SPILL. Their expectation was to learn more about the program and also to understand who is a New Man or a New Woman and what New Life is.
Discussion Highlights
As we discussed the fall, and the fact that Adam was with Eve (see Genesis 3:6) when she ate the fruit, a lively discussion ensued. If God knew we would sin, why place temptation before us? Why did he give man freedom of choice even though He knew that man would misuse the same?
After much discussion, the participants noted that there is a lot of teaching as we were growing up and some of the teachings were from a cultural perspective that even today, which can blur the way we see God.
One participant shared an observation that shed a lot of light to the class. “If sin was not there, would we have known this love of God? Sin is sin and must be condemned, but God remains to be God, even after the fall.”
We concluded that God’s nature remains that He is all knowing, all present and all powerful. He has good intent and there was so much grace provided even after the fall.
The participants also noted that even today, when we are given instructions, we still behave like Adam.
“The altar of culture is very powerful,” one participant observed. “I have always blamed Adam for not giving Eve instructions and allowing her to mess up. But now I know. There is a lot of misconception that all the trouble was brought by Eve. Now I know better.”
After learning this, one participant, a businessman, observed, “I have learned so much. Going forward I will teach and re-affirm my family that we are blessed and not cursed. We only need to walk in obedience. The effect of the fall has gone through many generations. I have missed a lot living under the fall. I feel the urgency to correct.”
One participant shared that when the former governor of Narok County was involved in an accident, people from his community were praying that he would not die so that they would not be ruled by a woman. Culture has evolved and now the traditional culture is affected by cross cultural interactions. Many people have continued to read the bible from the cultural lens and bible misinterpretation has continued to be propagated.
To see more of the participants’ responses, check out this video.
On Redemption
Participants noted that Man is constantly trying to redeem himself through good works and even through other cultural avenues.
One pastor from Uganda shared his experience on the power of redemption. His testimony was heartfelt and very moving. Here’s what he shared:
“After listening to this training, I realize that it is very possible to be born again but live your life from the fall, all because of culture and ignorance. In my first two years of marriage, I abused my wife so much. She was always in tears. I emotionally and verbally abused her. I now realize that I was living my life from the fall. I was a Christian that had not appreciated redemption.
“Today, I have also learned that I am a New Man and my wife is a New Woman and we must live a new life. We have always bought property together with our two sons in mind, yet we have six children, four are daughters. Now we know that children are a blessing and all regardless of their gender are equal. We will now treat them equally.”
His wife shared her remarks, “Yesterday after the class we had a discussion with my husband. I always knew that Adam and Even were cursed. I have even preached on this. I now know that this is not true. I now look at myself differently. I know that I am not cursed. However, I must take responsibility and must be accountable before God.”
After the couple had shared their testimony, one participant observed that he had learned a lot from the couple. He noted that it is important to interrogate the teachings that we receive from the lens of the bible. When we don’t interrogate, we forfeit all the good things we gained in redemption.
A woman from one of the marginalized community in Kenya, the Samburu community, shared: “I have been living in bondage. I now understand God’s love better. I will go and reach out to the community and the church.
“After the fall, there is hope. I have learned that Adam was there and Eve is not the source of the problems. Equality is a concept from the creation ideal but must be seen from the biblical perspective. I slept at midnight thinking about the tree and the fruit that Adam and Eve ate. There are many burdens to both men and women and culture and technology is not the solution. Jesus is the only solution. I am happy to note that woman can inherit and has a voice. I woke up to reflect on the day’s teaching. I know that Adam and Eve were not cursed. I thank God for his love. I love God afresh.”