Empower African Director Frank Michael Tweheyo conducted several seminars recently in Nairobi, Kenya. Following the Seminar at the Teen Challenge (which we reported on last week–read the report here), his team, composed of Faith Kabiru, Elizabeth and Dr. Judith, proceeded to do a master Class at APLETI (African Prime Leadership Institute) led by Dr. Bundi Zablon.
Here is Frank’s report, edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Bundi Zablon has worked with Empower since his stay at St. Paul’s University, both as the Director of the St. Paul’s Enterprise Unit (SPILL) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Administration of St. Paul’s.
Since Dr. Bundi retired from St. Paul’s, Empower has continued to partner with him in training his students both at seminar and Master Class levels. We were delighted for the opportunity to work with him to put on this Master Class.
The Master Class takes students who have already been through a New Man, New Woman, New Life seminar, and equips them to then teach the content to others.
This Master Class included 28 participants from the two previous seminars, as well as Dr. Sarah Njoroge, who joined us at Teen Challenge, and Lucy, who had attended St. Paul’s previous training.
Dr. Bundi welcomed the participants and told us that he appreciated Empower’s continued fruitful partnership.
Peter led the devotion based on Psalm 1, on the three levels of conversation: Walk, Stand and Sit. He predicted that the conversations in the next three days would inform how we walk, stand and sit in all areas of our lives. He challenged us to meditate on the Word of God and to teach it in order to bear lasting fruit.
We asked what the participants had learned from the seminar, and how they were using the materials. Here is some of what they shared:
Bishop John said that he taught people in his home and took the NMNWNL message to his pulpit. He is also using it as a Bible Study tool for his church.
Cosmaline, (John’s wife), said she realized that previously, she was demeaning herself following the cultural and the perceived biblical teachings. Thanks to what she learned in the seminar, she now believes in herself and has high self-esteem. Her newfound confidence has led her to gather women leaders, women pastors, and wives of pastors so that they can all go through the NMNWNL teachings. She appreciated learning that there is no dichotomy between men (perceived in the culture as producers) and women (perceived as consumers), but that we are all one in Christ Jesus.
Dr. Sarah, fresh from the Teen Challenge seminar, said that she was fascinated by the truth that man and woman were not cursed. As a practicing psychologist and family therapist, she normally believed that some of the cases she was dealing with were a direct result from the curse (especially on women). She now knows better. She also wondered why local pastors thrived in doing “deliverance services” in which they “remove curses” from people. If they knew better, they would teach better, she observed.
Rahab and her husband are training 10 people in the NMNWNL material and the husband is also training his colleagues at his job place. Rahab is opening a YouTube Channel to specifically reach the youth around her using the NMNWNL material to influence them for change.
Margaret now calls herself a “Woman of Grace.” She led her husband Samuel (who has been medically blind for four years now) through the NMNWNL training. She came with him to the Master Class. She is now working with the Kiambi Alcohol and Drug Coalition to curb illicit brews (homemade, illegal alcoholic drinks). She is also involved in a movement “Kanisa Madukani” (Church in the shopping centers), which is designed to bring the message of the NMNWNL closer to the people.
Some questions (which the participants called “hard”) were discussed in detail:
- How can man and woman be equal?
- How can we defeat the ‘Patriarchal Triangle’? (where a few men rule, most men are dominated and women are subordinated)
- Is Jesus the redeemer or the savior?
During the training, the facilitators took the participants through the Facilitator Guide (The Master Class Manual) and covered topics like:
- The Philosophy behind the NMNWNL Master Class,
- The Framework for understanding gender in the Bible,
- The Berean approach
- Advanced studies in which the Corrective verses are explained and demystified
- how facilitators can host or facilitate a program (among many others).
At the end of the training, participants had this to say:
Rev. Faith (from the ACK-Diocese of Nairobi) a Mother’s Union committee member, said she is going to record a song concerning the NMNWNL message so that it can help spread the message.
George, an Archdeaconry Youth leader at Kiangare Archdeaconry said that since the youth are in the digital era, he is going to reach them through social media, using the NMNWNL message. He also advised the participants to stop reading the Bible at face-value, but study it through the Holy Spirit lens to understand it more deeply.
Bishop John said that he got to know that he is equal to his wife in God’s redemptive plan. Since the NMNWNL seminar, he has resolved to support his wife, both in ministry and business.
Pastor Josephine, a widow for about 4 years, resolved to develop a ministry to the widows and take them through the NMNWNL so that they can understand their rightful standing in God’s redemptive plan.
Mary said that in tradition and culture, women are silenced, and their voice is not heard. But in redemption, women have freedom to serve God, contribute to family and community welfare.
Dr. Sarah reiterated that in the past week she has learned that God sees woman and man as equal, and she will be using the three-part story to inform her family therapy and other areas related to her work as a psychologist. This is what she had to say: “When I was growing up in a patriarchal society where men were viewed as better off than women, it really affected me. Men were treated as kings while we the girls/women were treated as servants. For over 16 years it affected my performance in society. Now I am liberated from the lie of the enemy. I will be better as I live my life and apply the NMNWNL message to my profession.”
Sarah Munene, another participant, said that there is a danger of misinterpretation of scripture when one doesn’t know the context. By understanding the historical, geographical, the cultural, the literal and the context, she is now in position to teach others and live her life better.
Irene said that there are things that she had once believed that had made her a slave. She believes that she is now set free to be the woman that God has always intended for her to be.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Bundi again reiterated his appreciation to Empower for their continual support to APLETI, through which many lives have been transformed and redeemed. He called for a permanent and ever-flourishing partnership.