Go Far
Today we kick off an exciting new series called FROM YOUR PASTORS’ HEART, and through it we hope to give you a glimpse of the things we quietly think and pray about when we think of you.
When we came to South C and planted Mavuno one of the questions we tried to answer was what do we want people to become? And that is how our mission statement came about: Turning ordinary people into fearless influencers of society.
We wanted to have a church that would not have just multiple specialized ministries that were unrelated. Rather we wanted to provide a process through which people could move from one stage to another towards a goal.
As I reflect back on the 7 years of mavuno’s history one of the things that I celebrate the most in my own life is the power of community. In a very real way Mavuno has literally made me what I am today.
Romans 12 has some interesting things to say, which I felt capture my heart as I look back on my own 7 year journey at Mavuno.
4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.
We find meaning in the context of a community. The beauty of it is that the community does it without killing who you are; you can still maintain your uniqueness in the community.
Many find meaning from culture which propagates individualism. Whereas culture teaches individualism, scripture teaches community. The problem we face is that we don’t have models for real, genuine relationship. A good number of us are from broken families; others of us have suffered broken friendships, betrayal in business and the works. And so when we come here to Mavuno if we enter relationships at all, we enter into friendships / relationships guarded. If we don’t connect we miss out on the power of community.
If you want to go far, go with others / If you want to go fast, go alone
Many of us hold back from connecting with the life of the church because we are more comfortable being anonymous. We would rather not face other people judging us or criticizing us if we bring our issues to the table.
OUR Life GROUPS
Our Life groups , ought to be places of Association, Application, and Accountability. Seven years down the line have you figured out community? Are you in a place where you are connecting meaningfully beyond the worship services, where you are applying God’s word to your life with others who can keep you accountable? Are you exercising your strengths in the context of community?
(Enter the Joshua Generation Lifegroup – Live Interview)
Questions for Joyce Gitau’s LG:
1) How old is your Life group?
2) What value has this group added to your lives?
3) What are some of the things that have threatened your life group and how did you navigate the obstacles?
4) How have we been able to stay together through various transitions like marriage, parenting, break ups, job changes e.t.c.
What would you say to someone who feels that?
5) What would you say to someone who feels they are spiritually mature and does not need an LG?
If you want to go far, go with others / If you want to go fast, go alone
From the Scripture reference we read that we need each other irrespective of our station in life. Everyone therefore needs to be in a Life Group, not just for what you can receive but also for what they can give.
If you want to go far, go with others / If you want to go fast, go alone
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Blog.Mavuno 
August 13, 2012 at 12:39 am
I must say the sermon was a repeat to last years as the church marked 6 years.but repeatition is the guide to passion and commitment.nyc echo of reality vybes coz no man stands alone.
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August 13, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Great sermon. Alot of us go through ‘things’ that keep us away from church and people. Much as we may want to, much as we appreciate the importance, its a hurdle. Examples are shy people, people with all manners of phobias, crowds, enclosed spaces etc
And in my case body odor. I’ve tried everything, doctors, skin specialists, numerous showers, colognes (Which just make matters worse). I love church, I love bonding, I also want to marry, but I love people too much, to want to distrupt them with my body odor. That, and that I also get hurt emotionally, when people hold their noses, albeit impulsively, at me.
If a Life group of people with a similar condition was there, I’d join it before anyone says, ‘Praise the Lord!’
Please help.
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August 18, 2012 at 1:18 am
Pole. You have a distressing condition. You may want to see an Internal Health practiitioner, called an Endocrinologist in case it is genetic, or due your diet, or physiscal exercise, or other reasons. A gynaecoogist woulld also be ablle to advice if the odor is caused by a vaginal infection (not necessariy STD) . Any Mavunite who can help?
Dr. Wanjihia is a superb Gynae/ Obs located at Nairobi Hosp Drs Plaza Fees Kshs 2,000 (Mon – Fri 10.00-6.00 )
Dr CF Otieno is a superb Internal Health Specialist located at Mater Hosp Drs Clinics Fees 2,000 (Mon -Fri 4.00- 6.00)
All the best.
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August 19, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Thanks Imani. I’m male tho’, half the man I was sometime back. I’ll try get intouch with your contacts. Thanks alot
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August 16, 2012 at 11:22 pm
lol.. Maybe I should seek help elsewhere? Thanks all the same for putting up my post. Your blog remains a blessing to me and others like me.
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August 18, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Dear SSS,
With God nothing is impossible. Take courage as God told Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:5-7
Within this Big life group ( the Church, more so Mavuno) there are doctors, engineers etc, all of whom are part of the body of Christ from where you will definitely get support for whatever condition you are going through and as God deems fit. Just Trust as you ask for His intervention as He has an answer and solution for everything. Bless you.
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August 21, 2012 at 9:55 am
Dear SSS,
Not a regular on this forum, however, was passing by and read your comment. I am by no means an expert nor a health practinioner but if you would allow me to suggest a vegetarian diet, eliminating diary products as well. There is a vast source of non-meat protein sources, in case you are wondering.
Can’t promise, but it may help.
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August 18, 2012 at 12:48 am
As always, Mavuno was a blessing this Sunday as the Pastors try to get us to build support networks and become the church. I completed my Roots class in 2010/2012 but our LG did not take off. I think primarily because the members were almost all in the same age group, relatives and friends, and in my case all too young for me to relate to horizontally with. I would not say that I felt much planting or root growth during this period, and this may be the reason why the LG never caught on. In fact I feel that I should participate in another class? (is that ok?)
I feel more factors like age, level of responsibility, occupation, even marital status in addition to residential area should be considered when placing guys in a class.
From the Singles Heart… and I believe I speak for many. We have explored many real life issues that we experience as we walk with God, including relationships, but I feel like I (the single) am expected to just hang in there, Pray Bodly, Never Give up, until in the fulness of time, God grants me favor…
That is all very well but I get very lonely, yearn for meaningful relationships with other believers, with whom I can form friendships with, discuss matters peculiar to singles and such with, and give each other support.
Without turning Mavuno into Cupids.Com, can we have a Singles Ministry that deals with (you guessed it!) singles issues? And where members organise singles events where we can make friends, let alone meet spouses?
Many of us are dying of loneliness, and forums for making new friends and creating meaningful networks as our circumstances in life change are few. Can the Church help?
Pastors, please put this in your hearts.
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August 20, 2012 at 9:35 am
Hello! Mavuno Church is more than something.Kweli God is at work,crushing the stuff that keeps us sometimes too santized to see God Himself.
I want to say to Imani,I feel her.I also want to say,that I did Mizizi 2 years back and have not as yet been able to land an LG.This morning I got up fully aware this is some serious spiritual warfare as well as roho safi please some planning/follow up shortfall on the part of the chuch.Many groups need people to walk with them after Mizizi so they simply don’t fall apart like ours did.And no,it is not enough to have persons selected as leaders to fulfill that role in my view.
Allow me to share my story.Mavuno required that I belong to an LG when I approached the church for a letter I needed to attach to my application for my baby whom we named Mu (in advance).Yes,I had made a decision to adopt and the particular agency I used required a letter from the church.Bwana…I had done Mizizi in 2010 and our diverse group promptly fell apart by the following year.Were it not for an understanding Pastor in the Senior Pastor’s office who is still nudging me on to chase after an LG in my hood,I would have had to go to my parents church for this letter.I want to belong to an LG but like Imani,I too feel that group dynamics are complex enough to warrant handholding from the church.Sometimes,people with huge age gaps have problems forming one LG. On my part,I have decided to be part of the solution.So I still willing to hassle to make our LG happen.There’s only 2 of us at this stage willing to come together and form our group in our area.Infact after speaking with the Aftercare pastor jana,I want to volunteer to call up the 5 failed groups in my hood because surely there has to be a remnant amongst them keen to belong to &build up an LG.Let’s recognise, ppl are at different stations in life so some of the groups have had younger folk who’ve all relocated to the diaspora.So those of you out there who know people in LA looking for an LG please hook us up.
On the singles topic,I would like to hear more acceptance of the Kenyan fact that many are single for life.And it is a great thing.Single people are complete,totally whole yap we are not deficient,have not ‘missed’ God’s divine plan..I would want to see the Mavuno community embrace singlehood as wholesome.Not all of us must get married to have children.That’s too much pressure esp on single women if I may speak from my heart.I recently needed a letter from the church to attach to my application for Mu.I am a parent,and my baby may not be biologically mine,but she is no less my child and don’t mess with us…fire and brimstone will be coming your way should anybody try show her matharao. Ok ok maybe I’ll just punch you hard lol.Seriously though,a whole lot of us love kids,are clear we shall not sleep with the nice men many times the married ones chasing after us to even have their kids.No,we are resolute even when it hurts that sex outside of marriage is sin and so we live like that.Only to encounter pressure from all sides when we want to adopt.Some people,even believers who subtly imply aieee kwani u,niaje? Haiya..she decided to be a single parent?? Gossip,the works.Awkward,intrusive questions .. Prejudices that simply suck. For the record,45% of people who adopt kids already have children..so a whopping 55% of us are single bila kids of us and making a difference in the lives of Kenyans like my Mu and many other children.Singles and married folk can give a loving home to orphaned/abandoned children.I am.
May I also add roho safi add that it would be refreshing to see married couples move away from sidelining their fly single friends incase we what? hook up with your wife/husband?Bwana wassup with that?????!!!! Plus quit insinuating I should find a spouse.When I do ,you just might know…
Finally,after listening to Pastor R from Mavuno Mashariki jana,I can also say, if those 4 lepers in 2 Kings changed their city,y kantai..I mean why can’t I.
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September 7, 2012 at 5:06 pm
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September 7, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Hi Mama Mu,
I am one 40-something single woman and I am so thankful for your comments.
Keep up the good fight.
There are many of us in the same boat, yet perhaps a little less eloquent than you.
Asante
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October 22, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Thanks Rachel, are you in an LG?Would you consider joining ours?? Since I read your comment,I’ve been trying to figure out how I could contact you bila ‘exposing’ myself hapa. Just so you know I haven’t figured it yet,but remain hopeful.Miracles still occur right?
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