By Esther Waruiru
Chris Amulo, a former veterinarian born in rural Kenya, has a vibrant vision to advance the Gospel into the cities of Africa. He’s been giving his full-time effort to equipping young professionals so that they can take the Gospel to their workplaces and relational networks. Chris has seen God establish a strong ministry to professionals in their 20s and 30s.
“In the marketplace, young professionals spend more than 40 hours a week with their peers and colleagues,” says Chris. “Well-resourced, mentored and coached, they are the incarnational presence of the Gospel in their families and relational networks. . . . We want to see these transformed people being the champions of justice and righteousness in our society.”
God’s generational impact through Chris is exciting. I would like to share the stories of two men—Victor Kilwake and Jay Muia—who were discipled by Chris.
Chris met Victor after high school, took an interest in him, and became his friend and spiritual mentor. Chris began helping Victor grow in his devotional life and live by God’s promises. Chris also helped prepare Victor to lead others to Christ and to disciple them.
“Chris modeled for me the things he taught,” says Victor. “I was able to observe his deep knowledge of God and His Word, and also his humility and servant heart. . . . The Lord transformed my life.”
Victor is now a Navigator staffer and a leader of the ministry for college graduates. He and Chris equip young professionals to be influential in the workplace.
Victor is mentoring a young man who works as a certified financial analyst in Nairobi and who is passionate to live out his faith in the workplace. Recently, Victor’s friend has been working with students at a business school. At the time of this writing, he is looking for an apartment next to this university so as to facilitate his relationships with the students in the evenings after work. Victor is supporting his friend in this initiative.
God has also used Chris to bring about a generational impact through Jay Muia. Jay is a Ph.D. student at Daystar University, and his wife, Sarah, is a lawyer in Nairobi. Jay came to Christ and first met Chris fresh out of high school in a Navigator Bible study. Chris discipled Jay over many years, helping Jay be God’s man in his profession. As a result of Jay’s honesty and hard work, he was honored by the Ford Foundation and Youth Agenda as a rising national leader in Kenya.
“The biblical lessons about integrity that I learned from this period created convictions about how to live as a Christian in a secular workplace,” says Jay about his times with Chris.
Jay is also working with recent college graduates to prepare them for professional life. He is helping lead a university outreach effort at his church, and he and Sarah often speak in high schools about Jesus.
As Victor and Jay invest in the next generation of young professionals, Chris continues to maintain a strong friendship with them and to pray for them. One of the promises he prays for Victor and Jay is found in Psalm 145:3-4: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.
The Navigator vision of God advancing his kingdom through spiritual generations is alive and well in Kenya through men and women like Chris, Victor, and Jay. Please pray that many more people will come to Christ as they carry the Gospel forward into the marketplace.
Esther Waruiru served with The Navigators of Kenya and the Africa Regional Team prior to serving as an International Vice President from 2005 to 2014. She is now an associate to the IET.
