Breath of the Spirit in Kenya (Part 2) 

An exciting report from a recent mission held in East Africa 

In September 2025, South African missionary Mark van Niekerk – of the Kurdish Initiative and the Simon Initiative - was invited to Kenya to teach on Israel’s biblical significance and the distinction between Islam and biblical faith. The trip was hosted by Archbishop Benard of the Christo Church of East Africa and focused on pastoral training, public outreach, prison ministry, and community engagement in the Migori and Ndiwa regions.

In this second instalment (read the first here), Mark shares more of the stories of the time of outreach, and the work of God there, particularly among Muslims.

God at work despite the challenges

We returned from a trip to one of the many inhabited islands located in Lake Victoria having encouraged some pastors simply with our presence. Apparently, no one had ever been to provide Christian teaching there before, let alone a white man. I spoke on James 1 and the need for faithful endurance. There was a heaviness on the island and a sense of desolation. One young pastor who had been at the conference was so full of enthusiasm and told us of the Lord’s call to plant eight churches. He has started two since he began in 2016.

Back on mainland Kenya, having seen much greater economic development in South Africa, I was hoping to see something similar here, but sadly, I was shocked and disappointed with the poverty Kenya is still in. All business is done on the side of the road in the villages. Almost anything you require is visible to the passer by – not only clothes, but beds, mattresses, gas, doors, steel gates, etc. Sadly, there is a terrible amount of litter. The roads are dotted with tax collectors, who stop all passing traffic (with spiked rods across the road) to check if they have proof of payment, and to collect it otherwise.

Yet despite all the challenges, God is at work.

The power of God over Islam

The Power of the LORD has been demonstrated over the spirit of Islam and the demonic forces over Kenya.  We arrived home one evening to the news that a Muslim who had heard me speak wanted to see me. Like Nicodemus, she came at night, and we met in a secluded room, with Potas translating. Living next door to our tented meeting, she had heard everything because of the loudspeakers we were using. She was drawn by the teaching to Yeshua and was ready to leave Islam. We spoke for a couple of hours and she had no hesitation in rejecting Islam and embracing our Jewish Messiah.

Sadly, I was shocked and disappointed with the poverty Kenya is still in.

We attended three fellowships one day that are under the care of Samuel, who serves under Archbishop Benard in the Christo Church of East Africa. Since arriving, every meeting has seen the power of the Lord moving in the gatherings. At our first visit that day, I spoke on Ephesians 6 and the need to put on the full armour of God. While I was still speaking, a Muslim stood up and proclaimed that everything I had said about Islam is true. He told us that he was tired of living a life of lies, as everything Muslims do, he said, is done in deception and lying. He told us that after hearing these words, he did not want to continue. After the teaching, we prayed with him, and he surrendered his life to Messiah, being freed from Islam and entering into the lightness of God’s kingdom.

At times I’ve wondered why I’m focusing so much on Islam. Now I can see why. Exposing its evils compared to the Christian faith is causing Muslims to stand up following deep conviction. I asked this man at what point did he realise he wanted out? “When you spoke on Allah’s deception and compared him to your God”, he said. “I have been living this life of deception and I’m tired of it. I want the true God of the Bible.”

The power of God over demons

Before we prayed with him, however, I finished the teaching. I said to the congregation, “You are all up against the spirit of Islam and other spirits. You must put on the full armour of God so you can know He is your Protector. Satan can have no power over you if you stand firm in Yeshua.” I had not even stopped speaking about this demonic realm and that Satan was rendered powerless when a young man at the back of the room started manifesting in the most violent fashion. People were afraid, for the demonic power was incredibly strong.

We had to literally wrestle him to the floor, where I held him down and we prayed in Jesus’ name to drive the demon out. We continued praying until he was calm. His heart rate must have been near 300 beats per minute! As he gained consciousness, we sat him down and continued to minister. His brother said he had been in this condition for five years. He was married with children and had not been able to support the family at all. Now he was able to pray, and surrendered his life to Messiah.

We then moved on to the church we had visited previously, where we had the confrontation with the demon-possessed witch doctor, Jarrod. He was in the meeting; a changed man, literally glowing with the presence of the Lord in him. The power of Yeshua and the Holy Spirit has impacted everyone. They had never heard of a witch doctor being delivered, and believed it was impossible to break their power.

I’ve no doubt the Lord has allowed this manifesting of His power and the driving-out of Satan, in part, to exhort the believers into understanding that the power of our God can break every stronghold, even those they fear. Another Muslim had stood up in the middle of the meeting wanting to confess Yeshua as Lord. And so a second Muslim had come to faith rejecting the evil of Islam.

They had never heard of a witch doctor being delivered, and believed it was impossible to break their power.

‘We want the God of the Bible’

We had spent way longer in these two fellowships, having at times to walk long distances, as the vehicle could not get us there. I thought of Yeshua’s parable: “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.’” (Luke 14:23-24)

We finally arrived at the third fellowship when it was already getting dark. They had been waiting for us since the morning. I spoke on John 15 and the Lord’s command that we love one another as evidence we belong to Him. Again I was not finished when two woman, faces covered, stood up. More Muslims being drawn by His Spirit. It felt surreal. I stopped the teaching and we immediately attended to the two women. They had had enough of Islam and being treated badly. “Everything you said about Islam is true”, they said, “and we want your God, the God of the Bible.”

I asked about the danger they’d put themselves in. They were determined to tell their husbands. I asked if they were good men. Yes, they affirmed, they were not afraid to tell them.

‘I will never turn back to Islam’

A grandmother came up to say that her orphaned granddaughter was in a seriously bad way. They had to go and bring her from the building she was locked in. They brought her in, flailing away, hitting out at everyone. Her hands had been tied by what seemed to be steel wire. We called on the Lord to set her free from this demon possession. Once again, we saw the Lord’s mighty hand deliver her from this evil suffering.  She had been prevented from going to school. Some man had been paying her school fees but she never wanted to see him again.

This is nothing but a move of God among the Muslims. The following day, as I spoke from 1 John 1 at another fellowship, another Muslim man stood up, wanting to believe in Jesus. We arrived back at the hotel after a long day to find five women waiting to see me. After spending some time looking at scripture with us, they all surrendered to Yeshua. “For better or worse I am following Yeshua. I will never turn back to Islam,” said one, and they all agreed with her. They tell me Muslims around town are talking about “this man” who is leading Muslims to Christianity. And many are angry.

After spending some time looking at scripture with us, they all surrendered to Yeshua.

Please pray for the safety of these women, and that the Lord will provide. All five are widows with children. It is difficult to absorb what is taking place. But the LORD is visiting every group we meet with.

Caring for those in need

Since our visit, Pastor Samuel’s house has become a sanctuary for those whom the Lord has set free. The two former Muslim women who accepted Yeshua were beaten by their husbands and ran away to Samuel’s home. He also has the ex-witch doctor and his children with him. There are obviously needs, and pressure on Samuel to care for all these people. I simply have no option but to show our care in a meaningful and practical way. Africa is sadly in a challenging economic situation. Our gospel does not allow us to walk away and tell them to be well fed (James 2:16).

The two ex-Muslim women sold clothes for their Muslim boss. They cannot return, so Benard and I decided to give them money to buy enough clothes so they could trade and care for themselves. Samuel has been given money to buy seed to plant beans so that within three months he will be in a position to take care of their food requirements. The demonstration of God’s power to deliver so many, who are still in precarious positions, requires transitional support until they are back on their feet.

Donations to the work of The Simon Initiative are most welcome, and can be made via the GivingFuel website - click here.   

All funds support Kenyan pastoral care, refugee relief, and ongoing ministry.