The Rev. Davies Odwory Musigo is lead pastor at Huruma Tent of Prayer UMC in Nairobi ,Kenya. He is also the Africa Regional Director for Spirit & Truth.

I founded this ministry in the year 2006 with five people. Starting a church in a slum was not easy for me to say “yes” to. But my God continued assuring me of his presence in this ministerial journey. There were many challenges, but allow me to share my story in ministering through this COVID-19 pandemic, which no one was prepared for.

It broke out when I was on my ministry trip to the USA in Ohio to attend the Spirit and Truth Conference. I was one of the speakers from outside the USA. When COVID-19 was diagnosed in my home country, my desire was to be close to my community who I knew were going to be the most affected. In my heart I said the words: It is better to die at home with my people. There is no worse time for my family, church and community. They will need my presence at such a time. Then I asked my friends at Spirit and Truth to buy me another air ticket, which they did.

The first incidence of the deadly pandemic was announced on March 4, 2020. At this time it sounded like something that would not impact my poor country. It did not take long. By the 22nd of March all international flights were suspended. On the 14th of March churches and schools closed down, companies shut down, all this with devastating poverty levels. Joblessness increased as travel restrictions, imposition of curfews, and lock-downs became the order of the day. All this is happening in a country which is still struggling with an unemployment rate over 65%, a poor health care system, food safety problems, and extreme security issues.

This poses a challenge to us as a church. We live in a country that admits that it cannot help everyone, and health institutions are inadequate with less doctors. It has not been an easy journey, friends. My community's hope was on who will come to help. My congregation is in a slum area of Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya, at Huruma Tent of Prayer. We depend on the Sunday offering and cannot even collect enough to sustain church bills. It has been a difficult time but the church of Christ must stand up in this season.

Doing the ministry of Christ in this environment I had to think strategically at this time. I decided to share with my friends in the ministry, Dr. David Watson, Dean at United Theological Seminary; Pastor Matt Reynolds, President of Spirit and Truth, and with several others about these hard times of need on the ground.

Stories of the people made me come out of my home and decide to reach the community. A woman sold her grandchild of two weeks of age for $3.00 so that she could buy food for the family. One widow put stones in a pan, pretending she was cooking. Her intention was to comfort her children because they were demanding food and she did not have anything to cook for them.

One thing I know in this life is that no matter which part of the world you are from, our calling is always growing. With the support of my friends I prayed that I would be able to feed 100 households for a week, of 5 persons per household (500) persons; provide 10,000 liters of clean water, and 1000 face masks, then I would touch some lives at this terrible time of COVID-19.

***Middle Muslims community was among those who benefited with food stuffs distributed by the church (Rev. Musigo) during this hard time of Covid-19.***

God has been faithful. The action has begun and we are reaching out to many people. The need is huge and we don’t know when this will end. Virus cases are just increasing every day. I am serving in a vulnerable slum area where social distancing is not practical; poor infrastructures, poor hygiene, and poverty is extreme! We don't have a stable way of saving but depend only on friends who donate through Spirit & Truth Ministry, even though they are also struggling with the same pandemic. This cannot be taken for granted for I know how much people are sacrificing to get us some donations. My appeal is that they continue helping me save lives in my community. You may never know what role you play, but let me tell you that every time you are donating a dollar you are saving a life. This is my happiness: devotion to this ministry. I speak to you from a different culture where I have walked into homes and picked up a dead body, not from sickness, but hunger.

There are many health care issues because the government turned all its attention to COVID-19 ignoring other diseases. Expectant mothers are delivering from home, everything's just falling apart, but amidst all of this I have received 10 new converts with whom I shared the love of Christ.

It is not in vain that what is happening is happening, we need to be the church that reaches out. I believe that is Jesus' way of doing ministry.

I remember one day a big crowd after Jesus preached, they did not have food to eat and Jesus asked his disciples to give them something to eat. Jesus knew of course they did not have food but he still asked them to give food. The disciples feared that even if they had enough wages to purchase the food it would not be enough. I love that in this story Jesus appreciates the little you have. He was given the little food from the boy and believe me, things turned around. I believe there is no little amount that we give wholeheartedly that does not touch the heart of God. He knows the need and he meets the need to overflowing!

Apart from providing food, clean water and face masks, I believe another need that should be addressed here is disinfecting our environment due to a dense population. I am launching a Coronavirus disinfecting campaign which will help reduce the chances of contracting the virus. I am trusting God for three disinfectant knapsack sprayers, three sets of protective gear and purchasing of the disinfectant chemicals.

I am praying that every person that reads this will pray for us, and support us for the transformation of the whole world for Jesus. One day when we meet in the kingdom, my brethren, this will be rewarded. I am humbled and hope that God will use us to his own Glory.

In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Offering the hope of Jesus Christ during a pandemic in the slums of Nairobi