Nehemiah 8:8
"They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read."
Christianity first came to Kenya through the Rabai, where missionary Ludwig Krapf built the country’s first Christian church in 1843, planting seeds of faith that eventually spread nationwide. As time went on, Christianity flourished across Kenya, with communities across the nation embracing The Word in their native languages.
The Bible dedication for the Rabai community was a day of profound healing, restoration, and unspeakable joy. It was as though a circle had finally become full, bridging generations of hope, faith and propelling their long-awaited return to the roots of Christianity in the community.
In the early 2000's Samwel Gibson Nzaro Kalama, a local Rabai pastor called the community to repentance and led them to turn back to God. As a result, they reached out to the descendants of Dr. Krapf and the sending organisation.
In 2013, the entire community met with delegates of Krapf’s family and together prayed for forgiveness and repented for not accepting the Gospel. The descendants of Krapf presented them with the original translated Swahili Bible which is now on display in the first established church museum.
They built a monument at the center of the community to commemorate the occasion inscribed with the words, "Siku hii ya leo, 12-01-2013 Rabai Tumerudia Mungu, Yesu Kristo ni Bwana" meaning "On this day, January 12, 2013, Rabai has returned to God, Jesus Christ is Lord.
Since then, the community has witnessed Gods favour through tremendous changes and infrastructural development. Christianity has also grown in the community.
In 2022, they began translating the New Testament into Chiravai Language in partnership with E.L.I and W.A.
In November 2024, we celebrated with the community in the dedication of their first published New Testament Bible.
The community showed their comittment to continue translating the Old Testament and receiving the complete Bible in their heart language.