"We are being uplifted with the word of God!”

More than 2,000 Mothers' Union members from across Kenya are meeting this week for their three yearly Provincial conference at Kabarak University in the country’s Rift Valley. The conference was officially opened on Monday by the Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya. 

The theme this year comes from Micah 6 vs 8, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The aim of the conference is to re-energise members’ faithful service to the marginalised. To thank members for their tireless service, to enjoy fellowship together and renew their faith in God.

Brenda Wandera, Mothers’ Union President of Mumias Diocese, is attending with many of her fellow members from across the diocese. She said, “First and foremost, the conference is spiritually uplifting. It feels nice to just sit and listen to the Word of God and listen to His voice. I feel spiritually nourished.”

Sessions include, Bible studies, encouraging entrepreneurship and savings and credits for self-reliance, Family life, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, raising awareness of gender based violence and child marriage, caring for orphans and abandoned children.  “All of the sessions are centred on the well-being of the family and the church. We are being equipped to spread Godly influence in my community,” said Brenda. 

Mothers’ Union’s Chief Executive, Bev Jullien, is also at the conference, she said, “The atmosphere is vibrant, and the commitment to members’ faith in action is stunning. They are recognising that they themselves are best placed to solve the challenges in their own society and want to move away from a culture of dependency to owning problems and finding solutions themselves.”

Brenda is keen to take back all that she and her fellow members are learning to empower those who were unable to attend.  She also plans to organise a similar conference in her diocese.  “I hope to have a strong team of mothers who meet regularly, pray and deliberate on how to demonstrate Gods’ love to his people through supporting those who have met with adversity, in particularly the sick, orphans and widows,” she said.