Kenya: Christmas under Covid-19

Christmas might be a bit of a distant memory now, but it’s never too late to share some good news from the festive season – your gifts and prayers made an enormous difference at Christmas for this community in Kenya.

In Kenya, as in many other countries, large numbers of persecuted Christians have been left without jobs or income, due to restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus. It’s often extremely difficult for these believers to find food to eat every day, let alone anything special to celebrate the birth of Christ. But you stepped in.

Food, fellowship and festivities

With your support, Open Doors partners were able to host small Christmas celebrations for believers across Kenya who are struggling financially – following local Covid-19 guidance and restrictions. While celebrations had to be smaller than usual for some believers, for others this was their first time having a Christmas event with other Christians – many are the only Christians in their Muslim-majority communities, making it difficult to openly acknowledge Christmas.

“I’m grateful to God, because He helped us to survive this year,” says a believer called Gani. “That’s not our doing. Only His might. Thank you for this celebration.”

Thanks to you, believers were able to celebrate through song, prayer and food. In some regions, particularly in the far north of Kenya, Open Doors partners were also able to combine the celebrations with extra food parcels for vulnerable believers in desperate need of food aid.

“May God bless you,” says one Kenyan believer. “You did not only remember us with the Covid-19 relief that you brought, but you have also given us presents and happiness during Christmas. Thank you!”

Christmas celebrations see new believers

Even more amazingly, one region dominated by followers of folk Islam (which combines Islam with local traditional religions) saw many people turn to follow Jesus. A pastor from that community, who ministers to a small number of believers and who received help from Open Doors partners, got in touch to pass on the good news:

“Thank you for your support to help us organise this event. Many souls who witnessed the celebration dedicated their lives to Christ. They received Christ as their Christmas gift! We thank Open Doors once again.”