Arthur Kinyanjui, pastor of Nakuru Baptist Church, delivered a passionate reminder of the Christian roots of modern Kenya.

"Our churches are mixed -- we have every tribe represented in our churches," he said. "This (violence) should not be happening, because we are all brothers. Kikuyu and Luo believed differently at one time. They had different thoughts about each other. But when Jesus came to East Africa in 1936 with the great East African Revival, we all broke away from those thoughts and became one in Christ. The revival changed the entire nation and its way of thinking. We became brothers in Christ! Now what is happening to us? Are we going back and repeating history?"

Many Kenyan Christians are taking a stand against violence and hatred. Like the three women who took aid to the displaced persons camp, they are helping the suffering, making personal sacrifices, even risking their lives to help members of other tribes. They also are repenting of the nation's sins -- and their own.

Join them in this prayer of Kenyan Baptist leader Samuel Mbiti:

"Lord, help us restore peace in this country. We pray for those who have been displaced. We pray for those who have lost their property, their loved ones and even all their hopes that have been shattered. Father, we pray that You will restore hope to these people, that You will restore hope to our nation. We pray, O Father, that the enemy will be ashamed, because we know that more than 2,000 years ago You defeated him on the cross. Today we are sure, God, that his works have been defeated. Thank you, Lord. Help us as we go through this that Your church shall stand firm. As You said, the gates of hell shall not prevail."

Amen.

Erich Bridges is senior writer with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Sue Sprenkle, the International Mission Board's overseas correspondent for Africa, contributed to this column.
© Copyright 2008 Baptist Press. Used with permission.