By Christen Turney
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August 26, 2025
The Kenya Annual Conference is dedicated to pursuing God’s work with passion and zeal. The conference aims to bring community and self-sustainability to local churches and communities. The KAC-Development Investment Fund was created by the Kenya Annual Conference under the direction of the 2025 Conference session at Dr, B.T. Cooper Memorial School in Kayole Nairobi. This fund was created locally by Kenya's Global Methodist churches and is distributed according to the evaluation of each local church's capacity. In order for the KAC to fulfill its ministry responsibilities, churches agreed to contribute between approximately $40 and $400 U.S. dollars each year. Churches agreed to invest the funds after a specific time period to work toward self-sustainability. The fund's primary goals are to enhance the conference's financial foundation, increase resources and support its developmental prospects. Long-lasting impacts that fortify local communities are produced by the fund, which fosters unity and a shared goal among local congregations and helps the Conference become self-sustaining, self-propagating, and self-supporting. In order to support the church and raise money for its ministers, the conference encourages congregations to launch modest business ventures. Missions-minded, the Kenya Annual Conference coordinates outreaches at House Grace Gigil-Nakuru District, Mikingirini in Kilifi and at Dirakho GMC to inspire members in spreading scriptural holiness across different communities. The conference ordained 5 elders and 22 deacons from 2024-2025, performed 30 baptisms, saw 44 confirmations and 170 new professions of faith. Conference superintendent Rev. Wilton Odongo led and prioritized discipleship in the local church, traveling to every district to teach leaders, pastors and laypeople about the Global Methodist Church and the depth of its worship. To support the need for ministry education for pastors, Bishop Jeff Greenway taught more than 50 pastors at the Wesleyan Methodist Training College in Nairobi last October. The conference also offered regional pastor training hubs to develop skills, educate on Methodism and teach on church administration and structural organization in Kakuma, Turkana and North Coast regions. The conference currently seeks retired clergy members who are willing to donate their time and resources to teach or empower Kenyan pastors and leaders. The conference signed a memorandum of understanding in June with the Allegheny West Annual Conference, pairing districts together and developing relationships with pastors to strengthen the power of the connection. Through this partnership, Allegheny West provided scholarship funds to support 45 high school and college students for 2024 and 2025, creating new opportunities for young adults and inspiring growth of church membership for very vulnerable and poor families. The Kenya Annual Conference has a three-year goal to plant 29 new churches. In April, congregants attended a church planting and multiplication workshop to create vision action plans to achieve this goal. The conference planted 19 new churches in 2024, and 37 churches joined the GMC in 2025. In total, the Kenya Annual Conference has 133 congregations across the country, with many more in the process of being planted and discipled. The conference is praying for partners, friends, and well-wishers across the connection as plans move forward to establish a ministry center. This center would provide a place where local leadership could host conferences, seminars, and workshops, while also serving as a resource to support broader initiatives such as kingdom development, mission work, scholarships for Global Methodist Church students, and economic empowerment for members. The Wesleyan Methodist Training Center (WMTC), established in 2019, continues to equip pastors and leaders. Currently operating in a rented facility that has become increasingly costly, the conference looks forward to one day having a permanent location where ministry can flourish and expand. At the same time, the conference continues to lift up local congregations facing significant challenges. Some worship in makeshift or substandard structures, while others gather under trees in unsanitary conditions that pose health risks. In particular, churches such as House of Grace—relocated last year—and Kayole St. John’s are navigating difficult circumstances and are in need of support. Access to clean water remains a critical concern, with plans to secure modern drilling equipment as a priority for the year ahead. Meanwhile, churches serving in the Turkana Region’s Kakuma refugee camps are deeply impacted by hunger and limited access to health care. Through prayer, partnership, and perseverance, the conference is working toward strengthening the witness and wellbeing of local churches and communities. To connect with the Kenya Annual Conference, email conference superintendent, Rev. Wilton Odongo at tomwilton2000@yahoo.com .