ccm Cross 0019
January 12, 2012
Calvary Christian Center
Industrial Area
Nairobi, Kenya
ccm Cross #0019
GPS/DMS 1.3061° S, 36.8627° E
Additional photos after Testimony
2927 cdd The Hanging Tree
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 13 Number 015
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” NKJV
My name is Ben Wafula Makokha and this is my testimony for what the Lord Jesus Christ did and is doing in my life — and why I give God all the glory for who HE is.
I was born the fifth of eight children — we were a very poor family of four boys and four girls and life was tough. My mother was a Christian and died of a combination of malaria and typhoid fever when I was 6 years old. We were too remote and poor for proper medical attention. When mom died a tough life for us became even tougher. My dad had no employment and there was none to be had in our area.
I started Primary school and met Muslims who offered me food and clothing to join. I became a Muslim to survive. The time was the 1980’s. When it came time to move on in school (your equivalent of high school) we needed to pay for the education. We had no money so I did not go — instead I began roaming with a street gang doing evil and bad things to survive.
For five years my father would not speak to me and anger grew between us. I was a Muslim, smoking, drinking and using drugs when we could steal money. It was a rough life but better than my early years. Then my dad became so angry at me for who I was becoming he demanded that my older brothers kill me. My brothers rounded me up and were ready to slit my throat when my oldest brother said, “No, we cannot do this” — they turned me away and banished me from the family. It was worse than death.
In a deep depression I decided to enter the “evil bush” — an area where people who have no hope went to hang themselves. I stood under the tree ready to jump off the rock with a noose around my neck. Just ready to jump I had a vision of people who had preceded me in hanging. There were too many to count. Then the words of my Christian mother echoed in my ears, “If you kill yourself you will never enter into heaven.” I cried out with the noose still on my neck, “Jesus save me now.”
Just then Jesus entered my life and gave me a new inner strength I had never felt before. I removed the noose from my neck, the vision of the hanging Tree with all the people left and I walked out of the “evil bush.” A free man because Jesus saved me when I called out to him.
Two days later a Missionary entered our village — I don’t remember her name but I will never, ever forget her message: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” NKJV
I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in my life right then and there.
My life changed. I received a Bible and could not get enough of Jesus. In 1990 I moved to Nairobi and attended Deliverance Church. There I grew up spiritually and ultimately became the youth leader. In 1996 I desired to join the police force. I was told by many it was too difficult and too many cronies that would prevent me from joining. I prayed and asked the Lord for his purpose in my life. In 1997 I was accepted into the police force. Jesus was working in all areas of my life.
Then I married Evelyn my wife — she would help write the next chapter of my life. We now have three children Isaac, Anna and Esther.
Once on the police force and married I entered Pentecostal Theological College and received my preaching degree. We started a “Lunch Hour Fellowship” which became Calvary Christian Center meeting in various homes.
In 2010 we raised the funds to build our church building. When we bought the land Mr. Wanju one of our members had a prophecy that we would place a cross in a particular spot on the outside of what we were going to build — this spot would face the entire Industrial Area and Give God Glory for all he has done in our lives. We did not have the money for a cross so Mr. Wanju said, “When the cross arrives place it here” pointing to a spot on the ground.
I met Pastor Bill when he was here to plant a cross for Bishop Cosmas in Mwihoko just north of Nairobi. (ccm Cross # 0007) We asked him to come and plant a cross for us. Today the prophecy of Mr. Wanju has been fulfilled when Pastors Bill and Carol planted this cross on the exact spot prophesied by Mr Wanju — we clearly give God all the Glory — HE truly is faithful.
My favorite verse in all the Bible is 1 Corinthians 1:18. It’s all about the cross of Jesus Christ.
And Pastor Bill this cross has an incredible meaning for me: Your ministry is unique in the Kingdom of God. Others come and preach and it is easy to forget. The cross established will never be forgotten.
Prayer: Father thank you for Jesus saving Pastor Ben from the Hanging Tree —in the “evil bush” — and turning his life into a light for you. And that we could be faithful and obedient to be a part of the fulfilled prophecy of Mr. Wanju. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Pastor Ben and his wife Evelyn
Calvary Christian Center
looking at the back of the church
standing by the Nairobi River
The Nairobi River
Neighbors across the Nairobi River keep an
eye on all our action
Carol crossing the bridge over the Nairobi River
which is the main entrance into the Industrial Area
Preparing hole for the Cross
Mixing cement
Placing cross in position
Preparing to hoist
Hoisting
“Fire in the Hole”
Placing the plaque higher than normal so all the foot traffic
on one of the most traveled paths
in the Industrial Area can read it
Plaque in position
“Declaring God’s Glory”
as the first and only cross in
the Industrial Area
Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa