UPDATE ON THE KENYA HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT

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I received the following report from the leader of the Kenya House Church Movement, Charles Otieno Owino (otienochris@yahoo.com).

I am 90 next year and have been diagnosed with leukaemia, my white blood cell count is low and not improving so I am keen to hand over the support and promotion of this ministry to a group who understands the importance of the Home church movement particularly for the church in poor regional areas such as the one Charles is operating in.

This picture was taken in 2018 when I visited the KHC group for a three day training session in Migori, Kenya. Charles holds church in the tin shed where we held our meeting. Each of the attendees received a copy of my book Living Eternal Now – Ready for Jesus Return. Charles is the big man on the far left of the picture.

KHC Movement Report, July 2025.

We are doing well. Praise the Lord! God is doing some amazing things with the KHC movement We are currently ministering in the three Muslim regions/ towns within the republic of Tanzania.
And a fourth to start on the first week of August.
This has all been at the request of the city leaders in those areas!!! Hundred have committed their lives to Jesus and been baptised! God is definitely working in Kenya and also in several places in East Africa .
Many Home Fellowship meetings are meeting twice each week and 73 house churches have been started!
We have not been able to gather enough money to make the trip to Uganda but God opened a great door in Mwanza, in the area of Mabatini.
I thought this could be the right time for me to ask to receive even some small funding to help me and the KHC movement move forward.- But God knows the needs in place, He is our provider!

We have you all in our thoughts and prayers.

THE CHURCH HAS SO COMPROMISED WITH THE WORLD THAT IT NO LONGER PREACHES BIBLICAL TRUTH

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George Barna, a leading expert in church and worldview trends, has weighed in on some of the biggest issues facing the Church, including the steady decrease in a biblical worldview and dwindling concern for spiritual formation, which results in “Christian invisibility” in our culture.

Bible Colleges and seminaries set young ministry leaders up for failure. “You get what you measure,” George Barna contended. “So, if you measure the wrong things, you’ll get the wrong outcomes … pastors measure how many people show up, how much money they raise, how many programs they offer, how many staff persons they hire, how much square footage they built out. Jesus didn’t die for any of that. “If we were to go back to the Bible, I think we’d recognise the local church, the institutional church, as we’ve created it, is man-made. It’s not in the Scriptures,” he said.

Barna says, “We need to go back and recognise that it starts with families; parents have the primary responsibility to raise their children to become spiritual champions. Local churches need to support parents in that endeavour. Our primary focus needs to be on children … and growing their biblical worldview. If we do that, we’ll be able to increase the 3 per cent of adults who are disciples in America today to a larger proportion.”

I would also suggest that the church return to the church as described in the Book of Acts. Francis Chan got it right when he walked away from his church of 5000 to establish house churches where everybody is trained to be disciples to preach the good news of the Gospel.

Barna warns the church is at a critical juncture, and the path to a thriving Christian community lies in returning to the core biblical principles, the empowerment of parents as spiritual leaders and the intentional discipling of the next generation. “All the other stuff is noise,” he said. “If we don’t do those things, we’re going to lose even more in this war … this is our moment, we’ve reached a time of Christian invisibility in our culture. What I’m seeing now is that we’re getting to this place where the typical American … will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be influenced by God’s truth.

CHURCH IN THE END TIMES

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The following article is taken from http://www.housechurches.net and is largely by Jim McCotter. Did you know the largest and fastest-growing Christian movement in the United States today is the house church movement? More than one U.S. survey revealed that approximately 20,000,000 people meet in some form of a house church in the United States.

Jim McCotter has some excellent resources available on http://www.jimsbookstore.com.

All apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds), and teachers were first Elders (Titus 1:5) and also referred to as Overseers or Bishops (1 Tim. 3:1).

  • “Pastor” and “Shepherd” are the same words in Greek and refer to the same person – a spiritual leader caring for God’s flock of Believers.
  • “Bishop” and “Overseer” are the same words in Greek and refer to the same person.
  • “Elder” and “Bishop/Overseer” refer to the same person (Titus 1:5 & 7; 1 Tim. 3:1-2), but do have different meanings: “Elder” relates to their spiritual maturity and qualifications. “Bishop/Overseer” relates to their authority and responsibility.

Three Categories of Churches

There are three categories of churches in the NT:

  1. Universal Church – Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Mat. 16:18). The universal church is made up of all Jesus’s true Believers in the world.
  2. City Church – The city church was made up of all Jesus’s Believers in a city. No place in the NT does it use the plural word “churches” in any city. There was only one church per city. Thus the city church. There was “the church in Jerusalem… the church in Ephesus… the church in Philippi” etc. The word “church” (singular) was used 169 times in the NT and never plural “churches” in a city. A plurality of Elders were appointed to work together to oversee all the Believers in “the church”, therefore, all the Believers in the city – thus the city church. The only time the plural word “churches” was ever used in the NT was when it referred to a region with many towns, such as the “churches in Galatia… the churches in the province of Asia” etc.
  3. House Church – In each city Christians would regularly meet in homes. For example, in the “church in Jerusalem”, many thousands were saved and all the Believers met in homes – functioning as house churches. In Jerusalem there would have been hundreds of house churches. The Believers gathered for church in homes – sharing together the “Word, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer… and eating their meals together in gladness” (Acts 2:42, 46; 5:42; 8:3; 12:12; 20:7-8). Paul and his fellow apostles spent over three years in the city of Ephesus, and it was one of their greatest works. Historians said there may have been over 1,000 house churches in Ephesus. There were many house churches in Rome, Priscilla and Aquila’s being one (Rom. 16:3-5). In Colossi, some Christians meet in Nympha’s home (Col. 4:15). Paul writes to Philemon and greets the church that met in his home (Phil. 1:1-2). There are a total 22 places mentioned in the NT where just Believers got together and they were only house churches. Apostles spoke daily in public places, such as the 12 apostles speaking daily in Solomon’s court and the Apostle Paul reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus and in the marketplaces. But none of these places were considered as church gatherings. They were evangelizing and teaching to reach out to new people in the cities. But when they met with just Believers, in what we call church, they only met in homes – sharing the Word, having fellowship, breaking bread, and praying together (Acts 2:41-46; 20:7-11).

It was not until the 4th century that Christians stopped having church in homes. Constantine the Great had Christians start meeting in the large buildings previously designed for pagan worship. Then Constantine and his mother Helena started constructing more of the same.

This was NOT Christ and the Apostles NT church plan, design, or model. It was the pagan building model and their worship format. A big stage up front where only the pagan high priest would stand and speak. Big buildings with this model and format were what the Roman Emperor and his mother fostered in all Christians at that time.

And sadly, most spiritual leaders have continued to follow this same unbiblical model and format ever since. It would not be so bad if it was only considered an extracurricular Christian activity today. But the problem is –spiritual leaders today have substituted this pagan model for Christ’s NT church. Sad to say, man’s proud tradition has been to the great detriment of world Christendom.

Church buildings were not the New Testament way or example. That was only the Old Testament model having a large temple building. After church buildings came into effect, the church functions out of necessity became a spectator event instead of a participator event, as was the New Testament house church model, seen in many verses, such as – “When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation…” (1 Cor. 14:26). Participators grow strong. Spectators grow fat.

New Testament Christians were told “not to forsake our assembling together… to encourage one another” (Heb. 10:25) — “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16) — “I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Rom. 15:14). Rabbis had a saying, “He who teaches learns twice.”

With the New Testament house church model, spiritual leaders multiply, and then house churches multiply. Small house churches are like small rabbits that multiply 100 times faster than any big elephant church.

As persecution of Christians escalates in the last seven years before Jesus returns, the church will be forced back to the house church model as in the Book of Acts, just as it was in China under Mao and in Muslim countries now.

KENYA HOUSE CHURCH MISSION TRIP

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KENYA HOUSE CHURCH  MISSION TRIP (DISCIPLESHIP) TO THARAKA NITHI  COUNTY semi-arid region:

Arrival – Oct, 25, 023 and Departure – Oct, 31, 023

Hosts  –  Mr. Peter Wamatuba & sister in Christ, Alice Anyyango   

Purpose- Discipleship & House church planting.

We were well received by Mr, Peter Wamatuba and Alice Anyango, their closest friends together with other believers.

An opening prayer meeting was held in the house of Mr Peter Wamatuba before proceeding with indoor gospel teaching which was well received. It included men, women, and children.

On the morning of October 26th, in the compound of our host, a tent was raised up for meetings. Many people from nearby homes and neighboring villages came. We had a full house for our first tent meeting. We were encouraged as they were hungry for the word of life. And in that meeting, 8 people surrendered their lives, repented, and believed in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Evangelism: While the tent meeting was going on within the home compound of our host, Our evangelistic team was out on the streets and neighboring villages and homes ministering the gospel messages and praying with many people including the elderly, sick, and disabled who were unable to turn up for our meeting at the home of our host.

Among the people our team ministered to was a young motorbike rider, Mr. Dickson Ogolla, the young man believed the gospel message of repentance and accepted Jesus as his saviour.

Later, our team entered the home of  Mrs. Pauline Anyango, a widow woman,  she was with some other women in her house who had come to visit her following her long-standing illness. Repentance, healing, and the gospel message were ministered to them by our team. They all repented and believed, accepting Jesus Christ as their saviour. The sick widow woman was healed, praising the Lord and gave her testimony.

At another point, our team ministered to a young man, Mr. Ole Mpaka, who for many years had been bound by the traditional practices of his ancestors, practicing witchcraft. He believed the gospel message of repentance and accepted Jesus Christ. He believed and was baptized.

In the home of Mr. Tom Ondiek and his household and close friends, our team ministered the gospel and the message of prophesied end-time signs being fulfilled of Jesus soon coming return, they accepted the message and believed in Jesus Christ.

From that point, the team moved to another home and entered the house of Mrs Truphena Akoth. This woman had a young daughter, who had never heard about salvation found in Jesus Christ. Pastor, Seth took her through the bible verses on salvation, she believed the gospel message and accepted Jesus Christ as her saviour.

Pastor Julius Makacha also met and ministered to a young boy Mr Albetus Onyango, and shared with him the scriptures on salvation, on our way to the villages for evangelism.

In Thara Nithi market, we ministered to many people in the marketplace, preaching the gospel message on repentance, also on the coming Rapture and Wrath of God, the 1000 years (Millennium) reign of Jesus Christ, the White Throne judgement, and the New Heaven and New Earth where only the righteous dwell.

The presence of the holy spirit accompanied us and was working powerfully, through us in every house meeting, home, street, and village that we entered and ministered in.

House church established: Our trip to Tharaka became successful, and was with a positive outcome. A new house church of 12 people was established.

Prayers & Request: God knows all the needs of the Kenya house church movement, We continue to face many financial difficulties to reach people with the gospel. Lack of funds has been a great hindrance. Our prayers are for God to intervene and cause any willing person/people to come in, and help give support for this movement to the next level.

We have new disciples including the elderly, sick persons, and disabled who are unable to afford to buy Bible copies. And we request help to buy 20 copies of the Bible from any willing person ready to support. Each at a cost of Kshs 1000.

As Charles said God knows the needs of the KHC Movement but I would ask each of you reading this post to both pray and consider supporting them financially. You can do so on this website under Donations or if you would prefer to deal directly with Charles then let me know.

CHURCH AS GOD INTENDED

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Church Revolution Today

The first Christian leader who read this book changed what they had been doing in starting new churches. Following the Biblical model in Church Revolution Today, in 5 years they started over 6,000 house churches and saw over 60,000 new baptized believers. This book is indeed revolutionary.  

available from http://www.jimsbookstore.com for a donation

The author, Jim McCotter, has personally started countless house churches and a worldwide movement of churches. He has trained thousands of believers in how to win others to Christ and how to work together to grow and multiply churches in cities throughout the world. Some that Jim has trained internationally and that have read this book are now starting, on average, more than one new house church a week.
Jim has proclaimed the Gospel in person to tens of thousands in cities and universities all over the world. And through newspapers, radio networks and television stations, which Jim and his team have owned and operated, he has communicated to literally millions of people nationally and internationally advancing the Kingdom of God. Now Jim and his team are developing new media, interactive multimedia, to reach every nation in the world.

Think about it… without any modern-day transportation, communication, or technology the New Testament churches were literally fulfilling the Great Commission in their day. It was even the heathen that were saying, they are “turning the world upside down for Christ!” Yet today, Christians have not even turned one city upside down for Christ, much less the world! Something is wrong! The church and church leadership must dramatically change. We must humble ourselves and acknowledge that the churches, spiritual leaders and we are missing the mark. It is we that must be revolutionized. We need a spiritual revolution.

Charles Otieno Owino of the Kenya House Church Movement brought Jim McCotter to my attention and I am glad he did. Make sure you read it and bring it to the attention of all those who want to be obedient to God’s call to preach the Gospel, particularly to pastors in traditional denominational churches.

KHC MISSION TRIP TO MASAAI MARA IN NAROK COUNTY

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Masa Mara County is next to Migori County where Pastor Charles is located. Both counties are on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. Narok Town where they ministered is shown on this map

Hi Ron. We are back home from the trip to Masaai Mara,in Narok county. The KHC trip to this region was successful with a positive outcome, thanks to our Lord.

 MEETINGS:

Several indoor & outdoor meetings were held during our trip, all with a positive outcome.

We witnessed many souls coming to Christ, the sick healed, sinners repented and five people were baptized. Many bound with a spirit of religion were loosed and gave their testimonies.

The majority of those people living in the county considered themselves Roman Catholics. Most testified that they had never heard the Gospel message of repentance and surrender before. Hence they now had a new understanding of baptism and what it meant; dying to self and arising a new creation in Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.

 HOUSE MEETINGS

During house-to-house evangelism we met Mrs Paulina Anyango and we prayed for her 21-year-old daughter who had been sick and suffering from pain in her lower abdomen that had been diagnosed as a tumour. Immediately after the prayer, she testified the sharp pain in her lower abdomen had gone. 

At a meeting in the home of Mr Kipkorir we ministered the gospel of salvation to his son, he repented and later was baptized in the river with four others.

In another meeting, we ministered salvation and repentance to a young boy who for many years had been involved in the act of thuggery, he repented of his sins and was baptized.

Many people including women, men and children surrendered their life to Jesus and acknowledged Him as their personal saviour. Many of these had professed previously to be Roman Catholics.

Gladly, God worked with us, and through us in a very special way. Many testimonies of salvation and healing were realized, and those released from demonic oppression gave powerful testimonies.

A NEW HOUSE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED:

It was encouraging to see many people surrender their life to Christ, and want to become part of the Kenya House Church Movement to make more disciples of Christ and be obedient to Jesus’ commands.. 

Mr Marwa Mwita, our host, was appointed leader of this newly founded house church. And now Mr Marwa his household, together with other believing members are now forming up this new house church group- Masaai Mara house church.

Pastor Saoke and Julius conducted water baptism for Mrs Tabitha Njoki. Roseline Kosgei (red and yellow striped dress),
Pastor Saoke & Julius conducting water Baptism. And the newly converted disciples are queuing to undergo baptism.
Pastor Charles with the children.
Pastor Julius teaches the children about the commandment of God with a promise- honour your Father & mother and you shall live long in the land.
Pastor Charles prays healing for a sick woman suffering from a tumour ( Mrs Rhoda- in a white & black dotted skirt- kneeling). For years she has had pain in her lower abdomen, after hearing the gospel message on salvation and healing found in Jesus Christ, she surrendered her life, and repented of her sins. she was prayed for and testified the pain instantly disappeared.
Pastor Charles standing with the believers of the newly founded Masaai Mara house church

KHC AUGUST MISSION TRIP

We are working on our preparation for KHC’s upcoming discipleship trip to MBITA MARKET PLACE on August 3rd – 7th.

Praying and trusting God to help provide for the trip. Many thanks for your support. Charles Otieno Owino.

I have been supporting the Kenya House Church Movement (KHC) for almost four years now. KHC serves the rural communities of Kenya and northern Tanzania. As my followers know, I have visited Kenya and spent three days with 21 KHC leaders during a three-day training meeting. As can be seen from the above pictures the living conditions are minimal and the need for funds particularly to fund the monthly mission trips is significant. I would like to do more for KHC and if you would like to join me with a monthly donation of even $10.00 it would be a blessing. You can do it by clicking on the Donations icon on my Home Page or you can send funds directly to Pastor Charles as I do by Western Union to Pastor Charles Otieno Owino Isbana Rd, Migori Kenya. If you decide to send funds directly I would appreciate you letting me know at ron@bakb.com.au so that I know what is else needed.

KENYA HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT IN NEED OF BIBLES

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I have helped the Kenya House Church Movement for two years now particularly to move outside of the Migori region. As a result, House Churches have been set up in Ogembo in Kisii, Lidha in Nyatike and Nyamuzi in Tanzania.

The most recent was a return trip last month to Lidha in Nyatike County. Lidha is a beachside town on the shores of Lake Victoria. Nyatike is a sub county within the region of Migori.

Charles and his leadership team were invited back to Lidha by Mr Daniel Odhiambo and his team. Daniel had been appointed leader of the new House Church Group that Charles, and the leaders that had accompanied him, had set up on their previous trip to the county.

The pressing need is for bibles for these newly established House Churches in all three regions. If you would like to join me in supporting the growth of House Churches in Kenya you can do so by clicking on the Donations icon on the Home Page.

CHARLES TRIP REPORT

“We were delighted by the reception we received from Daniel and the other members of the House Church.

We had successful indoor and outdoor meetings.
INDOORS- we conducted several indoor meetings delivering the gospel message to those who came to our Tent Meetings.
God through the Holy spirit gave us power and authority to cast out demons from people who were possessed by evil spirits. There was a young lady brought into our meeting who had suffered at the hands of a magician and witch doctor. Her parents told us that she had been possessed by demonic spirits for two years. She had been in year three at school at the time and was unable to continue with her schooling. We prayed for her and by the power of the Holy spirit she was delivered from several demons.


Later, we were able to teach her the word of God, she repented and believed in the name of Jesus Christ. We also found out that she had been introduced to witchcraft by a girl friend.
OUTDOORS  – Everyday, our evangelism team went out taking the gospel message to different homes, beaches and  small islands. They were able to meet people at their places of business, teaching and sharing with them the gospel message and praying with them.
Reaching them at their place of business was the best method of meeting them ,since the people living around the  lake are mostly fishermen, fishing is the main economic activity in this area so much of their time is spent on the lake and at the beach selling the produce from the lake.
Thankfully, we were able to meet many who were receptive to our gospel message.
God was on our side with the power of the Holy spirit present, convicting the hearts of many to believe our message and come to repentance. It resulted in many being saved in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thankfully, the Holy spirit strengthened us all until we finished our five days mission. No one fell ill or felt weary.
The stand out achievement of the trip was the birth of a new House Church at Lidha  It consists of six people and will be mentored by the leader of the other House church, Daniel Odhiambo.

KENYA HOUSE CHURCHES MISSION TRIP

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FORTHCOMING MISSION TRIP TO KISII  REGION ON 14TH -18TH JULY, 2021


God opened the door for us in this region as a result of a previous trip by pastors, Charles, Maurice and Jacob. Two House churches were established: one in BUEMBU and the other in KARUNGU.

Maps showing Kisii in relation to Migori where Charles is based

A special invitation has been on our desk now for 2 months, wanting us to take our discipleship ministry back there.
After repeated prayers seeking direction and leading from God, we feel led by the Holy spirit to visit this region on July 14th-18th, so that we may fulfil our Macedonian call “come over here and help us”

The need and request was received from five Christian brothers who live in the region, one of which is an ex Muslim.
In our last meeting, we resolved to raise Kshs 67,000/ approx. Au$ 658. Until now, the leaders and KHC believers have raised a total of Kshs 37,000 which is not enough. Hence, the KHC movement and the board of  elders is requesting our friends, LEN and  partners in the work of ministry to help fund our trip with the remaining amount of money of Kshs 30,000/ approx. Au$ 380. Your support for KHC movement will be highly appreciated and will be for God’s glory!
Yours,
Leader & Founder KHC movement.
Charles.

I have been blessed to be able to assist the KHC Movement for sometime now and will continue to do so. I am a pensioner now so am limited in what I can do. I would appreciate any LEN follower out there who feels led to join me in supporting the KHC Movement. You can do so by making a donation on the Donation link on the Home Page.

PROPHESIED PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS

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Chinese President Xi Jinping  believes in the absolute power of the Party and wants his government to exert control over every aspect of Chinese life.  Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has severely cracked down on human rights, religious freedom and freedom of expression.  Christians in China are experiencing some of the worst persecution in decades.

The recent arrest of a prominent church pastor underscores the level of persecution against Christians.  Authorities in the city of Chengdu, in China’s southwest, recently arrested pastor Wang Yi, along with his wife and 100 members of his Church.  Authorities shut down the church and charged pastor Wang with “inciting subversion of state power.”

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Wang’s church, like scores of other congregations, is outside government control as part of China’s burgeoning so-called underground or house church movement.  Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs, says this movement has touched every corner of China.  “All across China, there are house churches, or what they call ‘family churches’ and the reason the Communist government is so worried is because there are far more Christians in China than there are members of the Communist Party,” Nettleton said.

In recent months, Beijing has waged a brutal and widespread crackdown to stop the growth of these unregistered churches. “This crackdown is a direct response to the fear of the Communist Party leaders who see the church growing faster than the party is,” Nettleton said. Fenggang Yang, a leading expert on religion in China, says what started several years ago as a small campaign against unregistered churches has turned into all-out war.  “The campaign started first in Zhejiang province from 2014 to 2016,” Yang said.  “Now, it is a nationwide campaign.” Now authorities routinely target houses of worship, destroy crosses, burn Bibles and arrest pastors.

Foreseeing his arrest, pastor Wang wrote a letter with instructions that it should be published if he went missing for more than 48 hours.  In it, Wang vowed to use non-violent methods to stand against Chinese laws he believed were against the Bible and God.

“My saviour Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws,” Wang wrote.

Wang continued “I am filled with anger at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at their wickedness in depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience.  As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely.  The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that are contrary to God’s word.  Separate me from my wife and children, ruin my reputation, destroy my life and my family, the authorities are capable of doing all of these things,” Wang warned.  “However, no one in this world can force me to renounce my faith; no one can make me change my life.”

The church needs to prepare for the coming tribulation which we know will escalate as we approach and move into  the last seven years before Jesus returns to rule and reign in the Millennium. Jesus refers to great tribulation in the last half of 70th week of Daniel and prior to the Rapture of the church at the trumpet blast at the seventh seal and before God’s wrath is poured out with the trumpet and bowl judgements. Time is wonderfully short before Jesus return, but we need to be bold and courageous and open to the Holy Spirits lead to pray for and evangelise the lost.