Leadership Must Change

Bishop Luke Jakoywa joined NET around 1984, already born again and a leader in the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya. His home church had very few young people, so he started reaching the children himself — and went on to become youth leader, then chairman of the entire Kisumu district. Under his leadership the district youth camp was graced by the NET team every year, and in 1989 he was one of the hosts of the annual NET mission. From there, he says, my life has been NET.

He has seen what NET produces: young people from Nyanza meeting Christ in the high schools where NET visited, and NET proving that even those who are learned can be born again — genuine professionals, serving God. Now a bishop and the patron of NET’s Far East group, he credits NET for his own ministry and for the many members holding positions in churches everywhere.

On the leadership centre he is plain: our land needs us to be there. The founders, he says, must be very happy seeing the movement move from just a thought at the University of Nairobi to a leadership centre. Mission is expensive — and Kenyans abroad, still committed members, are among the resources NET must use to make the centre all it can be. He thanks the trustees, led by chairman Prof. William, for beginning the work of documentation: when you do not document, everyone will come up with his own version.

His warning is just as plain. As NET grows, do not lose the founders’ commission: are members here for the souls, or because NET is the best at organising weddings? Do they weep when an uncle is not born again, or is it only the warmth of fellowship? The business of NET we cannot forget. And his conviction: an organisation must live beyond its founders and continue with the same vision — which is why he celebrates NET’s willingness to change leadership. That, he says, is the greatest strength. Long live NET, he says, until Christ comes again.