What makes a church great?  I know it when I see it, and I’ve seen it once or twice in my 42 years of week in and week out church.  One of the very best happens to be in Kenya, East Africa.  Land of tea, lions, and marathoners.  And home to Nairobi Chapel, one of the most innovative and effective churches in the world.  Why do I love Nairobi Chapel?  Let me list 10 ways:

1. They are in Nairobi, Kenya, not here in the United States.  I love to see the different perspectives and facets of God that other cultures reveal to me.  And wow, the country is beautiful.
2. Pastor Oscar Muriu can climb Mt. Kenya without any training at all.
   

   Pastor Oscar on top of the world!

   Am I jealous about that?  Maybe just a tad . . . awed would be another word!

   

   Pastor Oscar on our 8-day trek to the top of Mt. Kenya

3. Nairobi Chapel taught Grace the value of strategic partnerships and reciprocal relationships.  They introduced us to the concept and invited us to share in their life.  And we’ve never been the same.  Nairobi Chapel has deeply impacted much of who we are as a church, from short term trips to missions to church multiplication to leadership development.
4. Kenyans have a way-cooler birthday song than our pathetic funeral dirge that doubles as “happy birthday to you.”
5. Nairobi Chapel places a very strong emphasis on leadership development.  And the proof is in the pudding – they have turned out some amazing leaders, such as Pastor Muriithi Wanjou who leads Mavuno Church, a church plant of Nairobi Chapel that is absolutely booming these days.


Pastor Oscar and his protege, Pastor Muriithi

6. Kenyans know how to worship with reverence and abandon, and they can dance!
7. We have received some amazing interns from Nairobi Chapel who are now involved in ground-breaking kingdom work, like Muhia Karianjahi and his ministry, Tanari.  And some of our interns we have sent to Nairobi Chapel have been inspired to start ministries of their own, like Barry Rodriguez and his ministry, World Next Door.
8. Nairobi Chapel has been such a popular place to worship, people sit and stand outside the church just to be able to participate (when was the last time that happened at your church?!).
   

   Sitting outside the church listening to worship!

9. Kenya has some of the best sunrises in the world.
   

   Sunrise from Mt. Kenya as we prepare to rope up for the last 1,500 foot climb

   The sunsets aren’t all that bad either.

   

   Sunset at Amboseli Game Reserve, 2004

10. The faith displayed by our Kenyan brothers and sisters makes my faith looks so puny and miniscule in comparison.  But it inspires me to trust God more!
    

    Pastor Muriithi and Pastor Bob looking out over the future home of Nairobi Chapel

Now, tell me why do YOU love Nairobi Chapel?