Current Projects : 19th October 2023
Chepkinagh Church building, Pokot North. [You can find it on Google Earth under ‘Chepkinagh Trinity Baptist Church, Burgich, Kenya’] Chepkinagh is one of the three ‘centres’ for the 14 local churches in the area. There are 5 nearby – Kapkoghun, Tarakit & Kapyomot (on the hills), Apur and Chepkinagh (in the foothills). Chepkinagh is also home to a primary and secondary school. At their request we have considered it good to help them with this building project, which is now almost complete. They are now plugging the gap between the walls and the roofing, necessary lest a strong gust of wind comes and lifts the roof off! There remains windows and doors. They are struggling as a community, having had no harvest for the past 2 years due to prolonged drought. Their animals have mostly been taken into Uganda so many people are away. The other local churches at best have semi-permanent buildings, mud walls and corrugated iron roofs.
Support of teachers in church registered schools, Pokot North. There are 14 such primary schools, linked to each local church. The few that are not registered with the Government yet must be fully supported as regards infrastructure and teachers. Those that are registered have government help with infrastructure and teachers, but the latter are nowhere near the full complement. We are presently supporting more than 20 extra teachers for these schools, giving £35 or £55 per month for each tracher, depending upon their responsibility.
Church leaders in Pokot North. There are 4 men who have been set apart for the gospel ministry in these churches, 3 of whom have graduated from the College in Nairobi. Far from supporting their pastors, many expect their pastors to support them! It is a very long process in such a society to get brethren to see their responsibility. So these men are supported monthly to help them with basics. We are also open to helping them with school fees for their children who we do not want to suffer because their fathers are in the ministry, and with medical needs.
School fees for needy children. Schooling at secondary level and above is not free and among the various local churches in Kenya we to help children of church leaders, and of specially needy church families, i.e. no father. The needs are great, especially at the tertiary level which is necessary in today’s climate in order to be gainfully employed.
Diary of a Pokot traveller January 2024
Download the PDF of this report of a visit to Pokot by 2 of our trustees in January 2024.
Summer 2024
We are seeking to develop the support of works in many different parts of Kenya.
These are all personally known to Keith Underhill from his time as a pastor in Nairobi over 40 years. Other trustees have also visited some of the areas and met some of the Kenyan leaders involved.
In particular we wish to see the support of the work in Pokot develop for which we need around £2000 per month.
We support our brethren all over Kenya
Over the years we have sought to encourage the development of churches in Rendille and Pokot North, both of which are remote areas in the north of Kenya, and until fairly recently have not known the light of the gospel. There is still much more to be done as there are still areas where there has been no gospel witness ever.
We also support our brethren in Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi and in other parts of Kenya.
Keith and Priscilla Farewell
Please note that Keith and Priscilla will be having their farewell in Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi on Saturday 31 October 2015. This is a function that will last all day.
In November they will be travelling to England to retire.
For the latest newsletter go to our Keith’s Prayer Letter page.
£75 per month is still needed to be able to support Peter K.
Pastor Murungi has passed on this request:
“Please pray for me as I prepare for South Africa and Zimbabwe for a series of conferences from 6th to 21st April.
I am preaching at the African Pastors’ Conference in Harare, Bulawayo and a small town called Kwekwe”.
25 March 2015
Still in need
We are still in need of support to be able to fully provide for Peter K.
26 March 2015
“Peter K. is beginning his training in the Pastoral Training Course from the week beginning 12 January 2015. We thank the Lord that there is a church that has committed to help him with £150 per month beginning this month. We believe that he needs at least £250 per month to be in a position to look after his young family – he and his wife Abby have two children. Therefore, at least £100 per month is needed to bridge this gap. Would you please make this need known to God’s people?”
If there is anyone who can help then please contact us.
12 January 2015
Peter K. request
We have received this request through the church in Nairobi on 12 January 2015.
“Peter K. is beginning his training in the Pastoral Training Course from the week beginning 12 January 2015. We thank the Lord that there is a church that has committed to help him with £150 per month beginning this month. We believe that he needs at least £250 per month to be in a position to look after his young family – he and his wife Abby have two children. Therefore, at least £100 per month is needed to bridge this gap. Would you please make this need known to God’s people?”
Is there anyone who can help to meet this shortfall, either in part or in whole? If so, would you please let us know.
We have received some offers, but as of February 2015 not enough to match the need.
As of 20 May we still need regular support of £75 per month.
1970s
1975 Keith and Priscilla first arrived in Kenya to work with the Bible Fellowship Church in Thika.
They had been sent by Alfred Place Baptist Church in Aberystwyth to church plant.
1978 Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) Nairobi was started in their home after Keith and Priscilla moved to Nairobi.
1979 The church was constituted with 10 members and with Keith Underhill as the first Elder.
1980s
1981 Trinity Baptist Church was registered with the Government of Kenya.
1981 The start of training of Pastors in the Pastoral Theological Course (PTC).
1983 Church planting was started in western Kenya (Thimlich)
1984 A second Elder (Naphtally Ogallo) was appointed.
1985 Land was purchased for church use.
1989 The church started meeting in the newly constructed church building.
1990s
1991 Keith and Priscilla moved to their new home on the church compound.
1991 Start of the church in Miathene, where Keith had taught between 1968 and 1970.
1996 Initial contacts with Somali & Rendille people in Nairobi.
1997 Annual Pastors’ Conferences were started.
1998 Start of the Reformed Baptist Association of Kenya (RBAK).
1998 Keith made his first trip to Rendille in remote north-central Kenya.
2000s
Start of sending Kenyan missionaries, each of whom had been trained in the PTC:
2000 Sam Oluoch to Kisumu.
2001 Titus Tumaini to Idsowe. 2007 Raphael Bulkash to Rendille.
2009 Amos Wamukota to Pokot North.
Development of nursery & primary schools in Pokot North & Rendille:
2000 Official start of TBC work in Pokot North, taking over existing work of Bible Faith Church (BFC).
2004 Start of church planting in Korr (Rendille).
2008 New building housing PTC opened for use (classroom & dormitories).
2010s
2010 First visit to Malakal, David Awan & Trinity Baptist Church of South Sudan.
2010 Igweta Murungi was appointed as an Elder.
2011 Kasei Boys’ High School, Pokot North, started.
2011 The Grace & Truth church magazine of 28 pages started to be printed.
2011 Link up with Gospel Missions Agency Church in Mumias, and Elly Achok, and then his brother Barnabas Olare in Mombasa, and participation in the annual Reformation Conferences.
2011 Young adults began to come in numbers having found Reformed teaching on the internet.
2012 Start of monthly Meaty Forum, a presentation by panellists.
2014 Eric Abwao appointed as an Elder.
2015 Kamketo Trinity Girls’ Secondary School, Pokot North, started.
At the start of 2015 there were 3 Elders, 6 Deacons, and 85 resident members in TBC, Nairobi.
2018 Keith Underhill stood down as a pastor.
At the end of the year there are 130 members.
