I recently joined Mizizi, a ten week Christianity 101 course that is ran by the Mavuno Church in South C. My Friend, Rina Karina (Now Mrs. Hicks) suggested to me that I do a running commentary of my time at Mizizi and what revolution I get in my life. I rarely agree to such request because I am not a “Spirii” (Overly Spiritual) kind of guy. But then, I recognise that God has blessed me in such great ways that I must at least give some running review of it. Of course, I shall be honest (As Rina requested) about my view and people may not actually like that.
First my motivation for starting the course:
I started going to Mavuno because I was attracted to the church by how real the services are conducted there and how little pressure there is there to perform. I was always put off by other church’s snobishness and people’s need to perform – I always felt that what happened is that God tended to take a back seat in those churches, with “society” taking a ront row. Everyone, it seemed to me, performed – from the congregation to the pastors.
At Mavuno, I like the fact that it is a church that allows sinners to meet with God – to allow them to get in touch with him with no pressure. I like the fact that there, people are allowed to worship God, whatever their issues are.
I have taken the time over the years to study what people belief so that I can interogate why I am a christian – is it because I was born in a christian household, or is it because I have developed some relationship with God? And what is the role of his emmisseries to the world – Buddha, Ramayan, Shinto, Muhammad, Jesus (this is regardless of who or what these emisseries are believed to be – messenger, prophet, son and so on.) My step one has been to simply try and understand my own relationship with God and what he would like to do with me. So I asked him to kindly allow me to contact him directly as opposed to through Jesus, Muhammad or anyone else so that I can learn.
So it has been that myquest has been ongoing and He has brought me great distances.
Today, as I am back to learn what christianity is, who Jesus is and what belief in him means, it seemed natural that I attend the 10 week Christian 101 (back to the basics) course.
My class was initially very big. Too big in fact. I’m told over 300 people are going through mizizi this season. We were eventually broken into different classes of about 25 and I got into a class of very sensible, thoughtful and open people. I do wish the classes are smaller but thats cool.
Initially, as people introduced themselves I thought I was in the wrong place. “Praise the Lord..” they would begin and they would say how they got saved on such and such a time in form two and so on and they would give a Christian Union – like testimony, that I know I didn’t sign up for.
We were given a book that is simply written, by Pastor Muriithi Wanjau, and that is easy to follow and we are required to read it daily page after page – very much like daily devotion. In my class, I ask a lot of questions that cause people to really think, which is good.
I feel though that I have many questions and there is not the time or capacity to answer all of the questions I have. At least though, even when the questions have been hard, no one has given me that “spirii” (holier than thou) response – “Don’t Question God”
Most recently, I learnt that I could wake up at 4am to pray for a few minutes – although I black out immediately. I also learnt how to fast a couple of saturdays ago and I have been able to do it by myself. I feel like it works – though I am yet to practice it enough to say with absolute certainty. When I do fast, though, I do it honestly.
Its a great class, of people who are real, who seem to have diverse backgrounds and exposures and who believe strongly in one thing. I shall continue to go.
This week, they want us to go out and evangelise. Thats the bit that I know now, is not for me. I can only evangelise what I am ready to. But since I have brought several of my friends back to church, it is clear that I may be doing my bit in this regard.

Al Kags is a poet and writer based in Nairobi Kenya. He is the Author of the Book - Living Memories (http://living.alkags.com), a collection of true stories narrated to him by ordinary people who lived in the extraordinary times of the 1950s.
As a poet, Al Kags has published the Quarterly Colour Series of Poetry, a series of ebooks since 2009, which have been read by over 1,000,000 people around the world and which are contributed to by people from all over the world.
For his day job, Al Kags is an acclaimed Marketer and project Manager.
Ukwelii
February 25th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I feel you on the Spirii thing. In essence what Jesus brings that no other significant figure in world religions brings is Grace.
One of the fundamentals of Christianity is that through Christ, we are offered a freedom that’s incomprehensible: That upon accepting Christ personally and his sacrifice for us, we have the liberty to get close to Jesus, or stray as far as we would like from him without reprieve.
God’s forgiveness is once for all: Meaning every sin you ever committed until the time of your salvation, and every sin you could ever commit. God forgives it. Christ already paid the price for it.(Romans 5:8)
But God however, doesn’t stop the consequences of the sin, especially if it’s habitual, etc. But there’s a liberating feeling within Christianity once the concept of Grace is understood.
I dislike the feeling BEFORE Evangelism. This is where it’s make or break. Evangelism isn’t usually the problem, it’s the answer, it’s the wrestling with feelings BEFORE you do it that’s tough. I evangelise from time to time, it’s rarely ever conventional, but God’s used my cooky, wacky and shaky stories to move in people’s hearts. I use the Romans Road (Google it) usually. But it’s just the fear of rejection, and the but-will-I-ever-get-the-words-to-say part of things that’s tricky. It’s more about sharing who Christ is, and who He’s been in one’s life.
Kudos for starting Mizizi, the journey has begun. Will be praying for you.
Bebi
February 25th, 2009 at 11:43 am
My First time to read your blog thanks to your friend, Mrs Hicks, I’ll keep following and see what the Mizizi experience is like through your experience, especially the evangelising thingi, so keep blogging,
kev
February 26th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I think I know What you mean/feel…I feel connected to God, simply because I find it easy to believe that I am part of his creation, I see it in nature and feel his prescence for me its that simple and thus my greatest realization, that I am a soul and not the shell that I adone clothes on.
And in my quest to growing deeper in my faith I find that I am trully obsessed with inner beauty or improving on my persona something that I believe I can only gain through relationship with God.
The truth is that in developing relationships with other christians I have become acustomed to the truth that BELIEVING in his son is what’s most important to christians and the christian faith, but for me,my relationship with God is what is most important and living in Christ’s likeness or emulating his inner beauty is my life’s quest
Viv
February 27th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I totally agree with you. Church should be a place where real people with real issues come to meet a real God for real solutions. That what Mizizi was all about for me: an introduction to a God that has real solutions to the real issues ifaced. i totally enjoyed it and when i met Him i was totally sold out to Him. The amazing thing is that when Jesus was on earth He spent most of his time with the guys most of us christians try to avoid…whats up with that? Anyway am glad you really are enjoying it!
Mbugua Njihia
March 24th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
My Mizizi experience was super.The realness of it all was refreshing.Strive for perfection but since no one can ever be perfect don’t beat yourself when you “fall”…all in a days living in this world.
Anne
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Hi,
Sounds like you went through something i did. I recently went through such a program, well it may not be exactly like it but the goal was the same; to re-new thyself and build a relationship with God. The program i went through is called Alabastron, but this one consists of women only…..before you go all out women right and equal rights on me hear me out.
First contrary to what some people think, its not a place where we go and discuss men and plan how to outsmart them. It was, i must say, a phenomenal experience. Not to say that now i know everything and can handle any obstacle but i am smarter/wiser now, sometimes i think of the person i was and i laugh at myself at some of the things that used to vex me which at this point seem very trivial. Naturally you might struggle initially, probably fall back into old habits here and there but again this is a personal experience YOU have to be committed to the ’cause’ (for lack of a better term to use) and stay focused. Most of all i am creating my relationship anew with God. I am actually yet to complete the program, got 4 more weeks to go but it can only get better…………….
SukumaWimbi
January 24th, 2010 at 3:28 am
Uh Church !? R u that empty ?
alkags
January 24th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Empty?