Rev Roy Shane Wilson, a missionary from Christian Life Assembly USA who helped rebuild Kiambaa KAG church from the ruins of the 2008 post-election violence, has revealed the powerful experience that moved him to intervene and help restore the church.
Wilson was speaking during the reopening of the Kiambaa church, a site that became synonymous with one of the darkest episodes of Kenya’s post-election violence after more than 30 people seeking refuge inside the building were killed.
The reopening, officiated by First Lady Rachel Ruto, marked a new chapter for the church nearly two decades after the tragedy, with Wilson among those who played an instrumental role in transforming the once-ruined site into a place of worship and renewed hope.
Speaking during the ceremony, Archbishop Philip Kitoto, the General Superintendent of the Kenya Assemblies of God, expressed his joy at witnessing the transformation before introducing Wilson as the preacher for the occasion.
Kitoto specifically acknowledged Wilson’s contribution to the rebuilding of the church, describing him as having been instrumental in helping restore the Kiambaa congregation and its place of worship.
“Praise God. We are happy to be here today because to be here is our happiness as Assemblies of God. Today is a day of happiness because it is a new beginning,” Kitoto said.
The Archbishop then introduced Wilson to the congregation and guests gathered for the reopening.
“And it is my happiness to introduce to you our preacher of today, Rev Roy Shane Wilson. And he has been so instrumental in the rebuilding of Kiambaa church,” Kitoto said.
For Wilson, however, the journey towards rebuilding Kiambaa did not begin with construction work but with a conversation that left a profound impression on him.
He revealed that about two and a half years ago, he and his daughter Sydney, who also works as a missionary with Convoy of Hope, had lunch with Archbishop Kitoto and Reverend Mungai.
It was during the meeting that Kitoto narrated the painful history of Kiambaa church, telling Wilson what had happened at the site during the post-election violence.
Wilson said the account deeply affected him, with the story prompting what he described as a powerful and supernatural experience in which he felt God urging and encouraging him to become involved.
“And two and a half years ago, my daughter Sydney and I were with Archbishop Kitoto and Reverend Mungai and we were having lunch together,” Wilson said.
He recalled how Kitoto recounted the events that had unfolded at Kiambaa before describing the inner prompting that followed.
“And the Archbishop narrated and told me what happened way back here, all those things. And something very powerful and supernatural happened as God started pushing me and encouraging and speaking to my heart over this matter,” he said.
The experience did not end with the conversation.
Wilson said that only a few days later, he travelled to Kiambaa to see the site for himself and confront the reality of what had happened there.
“And a few days later I travelled here and came to see it all. And the Lord talked to my heart again,” he said.
It was during that visit, Wilson said, that he became convinced that the site could be transformed from a place forever associated with death and destruction into one associated with life and hope.
“And that this place can be a place of life and hope,” he said.
That conviction would eventually lead to his involvement in the rebuilding of the church, helping set in motion a transformation that has now given Kiambaa a dramatically different identity.
Wilson reflected on the progress made since he first became involved, expressing amazement at what had been achieved in just two and a half years.
“We were sent here as missionaries years later and now see what the Lord has done in just two and a half years,” he said.
