This is a baptistry in Kawangare, Kenya. But this is no ordinary baptistry. It has special significance to Pastor David Kitonga and the believers of Huduma Church. After enjoying a very successful ministry in the Methodist Church in Kenya, the Lord called David to the slums of Kawangare. He ministered and ministers to the poorest of the poor there every day.

One such person was a Muslim woman, who eventually became a follower of Jesus. One day her Muslim son became very sick and went into a coma. The hurting, but loving mother called on David and her new community of faith at Huduma Church to pray for her son. Led by David, these passionate Christians came to the hospital every day and cried out to God on behalf of this young man. By God’s grace, he came out of the coma and immediately wanted to start meeting with the “Yesu people”—the Jesus people. Why? The young man was Muslim. Why would he possibly want to meet with the Jesus people? David thought this was very strange, unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Well, it turns out that the young man, while in the coma, heard every prayer that the Huduma Church offered on his behalf. Every time someone from Huduma shared the gospel with him in the hospital, he heard it. He told David that none of his Muslim brothers came to visit and never offered prayers on his behalf. Huduma cared for him when no one else would. As a result, he wanted to follow Yesu. Not only did he want to follow Jesus, he wanted publicly declare his commitment through baptism.

Long story short, this former Muslim, with his own hands and money built this baptistry for Huduma Church and was later baptized here. “Bwana Asifiwe”—Praise the Lord! His commitment to Jesus was met with great disdain from his Muslim brothers. After many months of the Huduma Christians moving him from house to house to protect him, his Muslim brothers caught up with him and took his life. A very sad ending to a beautiful story. His death, however, was not in vain. This baptistry stands as a monument—twelve stones  of the miracle of salvation and commitment to Jesus. Bwana asifiwe! Bwana asifiwe!  —Marvin Williams