How church is helping the needy during Covid-19 crisis

For thousands of years, the church has been a place of refuge at times of disaster, during war and pestilences. It has provided shelter, relief and hope to victims of catastrophes through its history.

Pastor Gibson Anduvate of International Christian Centre (ICC) in Nairobi strongly believes that the church in Kenya today has been ‘‘a blessing to Kenyans’’ during the Covid-19 pandemic, by remaining steadfast to this cause. 

He told the Nation that when the pandemic broke out, the church responded with speed, and has dutifully continued to provide support in various forms to alleviate suffering.

From losing relatives to the virus to income loss and depression, he said the family institution has been on the receiving end of the pandemic’s cataclysmic effects.  ‘‘Family is the fabric of any society. When this institution is struggling, society becomes fragmented,’’ he noted.

In the last five months, frustration has festered among breadwinners as a result of their inability to provide for their dependants after job loss. He lamented that the situation had pushed up the arc of depression, threatening to sever family relations.

Psychosocial help

‘‘We now have three times more people seeking psychosocial help. Even so, the majority of people aren’t coming forward and we’ve to reach out to them,’’ he said.

Like other churches across the country, ICC has been providing rations, medical support, and even paying rent for more than 2,500 families through their ‘‘food basket’’ initiative.

Additionally, the church has created a fund to facilitate those who may wish to start businesses.

‘‘The idea is to help our people to pick up the pieces and to rebuild their lives,’’ Pastor Anduvate explained.

He noted that the various interventions being made by churches had been made possible by members’ donations of food and money and others who have volunteered their time.

‘‘Those who still have their jobs have come forward to support those who have lost their income,’’ Pastor Anduvate said, adding that responding to the growing demand for counselling and psychosocial support had been made possible by volunteers.

Economic recovery

For one week now, ICC has been holding prayer and fasting sessions under the banner of One Nation One Worship, to pray for the country’s economic recovery, resolution of the ongoing political standoff surrounding revenue sharing among counties and for families. 

The national prayers are also targeting corruption within government, youth unemployment and negative ethnicity.

One Nation One Worship is an annual event that began in the build-up to the 2017 General Elections, which seeks to promote unity among Kenyans.

Organisers of this year’s edition say the focus is to pray for hope among Kenyans.