Kirk repeats call for end to bloodshed in Kenya
Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008, 9:51 (GMT)
The Church of Scotland again added its voice to those of religious leaders in Kenya in calling for an end to the violence and bloodshed which erupted in the aftermath of the disputed December 27 presidential election.
Speaking on Thursday, World Mission Council Convener the Rev Colin Renwick said: "We have been deeply shaken to hear from our Kenya partner, the 3-million strong Presbyterian Church of East Africa, of the devastating impact it has suffered over the past three weeks.
"When they share with us their stories of a minister's wife burned to death in the manse, of a church elder being murdered by an angry mob, it brings home to us the tragic reality of the current situation.
"The Church has had to close three Presbyteries because all the church members have fled from those areas."
Renwick backed the call of the Inter-Religious Forum in Kenya for a review and closure of the 2007 General Elections to be carried out by a task force established by the Inter-Religious Forum and completed within one month.
He also came out in support of the forum's call for the establishment of a truth, justice and reconciliation commission to address the issues underlying the conflict sparked by the election, including ethnic, economic, social and justice concerns.
The forum previously urged the Kenyan Government and opposition to make an immediate commitment to resolve their differences through mediation and dialogue, and to jointly condemn violence and sincerely work for the peace of the country.
Renwick commented, "The message we are hearing from Kenya is that people are fast losing patience with their politicians. We believe that the call from the faith leaders gives them a wake-up call which can turn the situation around."
Asked whether the Kirk can do anything to assist with the humanitarian catastrophe, he responded: "Presbyteries, congregations and individual church members throughout Kenya are giving sacrificially to contribute funds and other resources to the Church's relief efforts.
"The Church of Scotland has joined this remarkable effort by making an emergency grant of ÂŁ40,000 to the Presbyterian Church in Kenya. This will be used to provide basic necessities for people who have had to flee their homes and who are taking refuge in churches and police stations."
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Friday, January 25, 2008, 19:00 (GMT)
KENYA Reaps Suffering
(For the people and the government of Kenya)
O Lord...,
Our beloved country is suffering
in the middle of people holding their positions
and people wanting to grab the power;
in the middle of people igniting disturbance
for satisfaction and needs of one of the groups;
in the middle of people breaking the ethnic groups
for a certain need;
in the middle of the people enjoying parties
with anger and blood.
While the others
are crying to your presence, O Lord
asking the strength in suffer
and tears
enduring hunger and torture.
O Lord...,
Are these the fruits of reaping fields?
Thousand of souls are shamefully butchered
Hundreds of souls escaped
in fear and gripped by fright
Hundred thousands of children are neglected
traumatic, and screaming to You, O Lord.
“Remember this:
A man reaps what he sows.”
O Lord...
we sow The Word
we sow moon
we sow love
we sow sun
But why ... O Lord
We reap anger and disturbance
reap killing and butchering
reap hunger and misery
reap various wickedness
O Lord...,
Do not say this
to us:
“But you have planted wickedness,
you have reaped evil,
you have eaten the fruit of deception.
Because you have depended
on your own strength
and on your many warriors,
the roar of battle will rise
against your people,
so that all your fortresses will be devastated”
Darkness...!!
It is not because God isn’t the Light anymore
but the people are blinded
having no more feeling, no more inner self!
Wicked seeds
sown by devils
growing fast and creeping
to blind people’s eyes
to come to hearts of the children of Lord
through wealth and riches
through misery and poverty
through rank and position
through status and power
through the sinful nature
and will be destroyed.
O Lord..,
give us strength
to sow in the Spirit for us
to be able to reap eternal life.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love!
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.“
***
By: Syarif Oppusunggu (From Indonesia)
Syarif Oppusunggu, Jakarta - Indonesia
