Standing tall in bright red clothing, holding long spears or vertically dancing up and down, the Maasai tribe of Kenya is one of the most famous tribes of Africa.
Indeed, being able to see Maasai warriors is as much a highlight of many safaris as seeing a herd of elephants or a pack of lions. However, what is not well known—of which safaris will likely overlook—is that iTEE Global is now ready to multiply disciple-makers among this people group.
How this development is even possible is a wonderful testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness. While the gospel entered Africa in the First Century through Philip’s bringing it to the Ethiopian eunuch, the Maasai were unable to learn about Jesus until the late 1800s or early 1900s. This long delay in introduction is despite the Maasai being a very spiritual people.
Over the centuries, they believed that their supreme deity, Enkai, is the creator of everything. Enkai resides in everything and controls nature, especially rain. The Maasai, who rely on rain for their existence as cattlemen, worshipped Enkai. They also believed that ruling spirits were found in the mountains and the trees. Hence, the Maasai built sacred sites for worship, for rituals, and to be one with nature.
In the middle of the 20th Century, some missionaries from Europe and North America connected with the Maasai tribe, learned their language of Maa and faithfully preached and taught the gospel. Hundreds of churches were started. The pastoral care of teaching and preaching by these faithful missionaries continued into the 21st Century.
Sadly, though, many missionaries passed away, some returned to their home countries, and others retired. The churches were gradually left without prepared pastors. Maasai men and women did take on leadership roles within these churches—thank the Lord—but there was nowhere to go to receive Bible and ministry training. For decades, they carried on the best they could.
In 2021, iTEE Global’s Kenyan facilitators traveled to the Maasai leaders of one denomination. There, they met with many leaders who were eager to begin training with iTEE Global. There was only one problem. None of our teachers could teach in the Maa language, and very few of the Maasai leaders could study in English.
This training enables me to meet challenges as a Christian leader and follower of Jesus. It also prepares me with the spiritual capacity to train other effective disciples. -Johnstone Thumbi Wairiuko Pastor, Massai Tribe Kenya
Together, the Maasai pastors and our team decided to train a small cohort of ten pastors out of the hundred churches in their denomination. As these pastors completed their English-based Bible training, they would commit themselves to training non-English-speaking pastors in other denominations and other Maa language churches.
Again, this eagerness was such a praise, but these first-generation pastors needed courses to teach in their native Maa language. In September 2023, Dr. George Law, the president of iTEE Global, visited and spoke with these ten pastors. They were praying and seeking a way to make training available for those serving the other Maasai churches throughout Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Dr. Law took their plea for courses to be translated into Maa to North America. A family in the USA responded with delight and provided the funds to translate the first course—a course of 200+ pages—into the Maa language. The translation of the Galatians course is now finished and will soon be printed for use by our first-generation leaders in the Maasai tribe.
We shout “Hallelujah!” and pray that God will continue what he has initiated, making the remaining 14 courses available in the Maa language. With these courses, many church leaders will have access to pastoral training and bring Christ’s love and power to the Maasai tribe. Thank you, Jesus.
