Embracing the 2026 – 2030 Vision with EKUC President Pr. Dr. Joel Okindo
“Hapa ni kazi tu na kazi ni uinjilisti (Here, it is strictly work, and the work is evangelism). Any other noise is irrelevant. All the noise we want to hear is about mission.” – Pr. Joel Okindo, EKUC President
On June 17, 2026, the East Kenya Union Conference (EKUC) staff gathered at Simba Hall, LMS for a staff meeting aimed at welcoming the recently elected EKUC leadership led by the the President, Pr/Dr. Joel Okindo. It was the first time they were gathering to hear from the experienced man of God who has served in various positions including the same union a few years before. Indeed, first impressions matter. The man of God did not mince his words but gave a powerful sermon of spiritual introspection and strategic alignment, giving a clear picture of what is to be expected of each one of them and the entire EKUC membership this quinquennium. In his address, the newly elected EKUC President for the 2026–2030 quinquennium, Pr. Dr. Joel Okindo, delivered a timely message titled “A Call to Ministry: A Reflection”.
Dr. Okindo laid down a profound theological framework for servant leadership while unveiling an ambitious, data-driven missionary roadmap for the next five years.
Pr/Dr. Joel Okindo addressing the EKUC leadership and Staff Photo; EKUC Media
Redefining Ministry: A Divine Assignment
Drawing from Mark 3:13-14 and Matthew 20:25-28, Dr. Okindo reminded the staff that true ministry means “to serve as a servant or slave”. It is not a platform for personal ambition, but a divine assignment from God to serve Him and His people.
Dr. Okindo shared three foundational lessons from Christ’s calling of the disciples:
- It is Jesus Who Calls: Jesus chooses from among many, calling whom and how He wants. The church simply recognizes this divine calling by electing, appointing, or employing individuals to specific roles. “Don’t try to control God if He re-assigns you,” Dr. Okindo counseled. “Relax and allow God to use you as He sees fit.”
- Understand Your Job Description: Our primary job description is not a list of administrative tasks — it is Jesus Himself. We are called first to be with Him, to know Him intimately, and to be His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10, Joshua 1:7-9). Every believer is unique; we must value and respect each person’s specific calling.
- Jesus Calls You to Succeed: God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called (Acts 1:8, 1 Tim 1:12). Grounded in the counsel of Gospel Workers, pg. 142, Dr. Okindo urged workers to compete with no one but Christ, love others selflessly, and live with such integrity that they never disgrace the God who called them, causing members to mock God for calling them.
EKUC Leaders and Staff Meeting In Progress Photo; EKUC Media
Launching the 2026–2030 Strategic Mission Activities
Transitioning from spiritual reflection to institutional execution, Dr. Okindo officially outlined the core strategic objectives for EKUC during the 2026–2030 quinquennium. He instructed every department to be strictly aligned with East-Central Africa Division (ECD) to achieve a unified, measurable impact across three primary pillars:
1. Doubling Our Membership (Target: 1.5 Million by 2030)
EKUC aims to grow its membership base to 1.5 million over the next five years. To achieve this, every department has been assigned a specific portion of the goal.
- Individual Accountability: Every church member is challenged to win at least 1 soul over the next 5 years.
- Leadership Accountability: At the Union level, every staff member carries a personal goal of winning at least 5 souls over the quinquennium.
- Monitoring & Nurturing: Pastor instructed the IT department to develop a digital dashboard system that will be able to track and monitor progress, supported by strict quarterly reviews to ensure new believers are properly recorded and nurtured.
2. Doubling Our Income
Using the 4th Quarter of 2025 as a baseline, EKUC is committed to doubling its financial capacity. This will be achieved by actively teaching members biblical principles of wealth creation, enabling them to thrive financially and remain faithful in tithes and offerings.
3. Doubling the Number of Givers
Overseen jointly by the Evangelism and Stewardship departments, this initiative endevours to expand the pool of active, consistent givers across the Union compared to the Q4 2025 metrics.
The Digital Frontier
A key driver of the 2026 – 2030 strategic goals will be OneVoice27, a massive evangelistic effort fully coordinated with the ECD.
- The Launch: The initiative will officially launch at West Kenya Union Conference, specifically at Kisumu on September 5, 2026, under the stewardship of the Communication Department.
- The Campaign: Running from September 2026 the campaign will leverage cutting-edge digital evangelism strategies seamlessly integrated with traditional outreach methods.
- The Target: OneVoice27 is aiming for an unprecedented impact, targeting 10 million souls across the Division.
EKUC Staff Pose for a Photo with the Leadership Photo; EKUC Media
A Singular Focus on Mission
As the meeting concluded, Dr. Okindo left the EKUC staff with a clear, uncompromising rallying cry for the years ahead, reminding everyone that the ultimate measure of organizational success is soul-winning.
“Hapa ni kazi tu na kazi ni uinjilisti (Here, it is strictly work, and the work is evangelism). Any other noise is irrelevant. All the noise we want to hear is about mission.”
Written by: Nixon Ratemo, HCK/AWR Nairobi Production Manager