From San Francisco to Nairobi
On June 21, 2025, our mission team from Sovereign Grace Baptist Church—Sergio Magana, Walter Resendes, and Alexander Calisher—set out from San Francisco International Airport, bound for Nairobi, Kenya. What was meant to be a shared journey soon turned into three very different flight paths, reminding us early on that the Lord often directs our steps in ways we don’t expect.
Alexander was already en route to Frankfurt, Germany, on a separate flight, planning to meet up with Sergio and Walter there for the final leg to Nairobi. But at the airport in San Francisco, Sergio ran into trouble. Held up at the baggage counter, he missed the boarding window for the first flight. With little time and no clear solution, he pleaded with the airline for an alternative route. By God’s provision, he was rerouted through Amsterdam, while Walter continued on the original flight to Frankfurt.
In Frankfurt, Walter reunited with Alexander and the two boarded the flight to Nairobi. Meanwhile, Sergio’s later flight out of San Francisco through Amsterdam actually landed in Nairobi about 30 minutes before theirs. Despite the separation and unexpected detours, the Lord orchestrated each step perfectly. By the evening of June 22nd, all three of us had safely arrived in Nairobi, where we were warmly welcomed by Pastor Wilson and his daughter Joyce and taken to a hotel for the night.
Heading to Kitale to visit IGM’s ministry
The next morning, we embarked on a long, seven-hour drive from Nairobi to Kitale—a beautiful journey through Kenya’s diverse countryside. We made 2 pitstops on the way, one at the Great Rift Valley and another at the Equator on our way to Kitale. Over the following ten days, we were immersed in a whirlwind of ministry, visiting numerous churches throughout the greater Kitale region and as far as Busia, near the Ugandan border. On some days, we visited multiple churches and orphanages, each filled with faithful believers, joyful worship, and a hunger for God’s Word.
At every stop, we shared messages from Scripture, took turns preaching and greeting the congregations, and were in turn warmly received by brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastor Wilson and his son Paul drove us everywhere, ensuring we made every appointment, every visit, every moment of fellowship.
A Well in the Mountains
One of the more emotional moments of the trip came when we visited a church nestled high on a mountainside outside Kitale. There, we met Pastor Boniface and his wife and were shown a well that had been funded years earlier by the youth of Sovereign Grace. It was deeply moving to discover that this well now serves over 4,000 families in the surrounding area with clean, life-sustaining water.
Sergio shared a message using this very well—and a second shallow well near Victory Baptist Church in Busia—as a powerful metaphor. Just as shallow water can be unsafe to drink, he reminded us that shallow spiritual living is not enough to nourish our souls. We must go deep into the Word of God to draw the living water that truly gives life.
Teaching and Provision at the Bible College
A special highlight of the trip was our time at the Bible College, where we were invited to teach a course on Hermeneutics. Pastor Silas, who regularly teaches the subject, had been praying for better training materials for his students. Not only were we able to teach half of the course over two and a half days, but we also left behind a full set of materials for him to continue using at the college. This was a direct answer to his prayers and a humbling reminder that God’s provision extends far beyond what we can see.
Testimonies from the Field
Throughout our travels, we had the opportunity to interview many pastors—hearing their stories of salvation, calling, and the way God has used Pastor Wilson to shape their ministries. Repeatedly, we heard that Wilson had been like a spiritual father to them. He had encouraged many to go to Bible College, helped some financially, and assisted others with resources like books and transportation. His influence was woven into nearly every church we visited.
We also sat down with Pastor Wilson himself to hear firsthand about how God called him to be a church planter, the orphanages and schools under his care. The primary orphanage and school is located on the Bible College campus, and another is situated near Kiminini. Over the years, more than 2,000 children have passed through these ministries—children rescued, loved, discipled, and educated in the name of Christ.
At the orphanage in Kiminini, we met Sarah—the very first orphan Pastor Wilson ever helped. Today, Sarah is grown, married, and has children of her own. She thanked the Lord for His provision through faithful servants like Pastor Wilson. Her story was a powerful reminder of the long-term fruit of ministry when it is done with perseverance, compassion, and faith. We also met others who had once been orphans cared for by the ministry that are now serving in the churches and serving as examples to the orphans now housed there.
Reflections
Throughout this journey, we witnessed the incredible work being carried out by Pastor Wilson Maungo and his dedicated team. Their faithfulness to the call of ministry, their love for the people, and their tireless effort to care for the churches and orphanages is a testimony to God’s sustaining grace.
We invite you to follow along with us on this journey using the interactive map below. Each icon marks a church or orphanage we visited—click on one to see photos and videos from that location. As you explore, we hope you are as encouraged as we were by the vibrant faith and heartfelt worship we experienced in every place.
Ministry Support and Ideas
We also brainstormed with Wilson how we might be able to help them regain or replace the support they lost during Covid. At that time, they lost somewhere around 70 to 75 percent of their support and have not been able to get churches to recommit. We presented several ideas and some of them have some real promise. We will be presenting these to the church to see if there is some consensus on helping in this way. We also will be reaching out to other like-minded churches to represent Wilson to them to see if they will take up the mantle to help in the future.
To God be the glory for the things He has done.