Mt. Elgon is located in Western Kenya straddling its border with Uganda. It is the fourth highest mountain in Africa with its peak reaching well over fourteen thousand feet. Its undulating slopes paint a vista of extreme beauty and ruggedness rivaling any in the world.
There is also a dark side to Elgon. Tens of thousands of people live on its slopes in some of the most brutal and impoverished conditions in all of Africa. Due to the impoverished conditions, more than fifty percent of the inhabitants are widows or orphans. As is always the case, the children suffer the most.
Due to the remote harshness of the land it is also one of the least reached areas of Africa when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The mountain is dominated by witchcraft and black magic.
In 2005, while preaching on the mountain, I heard the Spirit of God say, “I will give you this mountain”. To date this promise has not been fulfilled. War on the mountain, political conflicts and other obstacles have stood in the way. But God’s promises are sure.
In 2021, while on the mountain I again heard the Spirit speak, “It is time”. After much prayer and discussion with others, the Elgon Hope Project came into focus.
Pastor Nathan Kuto has been faithful to preach the Gospel on the mountain for 25 years. He has endured more than you or I can imagine. His church currently meets under a tree in the village of Namwela on the lower slopes. This project will involve buying a plot of land and building a stone church for Pastor Nathan and his congregation. The church will serve as a distribution point for food and other items on the mountain.
The people of the mountain are hard people. They often claim Christianity but their first recourse when needed is the Local Witch Doctor. They are very untrusting of outsiders or anyone not within their tribe. Providing the needs of widows and orphans is the best way to gain their trust. Gaining their trust opens the door for the Gospel and discipleship. The ultimate goal is to show the love of Jesus by meeting critical needs thus opening a door to share the eternity changing power of the Gospel.