Cathedrals – Church Development network

Kenyan Cathedrals and Cross-Continental Collaboration

A Strategic Invitation from Kenyan Leadership

The invitation came from Bishop John Okinda, Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA), a network representing more than 6,500 churches throughout Kenya. Months earlier, Bishop John and his wife, Rev. Pamela Okinda, attended an Encounter while visiting a partner church in Pennsylvania. During that weekend, Bishop John recognized something he had been searching for. He later described the CDN model as a “missing key” in PEFA’s vision to plant 1,000 churches and reach 1 million people in the next three years.

Rather than attending for inspiration alone, Bishop John invited a CDN training team to Nairobi with a specific purpose: to equip his leaders to carry the Encounter rhythm throughout the denomination.

Collaboration Across Continents

A unique team of trainers came together for the event, representing three continents. What stood out immediately was not Western strategy being exported, but African leadership recognizing a tool and inviting global partners into collaboration.

Over two days of teaching, worship, and discussion, more than 100 PEFA leaders engaged deeply with the ideas presented. Many shared openly about their current church planting process, which often requires waiting for funding, buildings, and formal approval before beginning. Several pastors described being on hold for years while resources were secured.

The CDN philosophy introduced a different starting point: you don’t have to be a bishop. You don’t have to have a building. You don’t have to wait. You can begin with people.

Personal Moments that Signaled Change

For some, this was a significant shift. One pastor who had been waiting two years to plant realized during conversation that he could begin meeting in a rented community space immediately. Another older pastor stood during a call to church planting and shared, “I thought God was done with me, but now I have a fire in my spirit again.”

When Bishop John invited those who felt called to plant a church to stand, roughly half the room rose to their feet.

From Cathedrals to Training Centers

During the Encounter, Bishop John shared how PEFA’s 89 largest churches—known as cathedrals—could serve as future training centers. Each would identify a trainer and an administrator to help facilitate Encounters and support emerging church planters locally. Rather than relying solely on centralized structures, these churches could become hubs that empower grassroots multiplication across the country.

Leaders in the room began mapping out ideas, discussing outreach to university campuses, villages without churches, and communities they had not yet reached. There was a noticeable sense that long-held assumptions about what is required to begin might be reconsidered.

A Beginning, Not Yet a Result

It is too soon to measure the impact of those conversations. This Encounter took place only weeks ago, but something important happened in Nairobi: leaders began to imagine what church planting might look like if the barriers were lowered and everyday believers were empowered to start where they are.

Plans are already forming for a follow-up cohort to support those who will help establish these training centers. The prayer now is not primarily for more outside trainers to come, but for Kenyan leaders to carry this forward within their own context.

Prayer Requests:

For PEFA as they explore incorporating the CDN model across their churches
For clarity and courage as leaders consider new approaches to church planting
For the establishment of training centers within the cathedrals
For workers to arise from within Kenya to lead this effort

What happened in Nairobi was not the end of a story. It was the beginning of leaders asking new questions about how churches can start—and who gets to start them.

More Info & Thank You!

Eric, one of the trainers in Nairobi, wrote about his experience there. Be sure to check it out here! We also want to share a special thank you to the training team: Ruth, Eric, Zoe and Francis. Let it rain!