The Riverside Ministries cross stands in the village of Miwhoko
which is about 30 kilometers North of Nairobi, Kenya
Bishop Cosmas Salamba Cross Testimony
Life in Kenya before I met Christ in 1992 was a constant walk with the devil.
I was a businessman importing and exporting fruits and vegetables. Sure the
money was good but every day I was bombarded with decisions that
reflected dishonesty. Lying, cheating and stealing were an everyday
occurrence. Looking back it is clear that the more evil I became --- the
more money I made. On the outside I was successful
and on the inside I was dying.
My cousin William Wali was one of my best friends. In January 1992
he attended a Christian meeting where the topic of the sermon was
the coming judgment. The words of the preacher pierced his heart
as the Holy Spirit convicted him of his sins. He struggled with God for a
month and finally gave his life to Christ. Then he couldn’t stop talking about
his Jesus. The more he talked about Jesus the more he stirred up my soul.
He repeatedly asked me the question: If you were to die tonight where would
you spend eternity? I did not have a good answer. I struggled with my cousin
and God over this question and less than a month later
I too gave my heart to Jesus.
Accepting Jesus and becoming a Christian started a fire in my soul. I knew
I had to tell others. As the fire burned it grew stronger. At first I stayed at work
seeking the Lord but it became clear that the two did not mix. I needed
instruction, I read the Bible, and I took classes where ever and whenever
I could --- finally I received a ministerial degree from CLIMB Bible College
(Christian Leadership Institute of Minnesota & Beyond). My practicing for
Christ was now over and it was time to get serious for Jesus. I worked
for several other ministries gaining experience preaching and teaching.
Armed and prepared for service I launched a ministry to small villages
bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ where He was not present.
Currently we are 15 churches strong and growing. I know God has a plan
and each day as we pray and seek Jesus
he opens new doors of ministry growth.
In 2008 we introduced CLIMB Bible College to the maximum security
prison in Naivasha, Kenya. We started with a few inmates and this year
we just graduated more than sixty --- we already have twice
that number enrolled for our next class.
The Commandant for the prison said this about our ministry: “Before
CLIMB the prison was unruly and it took four guards to carry out
an assignment amongst the men --- One guard to do the assignment
and three to protect him. Now, today I can confidently
send one guard to complete a task.”
Truly Jesus has done a work in us and in the prisoners.
June of 2009 I met Pastor Bill and he introduced me to Cyber Daily Devotions
for Prisons and Jails. Pastor David is our teacher/preacher for the Naivasha
Prison and he began immediately to bring the devotions into the prison
each week. In the morning before CLIMB teaching begins the inmates
review last week’s devotions. When CLIMB teaching is completed
for the day the inmates share the devotions with others in the prison.
We are currently in the process of expanding our outreach with the
Daily Devotions to four more prisons in and around the Capitol of
Nairobi, Kenya --- where we hope to expand our CLIMB Bible School.
They are Nairobi West Prison, Langata Women’s Prison, Kamiti Maximum
Security Prison and the Industrial Area Prison.
When I look at the cross we built at the church it reminds me of the
finished redemption work done by Christ. It inspires me to continue
in my calling to reach out to everyone for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The cross declares the Glory of God for establishing
this fire in my soul to spread his kingdom.
