Nyali Fellowship Church has emerged as a safe space for young people, using gospel music and talent development to nurture their skills while encouraging them to shun crime, drug abuse, and other negative influences.
The church has been mentoring young people to identify and develop their talents, particularly in music, while creating opportunities for them to participate actively in church activities.
The initiative was highlighted during the launch of a gospel album, “Kiumbe Kipya“, by Karen Becky Chebet, a fourth-year civil engineering student at the Technical University of Mombasa, who began developing her musical talent at a young age.
The album launch, held at Nyali Baptist Church in Nyali Sub-County, Mombasa County, attracted hundreds of young people from colleges and other institutions who gathered to celebrate and support their colleague.
Rev. Maria Kipruto of Nyali Fellowship Church said the initiative was helping attract young people to church and providing them with positive alternatives to negative social influences.
She urged parents, religious leaders, educators, and the wider community to create more opportunities for young people to discover and nurture their talents.
“We need to give an avenue for young people to serve in the church as we nurture their gifts,” Kipruto said, noting that young people were energetic and had immense potential that could contribute positively to society.
She said the programme was particularly important at a time when some young people were vulnerable to political manipulation and challenged politicians to invest in mentoring the youth instead of using them to cause mayhem during the political season.
Pastor John Ongeti called on churches across the country to create more room for young people in ministry and urged the government to introduce religious and moral instruction in universities and primary schools to help shape responsible citizens.
Dr. Beatrice Matiri, a former corporate executive now in academia, said many people struggled in life because they failed to identify their God-given talents early.
“She really understands what her gifts are, and she understands her mission in this earth,” Matiri said of Chebet, urging parents and educators to help young people discover their strengths rather than confining them to conventional career paths.
Chebet said her gospel album demonstrated that young people could pursue their professional careers while also using their talents to serve God and inspire others.
She challenged her fellow youth, particularly members of Generation Z, to use their time wisely, acquire skills, and make a positive difference in their communities.
“This generation is not lost; you can do things and make history while serving God,” Chebet said, urging young people to rise up, discover their talents, and use them to transform society.
She also called on the government to give young people space to participate in leadership and decision-making.
Gospel artist Onjula Praise said young people no longer needed to wait until later in life to pursue their calling, crediting established church leaders for mentoring emerging talent coming up behind them.
Kenya School of Government Chief Principal Lecturer Rebecca Kaguru, who attended the event, commended the church and parents for nurturing young people’s talents, saying young people needed support to identify their God-given abilities and use them to benefit others.
She urged parents and educators to avoid imposing predetermined paths on young people and instead help them discover their strengths.
“There is a lot of joy to be there to exercise your talent. We should support young people because this is where our challenge has been in society,” Kaguru said.
By Ramadhan Nassib
