WorldVenture (formerly Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society) missionaries, Frank and
Alma Dobra, left Pakistan and moved to Uganda with a heart for reaching Asians there. In
1972/3, after the expulsion of the country's Indian and Pakistani minority by Idi Amin, the
Dobras came to Mombasa to minister to the Asian communities here. They were joined by Russ
and Lois Paulson who focused on church planting along the South Coast.
In 1974, the Dobras joined hands with Christar (formerly International Missions Inc.) missionaries
George and Naomi Kaufman and Martha Ratzlaff, along with the Parmars from India-associates of Bahkt
Singh's ministry.
Outreach efforts included Sunday night preaching at the harbor and literature distribution, Bible clubs
for youth, visiting with shop keepers, attending Asian functions, film showings (including in Hindu Temple),
teaching CRE in schools, and camps for Asian boys and girls in Kericho. Also, every Friday night, the Asian
Bible Fellowship would meet on the rooftop of Martha's flat on Haile Selassie Ave. (not far from where Tuskys
currently is). By 1978, the fellowship was averaging between 60-80 people, about half of whom were unbelievers.
During this time, the Dobras were part of Mombasa Gospel Tabernacle Church in Tudor, and this is where they
would encourage new Asian believers to attend. In 1983, after 10 years of meeting on Friday nights, the Asian
Fellowship Baptist Church met together on Sunday, 7th August in the carport of Frank and Alma Dobras home
on Rassini Rd in Tudor. By 9th October, services were moved to Mombasa Baptist High School where they met
in the chapel. At this time the average attendance was around 25 out of a community of 40. Friday night
and Sunday night outreaches continued, with Abner Kunder taking over the teaching responsibilities on Fridays.
FBC continued to grow under the leadership of the Dobras and subsequently Garry and Connie Morgan. There were
105 in attendance for the first anniversary service in August 1984. In 1986, the church moved from the Baptist
High school to various location/homes until they settled at Valentine High School. That same year Larry and
Phyllis Bishop arrived and began pastoring FBC. In 1987, the church moved to Valentine Primary School and the
community increased to 90 with 53 as members.
It was formally organized in July of 1988, the same year the Dobra's retired. Wayne Raychard, Harold Salseth,
Malcolm Hartnell, and Charles Currie filled in for Larry Bishop at various points between 1989-1993, due to
home assignments and a medical leave. In 1993, the Tudor plot was purchased and in 1994, the construction
of our current church building was completed. The plot and main building was funded by WorldVenture's
P.A.C.T. (Plant A Church Together) program which focused on raising funds to plant churches in key urban
centers where resources were limited. The rear classrooms were built in 2004.
As a result of this program, we continue to set aside 15% of tithes to be designated toward helping plant
other churches. The first service was held in the new building on 18th December 1994 and the dedication
service was held on 29th January 1995. That same year, Bill and Mary- Ellen Stroup assisted the church.
Then, in 1996 with the retirement of the Bishops, Malcolm Hartnell stepped up to assist. The church was
officially registered as a society in 2008. Brian Nyamai (Pastor Israel) was called in 1997 and served
until January 2013. Matthew Ndambuki served alongside Moses Mallombe 2015-2018. Tim Thairu had been serving
as lead pastor from March 2021.
We are a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and transient community with those with roots in North America, Europe, Asia, and of course Africa. We represent people from every realm of society, with our rich diversity being a testimony of God's amazing grace which He extends to all nations, tribes, and tongues.
The name of the Ministry shall be Fellowship Baptist Church of Mombasa
(in this Constitution referred to as "the Ministry")
OBJECTIVES
- To bring glory to God; seeking to fulfill His purpose by meeting together
for worship, by helping each other grow in Christian faith and love, by
proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and deed, and by ministering to
human needs in the name of Christ.
- To establish and maintain churches throughout Kenya and the world where people
can worship God and be taught the Word of God.
- To establish and maintain charitable organizations, feeding programs, relief
centers, Bible schools and colleges, academic schools, colleges, libraries,
development projects, orphanage homes, hospitals, health centers, rehabilitation
centers, village polytechnics, old people's homes and other institutions which are
beneficial to the Ministry or the general public and are not repugnant to the teaching
of the Holy Bible.
- To train, receive and ordain ministers for the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- To accept donations from members, non-members, the government, municipal councils,
other charitable organizations and any persons whether private or corporate, whether from
Kenya or any other part of the world for the furtherance of the activities and objectives
of the Ministry.
- To purchase and acquire land or buildings either from the government, city council,
municipalities, county councils, private or corporate persons, for the purpose of
enhancing the objectives of the Ministry.
- To enter into lease agreement with companies or persons for hire of office space,
residential houses or any houses or any other building required for enhancing the
objectives of the Ministry.
- To buy goods or services necessary for the furtherance of the objectives of the
Ministry including materials, training equipment, books and any other items from
any persons and sell any goods and services arising from the Ministry's development
projects, provided such monies will be used to pay for the expense of making such
goods and services; any other balance will be invested in the same development
projects or any other institution in the Ministry.
- The Ministry's surplus funds will not be distributed to the members of the Ministry
as dividends.
- To pay for the services provided to the Ministry by employees or other specialists
ministry employed under special contract with the Ministry solely for activities of the said.
- To do all such other things as deemed essential or conducive to the attainment of the above
objectives provided that such activities will not be repugnant to the teachings of the Bible.
- To teach the gospel through all available media including radio, television and satellite,
etc.; and to establish stations for broadcasting the gospel.
- The Ministry is NON POLITICAL and non-profit making.
- We believe that the Bible is God's Word, that it was written by men
divinely and uniquely inspired, that it is absolutely trustworthy and
has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
- We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in
holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power. We rejoice that He
concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of man, that He hears and
answers prayer and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him
through Jesus Christ.
- We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived of the
Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement
for the sin of the world by His death on the cross. We believe in His bodily
resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His high priestly intercession for
His people and His personal visible return to the world according to His promise.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from God to convince the world of
sin, of righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and comfort those
who believe in Jesus Christ.
- We believe that all men by nature and by choice are sinners, and that "God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We believe therefore, that
those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will rejoice forever in
God's presence and that those who refuse to accept Christ as their Lord and
Saviour will be forever separated from God.
- We believe in the Church—a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head
and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a visible church
is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried with Him in Baptism and associated
for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that to those visible churches were
committed for observance "till He comes" the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's
Supper, and that God has laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost
world to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master.
We believe that human betterment and social improvement are essential products
of the Gospel.
- We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith.
This church has also adopted the following Covenant as a means by which its
members may express their intent to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ in
the life of the church and in the affairs of daily life of each of its members.
- Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our
Saviour and on the profession of our faith having been baptized in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit we do now in the presence of
God and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one
another, as one body in Christ.
- We commit ourselves, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together
in Christian love (Phil. 2:1-18), to work for the advancement of this church in
knowledge and holiness (Eph. 4:1-16), to support its worship, ordinances, discipline
and doctrines, to contribute cheerfully and regularly according to the Scriptural
principles of tithes and offerings to the support of the ministry (2 Cor. 9:6-15; Dt. 26:1-15; 1 Tim. 5:17-18),
the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the
gospel through all nations.
- We also commit ourselves to maintain, as far as possible, family and private
devotions and to teach our children the Christian truths (Dt. 6:4-9), to seek the
salvation of our family and friends, to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our
lives and to be putting away the deeds of our sinful nature (Gal. 5:13-26; Eph. 4:17-6:4; Col.3:1-25), to
be just and honest in all of our dealings and to be zealous in our efforts to
advance the kingdom of our Saviour.
- We further commit ourselves to watch over one another in brotherly love, to
remember each other in prayer, to aid each other in sickness and trouble, and
to be slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation (Gal. 6:1-10; Eph. 6:18; Matt.18:15-35).
- We also commit ourselves that when we move from this place we will, as soon
as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the principles
of God's Word (Heb.10:25).
We believe in the Holy Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- eternally One,
equal in power and glory (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
We believe in the authority and inerrancy of the Bible, the inspired 66 books of
Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, and that salvation comes by grace
through faith, not by works (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9).
We believe Christ established two ordinances for the Church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper
(Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26).
We believe in the imminent, visible return of Jesus Christ, who will reign in glory and bring
forth a new heaven and a new earth (Acts 1:11; Revelation 21:1).
The Gospel is the good news that the God who made us and to whom we are accountable
(Genesis 1:27; Romans 14:12) has acted to save us from our problem of sin (Romans 3:23).
Though our sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23), God provided the solution
by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for our salvation (John 3:16;
1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
We are included in this salvation not by our works but by turning from sin in repentance and
placing our faith in Jesus Christ alone (Mark 1:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31).
Have you believed the Gospel?
- Qualifications to be a member:
Any person who: confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, has a satisfactory Christian Testimony,
has been baptised as a believer by immersion, agrees to abide by the Church Covenant and Doctrinal Statement, and
whose age is above eighteen (18) years will be eligible for membership in the Ministry . Persons who are not eighteen
(18) years of age may be admitted into the junior's member's roll as set forth in by the laws
- Admission:
Membership in the Ministry is free of charge. However, members are free to give contributions
or donations, whether or not an appeal has been made. Anyone wishing to join may do so
according to the by-laws through the following ways:
-- By Baptism :- Anyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour may become a
member after baptism by immersion.
-- By Experience :- A Christian of good character may join after giving a public
testimony of their Christian faith.
-- By Transfer :- A Christian of good character may be admitted after a letter of
approval is received from another Baptist church.
-- As Watch-care Members :- Christians who live temporarily at the Coast but wish to keep
their membership in their home church may apply as watch-care members. They will meet all membership
requirements and enjoy the same privileges and responsibilities as regular members, except
they cannot serve as elders.
- Termination of Membership:
Membership may end either by resignation or dismissal, in line with the by-laws. Please note
that anyone who resigns or is removed will not receive a refund of any contributions made.
Membership may end in the following ways:
-- By Death :- Membership ends automatically upon death.
-- By Transfer :- A member may request a letter of recommendation to join another church.
-- By Discipline :- A member who acts in an un-Christian manner or breaks the Church Covenant
in a way that harms the Ministry or its reputation may be removed. This will only happen after the
member has been heard by the Board of Elders and after sincere efforts to correct and guide them
have been made (Matt. 18:15–17).
-- By Absence :- Members who have not participated in the Ministry, as required in the Church
Covenant, for one year or more may be removed at the discretion of the Board of Elders.