| Our History |
NAYNET (Nairobi Area Youth Workers Network) was founded in 1999 by two Youth Workers – Gowi Odera and Frank Mills out of the need to rally the church around youth ministry in light of the reality of the overwhelming majority of young people in the church. Out of the efforts and the fruit of a concerted effort in the planning of the G21 Youth Conference in Nairobi and the realization of the abundant fruit of putting the youth ministry on the map of Nairobi and the raising of an army of thousands of young people for the church in the city; a network of youth pastors in the city was born! |
| Naynet Leadership |
Gowi Odera - Founder |
No stranger to the youth movement in East Africa. Gowi was born and raised in the city of Nairobi and became a believer as a pre-teen at Word of Life Youth Camp.
Through his youthful years his faith and passion for ministry (youth in particular) was honed at the Nairobi Baptist Church.
At that time the only Church in the country to have a recognised youth Church with a full time paid youth pastor. He holds degrees in Economics and Political Science and a Masters in Development Economics, from Eastern University, St. David’s, PA, and USA.
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Gowi has served in different leadership capacities, one notably when still in high school; he was the national Student Representative sitting on the board of the Kenya Schools Christians Fellowship.
He has taught youth ministry at several colleges and seminaries in Kenya. Gowi has served as the Assistant Director for Ministry Development in Youth for Christ Africa. He has also served as the Youth Pastor at the Nairobi Chapel. A pioneer at heart.
He planted Mashariki Church (a youth Church) and also served as the Associate Pastor for the Nairobi Chapel. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the National Youth Lobby for Reform. He currently sits on two boards of youth serving organisations.
A radio disc jockey on a youthful urban gospel music station, Gowi is a sort out speaker at many youth forums. Gowi has been married to Jennifer Wangeci for three years now. |
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Rev. Nick Kiplangat Korir: Chairperson, NAYNET |
Rev. Nick Kiplangat Korir has been the Youth Pastor of
Parklands Baptist Church since 2005. He has served as
a Youth Pastor for the past 10 years. He has also served as the Africa Director for Global Youth Ministry Africa International for four years doing mentoring and youth leadership training seminars in 16 African countries.
Pastor Nick is the current convener of NAYNET. He
also serves on the board of directors of Global Youth
Ministry International, SCAD (Students Campaigning
Against Drugs) and ACC (African Christian Camping).
He holds a Bachelor of Science Appropriate Technology
Degree from Kenyatta University and a Masters in
Leadership Studies from Nairobi International School
of Theology. Pastor Nick is married to Julia Wangui. |
Favorite Music: Strictly - Worship Music and Rhythm & Blues.
Favorite artist: Cece Winans
Favorite Meal: Fish, ugali na sukuma,
wiki iliyo na ma spice za kishure
Hobbies: Riding motorcycles, watching movies, travelling and swimming
Hang Out Joint: On a boat in the middle of Lake Naivasha
Hero: Justus Kamau, Campus Crusade for Christ
Passion: Manufacturing Leaders out of Youth
Quote: “Today is the first day of the rest of my life!” |
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Sarah Waithira Kariithi: Secretary, NAYNET |
Education: Bachelor of Arts,
Communication—Public Relations, Daystar University
Current Job: PR Manager of Good News,
Productions International, Africa
Marital Status: Single
Favorite Music: Gospel especially by Phil Mendel and of course our local music
Favorite Meal: Mukimo accompanied with chicken stew
Hobbies: Reading inspirational books, watching movies, catching up with friends
Hang Out Joint: Teaspot Restaurant
Heroine: My Mum
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Passion: Servicing in Kidzhouse at Nairobi Lighthouse Church
Quote: Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm (Anonymous) |
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 Pastor Jeremiah Kinyanjui: Treasurer, NAYNET |
Job: Nairobi Calvary Temple as an Associate Pastor (Teens and Children).
Status: Married to Susan and father to Immanuel.
Education: Educated in counseling under the discipline of Nairobi University.
Favoutire music: Maranatha
Quote: ‘Thoughts become things’
Food: Nice fresh fish na Ugali
Hobby: Serving
Hero: Christ Jesus
Passion: To fulfil the great commision. |
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 Zonal Representative (Joseph Obwanda) |
Anne Mburu is the Youth Pastor at Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C). She has a passion to develop young people to reach their generation and beyond. She longs to see a generation of young people totally on fire for God who are leading in transformation.
Education: Anne holds a Diploma in Applied Chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Bible& Theology from Pan Africa Christian University.
Marital Status: Single
Leisure: In her leisure time she loves to have fun; travelling, hanging out with friends, swimming and
reading.
Music: Local Gospel, Afro-fusion and worship.
Favorite Dish: When you take her out to lunch, please buy her Fish and Ugali/Chips.
Favorite Quote: Enjoy life, no one
gets out alive |
Hang Out Joint: My house
Hero: My mother
Verse: Ps 145:4 “One generation will commend your works to another; they
will tell of your mighty acts.” |
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Joseph Obwanda - Zonal Representative
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Education: Joseph holds a Bachelors Degree in Theology from Kenya Methodist University.
Occupation: Youth Pastor, Motivational Speaker, Leadership Trainer.
Marital Status: Married with two Children.
Hobbies: Reading, Strategic Thinking, Value Adding Touch (V.A.T), Networking.
Music: Gospel Classical Hymns.
Favorite Dish: Ngege and Ugali with Carol’s sukuma.
Favorite Quote: Be either celebrated or persecuted being your best, but never accept to be tolerated.
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Hang Out Joint: Kula Korner and where my people are.
Hero: My late dad, James O. Obwanda, P.L.O. Lumumba and Billy Graham.
Passion: Inspiring young people and progressive thinkers to greater experiences and expressions in life. |
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 Rev. Francis Awando - Zonal Representative |
Occupation: Teens Minister
Education: Diploma in Christian Missions and Electronics
Family: Married to Georgina and father to Timothy.
Favourite Music: Worship by Don Moen and Hillsongs.
Favorite Dish: Ugali with chicken.
Favorite Quote: 1 Corinth 2:9-10 No eye has seen neither entered the heads of men what God has in store for those who love Him.
Hobbies: Reading and watching movies.
Hang Out Joint: Home.
Hero: My dad
Passion: Seeing young people achieving their dream as I do mine under the Lordship of Jesus. |
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 Pastor Albert Outa - Zonal Representative |
Education: MDiv, Bibilical Studies (NEGST), Bsc Mechanical Engineering (University of Nairobi)
Current Job: Youth Pastor, Nairobi Chapel
Family: Married to Edna Elisaba with 2 sons, Bulamu and Seo.
Favorite Music: Fred Hammond, J Moss, Kiki Sheard, Cantone Jonnes, Israel Houghton
Favorite Dish: Fish with Ugali.
Favorite Quote: If you have a youth group that does not understand your illustrations, and one of them wants to kill you, you have a youth group just like Jesus’ – Mark Yakonelli
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Hobbies: Listening to music, going out with wife , hanging out with sons, tinkering with software, driving long distance and a master at board games.
Hang Out Joint: Club xpressions, Java and another random mutura joint.
Hero: Mentor, Anzaya Akatsa
Passion: Being part of something new, designing transformational paths |
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 David Ewagata - Theological Institutions Representative |
Education background: Master of Arts in Leadership from Pan Africa Christian University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Bible and Theology from Pan Africa Christian University; Diploma in Graphic
Design from Creative Art Center.
Current Job: Director – Frontier Youth Discipleship
Program, Pan Africa Christian University
Marital status: Married to Rose Ewagata with son
Nathan.
Favorite Music: Intense worship in whatever genre
Favorite Meal: Buzi uraya, pilau and chapos
Hobbies: Singing, hanging out with youth, playing football and basketball, traveling
Hang Out Joint: At home with family and friends
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My Hero: Paul Kagame
Favorite Quote: There are two kinds of leaders: Leaders who rise to the top
and those who raise to the top. Africa has suffered for having its fair share of the former.
Passion: Ministering to the youth and serving as a role model. I also have a passion for raising Godly leadership; leadership with character, integrity and vision. |
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