Lydiah Kiema seated outside her home compound.

In the wards of Nguumo, Makindu, and Kikumbulyu South, a quiet transformation is taking place. Through mindset change, relationship building, and holistic ministry training under the Church and Community Transformation (CCT) program, churches are becoming beacons of hope to communities in need. Local congregations, moved by love and compassion, are now extending practical support to the most vulnerable while sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways.

One such story of transformation comes from Neema village in Kalungu sub-location, Kikumbulyu South ward, where Lydia Kiema, a woman estimated to be over 100 years old, has experienced the power of community care firsthand.

Lydia’s Story: From Isolation to Embrace

Lydia lives with her two elderly sons, who, despite their age, have no employment or reliable sources of income. Both were once married, but their spouses left, and now the three live in deep poverty. Years ago, Lydia suffered a life-altering injury after being knocked down by a goat, resulting in a broken femur. With limited care during her recovery and due to her advanced age, she never fully healed and has since been confined to a wheelchair.

Unable to walk or care for herself, Lydia relies entirely on others for mobility, personal hygiene, and food. Her situation worsened as her sons, lacking exposure and guidance, sold their agricultural land and spent the money on drugs—leaving them with no means to grow food or earn a living.

The church became aware of Lydia’s plight through her elder son, Kioko, who was once employed as a night guard at AIC Makueni Church. He occasionally asked the church to pray for his mother, prompting members trained under the CCT initiative to pay her a visit.

What they found was heartbreaking: Lydia’s condition was critical, her living environment unsafe, and her support system almost non-existent. The church responded in love. They donated a new mattress, clothes, and food supplies. Two women from the church were assigned to regularly visit, wash, cook, and care for Lydia. Rodgers Ndungu, a neighbour and CCT participant, took on the responsibility of supplying water to her home free of charge.

A Near-Death Encounter

Lydia’s vulnerability came into sharp focus about two months later when she was bitten three times by a snake while sleeping on a mattress laid directly on her floor. Rat holes in her mud-walled house provided a hiding place for the snake. Due to her frailty, Lydia couldn’t alert anyone when she was bitten the first two times. By the time the wounds worsened, she believed it may have been a scorpion. Her cries one night alerted neighbors, including her son and Rhoda Simon, who found and eventually killed the snake.

She was rushed to hospital, and the church helped cover her medical expenses. The doctor confirmed they were snake bites, and miraculously, Lydia survived. She is now in recovery.

Kioko’s (Lydiah’s son) renovated house where Lydiah currently stays with her son for safety reasons.

A Community Unites

After this incident, the church and community, with support from the area sub-chief, coordinated efforts to renovate Kioko’s house, making it suitable for both of them to live in more safely. Plans are underway to renovate Lydia’s original house, where the attack occurred.

Her extended family, including Ruth Simon (a grand-daughter), now visits daily to care for Lydia—despite Ruth’s own health challenges. During a visit by church members, Ruth requested prayers for healing so she can continue supporting her grandmother more effectively.

The Church’s Wider Impact

Lydia’s story is just one among many. Churches trained through the CCT program are now reaching over 180 families across the three wards. These acts of service are not only meeting physical needs but also restoring dignity and spreading the message of God’s unconditional love. Through holistic ministry, the church is no longer just a building—it has become a trusted sanctuary of hope, love, and care.