By Mercy Wangeci

[Salama, 4th - 7th March 2025]  Church project leaders from different parts of East and West Africa gathered at ACK Resort in Salama, Makueni County, for a 4-day training in project management.  

The training brought together 24 participants from various dioceses of the Anglican Church in four African countries namely Tanzania, Burundi, Ghana and Kenya.

The 10-month program seeks to equip project leaders with essential tools to drive sustainable change in their communities through Anglican-church led projects in Africa. 

The training is sponsored by US-based Trinity Church for Church Commissioners of Kenya (CCK), and is facilitated by Daystar University through Daystar Leadership and Development Institute (DLPDI).

The first module featured a series of presentations, interactive group activities, and Q&A sessions led by experienced facilitators, including DLPDI Director, Rev. Dr. Patrick Musembi, Coach Ms. Joan Kurgat, Mr. Matthew Munyao, Ms. Linda Machoka, and Mr. Kenneth Masika of LLOYD Masika Limited.

Notable personalities who attended included the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, the ACK Provincial Secretary of Nairobi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Galgalo, retired Bishop of the ACK Diocese of Makueni, Rt. Rev. Joseph Kanuku, Daystar University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Laban P. Ayiro, the CEO of CCK, Canon Desmond Mtula, and former Chairman of the Daystar Company Board of Trustees, Rev. Dr. Macmillan Kiiru.

The sessions covered a broad range of topics, including: Project Management Fundamentals, Stakeholder Mapping, Regulatory Compliance, Project Design, Risk Analysis, Ethical Issues in Church Project Management, and Identifying and Defining Need.

The training approach was both practical and theoretical, blending knowledge dissemination with hands-on activities that allowed participants to apply what they learned.

The training was officially commissioned at a special ceremony on 5th March, during which time the Daystar University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayiro, presented the training curriculum to His Grace, The Most Rev. Archbishop of ACK, Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit.  The full training involves four modules to be completed by December.

“I got involved in re-engineering of this curriculum because I was keen about anchoring the integration of the Christian faith into the training,” said Prof. Ayiro.

During his address, His Grace, The Most Rev. Dr. Archbishop Ole Sapit emphasized the importance of self-reliance and resourcefulness within the church. 

“The church needs to be at the forefront of sustaining missions [work] with locally available resources that God has given us. We need to have a sustainable church that can mobilize its capital,” he said.

Prof. Laban P. Ayiro highlighted the importance of resilience, leadership, and emotional intelligence in effective project management, further challenging the participants with a powerful thought: “Everyone dies, but not everyone lives.

Church leaders present expressed their commitment to applying skills they acquire from the training to improve church projects and community development.

“The training has helped me understand the importance of engaging a wider range of stakeholders in our projects. I now see how to apply both theory and practice to improve outcomes, especially in areas like project development and stakeholder engagement,” said Millicent Wambugu, Development Coordinator of ACK Diocese of Mount Kenya.

Ms. Wambugu also acknowledged the communication challenge: “We’ve relied on traditional methods, but this training has shown me the importance of using social media and digital platforms to reach more people,” she said.

In a bid to understand the main aim of the training, the Project Clerk of Works at CCK, Mr. Martin Githaiga Mwangi, had this to say: “CCK organized this training because church leaders need project management skills, especially in handling finances and involving the community. I’ve learnt how to secure funding, involve stakeholders, and implement projects effectively.”

The program extended beyond theoretical discussions. The training ended with a visit to a completed church-run project at ACK Machakos Diocese. This practical learning experience offered participants valuable insights into successful project implementation and the challenges faced along the way. It also provided an opportunity to interact with project managers who shared real-life experiences of managing projects in the field.

The collaborative effort between Daystar University, CCK, and Trinity Church is about enhancing knowledge and empowering leaders to transform their communities through strategic and effective project management. As the program continues throughout the rest of the year, its true success will be measured by the number of lives transformed through projects.

The Church Commissioners of Kenya is a body that manages the Anglican Church of Kenya's properties and investments in support of the ministry and operations of ACK.  It is charged with the responsibility of overseeing and providing policy guidelines to the ACK Diocese in this respect.