In 2017, God asked my husband Patrick Omukhango and I to move our ministry at CLC Kenya online. At that time, I would post one day, then come back to post the next time to find that it had been three months since. How does this social media work? How do people maintain consistency?
I realised that growing up in the digital age doesn’t necessarily mean I understand how to navigate social media effectively. It was a learning curve for me, but I knew that if I wanted to reach more people with our Christian literature, I needed to figure it out—learn the ins and outs of various platforms, understand algorithms, and find ways to engage with our audience consistently. So, I sought guidance and started studying strategies on how to grow and maintain an online presence. My greatest success was finding my primary school’s friend’s husband Lee Mwandiki the rest are details – this is a story for another day.
At that time, I had 240 friends whom I knew by name. For most, I knew their families and personal lives. I loved it that way. But when the Lord gives you a command, just obey. Yes, it is for your good, but more important, it is for His bigger plan. My favourite and love-at-first-sight book in CLC Kenya in 2009 was Max Lucado’s It’s Not About Me. Oya! You are important to God, and you are the apple of His eye; your name is written on His palm and all 😁 but there is a bigger picture here—always.
So, I moved from my private-life-attitude and embraced this public ministry, allowing the Lord to ‘inconvenience’ me. While I struggled at the beginning, wondering how much was too much, I am so blessed because I have met so many of you on these social media streets and have made great friendships with strangers. Now, I can grow our following and effectively share the message of Christ through CLC Kenya’s online ministry.
All that was me digressing. This post is about 2021 or 2022, when I met Dr. John Stanko – the exact date is hazy with COVID and all as so much was going on so quickly. Stanko is a man whose calling is to mentor and bring others to walk in purpose. His love for Kenya is evident through his many trips to the country every year for the last two or so decades.
In an interview I had with Stanko, he mentioned that he has pencils on his desk that are older than me. Now, this is a serious analysis because I am on half time and I feel ‘older’ (the non-politically correct word I wished to use is ‘old’ but let’s leave it at ‘older’). 😅
So Stanko is about twice my age, but his social media presence is outstanding, remarkable, and captivating. So, what shall be my excuse when I am called to account for my calling before my Master? Stanko effectively utilises various platforms to engage with his audience and share his wisdom, inspiring and mentoring others regardless of their age. His dedication to mentorship and purpose-driven living extends beyond physical boundaries. This challenged me even more.
God was not asking only me to minister to His people on social media; like in Elijah’s case, He has thousands of others. I needed to accept this calling and see the potential impact it had on advancing God’s Kingdom.
So, I follow Stanko as he follows Christ. Some of the posts he has put out hit me on days when I really needed them the most.
Recently, just after finishing our 3rd ACABA Awards Gala, I was sliding down to the things I had wanted to go perfectly. I can easily spend time on what did not work instead of what worked and how God showed Himself strong on our behalf. We prayed for God’s manifest presence, and we got just that, though other physical things did not work as I had envisioned. Don’t judge – I am a recovering perfectionist. ‘Recovering’ is the main word—bold and underline. It means I am a work in progress.
It’s during this time post-gala that I see a post from Dr. John Stanko on Facebook: “Your perfectionism is depriving the world of your creativity.”
The power of a single sentence can truly be transformative, especially when spoken during moments of vulnerability. In this instance, God’s voice resonated through Stanko’s post. I heard God saying to me, “Drop your perfectionism so you can glorify me!” Instantly, I let go of my need for flawlessness and instead embraced the beauty of others’ testimonies at the gala. Rather than allowing the mistakes to pull me down, I chose to learn from them and strive for improvement in the future.
So, the simple post from a man following Christ and ministering on social media saved me weeks or months of depressive thoughts. This would have denied me the joy of rest and fellowship with family and friends over the holidays.
“An offering from a sage and a king is more than silver and gold. It is a seed of hope, a bud of faith” (Chadwick Boseman). It is a reminder that the impact of our actions and words can be far-reaching, touching lives, uplifting, and inspiring others we may never even know about and in ways we may never fully comprehend. This man’s wisdom not only lifted my spirits but also motivated me to spread cheer and encouragement to others, sparking a chain reaction of love and hope in our interconnected world.
So, I celebrate Dr. John Stanko for allowing God to use him in our generation. And I am following him and how he does social media ministry, even as he follows Christ. A midwife needs someone ahead of them to follow. And I hope I can also be someone ahead for someone else to follow. If all of us have someone ahead and someone behind, we form this wonderful line of soldiers in the army of the Lord. A force that cannot be broken.
Dr. John Stanko and coach Irene Mureithi had a book launch and purpose conference tomorrow. This is more than a book, it’s like a purpose seminar or course. Self-paced. Invest in yourself.
For those in Kenya, all counties, contact Maureen Bett, the administrator who will organize for the book to be delivered to you.
Bett’s Phone number: +254 724 941504
Those in the Diaspora, kindly buy either a soft Kindle version or hard copy on Amazon and Amazon Global will deliver it to you.
Don’t live a purposeless life when there is a great resource and amazing purpose coaches in your reach!
Fulfilment only comes from purpose – find yours today!
