Sent to africa

James and Elsie Gudgeon and their five children were sent out by Hastings church in 2014 as missionaries to Kenya. The Lord began calling them to the mission field in Kenya as early as 2006. James and Elsie had spent their honeymoon in Kenya and had met Pastor Dalmas of Manna Bible Church, Likoni, a reformed church, just south of the main city of Mombasa which is located in the south of Kenya. Since their visit, the Lord burdened them with a desire to aid in the work that Pastor Dalmas was involved in.

Manna Bible Church, Likoni is one of just a handful of churches that seek to preach Biblical, Reformed principles, in the whole of Kenya. They are active in engaging and teaching those who wish to hear more about the Bible in their locality. James and Elsie initially supported this work from the UK with visits over the years to follow to encourage the work. In 2012, James heeded the Lord’s call to preach and was sent out by Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hastings and in the same year he felt that the Lord was calling him as a missionary to Kenya.

Arriving in Kenya in 2014, they began renting a flat in Ukunda (a local town around 30 minutes from Likoni), seeking the Lords will and supporting Pastor Dalmas. After 3 months, according to the Lords miraculous providence, a parcel of land became available in the rural village of Kiranze, Mwangulu. This is a rare occurrence in Kenya, where transactions of land in rural areas are rarely advertised to outsiders. Alongside this, this area was exactly where the Lord had highlighted to James, a few years prior, that He would bring him to this area. This area of Kenya is extremely poor and rural, and around 1 hour 30 minutes drive to the closest town, Ukunda.

Once the land was purchased they continued to live in town until most of the construction of the mission complex was complete and made habitable, meaning they moved in March 2017. The mission complex has an area in which James began to preach to the locals who gathered for services. Through this, a church has been planted called Manna Bible Church, Kiranze. From the outset, the missionaries of the Mombasa Mission have relied wholly on the Lord to provide for their needs both to live, and to labour in His name. He has proved faithful to His promises, with many remarkable instances of answered prayer and God’s continued provision.

Further Help arrives

In a wonderful answer to James and Elsie’s prayer, the Lord sent another couple to help them. Sam and Hannah Kingham were sent out to join the work, with their son, Josiah in November 2018. After hearing of the Mombasa Mission when attending an “Update Talk” in his local area, Sam began to visit James and Elsie a number of times in Kenya. This led to a deeper involvement in the work and he began supporting them from the UK. Prior to visiting James and Elsie in January 2018, the Lord had begun to call Sam to the ministry. Whilst out in Kenya, the Lord confirmed that calling to preach and placed a burden for the lost in Kenya. Sam was sent out to preach by Jireh Strict Baptist, Nuneaton and before the end of that year, had travelled to Kenya with his wife and son.

The spiritual state of kenya

There is much spiritual darkness in Kenya, and there is a real need for faithful, reformed, biblical preaching and teaching. The majority of Kenyan churches teach the false message of prosperity and wealth, rather than the gospel of repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. James and Sam labour in teaching and preaching in the local area, seeking to teach the Bible to local pastors alongside the local church which has been planted on the land the Lord provided.

James and Elsie return to the uk

2022 was a year of great change for the Mombasa Mission in preparing for the return of James and Elsie Gudgeon who have been called to the work at Ebenezer Strict Baptist Church, Hastings. The mission feels the loss of two of its workers but rejoices that James and Elsie have been called to another good work here in the UK.

the current chapter

It is currently 2024. The work of teaching, preaching and spreading the message of the Gospel is still taking place through the labours of Sam and Hannah Kingham and a few trusted locals. There are many opportunities and open doors, however the labourers are few. For ongoing and regular updates please do visit our Facebook page.

Mission Statement

‘’To relieve poverty and advance the Christian religion amongst the people of East Africa particularly, though not exclusively, through the provision of churches, child rescue homes, medical centres and schools, and through the translation and distribution of Christian literature.’’