HISTORY OF CALM BY BISHOP FRANCIS O. OTSIALO

In the early 80’s after giving my life to Christ we started facing challenges of dealing with family issues, cultural and traditional conflicts where I lost my four children dying mysteriously, ages between 7 – 10yrs. 1997 I almost lost my life through several night demonic attacks. In between I lost all several dairy cattle, and several things that forced us to migrate from our homeland to where we have the church.

In 1987 we started an interdenominational fellowship, but due to doctrinal issues, we were forced to join one church, New Life Covenant Kakamega. Christian Apostolic Life Ministry (CALM) began as fellowship of believers known as Shitungu Fellowship Church in 1994 under new life ministry. In the year 2000 because of church discipline and expulsion of the landlord from fellowship we lost a place of fellowship, and the church scattered. In 2001 the church started with a new membership and grew quickly up to a membership of 300. Between 2002 – 2004, the community started persecuting the church and there were storms, evil schemes and fights by the Catholics because of our doctrine and faith of Baptizing people in water and speaking in tongues- the church became influential and Roman Catholics were losing their members.

Through many challenges in the year 2004 a prayer partner from Philadelphia U.S.A gave a prophecy about how the lord was bringing a calm in our lives and church and as we prayed there was need for the ministry registration to help affliate the many churches we were planting as the ministry was growing. In several scenarios the lord confirmed the prophecy concerning CALM through six people including the late Rev John Chunge. We therefore drafted a constitution and forwarded it to the office of the attorney General in Nairobi in 2005, whereby the ministry was now legally registered in 2010.

In 2010 – We met international victory Bible institutes representatives from the Regional office by then Tanzania and collaborated to start Calm Bible Schools in Kenya which has now grown from Kenya to Tanzania, Uganda, DRC and Rwanda. The ministry has grown up to having several branches as follows.

• Uganda
• Tanzania
• Busia
• Rwanda
• Bungoma
• Vihiga
• Kakamega county
• Uasin Gishu and
• Nairobi counties

  BIBLE SCHOOL

  Following the need to train leaders and believers, CALM bible school was established and we started training leaders in various parts of East Africa. Since then we have held various graduations of leaders who have undergone though our programmes.

CALM MISSION SCHOOL.

As the ministry continued to grow we discovered that children ministry is very important in the body of Christ and that our children needed to be trained and equipped in the early ages. So we started Calm Mission Schools with the help of Victorious Golgotha Mission School. Children ministry is one of the ministry that the devil hates and this has attracted a lot of attacks but we are not moved by the threats of the enemy. The schools are still on up to now.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING SKILLS

As a way of empowering our children economically, we decided to introduce vocational training to our children. This skills will help create employment to our children hence reducing idleness, illegal activities among other vices in the community. we partnered with Capacity Training Institute to offer the services to our children.

SWOT OF THE MISSION SCHOOL

STRENGTH

• The school has management and administration, this is because the schools are church sponsored – Christian Apostolic Life Ministry- which is legally registered in Kenya
• The environment is very conducive for learning this is because child to teacher is very strong and friendly.
• The foundation of the school is based on Christianity
• The school has also trained and experienced staff in various areas.
• There is also enough space for expansion of the school
• The school is registered by ministry of Education

WEAKNESS

• The main challenge of the school is parents are unable to pay for their children due to poverty.
• There is high rate of illiteracy in the catchment.
• Food for the children and their residential are in poor state and this made us help some families build homes and spray others that were infested with jiggers.
• Most of the parents are drunkards and unable to cater for the needs of the children forcing some of the kids engage in hawking business in town to get their daily meals.
• Most of the children stay with guardians and relatives that is grandparents, aunts and uncles among others.
• The school has inadequate water supply and electricity.
• Long Distance of Health Facilities

OPPORTUNITIES

• The mission schools are under Christian Apostolic Life Ministry thus enabling it be stronger.
• There are network of churches locally and internationally that support the school.
• Ministry officials and county have have been visiting the schools.

THREATS

• lack of proper feeding programme leads to mulnutrition and early deaths at early ages
• Pupils going to the market doing hawking business to cater for their needs due to poverty leads them to drop out of schools, engage in early marriages, become drug addicts and other vices that may shorten their lives.
• Parents and guardians unwillingness to attend meetings and support their children morally makes children become independent in making their own decision.
• different religious organisation in the neighbourhood focus mainly on spiritual growth and not economically, which has contributed to increase in poverty in the region.