Wishing to serve God, and improve the lives of his fellow Kenyans, Bishop Lawrence Ochieng Halonda came to the United States.

Known to his Federal Way peers as Bishop Lawrence, Halonda made the journey, planning to preach and ultimately build friendships, relationships and support in the states — before traveling back to Kenya to continue his ministries.

“Nowadays, preaching is not speaking; preaching is serving,” he said. “I came to preach.”

Halonda envisioned one day returning home — to Kenya’s South West Alego Constituency in the Siaya District — with personal insight and resources to assist him in planting churches and helping those in need.

The time to depart is now. But financially, Halonda finds himself stuck in the United States. Federal Way’s Church of the Nazarene is fundraising to send him home.

Longing for home

Upon Halonda’s journey to America, he believed a Kenyan friend residing in Kent would take him in throughout his stay. But the friend experienced marital problems and Halonda left the household. With nowhere to go, he ended up in Federal Way, where he knew another Kenyan.

To go back home to Nairobi, Kenya, Halonda needs a plane ticket — an approximately $1,000 to $1,500 purchase.

“If I was a millionaire, I’d be able to write him out a check and say ‘go home,’ but I’m not (a millionaire),” friend Bob (Coach) Roach said.

Eager to serve

At age 58, Halonda has committed his life to Christian ministries and has accomplished many feats. Among those feats, he planted four churches, his first in the early 1990s in the Saiya District.

But he wishes to do more for his people, especially those affected by AIDS, orphans, widows and the hungry. He came to America to build trust and understanding, but also to establish partnerships with people willing to assist him in his mission.

He formed the long-lasting connections he desired, but has no way of getting back home. He now resides at Federal Way’s Church of the Nazarene, where he also attends services. He and pastor Chuck Judd — who, in an invitation unrelated to his friendship with Halonda, was recently asked to teach at a Kenyan seminary school — have become friends working toward similar goals.

“I’ve come to realize he’s a man with a sweet spirit,” Halonda said of Judd.

Judd said he will remain in contact with Halonda upon his return home.

Check it out

To contribute funding toward helping Halonda return to Nairobi, Kenya one may donate through the Church of the Nazarene. Make sure to specify the money is intended for Halonda. To learn more about the fundraising or Halonda, call pastor Chuck Judd at (253) 839-6085.

Send checks to: Church of the Nazarene, 1525 S.W. Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA 98023.