A church is a place. It's a place to meet together, worship together, and fellowship together. But a church is not necessary in order to be the Church. Indeed, many of our congregations in small villages meet outdoors on a weekly basis. Some are fortunate to at least have a tent. But some meet under a tree, near a chicken coop, in the "bush"... A building is not required, but it's helpful.

Yet in the harsh realities of East Africa, a chapel becomes so much more than helpful—it becomes transformational.

The Strategic Heart of Our Mission

Chapel construction sits at the very center of our three-fold mission strategy. When we plant a new church, we don't just establish a congregation—we create a permanent launching pad for Gospel transformation in entire communities. These simple structures serve multiple vital purposes that multiply kingdom impact far beyond their walls.

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First, they enable our life-changing medical missions. For over 15 years, we've combined healthcare with evangelism through a powerful model: before our medical teams arrive, local Agape leadership selects strategic locations and we construct a chapel that first serves as a medical clinic. During mission week, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and nurses treat thousands of patients while Agape pastors share the Gospel with everyone who visits the prayer tent. We've witnessed over 1,500 patients treated and hundreds of souls saved in a single mission—all made possible by having a physical structure to serve as both clinic and worship space.

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Chapels anchor mother churches that multiply. We strategically plant "mother" churches in larger communities like Kapcherop, Lodwar, and Chavakali. These stronger congregations then send out pastors and trained leaders to cultivate and plant new churches in remote and hard-to-reach villages. In West Pokot alone, two fellowships have multiplied into ten churches! This creates a continuing need to support and foster new faith families, and chapel construction is the way we solidify each church's presence in its community.

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Chapels provide dignity and permanence. In regions where congregations have been evicted from leased properties or forced to relocate when landowners raise prices, owning land and building a permanent structure gives believers security and demonstrates God's faithfulness. These buildings become beacons of hope—visible testimonies to the community that Christ's church is here to stay.

From Ruins to Reconciliation

The photograph above shows a chapel being constructed in Lodwar, Kenya, one of the most impoverished and arid regions in the country. This semi-desert area is scorching hot and brutally dry. During construction, daytime temperatures exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind gusts reached 50 mph. Building a chapel in this location wasn't just important—it was crucial. Without a church building, it would be incredibly difficult for a congregation of believers to meet regularly in such extreme conditions.

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Our chapels are designed for these realities. Some are made from compacted dirt or simple "pole barns" covered in sheet metal with dirt floors. Others are built with more robust materials like stone or iron, depending on local resources and needs. To the people living in these communities—many without electricity, running water, or basic shelter—these simple chapels are a tremendous blessing.

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The impact goes beyond physical comfort. In Kapcherop, located in the Cherangani Hills among the Marakwet tribe, we witnessed two neighboring communities that had been at war with each other for decades reconcile during the dedication of their new chapel. They hugged each other in the brotherhood of believers and vowed to live in peace. Former antagonists became brothers. People converted from Islam to following the one true God. This is what happens when Christ's church has a permanent home in a community.

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A Continuing Need

Across Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan, dozens of Agape Fellowship churches still meet in temporary structures or under trees. Regions like Nkaisuk, Oloile, and Mbyani desperately need permanent chapels. Communities in North Eastern Kenya, Coast regions, and throughout Tanzania are waiting for the Lord to provide buildings for their growing congregations. Each chapel costs approximately $6,000 to $19,000 depending on size, materials, and location. Every one we build enables medical ministry, establishes a mother church capable of planting more congregations, and gives believers a permanent place to gather, worship, and grow in discipleship.

Partner With Us

From a chapel in Lodwar's 120-degree heat to a church in Garissa where believers risk persecution to worship, to village churches in remote South Sudan—each building represents countless lives transformed by the Gospel. These aren't just construction projects. They're commissioning stations for the Great Commission.

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Will you help us build chapels that become launching pads for the Gospel? Your gift of $6,000 can construct a basic chapel. $10,000 provides a more permanent structure with better materials. $19,000 builds a larger chapel capable of serving as a mother church for an entire region.

Every dollar invested in chapel construction multiplies—through medical missions that treat thousands, through mother churches that plant new congregations, through communities where the name of Jesus is lifted high for generations to come.

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DONATE NOW to build hope, establish churches, and transform communities across East Africa. Together, we're not just constructing buildings—we're claiming land for Christ and advancing His kingdom to the ends of the earth.

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