A Kenyan priest, Steve Maina, has been elected as the next bishop in the City of Nelson, New Zealand.
Maina was ordained as a priest in 2004, after serving in the Anglican Church of Kenya and planting a new church as missions pastor at Nairobi Chapel.
In a statement, archbishops from Anglican church of Aoteorea, New Zealand, and Polynesia showered Maina with praises, describing him as an energetic Maina.
“Steve brings a proven mission focus to all aspects of his ministry and is widely respected for his energetic and innovative proclamation of the Gospel," stated the Archbishops.
They added that his leadership had rekindled the response of mission partners, young people and the number of people serving had also increased.
"Steve brings both a pastoral heart and a clear-thinking strategic approach to all that he does,” they noted.
Maina will take over from Richard Ellena, who was born in 1970, when he is consecrated.
“I am overwhelmed and absolutely humbled, ” he expressed.
“Can a son of Africa really do this? Someone from Kenya? But I also feel absolutely excited, and expectant," he continued.
Maina stated that he had considered the Nelson role after seeing the challenges the Western Christianity was facing in the 21st century.
"We have a society which is ‘pushing God out’," he noted.
