Stephen & Angelina Cowan

Stephen and Angelina's mission work

During the past 37 years a strong Christian foundation has been built by introducing the truth of the gospel story to the Samburu and Turkana people. This has been achieved by Bible teaching as well as in many practical ways. However, cultural dogma is very strong, and many still struggle to apply Biblical values above cultural expectations.

SAAP's work is predominantly relational and takes time. While recognising that traditional animal husbandry is the main source of livelihood, SAAP seeks to raise awareness of the need to adopt modern land management techniques and husbandry skills in an ever-changing world. With population increase, land demarcation and addition of modern infrastructure, failure to implement change could easily lead to further marginalisation of the semi-nomadic communities throughout the county. Economic empowerment is crucial if, rather than migrating to the city seeking better employment opportunities, the younger generation of believers are to be encouraged to remain in their home area and become part of a thriving Christian community with generational consequences.

Dedicated and genuine interest in the welfare of those with whom they share their lives, together with integrity in dealing with a wide range of situations over the decades has resulted in the trust of both the Samburu and Turkana people and gospel community has been established in many villages. Various life skills including vehicle mechanics, building construction (using locally available materials when possible), horticulture and eco tourism are incorporated informally in everyday life. Children and young people camps run three times throughout the year and a monthly teaching seminar for adults which is both biblically and developmentally based, provide a more structured and focused forum which, while fun and educational, always including the central transforming message of Jesus across the generations.

Stephen and Angelina have links with Waringstown Presbyterian Church and with Newry Presbytery.

Latest report June 2026

Two dusty Land Rovers crawled through the gates at 9:00 pm. They had arrived – twelve students and two leaders from Generation Impact (GI). They had boarded their first bus at GI’s base in the town of Embu sixteen hours ago, yet enthusiasm was still high as they prayed for good sleep and enough energy to begin their work placement. Stephen suggested that ‘work’ the next day should be gentle familiarization. He himself had been driving since 3:00 am, making the round trip to Maralal where he had collected the team from their bus.

In the morning, during their familiarisation ‘tour’ they met me in the middle of painting and decorating a new indoor shower and toilet facility in the lower guest house. The place was a chaotic mess. Hopefully, they will see a cleaner, transformed version before they leave in a month’s time! Their ‘mission exposure trip’ had begun. Teams excited by the challenge of evangelism in remote areas are rarely aware of the more practical challenge of ongoing maintenance when many hours’ drive from the nearest hardware and building supplier. However, the value of young believers connecting with other young people through the power of the Holy Spirit has already been evident.

At Sunday’s church service, one of the GI leaders shared about her desire to see the young people in this area grow deeper in their relationship with Christ. The care she took in preparing and communicating her message became a lesson in itself. The team will formally lead the biweekly Bible teaching programmes in the primary school, the junior academy, and the secondary school while also interacting less formally with all those involved in the SAA programme. There will be much to observe and assist with, including in the garage and workshop where numerous vehicles are in various states of repair or complete rebuild.

With plentiful rain and industrious weeding by the group of ladies working to support their children through education, the grass around the SAA compound is now incredibly healthy. An area of fifteen acres known as Kalulu’s shamba is also covered with healthy sward, the earth bunds having greatly assisted in the spread of vegetation. While attending the monthly teaching seminar, one of the ladies showed a short video, taken on her phone, of how grass seeds originating in Kalulu’s shamba were successfully growing in her home village at the northern end of Mt. Nyiru.

Prayer Points

• Please pray that the students from Generation Impact’s discipleship training school will settle in quickly, will listen carefully, communicate effectively, and will live out their Christian faith in all their daily tasks.
• Pray also for continued energy and enthusiasm for everyone involved in the ongoing witness of creativity and care through the maintenance of vehicles, guest houses, and the environment.