Meeting Captain Soti: Leadership Under Pressure in Kisumu

By Cornelius (IMM)

“Dr. Huwa, let us manage you in this Kisumu mission.”

Those were the exact words from Captain Joel Soti, then Kenya Missions Director. Now, let me remind you—he was speaking to the International Missions Manager (and therefore his immediate supervisor in the missions hierarchy). 😂😂

If you don’t know Captain Joel Soti, let me try to describe him. He is a man fully sold out to the preaching of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. His passion for the Gospel is so intense that he’ll chase you out of the pulpit if you’re preaching anything less. The zeal and sense of urgency he carries is simply out of this world.

The Kisumu Mission Begins

We arrived in Kisumu on a Thursday morning. The Central Mission Zone had also become the administrative hub of the mission, based at ACK Shaulimoyo Parish. We were warmly welcomed by the team, led by none other than Captain Soti himself.

Now, just to give you some context: the day we arrived, Kisumu—like several other major cities in Kenya—was bracing for a major demonstration. It was the height of the Gen Z revolution in the country. And yet, this very day was also when Captain Soti and his team were set to receive evangelists from across Kenya and beyond.

The pressure on him as Head of Missions? Immense. The demonstrations only made things more complicated. Honestly, I felt for the man. How do you handle that level of stress and still give your best in hospitality?

A Captain in the Storm

I knew the Kenya office had previously organized some of the largest missions in the African Enterprise (AE) partnership. They’ve got history. They’ve got experience. But this year’s mission was different. The budget was tight, and political tensions were high.

It reminded me of Nehemiah—building amidst conflict. Not easy. But God knows how to pick His captains. Like Nehemiah, Captain Soti had his eyes fixed on the work to be done and the Master to be glorified.

He acknowledged the challenges, but he refused to be paralyzed by them. His goal was clear: deliver the Gospel to a city in desperate need. Full stop. Nothing was going to stop this man or his team.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Did I see Captain Soti tensed up? Yes.
Did I see doubt in his eyes? Not even once.

Ever smiling. Ever encouraging. Arms wide open. And full of humour, even under pressure. What a man!

Managing a Citywide Mission

Coordinating 11 zones in one mission is no small task. Now add African Enterprise’s stratified evangelism approach to the mix. Every single day, more than a dozen events are running independently—each one big enough to be a major project on its own.

Prison ministry happens at the same time as:

School evangelism
Door-to-door outreach
Workplace ministry
Leadership engagements
Sports evangelism
Film outreach…

All of it. At once. For 10 straight days.

This is exactly why African Enterprise partners with the Church. The task is too massive for any one organization. Thousands of evangelists, pastors, church leaders, volunteers, and ministry supporters are involved every year.

It also takes top-tier administration skills to navigate the complexity of coordinating all those moving pieces. And I saw it done with grace, humility, and fire in Kisumu.

Final Thoughts

The Kisumu mission is forever engraved in my memory. It reminded me that when people are zealous to carry out God’s commands, He shows up. Every single time.

Big thumbs up to Team Kenya👏🏽👏🏽

Until next time!

—Cornelius (IMM)