Meet John Mirara, Kenyan Missionary

On my very first trip to Kenya twenty three years ago, I met John Mirara. John was a school teacher in those days.  We only talked a for a few minutes together, but I still remember our conversation.  John told me that he had received a vision from the Lord.  He had seen a map of the world, and on the map was the name "Gujarat".  He felt that he was called to become a missionary to that place.




Two years later, I was in Gujarat, India, and who do you think I met?  John left everything in Kenya, and came to Gujarat, India.  He ended up spending nine years in India.  He has many remarkable stories to tell about his days in India.  He witnessed many miracles taking place and many Hindus turning to Christ.  He learned to speak Hindi, started a church, and helped organize a large crusade that was attended by hundreds of thousands of people.

Now John is back in Kenya, where he is pastor of a church in Nakuru.  He is part of the the ministry of Happy Church, led by Bishop Joseph Kamau, a longtime friend of our family. He has a correspondence bible school that he has used to train hundreds of students.

There are many Kenyans who have gone on ministry trips, but there are not so many that have really lived the life of a missionary in the way that John has.  John really left everything, and risked everything in order to obey God in a difficult place.   Because of this, I have a high respect for him and the road he has walked.


I believe that spiritual authority is closely connected to the price that someone pays as they serve the Lord.   Jesus paid the highest price, and He has the highest authority.  As we take up our cross and follow Him, we begin to walk in His authority.  The biblical apostles left everything, risked everything, and gave everything.  As they took up their cross and followed Jesus, they walked in tremendous spiritual authority that shook nations.  They testified of Christ, and sealed their testimony with their own blood, proving that they loved Jesus more than their own life.  These were the true sons of God, led by the Spirit of God.

If we follow Jesus, much blessing comes upon our lives.  But if we are going to completely walk out our calling, it will cost us everything, just as it did the Apostles.  I highly respect men who risk everything, leave everything, and give everything.  I think that John is a man who has set a good example in these things.  

John is a member of the board of Ukunda Mission School.  Because he was a missionary, he is able to give wise counsel regarding the training of missionaries.  I believe he also has something important to teach the students.  Also, John has a correspondence bible school.  Ukunda Mission School will work together with this correspondence bible school.  Some things can better be taught by correspondence, while other things are better taught face to face, in a full time bible school.