Hundreds of Christian Faithfuls gathered for the retirement service of the Rt. Rev. Charles Mwendwa Ndiga- as Bishop of the ACK Diocese of Meru. The service was presided over by His Grace the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit in Meru Town on the 7th of February, 2021. Bishop Mwendwa is also the Current Provincial Dean, a role he has held since 2019 upon confirmation by the Provincial Synod. He took over as Bishop of Meru in 2002 from the Rt. Rev. Henry Paltridge, becoming the Diocese’s 2nd Bishop. He was consecrated and enthroned as Bishop on the 25th December 2002. The service was attended by atleast 11 Bishops from across the country, a team from the Provincial Office led by the Provincial secretary, clergy, representatives from other Dioceses among other Guests.
His work in ministry begun in 1980 when he worked as a Community Health Worker (CHW) at Kariribu Parish of the former Diocese of Mount Kenya East. He would later on in 1985 enroll for theological training at the St. Andrew’s College of Theology and Development. He was made Deacon in the same year and Priested a year later by the Then Bishop of Mt. Kenya East, Rt. Rev. David Gitari. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree from the Kenya Methodist University.
His dedicated ministry has seen the Diocese grow tremendously from the initial 24 Parishes to the current 60. The number of Christians in the Diocese has also grown, as has the number of Departments within the Dioceses. He has also increased the Diocese’s investment in education Programs, targeting both the Clergy and Community at Large.
The Archbishop commended the outgoing Bishop for his service to the Church. He also called for unity as the Search for the next Bishop kicks off. He appointed Ven Nathan Maringa Ruibi as his Commissary in the Diocese. Bishop Mwendwa expressed gratitude to the Clergy and Christians in the Diocese for the unwavering support they had given him to enable the Diocese to achieve the successes seen to date. “The Journey might have been long, but thank you for allowing God to use you in expanding his kingdom,” he added. His term will officially end on the 25th of February, 2021.
