From pews to praise: How youth choirs are breathing life into the Quaker church

Members of the Lang'ata Friends youth choir. [Courtesy] Christianity remains one of the dominant religions in the country, with a significant impact on culture, education and politics. In modern society, the Christian church continues to be an influential force across the nation, shaping social issues, contributing to community development and engaging in political advocacy. This is clear evidence that Christianity in the country has a rich and layered history, stretching back to the mid-19th century when European missionaries first arrived. However, due to the current harsh economic realities, many Christians have found themselves on the receiving end, where their faith has been tried and tested. As a result, many churches have lost congregants who choose to stay away from Sunday services, either because of financial constraints or dissatisfaction with governance. The Friends Church (Quakers), like many other denominations, has not been spared. Members of Maringo Friends Church Youth Choir. [Courtesy] Since its introduction in the country in 1902, the Quaker Church has gradually transitioned from traditional silent worship to a more contemporary style of service, similar to evangelical churches. One thing that has, however, remained constant is the challenge of retaining young people, many of whom drift to other denominations. For decades, church leadership has grappled with ways to engage the younger generation within its structures, often with limited success. A change of tact In 2014, the church, through the Nairobi Yearly Meeting (NYM) Secretariat, introduced a music festival targeting college and university students. According to Joyce Shilavula, Vice Chairperson of the festival committee, this was a strategic move to keep the youth active and involved in church. Lang'ata Friends Church Youth Choir male voices on stage. [Courtesy] "We believed that there is something of God in everybody, and that young people would find meaning and purpose in church through singing," said Shilavula. She added that, initially, only a few church branches participated. "The annual festival was running as a simple programme before it was adopted by the NYM Secretariat, which then went back to the drawing board to design a more effective management approach," she explained. Ms Shilavula noted that the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to their progress, as many young people withdrew from church activities due to strict containment measures. "We picked up again in 2023, and to our surprise, most of the participating choirs were dominated by young people. This is vindicative that good music truly draws more people into the presence of God," she said. A display of some of the trophies during the Nairobi Yearly Meeting Music Festival in August. [Courtesy] Her sentiments were echoed by Ben Keverenge, Patron of the Lang'ata Friends Church youth choir. He noted that while young people across the world have made their voices heard in the streets over issues of poor governance, they are now also making an impact within churches. "Our choir, which marked its first anniversary last week, was created to bring youth closer to God's word - to steer them away from immorality and other vices," Keverenge said. "Through this platform, they express themselves within the framework of God's word. Beyond singing and praising, we also help them build networks that can positively impact their lives in modern society." He added that the choir began at a time when Gen-Zs were protesting against the controversial Finance Bill, which saw many injured, arrested or killed. Maringo Friends Church Youth Choir female voices. [Courtesy] "The church commissioned the choir to provide a safe space where young people could express their concerns without being in danger," he said. "When we began, there was uncertainty about whether we could retain them in church, but we took the risk - finding better ways to ensure their voices are heard even within places of worship." Growth and impact Ms Christine Sabwa, the church's Presiding Clerk, said the Lang'ata youth choir started in 2024 with only 26 members but has since grown to more than 40. According to her, the choir performed exceptionally well during the 2025 NYM Music Festival, which they hosted in August. Umoja Freiends Church youth choir on stage. [Courtesy] "They emerged top in several categories and placed among the top three in others. It's impressive to see how music can work such magic in the church," she said. Recently, the choir also performed as curtain raisers during the Interchurches Music Festival (ICMF), a collaborative event involving multiple denominations. At Ofafa Jericho Maringo, another youth choir with about 24 members was established in 2023 and has continued to dominate top positions within its monthly meeting despite financial challenges. Graffin Mung'asia, Youth President at the church, said the group's vision was to give young people a platform to express themselves. "We wanted to build confidence in our youth. Many have great ideas but fear speaking before large audiences. Through song, we've seen tremendous growth, many are now church leaders in different capacities," he said. Lang'ata Friends Church youth choir female voices on stage. [Courtesy] According to Mung'asia, many young people drift from church when they feel ignored. "We made a commitment to create safe spaces where youth could speak freely. The choir is just one of several platforms where this happens," he added. Beyond music, these choirs also engage in activities that address broader societal issues - including financial mentorship, relationship discussions, mental health awareness and moral guidance. Funding challenges Despite these successes, financial constraints remain a major challenge. Friends International youth choir female voices. [Courtesy] "Many of our members are students who depend on their parents. Even those who are employed have many other responsibilities," said Mung'asia. He added that some church branches have yet to fully embrace youth choirs, which leaves existing teams struggling. "It's unfortunate that when young people unite for a good cause like singing, some leaders perceive it as rebellion and work to disperse them before they grow in influence," he said. Lang'ata, however, has been fortunate to receive support from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), of which the Friends Church Quakers are members. Maringo Friends church youth choir male voices. [Courtesy] NCCK Chairman Rev Dr Elias Agola said that through activities like music, many young people are being empowered and nurtured into future leaders. "Whenever we meet the youth, we remind them that this country belongs to them. By God's design, they might be the ones to lead Kenya longer than we will," he said. He emphasized that NCCK's role is to guide society, including those in government - and to serve as its moral conscience. Some of the youth choirs celebrate after winning trophies. [Courtesy] "We always encourage the young generation to be smart, courageous and ready to take leadership roles. Supporting church music is just one of the many ways we empower and prepare them," said Rev Agola. He added that NCCK is also partnering with churches to provide vocational training in areas such as tailoring and IT. "Our goal is not only to empower but also to employ. As these youths gain skills, they can become self-reliant and even create opportunities for others," he said.

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