Leadership Spotlight: Kennedy Owade

At Leaders Following Christ, we have the honor of partnering with pastors all over the world through the Pastor Circle—an online community for ministry leaders committed to growing in faith and impact together.

This year, our entire team is thrilled to highlight Pastor Kennedy Owade of Ruga Village, Kenya, for our 2025 Leader Spotlight. Kennedy is a powerful example of the kind of God-honoring leadership every follower of Christ can learn from. He approaches ministry in a deeply holistic way—sharing the hope of Christ to transform souls, while also meeting the physical needs of his community through clean water and education. Every part of his work points back to one thing: giving God the glory.

Meet Pastor Kennedy Owade

Pastor Kennedy Ochieng Owade is a humble and dedicated preacher from Ruga Village in Homa Bay County, Kenya. He serves as the lead pastor of Ruga Church and director of Spring of Hope Christian School, where faith and education work hand in hand to bring hope to his community.

Kennedy earned his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from the Kenya School of Preaching in Kisumu and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Christian Arts through The McGarvey College of the Bible.

He and his wife, Vera, are raising their two children, Delvin and Sharon, while serving together through church and community outreach.

Born and raised in Ruga Village, Kennedy now devotes his life to the same community that shaped him—spreading the Gospel, empowering families, and investing in the next generation. Kennedy shared:

Ruga village is a humble rural community where most families depend on small scale farming. Life here is simple but full of community spirit. People look out for each other despite limited resources, and the village is full of people who hunger for God’s word and desire a brighter future for their children. It is this hope that keeps us moving forward each day.

When we asked Kennedy about his decision to become a pastor, he shared:

I chose to become a preacher because God saved my life from a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of many. This incident taught me about the brevity of life and moved me to think about my purpose in this life. At that point, I decided to go and tell every living soul about God and who He is and what He can do. My mission is to preach Christ, serve others, and raise up a generation rooted in faith and knowledge about The Almighty God. I strongly believe in what Jesus said:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15

This command is the foundation of my calling.

Ruga Church Impacting the Community

Ruga Church serves as both a spiritual and practical center for the people of Ruga Village. The church holds regular worship services, Bible studies, youth programs, Sunday school, and door-to-door community evangelism, helping people grow in faith and fellowship.

Through these ministries, the church has witnessed God’s hand at work in powerful ways.

“We have witnessed immense spiritual and numerical growth of the church—new believers being baptized, families strengthened, and lives transformed,” Kennedy shared. “We have witnessed God’s providential care and faithfulness.”

As it often does, this growth has come with challenges. The church continues to face limited resources for evangelism, poverty that affects both spiritual and physical needs, and distance and transportation barriers that make outreach difficult. There is also an ongoing need for stronger facilities for worship and teaching. Yet, as Kennedy says,

“Every challenge has strengthened our faith.”

Some of the clearest examples of God’s faithfulness came when God made it possible for the church to meet some of the community’s most urgent needs—clean water and education.

Clean Water for Ruga Village

For decades, Ruga Village has suffered from a lack of clean and safe water. Families in the community have lost loved ones to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and others. Many people had to walk nearly six miles each day in search of clean water or resort to using unsafe water from nearby seasonal rivers and ponds.

Ruga Church, being in a central location and accessible to surrounding villages, was identified by Hope Water Africa, an organization dedicated to providing free, clean, and safe water to underserved communities. Through this partnership, the church received a free borehole—a powerful demonstration of God’s faithfulness and provision for the people of Ruga Village.

Education for the Next Generation

Ruga Village is one of five remote villages in the region without a public primary school nearby. Despite Kenya’s constitutional promise that “every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education,” the government never established a school in these minority communities.

For generations, children in Ruga Village suffered because of this gap. Many had to walk more than six miles each way to attend the nearest school. The long journey led to exhaustion, high dropout rates, and low performance in class. Some children stayed home simply because their parents couldn’t afford transportation.

Kennedy described the turning point this way:

“God placed a burden in my heart: If I preach Christ but children cannot read the Bible or build a better life, my ministry is incomplete.”

That conviction led to the birth of Spring of Hope Christian School—a ministry designed to give children in Ruga and neighboring villages quality education, a solid Christian foundation, and a chance to break the cycle of poverty.

What began as a small act of faith has become a place where students learn, families find hope, and an entire community begins to dream again.

The impact has been remarkable. Children are no longer walking long distances to find an education. They now have access to reliable, quality, and Christ-centered learning close to home. Dropout rates have fallen to almost none, and confidence has been restored in the community as families begin to hope again for a better tomorrow.

As Kennedy shares,

“We see God shaping future leaders, teachers, and evangelists right here.”

The school has also brought transformation to families. The burden of transportation has been lifted for parents who once couldn’t afford it, and every household—rich or poor—now has the opportunity to educate their children. Spring of Hope has even created jobs for local families, employing teachers and support staff from within the community.

Looking Ahead for Spring of Hope Christian School

Today, Spring of Hope Christian School continues to grow. The school is currently operating from a rented property about a mile from Ruga Church, but Kennedy is now working on phase two—relocating the school to the church’s property so that the two ministries can serve the community side by side.

He is in the process of building temporary classrooms for lower primary students and equipping them with learning materials and furniture in preparation for the next school year in 2026. This step marks the beginning of a much larger vision for the future.

Kennedy’s long-term dream is to build a multi-story facility that houses both the church and the school under one roof, creating a shared space for worship, learning, and community life. He also hopes to purchase a van that will serve both ministries, helping students and families access education and church programs more easily.

To make this vision a reality, the ministry is praying for funds to:

• Fence the property and install a permanent gate
• Build three classrooms, a kitchen, and an office
• Purchase desks, chairs, and office equipment
• Provide course books and learning supplies for the students

Each new step forward is a testimony of God’s continued faithfulness—and a reminder that this ministry is not just educating children, but shaping the next generation of Christian leaders for Ruga Village and beyond.

God’s Faithfulness on Display

Of all the ways God has provided for Ruga Church, one story continues to remind Pastor Kennedy that God’s timing is perfect and His faithfulness never fails.

It was on September 17th, 2024, when my good and big brother Chaplain Tom O’Connor sent me this email that marked the beginning of a big turning point in my life, my family, the church, and the school. Here is the email “Working on something now, will share with you Friday, let’s meet at 9:30am.” The conversation we had with my brother Tom was not our normal conversation, but one that would let me know that God had answered our prayers.

My brother told me that his close and good friend had gifted us a financial blessing of $3,750 – $3,000 for our church building project and $750 to set up a family business. This happened at a time when our country was experiencing a prolonged rainy season, and our church was meeting in the open air. For quite a good number of time, my house became the meeting place for our church. The church building was our major prayer point day and night.

Something was strange in this instance that showed me the providential work of God. The donor shared with me the two criteria he used in sharing his financial blessing for answering someone’s prayers. They were:
“1- I wanted it to be a brother or sister in Christ that I didn’t know.
2- I wanted any funds to be used to bring people to Christ.”
He further said, “I know you have been praying for this. I repeat- your gift is an answer to your prayers, not from me.” This showed me clearly that God came through in a powerful way to answer our prayers and to provide for our needs.

Mentorship and Ministry Support

As Kennedy’s ministry has grown, so has his connection to the global community of pastors walking alongside him. Through Leaders Following Christ’s Pastor Circle, he’s found encouragement, mentorship, and friendship that continue to strengthen both his leadership and his faith.

Kennedy first discovered the Pastor Circle after watching a podcast, Hello Church, where the hosts invited pastors to join a community built for fostering growth in ministry leaders’ churches, families, and personal lives. Drawn by the vision, Kennedy joined—and quickly found a place where he could learn, be supported, and pour back into others.

“The Pastor Circle has been a source of spiritual and practical blessings to me and my ministry,” Kennedy shared. “Through pastoral support meetings, I’ve received great counseling and guidance for ministry. Pastor Circle has shaped my understanding of what leadership truly is.”

Two of those relationships in particular—Chaplain Tom O’Connor and Pastor Matt Lundy—have become pillars of support in Kennedy’s life and ministry.

Kennedy describes his relationship with Chaplain Tom O’Connor in a powerful sentiment:

Meeting Chaplain Tom O’Connor is the best thing that ever happened to me. A true
servant of the Most High, a man with a golden heart, full of love and compassion. A true
definition of a sweet soul, a great mentor, and a father figure in my life. I met Chaplain
Tom Connor in the year 2021, when I joined Kenya School of Preaching to train as a
preacher. This was the worst year of my life. My faith in God was tested, my endurance,
my marriage was on the verge of breaking, and life was generally hell for me. I thought of
giving up in everything, but God sent Tom O’Connor as my guardian angel. We have come a
long way, and we have formed a platonic relationship. Brother Tom has done everything
possible to support my family and my ministry, praying for me, encouraging me,
attending to all my financial needs whenever he can, and going to an extent of inviting
his close friends to support my family and the ministries I run. He is an amazing person,
God bless him.

Another vital friendship has been with Pastor Matt Lundy. Together they’ve shared prayer, laughter, and countless reminders of God’s faithfulness.

Pastor Matt Lundy is the pillar that holds my ministry. The Bible says in James 5:16, “So
then, confess your sin to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be
healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.” Pastor Matt Lundy has been
that good person in my life who has always prayed for me, my family, and my ministries.
A very trusted prayer partner whom we have borne witness to how powerful the Lord
has answered our prayers. Matt always assured me of God’s faithfulness and His
steadfast love to people who are obedient to Him. In all my pastoral support meetings
with him, Pastor Matt has always kept me laughing, one thing that I admire and love
about him. May God bless him.

We’re honored that these relationships—and the community found through the Pastor Circle—have played a role in sustaining Kennedy’s ministry as the Lord works through him, the church, and the school. What began as a connection online has grown into a network of prayer, accountability, and friendship that continues to bear fruit in Ruga Village and beyond.

Reflections on Leadership and Faith

As Pastor Kennedy looks back on the journey God has led him through—from pastoring Ruga Church to launching Spring of Hope Christian School—he continues to see ministry as a sacred trust rather than a personal achievement.

“God has been teaching me lately that leadership is service, not position,” Kennedy shared. “Leadership is responsibility and accountability. It’s integrity and character. True leadership means serving others and trusting God’s timing rather than my own strength.”

He’s also learning to rest in the truth that the ministry ultimately belongs to God.

“God has been teaching me that ministry is His, not mine. He cares and provides for His ministry. He’s teaching me to trust Him beyond what I can see.”

Two verses have especially shaped Kennedy’s approach to leadership and given him strength to keep going:

“And I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

“Jesus looked straight at them and said, ‘This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible.’” — Matthew 19:26

For Kennedy, these promises are more than encouragement—they are a reminder that every step of ministry, every answered prayer, and every challenge along the way is held in the hands of a faithful God.

Join Us in Making a Difference

As Pastor Kennedy continues serving faithfully in Ruga Village, he does so with humility, gratitude, and unwavering faith that God will finish the good work He began. His story is more than a testimony of one man’s calling—it’s a picture of what God can do when leaders follow Christ together.

Kennedy shared it best:

“I would love for you to be a part of what God is doing through our ministry. Partnering with us is an opportunity to change lives for eternity. I invite you to explore this opportunity, pray about where you might fit in, and discover the joy of serving the Lord. Come, let’s make a difference together.”

Support Ruga Church

Leaders Following Christ is honored to provide a grant to Spring of Hope Christian School in 2025 to support the building, feeding, securing, and resourcing of the school. God is continuing to work through this ministry, and you can directly support Ruga Church and Spring of Hope Christian School to be a part of it. Every gift helps fund classrooms, educational resources, and outreach projects that share Christ’s love in tangible ways.

Find Support Through the Pastor Circle

At Leaders Following Christ, we believe that healthy pastors lead healthy churches. The Pastor Circle exists to provide pastors with free, confidential, one-on-one support and a community of peers who understand the unique challenges of ministry.

If you’re a pastor seeking encouragement, guidance, or simply someone to walk with you through ministry life, we invite you to join us.