Introduction / History

Samburus live in central Kenya. They have their own language by the same name.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like the related Maasai, many Samburu are nomadic cattle herders. They do not fish or grow crops. Five to ten families move together to new pasturelands every five weeks. Pastors regularly visit city and village families, but maintaining contact with nomads is difficult. Those believers have few Christians for fellowship when they move so much.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Kenya's Samburu speakers resisted acceptance of the Gospel for 50 years. Yet God opened their hearts, and many now follow Christ. Pastors preach from the available Maasai translation to the Samburu and a neighboring group, the Ilchamus, but they struggle to communicate Scripture concepts effectively. Language is a significant hurdle, though the groups are related. Some Maasai words are derogatory or vulgar in Samburu.

What Are Their Needs?

In a 2004 meeting, about 11 Samburu church leaders from various denominations shared a story: "The Samburu once had a 'book.' But a cow ate their 'book.' And the only way to get the 'book' back is through the cow." Church leaders then promised to donate a cow to each to help fund translation work. Samburus still need a complete Bible. There are many stories in the Old Testament about other cattle herding groups, some of them are fathers and mothers in the faith.

Prayer Items

Pray for a complete and accurate Bible for the Samburus.
Pray for them to put Bible stories to music and skits and share them with hundreds of villages.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to visit every Samburu church and family, drawing them into a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray for many to become Christ’s ambassadors to other nomadic tribes.

Scripture Prayers for the Samburu in Kenya.

References

Anonymous.