Oasis Africa is a Christian counseling organization founded by Dr. Gladys Mwiti in 1990, in Nairobi, Kenya.  Dr. Gladys and her husband Dr. Gershon Mwiti both received their doctorates at Fuller Seminary in 2004.  Gladys has a doctorate in clinical psychology and Gershon has his in intercultural studies with an emphasis on leadership.

Gladys and Gershon have visited the island several times, preaching in our churches, teaching in Stephen Ministry settings and adult Sunday school classes.  They also have spoken to the high school Devo group.  The financial and prayer support of San Juan Island was instrumental in helping them return to Kenya and re-engage with their on going ministries.  The work of Oasis is four fold:  1) Christian counseling on site in their offices, 2) Training graduate students, pastors and lay leaders to deal with trauma, abuse, HIVaids, vulnerable children and the myriad issues of poverty at the Oasis Africa Training Center, 3) Supporting grass roots projects like St. John’s Academy, an elementary school with 780 students, in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, and 4) Their writings.  Between the two Mwitis they have written five books on counseling and leadership.  Several have been translated into various African languages besides English.

Currently Oasis, with a grant from the Ford Foundation, is offering counseling classes to high school teachers in Nairobi help with the increased violence witnessed in schools following the contested presidential election in 2007.  On Nov. 9th Dr. Gladys and her team, sponsored by Geneva Global, Inc, will travel to Burundi to assist pastors and churches deal with the trauma associated with survivors of the past civil in that country.

Dr. Gershon Mwiti is currently involved with a leadership, self help program with the rural poor in his home district of Meru, north of Nairobi.  Income generation, clean water, reforestation, and effective farming, are just a few of the aspects of Gershon’s holistic approach to the problems of the rural poor.  Following his loss in an election to Parliament in that district Gershon feels called to stay and bring his professional expertise and experience to these his brothers and sisters and help them out of their hopeless despair.   

The Mwitis have many friends and supporters on San Juan Island including CTK who contributes ach month for their ongoing efforts.  Scholarships to their training center have been provided to CTK Nairobi small group leaders and we are seeing the remarkable results this training has brought about for Pastor Austin and his small group leaders.  Brother Dennis Onyango, a CTK small group leader who received Oasis training now has ongoing counseling groups in the Mathare slum area where he serves.  The networking between Oasis Africa and CTK Nairobi has been beautiful to watch.


Update from Gladys and Gershon

For more information about Oasis Africa, click here.