Inaugural Machakos Run for the Bibleless

Story by Cornel Aora

The sun had just risen over the gentle hills of Machakos when I arrived, a heart full of hope and a message burning quietly within. I didn’t come with riches or with fame; I came with a vision, simple and sacred: to bring the Word of God to those who have never held it in their own language.

Machakos, oh dear Machakos, I knocked on your door, unsure of the response I’d receive. But what I found… was grace.

You welcomed me like an old friend. One door opened, then another. I spoke, and your children listened. I shared the dream to run not just for health, but for heaven’s cause, to put Bibles in the hands of those who’ve waited for generations, and you embraced it.

I had expected hesitation.

Instead, I found hospitality.

I had prepared for silence.

Instead, I was met with songs.

And so in the quiet of the evening, as I prepared to leave for Nairobi with the promise of returning the following day, these words began to stir in my soul:

Oh Machakos, land of grace,

You’ve clothed my feet with strength to race,

Your hills have heard the Word we bear,

Your hearts have shown how much you care.

You opened doors with gentle hands,

You listened, loved, and took a stand,

For those without a Bible still,

You said, “We’ll run, we’ll climb the hill.”

May blessings fall like morning dew,

And may His light keep guiding you.

For every step we take this year,

It is one that draws the lost more near.

Tomorrow, and the many days to come, I return, not to visit, but to run alongside you. To remind each heart that our feet can carry more than our bodies. They carry hope. They carry the Word. They can carry love.

Machakos, we are warming up. Not just our legs, but our spirits. The Run For The Bibleless is more than a race; it’s a movement. A prayer in motion. A step toward eternity for someone, somewhere in Kenya and East Africa, where BTL’s mandate rests.

Let’s run. For the Bibleless. For the Kingdom. For the glory of God.

The inaugural Machakos Run for the Bibleless is a significant milestone and a new chapter in our mission to bring God’s Word to every language group in their own tongue. We are expanding into new areas, mobilizing the Machakos community and its surrounding regions to unite in the life-transforming mission of Bible translation. 

Pray with us as we plant the vision of reaching the Bibleless in Machakos. We invite individuals, families, churches, organizations, schools, and community groups to take part in this initiative. Together, we can ensure that no people group remains without access to Scripture. 

For more details, kindly refer to the poster below.