In March 2018 CBC welcomed a new associate pastor, Steven Shitemi, or as he prefers to be called, Pastor Shtem. Here's a little more information about our new staff member!
The Shitemi Family
Pastor Shtem, his wife Elizabeth, and their daughter Niara
How did you come by the name Shtem?
I wanted my own identity apart from my father's name and the rest of my eight siblings, so I know if someone says Shtem they are talking about me and not the rest of the clan.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. I was born and bred in the city. I like the city a lot, unlike my wife who doesn't care for city living.
How many siblings do you have?
Four brothers and four sisters, and they are all older than me.
How did you come to be a pastor?
From when I was young I knew I would end up in ministry but I didn't know when and how. My dad was both an engineer and a pastor so I grew up thinking I would be the same way. A tentmaker and a pastor. I felt God was asking me to go into full time ministry in 2008 or 2009 when I had an opportunity to join an airline and do flight training with them, but the December before that happened I felt God was asking me to lay that dream on the altar. I knew I wasn't going to get it back, and it was hard for me to let it go. The following year I decided to join Bible school and that's when the journey started!
How did you meet Elizabeth?
I was running, preparing for the Liberian marathon, when I had a vision of Elizabeth being my wife. At that time we were friends, but not that kind of friend. I couldn't make sense of it. So I decided to go for her friend and that didn't work out. I was heading for another country for awhile, but I had promised her I would call her on her birthday four months away. And I did, and she was surprised. We continued talking, even though often we missed each other because of bad internet connections. One day while she was in rural Liberia she asked God for clarity about the friendship, by saying that if when she went online that day and I was online, it would be a sign. I was online, and from that day forward the internet worked for us. Elizabeth was evacuated from Liberia due to Ebola, came to Kenya, and a few months later we got engaged.
What are you looking forward to about working with CBC?
I'm looking forward to developing relationships with the youth and their parents. I'm glad that I already have a wonderful base of volunteers and look forward to growing that and allowing them to dream with me about ministry in CBC with the youth and beyond.