Twelve years ago, Josephine Muinde of Nairobi was baptized. Several years after that, the father of her son died. Economically challenged and being a single parent, Josephine’s first few years in the kingdom were a time of considerable instability.

Just two years ago Josephine appeared in the newsletter of HOPE worldwide Kenya (HWWK) in an article called "A Mother’s Joy" that highlighted how she had needed support just to get by and to provide for her son. God came through for her in a big way and she got a job with HWWK at an extremely desperate moment in her life.

Today, the picture is so different for Josephine "thanks … to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him" (2 Corinthians 2:14). She is now a key staff member of HWWK’s administration team. Moreover, she recently went steady with Benson Kyama, a strong, exemplary disciple who has pioneered church plantings in Arusha and Bujumbura.

Above all, Josephine’s son, fourteen-year-old Mandela Kyalo, was baptized into Christ last month. What a multiplication of blessings!

Mandela Kyalo’s baptism came on the same weekend as a huge celebrity music concert in London in honour of Nelson Mandela, his hero, after whom he is named. And just as Nelson Mandela was a great freedom fighter, Josephine’s Mandela has been finally set free from the bondage of sin. There may not have been a celebrity concert to celebrate the baptism, but surely the angels in heaven threw a party. Brothers and sisters from the East Ministries of the Nairobi Christian Church certainly did!

And just as Nelson Mandela was released on 11 February 1990 to unconditional freedom, Josephine’s Mandela was baptized on Sunday 29 June 2008 into unconditional forgiveness. Jesus has paid his debt in full and he is enjoying the freedom of living as a child of God.

Clearly God isn’t kidding when he says that he has a special love and concern for widows and orphans, as he has demonstrated so powerfully in Josephine and Mandela. Josephine, full of joy and gratitude says, "It was indeed a glorious moment seeing Mandela getting baptized. I just can’t describe how I felt. I really thank God for giving me an awesome kid who has a very gentle and quiet spirit. He was so happy to finally go down.

"I'm so grateful to God for everything He has done for us. Who are we to be blessed so much? I'm really humbled. God is always faithful and He will deliver us when we desperately call upon his holy name and believe in his mighty power.

"I know God has good plans for each one of us. But we all have to play our role. As parents, I cannot overemphasize the importance of prayer for our children as well as godly teaching and daily training for them to know and follow God. It's not easy but it's very possible when we see it and claim it. I did just that and God changed Mandela.

"God is awesome and I'm so grateful for what he has done for us. Blessed be His name."