Bishop Paul Korir
Doctor of Ministry, Asbury Theological Seminary, 2017.
Last updated: September 8, 2023
Bishop Paul Korir grew up often going to bed hungry and not having shoes until he was 16. His local church blessed him to attend high school by raising his school fees. He found Christ when he was 20 years old, then God placed a heavy burden on his heart to reach the lost for Christ. He joined mission teams to share Christ’s love. “I grew up in a very humble environment, but God raised me from grass to grace, and that’s why I am so passionate about His work and the ministry to His church!” he says.
On May 7, 2016, Bishop Paul was elected as the First Bishop of the Anglican diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2017. Prior to his election as Bishop, he served as an ordained priest from 1994, doing evangelism, church planting, and leadership development and discipleship during the early years of his ministry.
As a Bishop, he sees himself in the faces of the poor, less fortunate, and those in the minority. He shares the hope of Christ with youth who are at risk due to poverty, political manipulation, corruption, and Islamic influences. In Kenya, the unemployed youth, often from poor families, can be easily manipulated by politicians as tools to further their own ends. These youth are often coerced into a life of crime for monetary gain.
Bishop Paul and the diocese engage the youth through sporting events, youth rallies, conferences, and symposiums throughout the diocese to provide talent development, entertainment, education, and economic empowerment. “We shall equip the youth with knowledge and capacity through series of sessions on the meaning of democracy,” says Bishop Paul. “We shall empower the youth to engage in issue-based politics and shun tribalism and politics of hatred and bitterness.”
As the Islamic religion is growing, they also facilitate Christian forums, chaplaincy programs and campus ministries to equip the Christian youth in schools, colleges and universities to withstand the pressures of secularism and pluralism. “Our Gospel ministry and education will transform the lives and accelerate the change of attitude for many Kenyans,” Bishop Paul says. His theme for his episcopacy is “Leading a Legacy: Building a Missional Church.” Through networking and partnership, Bishop Paul seeks to raise a godly generation, enabling mission trips and ministries. “I want to serve as the voice of the voiceless and play a prophetic role at the local level but remain cognizant of the global reality in matters of faith,” he says.
Bishop Paul describes himself as a team player who sees ministry post-covid as being all about people, relationships, and synergy. He says, “To serve as Bishop for me is an extraordinary privilege… I see myself leading an empowered Church that responds actively, holistically, and prophetically to the 21st century challenges that hinder the growth of the Church.”
In spite of these challenges and obstacles, Bishop Paul is confident in the work of the Lord in Kenya. “The future of the Church is secured because of Christ, the foundation and cornerstone of His church.”
Bishop Paul and his wife, Selline, have two sons, Emmanuel and Samuel.
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