Adams Mutonga first met The Navigators in 1982 during a Coffee House fellowship at Kenyatta University. He joined a small group — with Jean Kiviu, Mary Mbati, and others — to reflect on the message that day. He shared excitedly that just a week earlier he had renewed his relationship with the Lord and was seeking help to grow. He was introduced to Les Johnstone, an American missionary trainee, who began meeting with him for Bible study and personal sessions. After a year, when Les left Kenya, Adams was connected with Mutua Mahiaini.
Sarah’s path to the Navigators began while she was working as an untrained teacher near a camp in 1982, where she met Mvula Mvula, a Navigator from Malawi studying at Scott Theological College. He encouraged her: if she joined Kenyatta University and connected with the Navigators, she could be discipled and equipped to help others.
As soon as Sarah joined Kenyatta University, she sought out the Navigators and became part of a Bible study group with the late Grace Wambua and Lucy Kabugu, led by Mbithe Mutiso. Her greatest joy was learning how to share the Gospel — and the overwhelming feeling when someone came to faith.
After Mbithe graduated, Sarah and Becky Asiachi were mentored by Mary Mbati, who was being trained by Esther Waruiru. Thereafter, Stephanie Mahiaini became Sarah’s main trainer. By her second year, Sarah was already leading a Bible study, replicating all she had learned with Lucy Kiviu — including visiting Lucy’s room at 5:30 a.m. once a week. By Sarah’s third year, Lucy was discipling other students. By the time Sarah graduated, she had witnessed a generation rising.
A Vision Born in Courtship
During their courtship, Adams and Sarah dreamed together of starting a Navigator ministry in Machakos once they married. They both applied to schools in the Machakos area. To their surprise, Sarah was posted to the exact school where Adams was already teaching. They married in 1987.
The Nav leadership visited them in Garissa where Adams was teaching at one point, bringing a team to boost evangelism efforts and inspire Bible study groups — a personal touch that deeply encouraged them.
From the Classroom to Full-Time Ministry
After years of teaching — building vibrant ministries in every school they served, equipping students and encouraging them to share the Gospel — the Navigators leadership invited the Mutongas to join staff as Gift Income persons. They asked for three years to establish their school first. They left when enrolment had grown from 35 to 225 students and there were enough teachers to meet the need.
In 1994, Adams and Sarah left their teaching jobs and moved to Machakos to start the Navigators ministry. The transition came with significant challenges. A secondhand clothing business launched with an EPTF loan to boost fundraising proved too demanding on their time, and they closed it — only to receive an unexpected gift that helped clear most of the debt within the month.
Machakos and Beyond
They developed a ten-year plan. By year eight, they had exceeded their goals and found themselves praying about the next assignment. Chris Amulo, whom they had trained, was ready to lead.
In 2004, the Navigators Africa Director invited them to serve in Tanzania. They moved to Morogoro in 2005 and served for 17 years — part of which they led the Tanzania work. After returning to Kenya, leadership was taken over by Robert Mrawa, a Tanzanian national who had been discipled in Kenya by Victor Kilwake from the Machakos ministry while studying there — a clear sign of multiplication across generations.
Adams and Sarah now serve as alongsiders, supporting and encouraging DMLT and STEM trainers across the region.