Mark Tarus

When Mark Tarus works with those who are struggling with alcoholism in the ELI Kenya Anti-Alcoholism (KAA) ministry, he is reminded of the sacrifices of time and energy others made to help him leave the addiction he once had with alcoholism. His heart is now filled with joy in Christ. Mark states, “Isaiah 1:18 reminds me that even when my sins were terrible, God was ready to forgive me.” Mark was born in Ilula, about a mile from the training center, and he attended the local school where he excelled as a student. After high school, Mark was accepted into Kenyatta University where he attained a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy in 1998. This is also where he began to drink. His desire was to be a teacher, but because of corruption in the school system, he did not get the correct course of study. This resulted in his not receiving a teaching certificate which created great frustration. He returned to Ilula in 1999 to teach history at a private high school, but he was encouraged to resign after one year because he was becoming an alcoholic.

In 2000, Mark sank deeper into alcoholism because he could not find a job in the public schools without a teaching certificate. He thought that alcohol could help reduce his stress. On the contrary, he says, “I was developing the disease of alcoholism, but I didn’t know how to stop. I also saw that drinking alcohol causes terrible things to happen. My brother killed his own child, and nobody knows what happened because he was so drunk at the time. This haunted me.” Finally, on December 8, 2000, Mark decided that he would completely leave alcohol. He knew he needed help, but he didn’t know where to go or how to start. Also in December, he married Beatrice and began to attend church with her. Through her encouragement and being introduced to KAA, Mark accepted Jesus into his heart. After a year of being a Christian, he made a decision to be baptized in order to show himself, others and the Lord the seriousness of the commitment he had made. He was baptized in May, 2002. It was also during this time that Pastor Rono began to mentor Mark, encouraging Mark to travel with him to share his testimony with others who were struggling with alcohol. At the same time, ELI Director Samuel Teimuge challenged him to be responsible to his family, and he began to vigorously work around his home to support his family.

In 2003 he began to pray that God would open a job for him that could keep him close to his home and would strengthen him in his faith. In March, he became an employee of ELI-Kenya and is a blessing to the ministry. He works with Pastor Rono during trainings for KAA members, travels to various villages to encourage people to leave alcohol and counsels them, and leads the KAA group in Ilula. During the days he is not working with KAA, he is maintaining the grounds and helping around the Ilula Training Center. Mark says, “My passion is to see people who were once drunk give me time to talk with them, and then to see the change after they see what Christ can offer them. I find joy as I see someone change when I share about how Jesus can change a person because I have first-hand experience of that change within my heart.”