Monday, January 18
Where Did We Go?
Athi River Ministry
Athi was a beehive of activity today with four full day ministries kicking off as well as four satellite school program presentations.
- Our medical team partnered with local doctors to see and treat 300 people.
- The Women’s seminar ministered to nearly 60 women about the power of forgiveness in all your relationships and a gospel presentation.
- The Pastoral Development seminar was kicked off by Pastor Dave Gibson who spoke to a group of 113– 30 more than anticipated!
- Door to Door hit the neighborhoods of Athi knocking on doors and sharing the truth and love of God to all who would listen. They saw 125 new decisions to Christ.
- Four school program presentations to more than 1000 kids were performed by our Children’s and Music teams.
- George Kenworthy delivered an excellent message at our evening crusade which saw 50+ dedicate their lives for Christ.
Huduma Ministry
The carpentry team hit the ground running today working with Dr. David Kitonga’s carpentry school in Huduma. Grace church is partnering with Huduma to provide new power tools such as a multi-purpose saw, joiner, planer, etc. The rest of the week will be focused on developing them both in their spiritual lives and their professional skills as our team works with the students.
Highlighted Ministry:
School Programs
Today the Children’s and Music teams presented to four primary and secondary schools in the Athi River area. The programs included high energy, responsive songs, clowns, dramas with a football sized mascot called the “Word Bird”, Dustin Kelm’s unicycle performance and the presentation of the gospel. The presentations are a lot of hard work to do in the hot African sun but the team is highly energized and loves spending one on one time after the presentations to engage directly with the kids. Dara Mann reflected today that , “The team is absolutely on a high right now. You can’t stop them.” The energy and spirit of our team is truly contagious. Every child that they interact with is blessed, as are they. The Holy Spirit is moving mightily in Nairobi.
Bega Kwa Bega (Shoulder to Shoulder)
“I had a fourth grader and seventh grader come up to me and say, “Come, come and lead these kids to Christ.” I went with them and one by one they introduced me to their friends. They served as my interpreter as I shared the gospel with them and was able to lead each to Christ. It blew me away to have children serve as interpreters.”
~Laura Thompson, Children’s Team
God At Work Through Us: Team Testimonials
At Athi River, Caryl Hayward observed that the Grace Clinic had many people sitting around waiting for medical care and determined that this would be a wonderful place to witness. He asked a woman named Tinah to translate for him. He gathered together groups of 6 – 8 people for the purpose of presenting the Evangecube while they were waiting. This process was repeated over and over again; typically seeing 1 to 2 people accepting Christ each time a presentation was made. During one hour 7 people came to Christ. Caryl stated, “these were people not on our radar screen in terms of coming to church or a crusade, but the Lord worked in such a way as to “get us to the people whose hearts He had already prepared, even if it was not on our planned agenda.”
Isaiah 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
Jon Koss was out witnessing alone with his First Baptist Church interpreter. He had on a pair of good sunglasses when four men cornered him and told him sarcastically that God wanted him to give them his sunglasses. Jon’s translator was a woman, so he faced these four men more or less on his own. He firmly told the men that he was not going to hand over the glasses, and God protected him as he walked away untouched from the men.
2 Samuel 22:3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.
- Martha is Dr. Wellington Mutiso’s Youth Pastor and main coordinator for all of the Bega Kwa Bega crusade activities. She is a tireless worker who bears the primary responsibility in making sure all of the details for the medical clinic, door to door evangelism, pastoral development, children’s programs, and crusade performances.
She does not have a large staff to support her and the details of the week are daunting.
Please pray strength, clarity, and peace for Martha. Pray that God would provide all that she needs. - For Brenda Sandberg, who has lost her voice, and Laura Thompson, who will take over a crucial role in the children's programming on Tuesday.
- For officials to respond favorably to allow our teams into prisons to minister to the inmates there with the Gospel.
- For team unity
- That we would be used of God to be a blessing, and that God would produce eternal outcomes in the lives of those who hear the Word of God through us
- That the evening crusades would be well attended
- That our speakers would have a good measure of the Holy Spirit when they deliver the Word