Gateway East Africa
Report from Taita-Taveta, Kenya
October 4, 2016
We had a wonderfully productive trip from September 19-30 as
we returned to this same area where we worked last September. Thank you all for
your prayers and continued faithful support. This trip consisted of 10
hardworking brothers and sisters who made great sacrifices for the sake of the
gospel. They were Kurtis and Lynsey Browning, Michele Taylor, Beverly Lester,
Richmond Goolsby, Claude Bailey, Aaron Scarborough, Pete Quaid, and James and
Mary Lynn Donohoe. We saw many people come to Christ and had a total of 393
great prospects for these new churches. This is a hard area for many reasons. First,
it is a brutal trip getting to this remote area. The members of our team
deserve highest praise for enduring the usual long flight along with a 10-hour
van ride, much of which was upon barely passable roads. Second, this is mostly
a pioneer area for evangelical work. Third, this area is widespread geographically
and not densely populated throughout remote villages. Fourth, because of these
reasons (and others) the development of pastoral leadership is in its beginning
stages. We are continuing our efforts to raise them up. In all things, God
provides us with strength and wisdom beyond our ability. We thank our Lord for
His faithfulness to send us and His mighty willingness to save souls. It is now
becoming clear to students of missions that the “easy” people groups have been
reached. And so to the difficult areas we must go.
Churches started in 2016:
Njukini BC – Pastor Benedict is highly educated having
previously been a Roman Catholic priest. He realized the doctrinal errors of
Catholicism and has become a Baptist. He and his wife Damaris are wonderful
people and will serve this church well. They have land and a temporary
structure but no permanent building.
Kasokoni BC – Pastor Alfred is helping with this new work on
top of his other duties.
Sesi BC – A young man named Phillip will be pastoring this
church. He works as a Barber in the village and is beginning his theological
training. This village has grown up very quickly and is totally new as a result
of the equipment depot and construction headquarters for the major road
construction to Mombasa. No building, no land.
Lessesia BC – Pastor Benard is helping this new church get
established. There is great potential for this group of new believers. They
really have a heart to do the work.
Churches started in 2015:
Riata Ndogo Baptist Church – An older man that was led to
Christ last year has been serving as “Chairman” and we installed him as the
pastor. He has the right spirit to serve but is deficient in training. He has
been attending local training sessions with the other pastors and was present
for my teaching this past January. He will also continue in our Bible college
this year and will be there in January 2017 as I return with Kevin Warstler and
Bobby Worthington.
Taveta Town BC – Pastor Benard is doing a good job with
about 30-40 in regular attendance. They are meeting in a rented building but it
is not a good location. He continues in our training.
Lake Chala BC – Pastor Julius is working faithfully and
continues in our theological training. His English is poor but he has a great
heart for the people and is of course fluent in Swahili.
Lake Jipe BC – they have a plot of land and a temporary
structure. Pastor Stephen is spending two Sundays per month at this church
while working to train a new pastor. He rides on a motorbike taxi 40 miles one
way to accomplish this task while he also pastors his home church.
Kitogoto BC – One of the Kenyan pastors is serving this new,
small church but I don’t remember his name.
Rekeke BC – Pastor Alfred is the Associational leader and is
serving this church. He is training another man to lead the church. They are
having worship services every Lord’s Day.
My follow-up trip in January 2017 is of highest importance
as I will be providing theological and leadership training to these wonderful
brothers and sisters who are so hungry to learn God’s word. I have also been
planning a renewed emphasis on doctrinal training for the entire Baptist
Convention of Kenya group of pastors. There are currently 4,000 churches and
almost none of these pastors have much theological education. At the request of
BCOK leadership I am planning multiple trips which will involve bringing
leaders together from every region in the nation. They want me to teach them
with the hope that we will all “grow mighty in the Scriptures.” I will be
bringing others pastors and professors to help with this colossal task. The BCOK
leadership believe this could really “spark a revival throughout the churches
for evangelism and discipleship.”
Thank you for your friendship and partnership in this most
important work. May you be blessed and may our exalted King be most glorified!
Onward and Upward,
Richmond
No comments:
Post a Comment