Gateway East Africa - Report from Taveta, Kenya

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

Cultivating a Culture of Evangelism - Part 13

1.     Commend Not Convert. We dare not handle the word of God deceitfully. There are no tricks needed in Holy Spirit driven evangelism. We do not save anyone. Jesus saves. We are messengers who are “by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4:2) This is what we do. This word “sunistemi” (to commend) means to sit down with someone else and be connected with them. It means to set one part of a whole with another part and to present ideas. We are all part of humanity and we are all part of local communities. Our responsibility in evangelism is not to “make converts”. Our privilege is to associate with our neighbors and share with them the greatest ideas ever delivered to mankind. According to the Scriptures, Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Thereby saving all who turn away from sin and trust Him as Lord and Savior. There is no need for high-pressure techniques that disable Christians because they are afraid they won’t say the next bullet point correctly in the canned presentation. Bullet points and helpful presentations may be wonderful tools to lay out our ideas but there should be no sense of obligation to make a convert. Pray for their souls, desire them to be saved, and commend the truth of the gospel to your neighbors. Watch the Holy Spirit help them see the truth in the beauty of Christ. Be an intentional disciple-maker. Convince (help them see their wrong doing) and rebuke (call them away from what is wrong and dishonorable) but even these are to be done with exhortation (urging as a comforting friend) “with all longsuffering and teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:2) A true evangelist commends people to Christ and manifests Christ to people. This is our life's work. There is no way we can make converts but it sure is awesome to watch Jesus draw men to Himself and to know that we were tools in our Master's hands as He did it. 

1.     Get a Fresh Look at the Church’s Facilities. It’s human nature to overlook the most obvious things. I see myself in the mirror multiple times a day but I don’t notice the wrinkles and the gray hair. I blissfully assume I still look the way I did at 25. I most certainly do not. When someone else looks at me they see me the way I really appear. And if I take a few moments and focus I can do the same thing. So it is with our church facilities. Things change with age. We need fresh eyes to look at our facilities and help us to clean up the things that have become wrinkled and broken down. The appearance of our facilities communicates so much to the rest of the community. An old, crusty building that has not been well maintained preaches to the community that this is an old, crusty church that does not care much about her mission. How do you think parents will envision the nursery for their babies on the inside if the outside is shabby? I know what some will say, “We are not here to entertain people. They should desire to be part of a church whether there is a nursery or not. We focus on the word not buildings” While this is true we should also consider the excellence with which all things should be done. If we will have buildings, then they should display the honor of God. They need not be overly ornate but proper maintenance is a must. Do all things well. Freshen up your facilities and show your neighbors there is excitement where God’s people meet.

Cultivating a Culture of Evangelism Part 12

1.     Send Hand-Written Notes of Encouragement. There is nothing which makes a person feel more special than to know that you care enough about them to sit down and take time to send a personal, hand-written note. It just feels good. It shows that you care enough to spend the valuable commodity of time on them. They are that important to you. Real ministry is loving people and loving people requires work. One of the best things you can do after having lunch with a friend for whom you have been praying is to send them a letter to follow up. Send them often and keep it personal. No need to flatter, just be honest about the things you appreciate about their friendship. We are bound to thank God for the wonderful people he has placed into our lives. Why not let them know it in a real and tangible way? It’s old-fashioned I know but sometimes we need some old-fashioned. A typed letter is not the same. It’s too modern and fast and impersonal. Be genuine, be caring, be friendly. Express it on paper with a pen. Share your love for those whom Christ died to save.

2.     Don't be Distracted – There is no limit to potential pointless preacher squabbles. They will drain your emotional energy and keep you engaged in all the wrong warfare. The devil schemes against you by getting you to obsess about thoughts that do not belong to you. The disgruntled critic comes in many forms and the “they” always have unfettered “concerns” for the preacher. Don’t go there! There are too many souls that need to be saved! There are so many disciples that need to be made! So many prayers that need to offered in intercession! Deal with conflicts lovingly and decisively but stay focused on the evangelistic work at hand. Don’t major on the minors and don’t give too much thought to criticism nor praise. “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2) Paul considered it a “small thing” to be judged by others. Why? He had one pursuit which kept him focused on the most important task of making Christ known. Pastor, there are a trillion things that can divert your attention from the calling God has placed on your life. Always remember, no matter what, to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mk. 16:15)