My home church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Ft. Inn, SC is sending 12 members with me to Kenya this October. They requested that I write an article for their September church newsletter. I have included it below so that you can know more about the ministry in Kenya and our upcoming trip.
In 1993, I embarked on an incredible journey with two friends that would prove to be life-changing in result and lifelong in partnership. I went to Kenya, Africa! It wasn't the beautiful countryside, deep blue, unpolluted sky, or the many exotic animals that impressed me most. It was the church I encountered that forever stamped an impression upon me.
My guide drove me to a village known as Tiriki, introduced me to a Pastor John Musiikhu, and drive away for two weeks, leaving me in a place where I was the only white dude. For some of the children, I was the first white person they had ever seen! Some thought I was a ghost. Some thought I had painted my skin white! Imagine that! In Africa, a white dude from SC is the only colored guy around!!!!!
I spent those two weeks in Pastor John's home, sleeping in his bed while he and his wife slept in the floor, getting to know his family, preaching to his congregation, visiting his church members, and praying for everyone who lived anywhere near Tiriki. We walked to over 350 homes in some of the most out-of-the-way places. Some homes were mud huts. Some were stick tents. A few were cinder block. Every home had tremendous need. Mostly, people were just hungry. I witnessed an exorcism, a healing, and people walking more than ten miles, hungry and without shoes, to go to church. I preached a sermon under some shade trees on the rich man and Lazarus. When I returned to Tiriki 14 years later, some of the members shared the outline of my sermon with me. They still remembered every word that I had said!!
I shall never forget Mrs. Musiikhu pulling up her skirt and running as long as she could behind my van as we drove away! That image was seared into my mind and lodged into my heart.
When the Lord allowed me to return 14 years later, I was pleasantly surprised! Tiriki has grown, and so has the church! Pastor John is discipling many young men for the ministry. They have established preaching points all around TIriki, and have worked to plant churches in the neighboring countries of Tanzania and Uganda. Their mission is to take the Gospel to every corner of Africa by planting churches in every country of Africa. They are even willing to enter Muslim countries and face persecution for the sake of Christ! It is a marvelous work!
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has been a partner to me as I partner with Pastor John in Tiriki from the very beginning. For my first trip, many in the church helped pay for the trip. During the interval of trips to Kenya, several have sponsored Pastor John and prayed for his ministry. For my second trip, the church received a gracious love offering which was used to purchase land for a church building. For the upcoming third trip, 12 church members are traveling with me to experience it for themselves!
We have a team of 19 departing October 2. Our purpose is to encourage the saints and share the Gospel with any unbelievers we encounter. To accomplish this, we will conduct a VBS with the children, hold training classes for the pastors, take part in worship services throughout the area, witness door to door, bless the believers with clothes, medicines, and books, and whatever else the Lord allows. This is going to be a dream come true, an adventure of a lifetime, a tremendous Gospel opportunity. We simply ask that you pray daily for our team, for the church that we desire to bless, and for any unbelievers we may meet. We go as servants to the local Kenyan church. We go as ministers of the glorious Gospel. We go as ambassadors for Christ. We go as vessels and instruments in the hands of God to be used for His glory!
To the ends of the earth - For His name's sake (Isa 49:6)
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