August 6, 2008

The news arrived during Bible study this past Sunday morning – a teen-age boy of the church had died. The friend beside me responded, “He had diabetes. I hope he didn’t die because his parents couldn’t provide proper food for him.” Virginia shared that his mother is very sick and the family have many medical expenses. Pointing to the two teen-age girls sitting next to her, she added “When their mother went to the hospital for the last time, his Mum went on the van to the doctor. Her son was her main caretaker. What will she do now?” The two girls, who look like pre-teens, are actually in the last year of high school. Their mother died last month after a long illness and my friend and others in our church are caring for them. Later during a fellowship time, I learned that Virginia and another class member arranged this past week for the girls and their father to move to a simple house next to Virginia so they could help him care for the his daughters. I wondered if there was a family connection, but learned that their connection and sense of responsibility simply came from being sisters in Christ.

This is yet another time when we feel humbled and honoured to be serving among Kenyan Christians. Some may ask why we are still in Kenya if Christians are this mature. The answer is simple – there are still many Kenyans who are not Believers and need to hear the Gospel. Some are of faiths that do not know of God’s love and salvation. Others, especially those living in northern Kenya, are still included among the Unreached People Groups of our world – ethnic groups where less than 2% are Christian. Jack and I CANNOT share with all who have not claimed our Saviour’s eternal life, but the community of Kenyan Christians can! Jack and I CAN strengthen and encourage these men and women as we engage lostness together in Kenya, in neighbouring countries, and in our world.

Jack does this as he sits in meetings with our Baptist leaders and offers support, guidance and encouragement – and yes, sometimes he is the one rebuking and correcting. He also does this as he teaches methods of church planting and sharing the Gospel – two more words found in 2 Timothy 3:16, teaching and training in righteousness. He does this because we realize that although there are many strong Christians in Kenya, there is still a need for Jack to follow Paul’s and Barnabas’ example of “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” (Acts 14:22).

I can engage lostness and proclaim the eternal gospel “to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Revelation 14:6) through sharing prayer items and building prayer support. I also do this as I disciple two young Kenyan women. Unlike past experiences of discipling new Believers, these women (20 and 26 years old) are active in ministries with street kids and on university campuses. Working with them is exhausting, challenging and plain out fun! It is incredible to watch them grow and become stronger Christian witnesses and leaders. It is also a little scary as I hear them relate what they have heard me say to their actions – almost always not the things I was trying to teach/share with them, but something that was simply a part of our conversations together.

Jack and I ask that you pray for us as we seek to be a part of the Great Commission’s multiplication plan as we relate to Kenyan Christians and Churches. Pray that we will be wise in choosing when to speak and guide and when to simply be quiet and listen, especially when it comes to Jack’s role of rebuking and correcting. Pray that as we meet others on the street, as we did yesterday with a Kenyan pastor (Jack) and young musician (Bert), we will have the right words to encourage and strengthen them as they become stronger servants and witnesses of our Father. Pray also for physical and emotional strength for us. We do get tired and frustrated, but we continue to stay in Kenya because we know without a doubt that this is where God has sent us to be a part of his harvest field. Bert Yates

(The pictures are of flowers in our Kenyan yard and of Jack and I (right) with the Barnetts, new friends from North Carolina, our home state, who are now serving with the IMB in Kenya.)