“We must continue praising God and praying like a chicken in search of food.” This African translation of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 was well understood when shared at Parklands Baptist new church plant last Sunday with young couples who are Setting an Example of what God can do with “youth.” Nairobi is a huge international city, but quite a few residents are awoken by a rooster or two each morning and a chicken searching unceasingly for food is a common site!
This new church plant along Mombasa Road had been actively planned for years. The well-educated business people, who wanted to begin a church in their part of the city with growing residential areas and few churches, had a long list to tick off before the official start. Finally, they realized that their “business plan” was logical, but they were relying on human abilities, rather than God’s! So the church began on July 4th without the “dream” property, funds for a building, etc.
I thought of this as I read Isaiah 47:10 this week – We do allow our “‘wisdom and knowledge” to mislead us and keep us from the incredible joy of being a part of God’s work! We also question why God is not answering our prayers while overlooking that He is waiting for us to roll-up our sleeves and join Him in His work - or as the pastor of the new church said last Sunday, “Our prayers are being answered because we got involved.” As we left church last Sunday afternoon, I asked Jack if he would have time for his traditional Sunday afternoon nap. His reply, “I’m tired, but I’m too excited to sleep after being at church!”
We saw another example of men and women trusting God in spite of many unknowns at last Friday’s Kenya Baptist Theological College graduation. Very few
of the 50 students who received an Advanced Diploma in Christian Education, Diploma in Theology, or a BA through a partnership with Wayland Baptist University in Texas, began their studies assured of fees or knowing if they could balance school, family and work – and many who began did not graduate. But all the struggles and sacrifices, including the tensions of the 2008 Post-Election crisis, were forgotten as the students and their families, friends and church sisters/brothers celebrated and praised God for meeting the needs of these men and women and their increased ability as Workers Approved by God.
Last week, also included visiting a young summer missionary who lived with a Kenyan pastor’s family for two months while serving in local Baptist ministries. Many people tried to discourage her from coming, but she was sure God was leading her to live and work in a part of Nairobi that many would feel was unsafe. She is returning to the US with an incredible testimony of how she saw God at work in Kenya and an increased desire to continue being a part of His work!
Yes, we’ve had a good week, but it was no “accident” – that is what happens when actions and plans are strengthened by prayer, such as your prayers as we helped teach the last course of one of the graduating classes – like our church experience, it was exhausting, but exhilarating! In the next two weeks, Kenya definitely needs you to be “praying like a chicken in search of food.” Kenyans will vote on a proposed new constitution on August 4th. Many are using this vote to strengthen their own agendas, rather than seeking what it best for the whole country. Please pray for peace and wisdom for Kenyans during this time. BERT
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TWO NEW PHOTO ALBUMS:
Setting an Example: A glimpse of heaven in the 4th service of the new church along Mombasa Road where young adults of one nation, but many tribes, peoples and languages seek to begin a church where they can share their Father's love and salvation in their part of Nairobi – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=258477&id=685050129&l=fbc8acdeec
Workers Approved by God: Glimpse how God is at work among Kenyan Baptists as you view the July 23, 2010, graduation at Kenya Baptist Theological College - illustrated with the key Bible verses for the service: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and 2 Timothy 2:14-15 – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=258050&id=685050129&l=69655b1ff4
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