September 1, 2010

Between being colder for days than my body appreciates and seeing the sun for only brief moments in the last week, my mind is trying to hibernate – which leaves me very frustrated. Before leaving for a training meeting I began writing this week’s update with lots of information on how to pray for those celebrating Ramadhan. Unfortunately, my preparation did not include moving the pre-written bit from my home computer to my baby travel computer! So, you will get that information next week, but there is good news – this allows more time to share other items in need of prayer support.

We have just completed a five day IMB East Africa leadership meeting – YEP, some of you may have noted a familiar name! When we arrived in Kenya in 1978, many were upset that there was no longer an East Africa mission, but separate Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian missions. In the current re-organization, our part of the world became Sub-Saharan Africa and our cluster/division was titled Equatorial Africa, but in recent weeks it was renamed and once again we are the East Africa Cluster! Jack and I were among the few that found this humorous as many of our new co-workers had not yet been born when we arrived in Kenya.

But with all the changes, there is one constant. We and our co-workers are in Africa to “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all people.” Even in our world of internet and news broadcast instantly, there are still more than 600 people groups in Sub-Sahara Africa who have not yet heard the Good News of our Saviour and many, too many others who have heard, but not yet responded.

This week, one of our co-workers shared his work of teaching Baptist believers to share their faith without “religious” words which those of other faiths or no faith – which is hard to do! Can you imagine sharing your faith with someone who does not understand the meanings of grace or salvation– yet, if you use these words they may not understand what you are sharing or shut you out before they can understand. Yet, as this friend shared, it is all worth it when you hear, “You’ve told me a message today that I’ve never heard, but I know it is true and I want to follow this Jesus.” This is why we and our co-workers are still here.

So this week, my prayer request is that you pray for Jack and me as we continue to find ways to “strengthen and encourage” Kenyan Baptists and our IMB co-workers so that we can all be better equipped and able to share our Father’s Good News and disciple those who accept His love and salvation – disciples who can then make new disciples! Pray especially during the next two weeks for our co-workers who serve among those celebrating Ramadhan. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide their conversations as they talk with those who are searching in a deeper way during Ramadhan for a better relationship with God. BERT YATES

***For a view of what we saw in recent days and what led us to prayer, view “DARK AND LIGHT” at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=273059&id=685050129&l=89c0ba7494