September 14, 2011

I will begin as I did last week: “Running late today, very late … I have the best job. I do have to share some negative/ discouraging things, but my focus is usually on sharing the incredible positive…” Today’s delay is not due to a positive, but a negative. Yesterday’s headline in our local Daily Nation was “100 die in fuel fire” (1) and todays, “Nation in mourning as toll rises” (2), sharing that “the death toll (is) at between 100 and 120” with hundreds homeless and injured and thousands suffering and traumatized. (Look at the following two posts for video news clips of the tragedy.)

I can share some ‘positives’ related to this fire. It is has been amazing how people are responding/reacting to the fire. We know that many ministering to those affected are doing it in our Father’s name. One Kenyan Baptist pastor/teacher shared with Jack that his concern is for the emotional healing from the trauma as well as for the meeting of physical needs (medical, housing, and finances) of those affected. We heard this morning that one friend, a Kenyan Baptist women’s leader, runs a school in this area and others are joining with her in ministry in her area. Please join me this week in praying for God’s comfort and the meeting of the physical needs for those suffering.

After today’s Prayer Nudge from East Africa (3) was posted, I added this comment: “Debated whether to post the Prayer Nudge prepared for today, but realized that especially in the time of trauma and pain, we must claim and share the joy we have as Believers.” I have become very aware of this as I’ve shared prayer nudges for the ongoing Horn of Africa Drought Crisis (4) and the fire in one of Nairobi’s slums (5). I expected someone to comment on two ‘conflicting’ emphases in last week’s prayer update – the drought and the slideshow, “Satisfied Souls at Ridgeways Baptist” (6). One shared prayer needs related to famine and the other shared the ‘eating’ part of the celebration/ dedication of a new sanctuary. This is an issue faced often by those on mission with God! We do experience heartbreaking situations as we celebrate the ‘positive’ things our Father and His children are accomplishing. It is often hard to do both at the same time and to continue praising God in all situations – thus a prayer need for balance, strength, and wisdom for all of us serving as our Father’s co-workers.

I do have positives to share this week. Jack has begun another two week session at Kenya Baptist Theological College teaching Baptist Beliefs, History and Practice to 3rd year Youth Ministry. His prayer request is that these 11 students (from Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan/ 8 men, 3 women) will be strong and capable sharers of our Father’s love and salvation with the youth and children of East Africa.

My positive this week was finding time to create a Psalm 84 slideshow sharing a view of how God is at work among the members (past and present) of Ridgeways Baptist Church in Nairobi. PRAISING GOD WITH RIDGEWAYS BAPTIST CHURCH (7) is a true Lottie Moon story – a story of how the desire of an IMB missionary family for a church in their community has resulted 23 years later in a church needing a sanctuary seating 1500. Another way to define Ridgeways Baptist: A story of how the investment of Believers on mission with our Father has resulted in incredible returns!

I know that once again that I have given you a lot of things you can view/check-out. I’m not apologizing, but another comment I made this week on Facebook shares my reasoning: “Sharing a lot today… but there are many things in need of prayer and I know that as God created each of us to be unique individuals, our hearts and minds are attuned to praying for different needs.” Thanks again for being a part of our prayer team! BERT YATES
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(1) “100 die in Fuel Fire” – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/100+killed+in+Nairobi+fuel+fire/-/1056/1235082/-/ysld31z/-/index.html
(2) “Nation in mourning…” http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Nation+in+mourning+as+toll+rises+/-/1056/1235964/-/item/0/-/g026p3z/-/index.html
(3) PRAYER NUDGE FROM EAST AFRICA – http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or on Facebook
(4) Baptist Global Response/ Drought Crisis – http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/projects/view/horn_of_africa_drought_crisis
(5) For a look at the realities of the Sinai and a some of the other slums in Nairobi, check out Slum Profiles – http://www.citiesalliance.org/ca/sites/citiesalliance.org/files/CA_Docs/resources/Nairobi%20Inventory/SlumProfiles3_MakadaraDivision.pdf
(6) Satisfied Souls at Ridgeways Baptist – http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150421710975130.452322.685050129&l=85cd4b7384&type=1
(7) Praising God with Ridgeways Baptist Church –
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150431846150130.454598.685050129&l=02c5ca8309&type=1