January 11, 2012

A few days ago, I needed a ‘signature’ photo for my upgraded Facebook page.  Short of time, I decided to choose quickly from flowers photographed last month at the Brackenhurst Baptist Conference Centre. Thankfully, I did peruse the photos taken as we returned home to Nairobi that day – and I spotted the perfect  visual description of life in East Africa. The chosen ‘title’ for this photo?   SIMPLE and COMPLEX!

Why?  Because guests passing through this village see a ‘simple’ way of life and it would not surprise them to learn that the residents likely rely upon hauled water and kerosene lanterns.  Yet, it is also likely that the people in this village have phones in their pockets, which they use to call around the world, pay  their kids’ school fees or access the internet to apply for jobs, book places for long trips on local buses.  Plus, a few likely use their phones to access digital satellite television or to chat with friends on Facebook – THUS the need for both SIMPLE and COMPLEX when describing the view!

It seems that God is trying to teach me something about these dissimilar words, because yesterday we went to Brackenhurst for a meeting and on this return trip home, I captured the photo for today’s 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa.  The prayer nudge drawn from this photo:
“Life in East Africa – SIMPLE and COMPLEX.  Some would say these words are contradictory, but possibly CONTRADICTORY is an even better word to describe East Africa! The sofas being delivered by the donkey cart were likely made without any electrical tools, yet they may be headed for a home with wide screen TV s, IPADS, IPODS and IPHONES!  Pray for East Africa Believers as they seek to ‘go and make disciples … baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything’ (Matthew 28:19-20) commanded by our Saviour among people from all ranges of education, incomes, social levels and spiritual backgrounds!”

A critical part of the contrast seen daily in East Africa is the complexity of ministering and sharing our Father’s Good News with those we encounter.  Within our borders there are East African People Groups, as well as refugees and those of other faiths who have never heard of Jesus.  There are also people who spend hours in ‘worship’ services where God’s Word is not reliably taught. There are also many spiritual ‘shepherds’ who do not direct their followers to glorifying and honoring God, but to themselves or other things. Thankfully, there is also a growing number of well discipled East African Believers who truly desire to be ambassadors of their Savior and shine like stars sharing and holding “firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:15, 16)

Once again, you may wonder “Why am I sharing all of this today?”  My purpose is to help you pray for Believers in East Africa as we proclaim the eternal gospel, as well as guiding your prayers for those in need of our Father’s Good News. 

My purpose is also to strengthen and encourage your prayers for Jack and me.   Thank you for praying for last week’s Board of Governors meeting at Kenya Baptist Theological College.  Jack felt that decisions will enable KBTC to enter 2012 with newness of life, a new creation able to serve our Father. Pray that all the decisions made last week and in coming weeks (the next meeting will be on the 18^th) will be guided totally by our Father and in line with His purposes!  My continuing prayer need is for wisdom and strength as I share how God is at work in East Africa via the internet, especially as I explore/ develop new opportunities.  BERT

---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---

Find the “2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa” blog at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.  To Receive these daily Prayer Nudges by e-mail, submit your e-mail address in the FOLLOW BY E-MAIL area on the right of the blog.   You can also view the Prayer Nudges on Facebook on Bert’s page, https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates or at Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa ).