June 27, 2012

This week’s update is the last of Jack’s reviews of his special guest speakers during last month’s Church Planting Methodology (CPM) course at Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC).  After the students heard reports from Samson Kisia (May 30^th Update), Euticauls Wambua (June 6^th Update), Zack Mahalangang (June 13^th Update), and Shem Okello (June 20^th Update), they still listened and responded enthusiastically to the last speaker, on the last afternoon of that three week round of classes, share one more view of what God is doing among Baptists in Kenya.  And as you will quickly sense, as Jack once again relates the past of legacy work to the current work! Now it is Jack’s turn:

Probably one of the most difficult things in modern church planting is URBAN church planting.  It has always been difficult compared to rural church planting where there is adequate space, community unison, good security and easy access.  The city however, is complicated with neighborhoods, boundaries both social, economic and physical, distances to travel and the aspect of incredible expense.  Plus, too often, city churches were planted in the same fashion as the rural churches, which led to problems due to the difficulties and higher costs of  buying land, building a church and supporting a pastor in the city.  Almost always, even city folks rely on the pastor to act like the rural pastor, who is often a farmer, lightly trained in leadership and pastoring, and totally self-reliant. 

Which leaves the city with its millions of persons, often the most educated, skilled and by statistics, the most religious and spiritual.  The absence of churches leads to spiritual problems and issues on which sinful man capitalizes.  Generational transfer of beliefs and practices are hindered and often result in a lost generation of youth and children.  Clearly, it is not something which Christians can ignore or leave to the Holy Spirit by himself.  Building mega churches is also not the solution.  CHURCH needs to be where the people are!

As a missionary in Nairobi I wrestled with this for over ten years as the church planter for Urban Nairobi.  While we started over 60 churches in that time span, it was not enough to keep up with the growth and demands of the city.  Nairobi grew from 2.5 million to over 4 million during that time!  Our traditional methods just could not keep up!  Plots began to escalate in costs up to millions of dollars!  Asking poor people who earn around $1000 per year to be the primary givers did not work.  One example was a church committed to raising around $75 thousands for a superb plot.  Every time they saved enough to approach a down payment, the price of the land increased.  Today after 15 years they still rent a small building and have lost the land.  We lose our trained pastors to salaried positions in other denominations or professions and few urban poor churches can afford to support the pastor at all.  Most pastors who have been trained through seminary want urban positions to use their gifts, but none are prepared to work for free!  Many are bi-vocational but only after years of planning and becoming self-supporting.  The need of the urban church CANNOT WAIT for years of planning!

So what to do?  Several years ago a missionary couple was called to begin something called Nairobi Business as Mission.  The idea was to start a business, train pastors in the necessary skills, salary them, and then send them out as church planters every Friday through Sunday.  Their mission was simple, start with a small group after evangelizing an area.  Meet weekly  using Chronological Bible Storying and waiting on any mention of the words “building” “property” or “pastor.”  SEMA LEATHERWORKS resulted and God has blessed it.  Over 60 groups have been started in locations throughout Nairobi in areas where there were no churches.  This year 7 churches have begun out of those groups with more coming to the point of maturing into a church body.

The blessing as the project Director, Jeremiah Chacha, says, “Any business or project can operate under our registration.  Any young pastor needing support can find bi-vocational work through the Nairobi Business as Mission system.  Pastors and their families feel good about themselves as their dignity and responsibilities are met.  Churches feel good about giving knowing that their pastor is there to support them and is also giving towards the church’s needs.  Everyone is blessed.”  The urban model used in Nairobi is successful and is reproducible. It does not depend upon any mission or missionary.  Started by funding from Baptist General Response (BGR) it supports itself through sales of the products produced.  Urban church planting has never been so much fun as this method is working and producing churches!

Now back to Bert with more about SEMA LEATHERWORKS.  First as their website (http://www.semaleatherworks.com/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sema-Leatherworks/116367071750964) explains, “Sema is the Swahili verb meaning ‘to say’ or ‘to speak’". By supporting SEMA LEATHERWORKS you are helping young Kenyan pastors speak the Good News of Jesus Christ in the slums of Nairobi… Our desire is that every resident of the slums of Nairobi receives the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ… SEMA LEATHERWORKDS was started by the Nairobi Business as Mission Team in 2009 to support young Kenyan pastors who are providing a Christian witness in the slums of Nairobi… Small leather products such as Christmas ornaments, key holders, bookmarks, luggage tags, passport holders and belts. All SEMA leathercrafts are manufactured in Kenya by Kenyans. Our purpose is to glorify God through evangelism and church planting.  Products include: key rings (beaded and customized), Christmas ornaments, bookmarks, belts, table mats, menu covers, bracelets, passport holders, drink coasters and luggage tags. Christmas ornaments are very popular gifts. If you want to know more about these items, send an e-mail to: sales@semaleatherworks.com .”

You may remember that I have shared bits about SEMA LEATHERWORKS before, including the dedication of Zimmerman Baptist Church in Nairobi earlier this year.  So rather than end with prayer items this week, I will close this update by asking you to click  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150822462065130&set=vb.685050129&type=2&theater to view a special praise time shared during this dedication of a church begun thanks to SEMA LEATHERWORKS.  BERT

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Want to learn more of what God is doing in East Africa?  Check out this week’s additions to Prayer/What God is Doing in East Africa Nudges at  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa.  

June 24, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Did you know that East African missionaries often have babies named for them? As one Journey(wo)man shares, “Regina's baby is named ‘for’ me, I am culturally expected to give her special things, or at least sort of treat her as my favorite –  which she is anyway. Check out my namesake in the outfit my Mom brought from the US! Totally too big for her, but totally cute.” Praise God that this little one was born in a country (South Sudan) where Believers are sharing the Good News of our Saviour, the one who offers Eternal “Life in His NAME” (John 20:31).
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To view daily "Prayer Nudges from East Africa", go tohttp://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

June 20, 2012

Time today for Jack’s fourth report of his special guest speakers during last month’s Church Planting Methodology (CPM) course at Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC) with yet another view of Legacy Work as Kenyan Baptists  share their ministries in East Africa. In our May 30^th Update, Jack shared a bit about Samson Kisia and his time with the students during the final week of the 45 hour CPM course, one of the many courses taken by the seminary students during their 3 years of study.  In our June 6^th Update, Jack shared of Euticauls Wambua and his work.  Last week, in our June 13^th Update, Jack shared Zack Mahalanganga’s report of how our church, Parklands Baptist Church/Mombasa Road, was begun by the Parklands Baptist House Groups located on the Mombasa Road side of Nairobi, where many church members live. Some of today’s report may sound familiar as we have already shared bits of the fourth speaker’s story in past updates, so without more intro, here is Jack’s next report:

Sometimes God surprises us in church planting through a bad situation or from a source we would never expect or even consider God works.  In 2007, Kenya began experiencing the horrible after effect of election violence resulting in thousands dying or being badly injured and tens of thousands of people being displaced from their homes and farms.  Suddenly all of this humanity was homeless in their own country!  Baptists in particular were damaged as churches were burned and the congregations permanently disbursed.  For the bewildered victim all hope died and there seemed no place and no one to turn for help.    Christians all over Kenya responded by trying to offer comfort.  In spite of that help, most people remained hopeless and in horrifying situations.  In a time like this, God seems to be the most active and creative.

A missionary friend gave me some money to see if we could help some of the internally displaced people (IDP’s).  Facing the needs of thousands is never an easy response and at times seems impossible.  I passed the money on to a friend and colleague in the Baptist Convention of Kenya, Shem Okello.   When he reported that he had built two houses for widows of the violence, it was extremely satisfying and we both thought a good deed done.  However, God had more plans and allowed us to join in His plans!

The next week other widows came to Shem asking for help.  Local councilors called on him with similar cases of desperation.  It took a bit of time, but slowly Shem began to be able to respond.  This year Houses of Hope built its 620^th home!  Most assistance comes from local communities as they identify who needs shelter.  They donate space for a dwelling and then show up to supply the labor and most of the structure building materials.  External funding from donors such as American churches and individuals is used to pay a craftsman and purchase the roofing materials.  All supplies and people, often including volunteers from American, show up on the same day and the work is usually a joyful happy time with the recipient totally stunned by what friends and strangers are doing for them.  In one day the house is complete.  The recipient moves in to their new home built in their ‘old’ traditional way after a thanksgiving service and praise experience.

The houses have two rooms and the recipient agrees to host a weekly Bible Study.  Trained Baptist pastors volunteer to come for twelve weeks.  Hundreds of people have been baptized by this method and many groups formed, many of which join together as churches. The methodology and the actual work is so simple and easy a whole region of Kenya has been excited and transformed.  From simple obedience and faith a fantastic ministry has formed.

Shem sees God’s hand in all of this.  He had no expectations of doing this.  Actually he was so busy, he has had to turn most of the ministry over to other Baptists.  This month they have moved to an entirely new area of Kenya and a group of volunteers from North Carolina have built eight homes during their 10 day stay.  The success of Houses of Hope leaves us all shocked and amazed which I believe makes God just smile.

Back to Bert now! Jack and I have visited two of these work sites, one of the early sites in January 2010 and another last year where a team from First Baptist Cary (NC) worked, which included our daughter Jessie and her best friend,  Amy Buchanan. For more on these visits, check out the sites listed below.  Today’s photos were taken during these visits. 

I haven’t included a photo from this week’s  2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa/ http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/, but I encourage you to take time to view these nudges which share what God is doing in East Africa and how you can join in His work! 

Once again, no specific prayer items, but I think you will find lots in the Update to lead you to prayer!  BERT YATES

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The January 2010 visit to Shem’s project is found at: Build a House – Start a Church   http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2010/01/build-house-start-church.html and Building a House in One Day and Starting a Church in the Process – http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.304989615129.190303.685050129&l=de74a3d192. For a video sharing the partnership of BaptistsOnMission/North Carolina Baptist Men, which was made during our visit, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onru-dvYc5U, as well as an update at http://www.baptistsonmission.org/Projects/Outside-US/Kenya/Houses-of-Hope-Project .

A review of Jessie’s and Amy’s volunteer trip last summer can be found at our June 29, 2011 Update at http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-29-2011.html  AND for a reminder of how I sent the June 29^th Update, go to the July 6, 2011 Update at http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-6-2011.html! Shem also took his turn ‘shouldering’ the dongle needed for me to access internet that day! More photos from their work site and visit can be found on our and our July 27, 2011 Update at  http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html .

June 17, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Missionaries value supporters who lift their specific needs and praises to our Father.  They also are VERY THANKFUL for the ‘general/non-specific’ prayers of their friends when they face unexpected needs for patience and a good attitude!  EXAMPLE shared by an East African missionary: "My 3rd washer broke, so I hand washed a load of towels. As I got ready for bed, the hot water line broke under the bathroom sink AND the electricity went off in the middle of the gusher! Bathroom and bedroom flooded. All clean now, but now without water.  Need a plumber!"

The missionary’s answer to “Did you get a photo?”: “I didn't. A photo of a bucket of wet towels would do.”  Instead, today’s photo is of a bit of creative East African ‘branding’ of OMO, one of the most popular East African laundry detergents!  By the way the missionary also shared:  “The hand washed towels are in the dryer soaking wet with no power to dry them. Every other towel in the house is also wet from soaking up the flood."
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To view daily "Prayer Nudges from East Africa", go tohttp://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

June 13, 2012

This week’s update, the third installment of Jack’s reports of his special guest speakers during last month’s Church Planting Methodology (CPM) course at Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC), is a special look at Legacy Work as Kenyan Baptists  share their ministries in East Africa. In our May 30^th Update, Jack shared a bit about Samson Kisia and his time with the students during this final week of the 45 hour CPM course, one of the many courses taken by the seminary students during their 3 years of study.  In our June 6^th Update, Jack shared of Euticauls Wambua and his work.  Today’s report is very special to the both of us, but I’ll let him tell you all about Zack Mahalanganga’s report.

How does one start and maintain a healthy church?  Often one starts with evangelism, winning folks for Jesus, and then grouping them together and anointing them “church?”  This model of church planting is often used and does succeed about 50% of the time.  The problem is that the other 50% die and disappear, lacking a GROWING environment and maturation which comes through discipleship.  Discipleship is the key to successful church planting.  In fact it is essential to obedience to the Great Commission of Jesus.  After “going” it is the first part of the plan of Jesus, “make disciples of all nation.”  One lesson that I have learned is that one rarely plants a healthy church alone,  empowerment from another church is needed. 

Church planting is not easy, it takes time and serious risk taking.  Experts differ over the best method of Discipleship – One on one, Bible Study by curriculum, interview and assignment, or the extreme of having the disciple move in with you for the three year “Jesus” model.  Personally I like the 2 Timothy 2:2 model for its practicality and simplicity – “ All the things you have heard me say and the things you have seen me do, entrust them to faithful persons, who will entrust them to more faithful persons”  The issue seems to be one of context that allows time, experience and intentionality to be adequately absorbed and practiced by the disciple.  Both Jesus and Paul practiced accountability without exception.  How then do we pack all of that into a vision of church planting? We need to be serious about relying upon the Holy Spirit – allowing Him to be our advocate and interpreter of our hearts’ desires to the Father, to be our encourager and allowing Him to be our commander.  Too often churches are planted without waiting for the Spirit’s involvement. 

Mombasa Road Baptist Church, branch of Parklands Baptist Church was started two years ago after being envisioned over 15 years earlier.  Already it has almost three hundred members and well over a hundred children.  There is a youth service which reaches almost one hundred college and young adults.  It has fully implemented programs reaching the needs of all members and the community.  In its first year it had to weather the death of the pastor’s wife in addition to all the logistical issues of starting something new.  Most of the members are not older than 35, and many are just starting their families.  Almost twenty couples have been married in these first two years.  There are almost no teenagers because, well, the adults are too young! (Bert’s note:  BUT we have lots and lots of toddlers and babies!)

What is the secret?  Zach Mahalanganga  is the chairman of the church, a trustee for the greater Parklands Baptist Church, a father and a layman.  He is the leader and the one who was given the responsibility of starting the new church.  We have pastors who are gifted and inspiring, but the church is primarily lay led.  Disciples are all over the place at one level or another – men  and women sharing responsibilities.  This group has the vision of creating a Gateway church ministering to the one and a half million people in their area of Nairobi.  It has no limits on its vision and no great expectations except to honor in obedience the vision given them by God.  How did they get united in purpose to the point of almost reckless faith?  They grew together in home fellowships or house groups, uniting members who live close to one another, started over ten years ago by Parklands Baptist Church.

Today Parklands has over 60 House Groups all over the city of Nairobi that minister to one another, challenge and hold accountable one another, fellowship, pray and go whenever they are called.  They have grown up in a church that never questions the how’s, why’s, when’s of life.  They just do things in obedience.  In fact Mombasa Road branch  now has over ten House Groups of its own and they just keep multiplying.  Leadership keeps arising and problems overcome and put behind. Church planting should be this easy for everyone.  Why do it otherwise?

Now… BACK to Bert!  Why is this story so special to us?  BECAUSE Parklands Baptist Church/Mombasa Road is OUR CHURCH – PLUS we became members of the ‘enabling’ or ‘empowering’ church, Parklands Baptist, in 1978 as it was becoming a fully functioning church – calling their first full time pastor, their first deacons, their first treasurer, etc.  Jack was that first treasurer and one of the first deacons and I was one of the first Sunday School teachers and ‘fill-in’ pianist. Jack and I agreed to attend the first few weeks of the new Parklands Baptist Church/Mombasa Road which began on July 4, 2010, but it is such an exciting adventure that we are still there and eager to celebrate the church’s 2^nd anniversary in a few weeks! 

I will not share specific prayer items this week as I think you can find lots of praises to share with our Father in Jack’s report, BERT

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Don’t forget to check out  this week’s additions to Prayer/ What God is Doing in East Africa Nudges at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa –  The photo in today’s Nudge is not  used today, but the little one with the college student was the ‘star’ of the July 18, 2011 Nudge!

For more about our new church and Jack’s involvement, go to: http://www.parklandsbaptist.org/main/view_article.php?cla=7&cat=47&article=89

June 10, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

“On the Road Again” episode of “THE REAL MISSIONARIES OF EAST AFRICA”:  1st Scene:  Missionary views empty cupboards and fridge and heads to the store.  2nd Scene:  Astonishment at rain-filled craters is soon forgotten as she maneuvers between vehicles dodging potholes while avoiding sinking into their depths!  Her car dips…  Next scene:   Front left tire is buried in a crater. A well-dressed East African stops, puts rocks in the pothole, but… 4th scene:  Still stuck!  A group of young men appear before the car and one motions for the lady to reverse as they push. Last scene:  The missionary collects her loose change, rewards her angels, and drives away smiling.
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To view daily "Prayer Nudges from East Africa", go to http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

June 6, 2012

As promised last week, this month our Updates will be a little different – the best way I know to share the excitement that arose as Jack concluded his recent round of teaching a Church Planting Methodology (CPM) course at Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC) by inviting a special group of guests speakers – Kenyan Baptists  who shared their ministries in Kenya and other parts of East Africa. Jack shared a bit last week about Samson Kisia and his time with the students. So, I (Bert) will sign off now and let Jack introduce the second speaker during the CPM course, who like Pastor Kisia, left his students asking for more:

Church Planting is an exercise in New Testament obedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit overcoming all hesitations and/or fears to reach out to all one meets.  That obedience is a product of salvation, discipleship/mentoring and a Christ led lifestyle and servant-hood – an unconscious maturation.

Euticauls Wambua is a Church Planter in Nairobi, Kenya.  He is pastor (Baptist Chapel), husband, father, mentor and disciple all in one.  He chairs the Nairobi Baptist Association and is director of the Kariobangi Baptist Youth Centre.  He is also a product of missionaries to some degree, but his life was fashioned by living with and modeling his life after his uncle, David Kiatu, one of the early Kenyan Baptists and the one who worked closely with missionaries in the 1980’s to begin Kariobangi Centre!

Like many youth, Wambua did not plan on ministry.  One day he realized how God had placed him and gifted him for service.  It began with children in a slum.  Wambua would walk around every Sunday with growing numbers of children following.  By the time they became a group of several hundred, Wambua began to disciple other youth in how to do the same.  When his church asked him to start a new church, he simply took what he knew and did it!

That church, Baptist Chapel, now has a thousand members.  What is truly astounding is the quality of that membership.  Wambua’s simple goal?  “I want everyone to sacrifice and go on a mission trip outside of Nairobi.”  Photo on right was made during a trip in 2011, where church members paid their own way to minister among the Turkana People of Kenya, an area experiencing famine and an area where few know of our Father’s love and salvation.

The results of his work is another astounding example of the simplicity of God’s plan in Church Planting.  Baptist Chapel, an urban church that borders the slums of Korogosho, has started six churches in the last four years in remote rural areas.  The church works with local people in the country side, which results in plots, buildings and supported pastors.  These daughter churches, like their mother church, work hard at discipling and obedience to God’s Word and Spirit.  One of these churches has already started three churches of its own!

The secret?  Wambua would say:  “None really, just simplicity of obedience, trust in God’s provision, and a servant’s heart”.  Still a young man, God is still calling Euticauls Wambua to new areas of ministry!  JACK YATES

June 3, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Posted on Facebook by a former missionary to East Africa:  “Soon to be High School grad at the beginning of his formal education. Wonder if you can spot our son in that crowd?”  Another missionary to East Africa responded:  “Love this! Reminds me of when our daughter, also the only MZUNGU (roughly translated as white person) in her class, returned from pre- school one day very irritated – ‘It isn’t fair!  My white skin shows dirt more than the other kids!’”  Pray for the many Missionary Kids graduating from high school – which usually means moving to another continent for further studies!
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To view daily "Prayer Nudges from East Africa", go tohttp://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/