June 26, 2013

Photos this week were taken
during last month's trip to the
coast. These kids watched
with joy and fear as
graduates of the Kenya Baptist
Theological College branch...

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6,7

Joy, sorrow, fear, excitement, pain, peace, supplication, praise and thanksgiving: What we've felt and seen in the hearts of fellow Believers this week. What some may find surprising is how often there has been a mixture of all these and other emotions, including those that some would define as opposites.

... practised their graduation march, while...

We experienced this last Sunday as we joined our Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road church family in rising to our feet as the choir sang, “Stand for holiness, stand for righteousness and be counted among them that shall reign with Him.”(1) Joy came from standing with fellow Believers who also know that obeying our Father does come with times of fear and pain, as well as incredible times of praise. 

.... helpers of all ages prepared the tent to protect
guests the next day from the equatorial sun.

Sunday was also a time of renewed commitment to serving our Father as we heard two stories which many of us first heard as small children – the story of Noah and the story of Zacchaeus. Our challenge after hearing these stories as kids was staying within the lines as we coloured pictures of the ark and animals or of a short man climbing a tree. As an adult, we hear a new challenge as we recognize the criticisms that Noah and Jesus received for obeying God, the challenge Believers continue to face today.

Nothing but joy as Jack met with former students and
fellow KBTC teachers at the Malindi branch.

Lots of emotions have also been experienced this week after a co-worker was involved in an accident in which a little boy died. As we’ve read their updates, their feelings have included sorrow, fear, concern and uncertainty; it has also included praise, joy and an assurance of our Father being glorified as His children responded to His call to love and serve Him by loving and serving one another. 

Bert's joy:  Viewing a mini Kenya
Baptist Media bookshop in the
 church office, which included books
produced while she served at KBM.

Jack and I were also overwhelmed by our thoughts as we met briefly on Monday with a group of workers serving in a very hard place in West Africa. It was heart breaking to be reminded of how many people are still waiting to hear of our Father’s love and salvation. Yet, in the midst of the sorrow, there was also incredible joy as we heard of plans to reach and engage these People still waiting for a proclamation of the eternal gospel. It was so exciting to view the passion of those who are willing to be criticized and face danger in order to share our Father’s gift of eternal life.

It is impossible to be bored as one views scenes
along the road as they travel in Africa!

Another time of mixed feelings was experienced this morning as our neighbours left for a trip to learn more about Unreached/ Unengaged Peoples(2) in a nearby country. Our reactions included asking God for travelling mercies – a constant need for missionaries in our part of the world. There was also uncertainty as they left without their usual planned itinerary as flexibility, another on-going prayer need of missionaries, will be required as they respond to the information they learn during this research trip – Information which leads to excitement as what they learn will lead to our Father’s Good News reaching Unreached/ Unengaged Peoples!(3)

This photo was captured on Sunday morning while on the coast -
evidently these boys wanted to make sure they had a seat at church!

Would you join us in prayer as we seek to rejoice as we face mixed emotions while joining others in working in our Father’s Harvest Field?(3) Will you join us in praying that we will never lose our passion for serving and obeying Him and keeping our focus on bringing Him praise, glory and honour? BERT
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(1) STAND, written by John P. Kee; lyrics at http://www.allgospellyrics.com/?sec=listing&lyricid=4885; PLAY NOW options at http://clip.dj/john-p-kee-stand-download-mp3-mp4-GEFPAoKbPmg.

(2) To learn more about Embracing those who yet to hear our Good News, go to http://www.imbafrica.org/embrace/.

(3) One way that you can be a part of God's work among the Harvest Field of Sub-Saharan African Peoples is by joining others in viewing the Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action which are updated daily at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ and at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl - you do not need to be a member of FB to view this page.

View which was used for today's
SSAP Nudge to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving.