Christmas Greetings from the Yates

Short and simple update this week, but one from our hearts. Thank you for all the ways you've enabled us this year to serve our Father at the Kenya Baptist Theological College and among Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  Our prayer is that you have a very, very blessed Christmas.

BERT & JACK YATES     

December 22nd SSAPeoples Nudge to Action

As I do my work as the Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity Prayer Networker, I often read incredible stories, but I am sure that the story shared as today's Nudge to Action for SSAPeoples* during this Lottie Moon Christmas Offering season will be one of my all-time favourites!
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A story Lottie Moon would have loved from an IMB missionary in Madagascar: "While putting our 2 year old to bed last night she said: 'I need to tell our baby (6 days old) something important.' She went to her sister and said, 'Baby, love Jesus and honor God with all your heart.' I said, 'That is important, thank you for telling her that.' She said, 'Yep, I love Jesus with all my heart.'”
* https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607 

December 18, 2013

Welcoming view at Williamston
(NC) Memorial Baptist Church
where we visited last Sunday.

As we speak in churches during our Stateside Assignment, Jack often begins his time of sharing by saying, “2013 has been the best year of my life; 2013 has been the most difficult year of my life.”  Yes, that does sound rather dramatic, but I totally agree. 

During our 35 years in Kenya, we have always felt that we were following our Father’s will, but during this last year we have had a renewed assurance of being obedient exactly where He wants us!  This assurance came from the miraculous things occurring around us and also from the constant activity the devil sent our way.  We lost count of how many times God answered a prayer in a miraculous fashion and immediately a new round of spiritual attack begin.  Then when things began to settle a bit at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, the Westgate terrorist attack occurred (September 21st-28th posts), which brought a new awareness of His guidance and strength during a very difficult time.

Jack posted this on the door to KBTC's
Administrative Building last January.

In our January 9th update, I shared these words: “Jack is at work in his new office, trying to sort through lots of problems… the more he learns about his new job as the principal (of KBTC)… the more we realize how overwhelming this job will be. But thanks to your prayers, the moments of being totally discouraged, hopeless and even terrified are balanced with a sense of excitement about what can happen as KBTC is REVIVED/ RESTORED/ RESURRECTED/ REVISED/ RESCUED, RESULTing once again in a place where African Believers can be prepared to REFLECT the PRESENCE OF GOD and become qualified and capable workers in our Father’s Harvest Field…  Pray also that we will remember that this is God’s work and remember that the ANSWER to all of these needs (is) EMMANUEL!  And that we will always remember with confidence that He is with us and victory is assured!”

Jack and Zack arriving early one morning to unlock the
Administrative Building, ready for a new day of work at KBTC.

Now 11 months later, we are praising God and thanking Him for answering your and our prayers.  This  report of last Friday’s graduation which Jack received from Zack Mahalanganga, KBTC’s Administrator, shares why:

Jack teaching KBTC students earlier this year -
students who are now KBTC graduates!

“We are praising God for giving us, our students, our partners and friends, stakeholders and Baptist Convention of Kenya an opportunity to witness and celebrate a special graduation ceremony this year. As you very well know it looked a mountain hard to climb at the beginning of this year but God assured us VICTORY… this makes me so thankful and praising of God for all his provision…

Music students, now KBTC graduates,
in class earlier this year.

A total of 34 graduates walked and participated during the ceremony. They were all enthusiastic… there was a heavy downpour during the ceremony, but it didn't stop us from celebrating the goodness of the Lord. We pitched three… tents to the front of the new building… all filled to capacity with a huge overflow meaning more than 300 people attended the graduation. The Convention Moderator (Elijah Wanje) delivered a powerful message... The procession started at 10:45… led by the Academic Dean, the Moderator, the trustees, the faculty and graduates… and the ceremony lasted for just about three hours… despite the heavy downpour the ceremony was successful, we praise the Lord.”

The smiles on the faces show only a bit of the excitement
that we know all of the administrators, professors, convention
leaders and graduates felt on the day of graduation as it was
truly a day recognizing God's care and love.

Jack’s response to his friend’s report:  “Oh Zack, this makes me so thankful and praising of God for all his provision…God is definitely good.  34! That is amazing!”  

I don't know what Elijah Wanje, Moderator of the Baptist Convention
of Kenya, was saying as this photo was taken, but we know that his
message included many thanks to the those who are helping to
resurrect KBTC and many praises to our God for his guidance and
direction this past year! 

We are so thankful for your prayer support and your many words and actions which strengthened and encouraged us this past year as we partnered in engaging lostness together (Acts 14:22; Revelation 14:6).  It was your prayers that got us through those “moments of being totally discouraged, hopeless and even terrified” which continued throughout the year.  It was your prayers that allowed us not just in January, but all year, to claim “a sense of excitement” as we saw God at work!

Nudges to Action (Praying/Giving/Serving)
for Sub-Saharan African Peoples are found at
https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples.

Thank you also for partnering with us as you support the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  Your prayer, financial and personnel support provides us with the opportunity to serve God and fulfil His call on our lives – THANK YOU!

Bert Yates

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For how God is continuing to bless and lead the staff and administrators at KBTC, take a few moments to view how the campus was readied for graduation on posts added today at https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege.

The special Lottie Moon Christmas Offering/ SSAP Nudges to Action page, which is updated daily, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples.

Want to find dollar examples of how your gifts to the LMCO is used to support missionaries?  If so, visit Lottie Moon at Work -http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatwork.asp?PageNavID=111.

We are accustomed in Kenya to seeing the unexpected, but
we were not expecting to spot this in a residential area in
Raleigh, NC. After a bit of research, we learned that a huge
acorn is  'dropped' each year  at the city's New Year's
Eve celebration to welcome in the new year! We would love
to know why it was parked along this street!

During the LMCO season, get Nudged to Action for SSAPeoples!

Today's special Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples:
Lottie Moon would have loved how three Missionary Kids were recently“Totally His… heart, hands and voice.” After their Mom read a book at a Baptist preschool in Portuguese about a duck, they sang with the kids, gave them ‘duck’ masks to colour and admired their art work, while praising God for the work he is doing among the Unreached Peoples of Mozambique!

For more stories of how our heavenly Father is allowing IMB workers to be at work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples and how you can also serve TOTALLY as HIS HEART, HANDS AND VOICE as you pray, give and serve, visit  https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples.

December 10, 2013

PARTNERS – A word used frequently by missionaries.  Like Paul, who often wrote to “God’s” or “my fellow workers” in his letters, we are very, very thankful for our partners.  And like Paul, we DO thank our God with joy for our partners in the gospel. (Philippians 1:4,5). 

Jack teaching two students who will soon be
Kenya Baptist Theological College GRADUATES!

Sometimes we are talking of the Believers in the countries where we serve, Believers who are our partners in sharing our Father’s Good News.   One group of ‘national’ partners that we are excited about is the group of 20+ students who will graduate this Friday at the Kenya Baptist Theological College – trained Believers who are already working in their churches and among their People and other Peoples in their country, on their continent and in our world! This is a true answer to prayer as many were not sure that KBTC would still be functioning by the end of this year.  We are praising God for the many answered prayers which has led to these students graduating as well as new students enrolling.

Retiree's Christmas Luncheon in Raleigh, NC

Jack and I had the joy of visiting with another very special group of partners this past Friday when a group of retired missionaries invited us to their Christmas luncheon.  It was a special time with old friends and meeting new friends who spent many, many years serving our Father in countries around our world.  A few of these men and women served a few years, but many served more than 35 years! 

Zeb and Evelyn Moss, retired missionaries to
Sub-Saharan Africa, praying during the luncheon
for Bonnie and Charles Wiggs (Korea) as they move
to Texas.  Each of these missionaries served with
the IMB for more than 35 years before retirement!

Visiting with this group of retired missionaries was like coming to a family reunion!  We listened as they shared how they are still serving our Father, many using their ‘second’ language in their new mission field somewhere in the Raleigh, NC, area.  It was also a great reminder that retired missionaries are the strongest prayer warriors and our greatest enlisters for additional workers among the Unreached Peoples in our world!

We are still adjusting to our six month Stateside
Assignment (STAS). One adjustment is not
spotting poinsettia outside the windows of our
home or KBTC's administrative buildings, but...

As I shared two weeks ago, we also value another group of our partners – YOU!  We are not just trying to entice you to give more this year to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – though, we hope you do – but we are very sincere when we use Paul’s words and say, “WE thank OUR God for all of you, WE always pray with joy because of YOUR PARTNERSHIP in the gospel” (Philippians 1:4,5). 

... in stores, homes and churches, etc, in pots!
These were spotted at Temple Baptist Church, our
host church when we spoke last Sunday morning.

AND as I shared before and don't say often enough: We are the ones who are blessed to work ‘full-time’ with the IMB in Kenya, but YOU ARE OUR PARTNERS is this work. Without you, our national partners and our ‘retired’ partners, without your financial and prayer support, without you sending short and long term workers to partner with us or coming yourself to work beside us, we could not do what we do!” 

To help us feel at home in our 'borrowed' mission
home, we brought some of our Christmas tree
ornaments from Kenya.  We've added a few, such
as this elephant Jack gave me as a gift last week!

It is because of your financial gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering and the Cooperative Program that we have the opportunity to strive to be “Totally HIS Heart, Hands, Voice” among Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  We get to do what God has called us to do THANKS to your being “HIS Heart, Hands, Voice” as you minister through your prayers, financial and personnel support in your Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  THANK YOU!   Bert Yates

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The special Lottie Moon Christmas Offering/ SSAP Nudges to Action page, which is updated daily, can be found at  https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples.

Want to “find dollar examples of how the LMCO is used to support missionaries?”  If so, visit Lottie Moon at Work - http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatwork.asp?PageNavID=111.

I'm still trying to get a good photo of my favorite two birds,
a cardinal or blue jay.  But I did catch this BLUEBIRD looking
at me as I took his/her photo!

What happens because you give to the LMCO?

"In a recent year, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
and Cooperative Program enabled missionaries
and their national partners to present the Gospel
 to more than  1,400,000 individuals;
baptize more than 266,000 new believers;
start more than 24,000 churches
and engage 133 new people groups.”* 

Do you know what really, really excites Jack and me?  We are 100% certain that the number of 1,400,000 for those whom heard the Gospel message is too low, way too low!  Why, because we know these figures represent what the missionaries know about, which can't always include what the Believers in our Baptist churches are doing in their daily lives and not only during special emphasis!!! We're excited because we know that many of these witnessing Believers are the ones that are part of the multiplication process of Matthew 28:19-20 and in their spiritual genealogy, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program enabled someone to be told the Gospel, which led to their becoming a disciple making disciples of our Saviour! 

More good news to celebrate at WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU GIVE!  Bert

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* http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/details.asp?StoryID=11938&LanguageID=1709. 

December 4, 2013

You get a break from my ramblings today as I share bits of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering challenge our youngest daughter posted last Sunday on Facebook. Jessie never used the 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering theme, but her challenge is all about being "Totally His … heart, hands, voice,” based on Matthew 22:36-39… being “Totally committed to God, first to love Him, then love others. No less than all of our heart, soul and mind… All believers, all of the church, all Southern Baptists — totally His.”  BERT

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Photos this week are of things that brought
us joy this past week, such as God's artwork
on our car window on a cold morning, and...

A LOTTIE MOON SUCCESS STORY
Jessie Yates

…I can’t recall the first time that I heard the name Lottie Moon, or the first time that I realized how it impacted me and my family. Instead, it somehow seems that as a missionary kid, I was programmed with the knowledge of who Lottie Moon was, how the offering came to be, and just how important the offering is to the work of IMB missionaries…

... having our granddaughter
around to help sort and...

In the most cliché way possible, I am a Lottie success story. I was born on the mission field, in the middle of a sprawling, but crowded African city. That was only made possible because Lottie Moon paid for my parents and my family to live in Kenya… It is Lottie Moon that paid for the malaria medication when I was sick and the x-rays when I hurt my wrist. It is Lottie Moon that made possible for me to go to a school where over 40 nations were represented… It is Lottie Moon that then paid for my books in college when my scholarships and grants didn’t

...play with our Christmas
tree ornaments before...

cover that exorbitant fee... It is Lottie Moon that gave me the ability to say that I’ve pet a rhino and a cheetah, ridden a camel, watched a zebra give birth, and kept hedgehogs as pets… It is Lottie Moon that gave me an extended family within my mission; a family that is so wide spread now that on my birthday, I receive well wishes and birthday blessings for a global day, starting in the morning in Australia, and ending at night in Hawaii. It is Lottie Moon that made it imperative that if a boy ever wants to marry me, he has to ask not only my father, but my Luo uncle and his brothers first. It is Lottie Moon that blessed me with a family - by blood and by faith - so strong in the spirit that I have no doubt what Jesus and Paul intended when they called for the Body of Christ to be one. I am a Lottie success story…

...helping her Mommy, Jennifer (left) and
Aunt 'Jesky' decorate the tree. Uncle John
had his first free day from work in weeks
and was told to stay home and rest!

But none of that comes close to comparing with the real Lottie Moon story. Because there is nothing else that I have experienced in this world that is similar to the feeling that you get when a woman’s face completely changes and the invisible weight is lifted off of her shoulders when she accepts Christ. There is nothing like holding an orphaned toddler, who until two weeks ago was testing as HIV positive, but is now healthy because of proper nutrition, medication, and the undying love of his new family.

Babu truly loved having help
decorating our tree this year!

There is nothing like giving a New Testament to an illiterate elderly woman whose children have all died from AIDS, and watching as her granddaughter - one of many that she is having to raise in her old age - opens the silken pages to read John 3:16 to her family. There is nothing like watching the tears of pain change to tears of joy because the young high school girl believes whole heartedly that your prayer for her just reached the ears of God. There’s nothing like sitting under the shade of a Baobab… and listening to a trifecta of local languages praising God for the new church plant. There’s nothing like sharing a warm coke with a young man and realizing he was discipled by a missionary who you fondly remember as a grandfather figure.

Jennifer's husband and Jack did a great
job also decorating the porch of the
mission home provided by Temple Baptist.

There is absolutely nothing like the feeling of a small child, suffering from malaria, ring worm and malnutrition, holding your hand as he falls asleep in your lap because he’s finally comfortable and feels safe. There is nothing like watching a group of fourteen year old Muslim girls ask your best friend to pray for their examinations. And there is nothing like seeing a young girl run around the church like she owns it and realize that she was born in the midst of a bloody and violent post-election period. Because all of that, just in case you were wondering, all those people, they are Lottie Moon. Their hope, their tears, their laughter - all of it is the real Lottie success story.

Don't miss today's SSAPeoples
Nudge to Action - a special LMCO
Nudge that is very special to us!
https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples

So I challenge you, if you give to Lottie Moon or, if you have no idea what Lottie Moon is and instead individually sponsor missions, remember this: God does not deal in numbers and statistics – he deals in people. The Lottie Moon offering isn’t about money…it is about the people. It is not about the missionary that you remember speaking at your church when you were little, it is about the work that they did and their dedication to the Great Commission. That’s my challenge; to realize that you are touching and impacting the lives of real people; real women, men, and children, who deserve every opportunity that they can to feel hope. (Link shared below for the unedited version of Jessie’s story.)
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A LOTTIE MOON SUCCESS STORY can be read even by non-Facebook members at https://www.facebook.com/notes/bert-yates/a-lottie-moon-success-story/10153550112250223.

View this past week’s special Lottie Moon Christmas Offering/ SSAP Nudges to Action at https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Promotional Resources which offers lots of videos and photos which you can enjoy and use in your church and groups at http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoresources.asp?PageNavID=120.

Special LMCO info share by the IMB: Will you be doing any of your Christmas shopping online this year? If you shop on Amazon you can donate .5% of your purchase to the LMCO. Just click on the link provided before you start shopping and shop away: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-0213930. By doing so you will be directly supporting our family and many others around the world. Thank you so much for your continued support.

Why PRAY during the LMCO season?

A special gift from God - viewing this sunset as we
drove to Mooresville on Saturday afternoon, which...

We had a great day yesterday sharing why we are thankful for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering twice with Southside Baptist Church in Mooresville in the morning and with the Moon's Chapel Baptist Church last night.  One comment that I made last night that I should always add as we speak:  

Jack taking his turn sharing yesterday morning
at Southside Baptist Church in Mooresville, NC.

DON'T give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program IF you are not committed to praying for us and others who benefit from these offerings!  We DEPEND upon your prayers! We MUST HAVE your support in praying for open doors and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we strive to partner with you as HIS HEART, HANDS AND VOICE as we reach all the nations with the Gospel!

Don't forget to check for stories at
https://www.facebook.com/LMCO.SSAPeoples
 sharing how the LMCO allows IMB
workers among SSAPeoples to be
TOTALLY HIS HEART, HANDS AND VOICE.

Take a few minutes to visit the WEEK OF PRAYER* page at IMB Connecting to "discover what it means to be totally His — and totally His heart, hands and voice. During Dec. 1-8, learn about missionaries who connect churches to people groups and churches serving as God’s hands to reach them, workers reflecting His heart in dangerous or lonely places and believers crossing oceans to be His voice."  BERT YATES

* http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/weekofprayer.asp?PageNavID=112

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Another special gift from God - We arrived early at Moon's
Chapel Baptist Church in Siler City last night and LOVED
watching a practice run of their Christmas play!