November 19, 2014

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful

and thankful.” Col. 4:2 (NIV)

"You heavens above, rain down righteousness;

let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide,

let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it

I, the LORD, have created it.” Isaiah 45:8 (NIV)

Two verses today, the first chosen earlier in preparation for today’s Day of Prayer and Fasting for West Africans affected by Ebola, the second chosen after rains pounding on the roof of our cottage at KBTC awoke me early this morning, rains which are continuing! Thus, I need to get to work and write fast as electricity went off an hour later and is still off! And as always when it rains, the internet also begins to slow down, just as I would like to do, but…

I was surprised yesterday when the graphic used on the internet site promoting today’s Day of Prayer and Fasting for West Africans affected by Ebola had been changed. It saddened me when I realized this had been done to expand the prayers for Mali, a fourth country affected by Ebola.

One of the many special graphics shared this week
on the sites promoting the Day of Prayer for Ebola.

The newsletter of West African co-workers, a family who are among the millions being prayed for today, also left me saddened. Their prayer requests, which I ask that you join me in praying not just today, but until this attack ends, share the far-reaching effects of this disease:

“Please pray that we would know God’s leading as we make decisions about the future, if and when to re-enter into our (affected) country, or go somewhere else. Please pray for the Ebola victims and their families in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Mali. Please pray for God to stop the spreading of this ugly disease. Please pray for those starving to death because of what Ebola is doing to their villages and countries. Please pray for the orphans of Ebola killed parents. Please pray for the survivors of Ebola as they are now shunned by their communities and families.”

Viewed last Sunday at our church and a great
reminder to do as Paul asks in Colossians 4:2.

More specific prayer requests and ways to TAKE ACTION have been shared in the last week and many more will be shared today at http://bit.ly/EbolaDayofPrayer, with most being re-shared on my work page, Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples. I encourage you to visit these sites, as well as http://subsaharanafricanpeoples.imb.org/pray/view/ebola-day-of-prayer , which shares how you can “write a letter to an Ebola survivor in Liberia on the Facebook event page, Donate to Ebola response projects in Liberia and Togo and Do some research" on unreached people groups! (ADDED NOTE: The devil mustn't be too happy about today's Day of Prayer as the Sub-Saharan African Peoples webpage is refusing to open as I write!)

Jack praying before teaching a KBTC class this week.
For views of what is happening at KBTC, visit
https://www.facebook.com/
KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege.

A few minutes ago, the rains ceased and a moment later, the electricity returned, thus I can relax a bit as I write. I’ve asked a lot of you today, but I must share our praise for how God continues to send the personnel, ideas, and other help needed at the Kenya Baptist Theological College. One promising idea shared with Jack this week: To offer training to Believers from a country on another continent that is closed the the Gospel!

God is at work, so please don’t stop praying as “KBTC is REVIVED/ RESTORED/ RESURRECTED/ REVISED/ RESCUED, RESULTing once again in a place where Believers can be prepared to REFLECT the PRESENCE OF GOD and become qualified and capable workers in our Father’s Harvest Field.” Pray also for me as I share the stories of our co-workers stories which offer you ways to join in our Father’s work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples. BERT YATES

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Photos captured last Sunday at our church's "Bible Study

Fellowship and Breakfast" - where there was definitely

NO fasting (Kenyan sausage, samosas, mandazis, bananas,

as well as boiled Kenyan sweet potatoes, corn and eggs

were served). Jack spoke on discipleship in the unfinished

teen's room, which shares a great view of why our church

is well located. It is in an area where thousands

of new homes are being built!