January 14, 2015

“It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.”

Numbers 29:1 NIV

One new way people trumpet' the news in Africa is
through cell phones. We spotted this donkey cart
driver using a cell phone only moments after a horse
walked dangerously close to our car thanks to the
rider being busy talking on his... CELL PHONE!

Reading these words during my devotions last Monday, I thought of the opportunity I’d had earlier that morning to join others in a bit of ‘trumpeting’. As I began my daily work on the computer, the first post I spotted on Facebook was from a co-worker in West Africa who was praising God and ‘trumpeting’ the news that a district in Sierra Leone had been declared Ebola free.

A reminder to pray for Unreached Peoples which is
seen often in Nairobi these days - signs written in
Chinese. Many Chinese businesses are coming to
Africa, which offers opportunities for churches and
KBTC to proclaim the Gospel to people from China.

This district is just a small part of the Ebola affected area, so one might question why my coworker was so excited. The answer: This area is still included in the ‘nations, tribes, languages and peoples’ (Revelation 14:6) without a proclamation of the Eternal Gospel! (For more on this, take a minute to view http://vimeo.com/113395470.)

Not a kid from Sierra Leone, but a kid who lives
on the KBTC campus. One day this photo may be
used as a Nudge to Action for SSAPeoples,
nudging Believers to be like ACTION FIGURES,
to be ACTIVE Believers sharing His Story!

A Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan Peoples was already prepared to use on Monday, but that story was delayed until today. Instead a new Nudge was prepared for January 12th, sharing my friends ‘trumpeting’ of the good news for people from “One of the many areas of West Africa where it is likely that those who die from war or viruses may have NEVER had an opportunity to hear a proclamation of the Eternal Gospel!” Anyone can safely view this and more Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.

This week’s bit of honest: I hope no one spotted

me last Sunday when I laughed as our pastor

explained that he did not first hear this

testimony through the phone or a visit, but he

spotted our friend's ‘trumpeting’ on Facebook!

I also remembered how our time with church family on Sunday offered another time of seeing Numbers 29:1 in action. Our pastor often changes his worship service plans, adding a time for our church family to ‘trumpet’ a testimony of how they’ve recently seen God at work. It was a time of praising God as a Kenyan friend shared how she had seen God at work in the last few days. Earlier in the week she had prayed for the safety of her parents, then on Friday, God answered her prayer in an awesome way when her Dad had an accident which could have led to deaths, but instead it was a time of miraculous protection and healing.

One of the many times road work stopped as the
old rented backhoe was nursed back to health!

Soon after my Monday morning devotions, Jack returned from his office to our cottage at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, asking me to go with him to view the transformation occurring on the road that leads to the upper KBTC campus. Some may describe a rented backhoe as making a horrible noise, but those of us on campus described it as a wonderful ‘trumpeting.’ Now when it rains, one can travel to the classrooms/ chapel/ dining/ student housing building without fear of sliding or getting stuck!

For more photos from KBTC, visit
www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege.

I thought Jack wanted to drive due to a bruised foot (healing slowly, thus a need for prayer as lots of walking is required at KBTC), but he really wanted to experience driving on the new road. He also wanted to do his part by smashing a few of the remaining clogs of rock and dirt under the tyres of our car, well actually not OUR car, but the car purchased by the IMB thanks to your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Another way that KBTC is 'trumpeting'
that they are ready to serve our Father in
a REVIVED way - Proper Sign Boards
directing guests to the campus!

Thanks for allowing us to ‘trumpet’ what we've seen God do this week. As I was completing this update, I heard a bit of noise outside our cottage and remembered something else we have to ‘trumpet’ about. Jack was showing the Children’s Minister of Parkland’s Baptist Church around campus – one of the many people who have been an answer to ours and your prayers, as she is one of the many Believers who in recent weeks have asked how they can join in God’s work at KBTC! BERT

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Other photos captured last week.

The loud noise coming from our home in Nairobi
last Saturday night? Jack 'trumpeting' as he
watched his first WFU basketball game of
this season and Wake WON!!!