“You have filled my heart with greater joy…
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,
O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:7-8 NIV
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Jack's new FB cover photo taken last week during a workshop
on campus with the dedicated men serving as principals of Bible
Schools granting KBTC Diplomas and Advanced Certificates. |
God used Psalm 4 this week to rebuke me a bit! When I’m overwhelmed by what needs to be done or what is happening, I do ask God to
“Answer me when I call… give me relief from my distress” (4:1). The rebuke comes from Psalm 4:7-8 as I acknowledge that the amount of time and energy I focus on problems and distresses too often greatly outweighs the time and energy I focus on the joy and peace that comes from my relationship with the One who answers my prayers!
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Couldn't capture a photo of the motorcycle with five
people, but did get this of a driver, a kid and a bike! |
So this week, I’m focusing on JOY, which is easy after our time last Sunday with the Kiambu Baptist Church on the outskirts of Nairobi. Some of you may remember Kiambu as a separate town, even a village. It is now difficult to determine where Nairobi ends and this growing town begins, but you still get to slow down a little and enjoy the scenery which included spotting a Mom and her three kids being transported to another church on ONE motorcycle – which means there was also a driver!
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Pastor David knows how to get the attention of the
children and youth during their Bible Study time.
Modern technology for modern kids! |
It was a JOY to visit a church pastored by a
KBTC graduate, who went on to get a college degree and is now working on a masters which is equipping him to counsel and minister more effectively in His Father’s name in the community. Added JOY? He now teaches occasionally at his alma mater –
KBTC!
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The front lower level of roof and the concrete room
are the first extensions to the church building.
With a small plot, the church hopes to grow up! |
JOY came from seeing this small church’s new additions, which includes people and an enlarged building to house the Believers! The church went through a difficult time in recent years, but since Pastor David and his wife moved to Kiambu Baptist, the church family and witness in the community is revived.
The JOY of the church family was contagious! Excitement was expressed in their JOY in worship, in their fellowship and in their care for one another. I could never quite figure out which baby belonged to which adult or which kids were siblings as everyone helped out with the little ones.
One had to share the JOY of the women of the church as they sang during before the sermon! There was more JOY as the kids performed – the older kids and youth on one side and the younger kids on the other, trying to imitate the older kids and doing a good job of it!
JOY came from hearing God’s Word read and praises sung in three languages – Kikuyu, Kiswahili and Kimzungu (how the song leader described English). JOY came from the humor resulting as a young man tried to translate as Jack preached in English for a sentence or two, then a few sentences of Kiswhaili, but most often using both in a sentence, with added bits of Kikuyu!
And of course, JOY came from being among so many cute kids – kids who are being loved on and trained by a church family! I’ve used several photos from Kiambu Baptist in the daily
“Bits of Our Hearts” posted on my FB page and this blog! (Look below for last week's BITS! Even more photos are shared in the new slideshow, "Kids of Kiambu Baptist Church" which appears in the right column of this page!
On yesterday’s
“BIT”, which included a photo of a little one looking like a decorated Easter egg, a friend commented,
“So...with such a cute distraction, what was the sermon about?” 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 was the key verses, illustrated by a tub of Blue Band! Just as users trust the recipe for Blue Band, the old-stand-by margarine in Africa, Believers can trust and use God’s recipe for answered prayers.
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Love this photo captured as we left of the young man
who wants to go to KBTC and the girl with the hat! |
After church, we another JOY arose as we met a young man (class/grade 7), who is already dreaming of the day he can attend
KBTC when it offers full university degrees! Which leads to this week’s prayer requests: Pray that Jack and the
KBTC staff will always trust and depend fully upon our Father’s guidance as they seek to revive and strengthen
KBTC. Pray that they will not become discouraged, but always be alert to what God is doing and what He is calling them to do.
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| Love this photo of a kid watching Jack! |
Pray for me as I seek to share the JOYS and sorrows of what is happening among
Sub-Saharan African Peoples and lead others to praying. Pray also that I will not be so busy doing my work, that I overlook opportunities to strengthen and encourage our coworkers. BERT YATES
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Spotted the church 'water fountain' (cups out-of-view) near
the entrance and this beautiful stalk of bananas...
Which we learned at the close of the service was our gift!
Another JOY added to the day! |
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