LET ME TELL YOU...

A coincidence, luck or a fluke? No, a God-incident happened at our house yesterday morning. I’m always on the look-out during my daily devotions for a scripture to guide the week’s Yates-IMB-Kenya&SSAP update and this past week, I spotted Psalm 66. My to-do list including posting a video of “How Great Thou Art” being sung in Kiswahili captured at our church on August 23rd.

I have always loved “How Great Thou Art”, but the Swahili version has been my favorite hymn since I first heard it sung in 1978. It was especially meaningful as it was sung during the VBS presentation at Eastgate PBC on August 23 by the teachers of the children of our church, friends who not only believe the message of this song, but share it weekly with a new generation who will share it with others! Thanks to internet problems today, I cannot add the video to this update, but "How Great Thou Art/ Bwana Mungu Nashangaa Kabisa" can be viewed by all at https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates/videos/10154101972510130/?l=4542303263579790030 or by clicking the BITS OF OUR HEARTS tab above.

Another item on my -do list was asking Jack what he wanted to share this week. His first response was NOTHING, but after reading Isaiah 58 during his devotions yesterday morning he changed his mind and asked to share the following:

“Last weekend our Professor Emeritus, Weru, traveled to Naivasha to participate in a special service at Nyamathi Baptist Church. The meeting was called to bring together a consortium of denominations and government officials with the purpose of responding to a growing social need – abandoned widows. Often this part of the African society is forgotten as the focus in on orphans. It is forgotten how often widows are the one caring for and even taking in orphans, sharing what little they have. Weru shared that it was reported at the meeting of the vast number of widows in their area living without housing, even bedding and truly abandoned by society.”

God always knows when I need to relax a bit and He
He sends views such as this - A chicken delivery man!

Now back to the God-incident at our house yesterday morning! Later in the day as I looked carefully at my chosen guide for the week and what Jack read yesterday morning, as well as experiences He had sent our way, I spotted a theme. I was celebrating how Believers are reaching the younger generation. Jack was encouraged by Believers who were not relying upon missionaries from afar to minister to their people in need, they were claiming the joy of serving our Father and doing His work.

Jack loves new construction and
he especially is in awe of how the
added space at Baraka Hall can
be used in training KBTC students
and missionaries from Africa!

I knew this God-incident was a reminder from our Father to focus on what He has called us to do, on the work He has equipped us to do. The International Mission Board, our sending agency, is in the midst of change, changes focused on getting totally serious about carrying out the Great Commission. This change is about fully reaching the millions in our world who have no access to the Gospel; it is about equipping and challenging all Believers to make disciples at home and around our world. (For more view FOLLOW ME.)

Thus our focus remains "Strengthening and encouraging as we engage lostness together” (Acts 14:22; Revelation 14:6) and our people focus is on Believers. We know that the job He has called us to do is to equip, train, support, and inspire others to be His workers in His harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38).

This week will you pray for Jack as he guides the Kenya Baptist Theological College? Pray that he will always be ready and able to strengthen and encourage past, current and future KBTC students; pastors, church leaders, and convention leaders; as well as missionaries and volunteers. Pray for wisdom and insight for me as I use social networking to enlist more prayer support for Believers who are working among unreached peoples in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thank God with me for the opportunities to strengthen and encourage our workers as they share the Gospel with those who have never heard our Father's Good News.

Once again I must say: Thank you for strengthening and encouraging us, as well as allowing us to obey and serve our Father as you pray, give and send workers to join us. BERT YATES

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Remember to view the daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, a part of Bert's work as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples. This site and those below can be safely viewed by anyone!

Don't miss the JOY on the KBTC Campus - Aug 27, 2015 photo album shared last Thursday, which can be viewed by anyone at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1028098637208422.1073741838.466678516683773&type=1&l=43d4fe92df. CLICK the KBTC tab to view more of what is happening at KBTC and in Jack's work.

AND for added views of our lives and experiences, also CLICK the BITS OF OUR HEARTS tab above.

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Now it is time for a few random photos captured this past
week, beginning with a few of the views spotted when
work stopped at the KBTC administrative offices
yesterday to view the visiting colobus monkeys!