After several Wednesdays of meetings, taking new workers and friends on “Baptist Work in Kenya” tours, plus computer problems, I’m back at the computer preparing a new prayer letter today.
The meetings included a refreshing time of strengthening and encouragement as we worshipped, studied God’s Word, prayed and played with our fellow IMB workers in East Africa. We listened with joy as they shared reports of how God is at work among their peoples and of their excitement of how God is allowing them to obey His call and join in His Work. Will you join us in praying for our co-workers? We work in various places and situations including islands, villages and cities, schools and hospitals, as well as among peoples of other faiths and from other continents. Yet we all share a common goal – “
the spread of the greatest news in all the world to men, women, and children who have never heard it” (
https://www.imb.org/vision-and-mission/).
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| View of skyscrapers and a slum of Nairobi. |
The tours with new co-workers and friends from a partnering church were also a time of joy as we viewed their desire for reaching all peoples in Kenya with the Gospel. An added excitement came from joining with others whose heart desire is to strengthen and encourage African Believers as they also serve as His witnesses (Acts 1:8) to their families, friends, town or city, their states and country, and to other continents. Pray for the many new IMB co-workers we have in East Africa, especially in Nairobi, as well as partnering churches who share a desire to serve our Father in our part of the world.
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This decorated tour bus was parked near one of the
many computer repair shops we've visited in the last
few weeks. HARDEES (begun near Jack's home town)
has finally made it to Kenya, but is only accessible
to those flying out of the international airport. |
My computer problems are not resolved, but I’m learning how to work around the problems. Since I last wrote, my job as Prayer Networker for the Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity has been reconfirmed and I am back at work finding ways to share via the internet what God is doing among our peoples and how others can join in His work via prayer, giving and serving. Pray for me as I find how to best strengthen and encourage our IMB coworkers as I share their great stories which share what is happening because of your past investments in prayer, giving and serving.
Before Jack headed out this morning for a day-long planning meeting at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, I asked that he share his heart desires with you. He replied:
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| The KBTC display in the prayer room at our meeting. |
- Pray for the administration of KBTC as we seek to pay all our bills, which includes electricity, lots of government requirements, salaries, and improvements needed for the school to enroll and educate men and women who are called to serve our Father. This also includes the need for prayers for the local churches to value theological education and support the school and students.
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A bit of a multi-faceted walk-over built to help
pedestrians navigate the 12+ lanes at an intersection
along Thika Road - it has so many turns and twists
that one can get lost and head in the wrong direction! |
- Pray for the needed planning/ preparations for developing and enrolling students in KBTC’s new degree programs, as well as the Masters of Theology program which will soon be offered through the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pray also for a new program being implemented which will provide training for pastors, missionaries and church leaders from another continent.
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A special joy spotted this week as I was frustrated
during a 21 hour power outage! |
As always, the devil is not happy when God’s children are busy obeying and serving their heavenly Father and he sends lots of frustrations and interruptions to divert energies from doing God’s work. But as we learn over and over as we obey and serve our Father – He is the one who can do and does the impossible and when the devil gets active, which He is at the moment, we know to focus on praising God for His upcoming answers and actions as He accomplishes His Work!
Thank you again for how you strengthen and encourage us as your pray for us, give so we can be in Kenya and as you send/ come as coworkers our way! BERT YATES
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These HornBills were among five of these beauties
which were also spotted as I tried to be positive
during the long power outage! |
