January 9, 2013

I’m sitting at my home-away-from-home desk as I write today from one of the teacher’s cottages at Kenya Baptist Theological College. Until housing is available at the KBTC, this is where we will be living during the week, before returning to Nairobi each weekend, partially because that is where our washer/dryer and stove are located - all not available at the cottage!

As I work this morning, Jack is at work in his new office, trying to sort through lots of problems. To be honest, the more he learns about his new job as the principal (there is only one president in Kenya!), the more we realize how overwhelming this job will be. But thanks to your prayers, the moments of being totally discouraged, hopeless and even terrified are balanced with a sense of excitement about what can happen as KBTC is REVIVED/ RESTORED/ RESURRECTED/ REVISED/ RESCUED, RESULTing once again in a place where African Believers can be prepared to REFLECT the PRESENCE OF GOD and become qualified and capable workers in our Father’s Harvest Field.

I asked Jack to share new prayer items with you, but he said the ones shared last week are still the important ones. So, would you join us in prayer guided by what Jack shared last week:

“The SPIRITUAL LIFE of the college must be REVIVED. The college’s UNITY OF PURPOSE must be RESTORED. The NETWORK of College – Baptist Convention of Kenya – Association - Church that produces unity and energy must be RESURRECTED. The ACADEMIC SYSTEM started 40 years ago that provides theological and leadership training for all Baptists of Kenya and other Sub-Saharan African countries must be REVISED. The ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS must seek the marriage of the Will of God with the Call of Ministry and RESULT in full and qualified classes of students. The FINANCIAL SITUATION must be RESCUED by all Baptists led by God. The PRESENCE OF GOD through the Holy Spirit must be REFLECTED by qualified, bold and energetic faculty.” 

Pray also that we will remember that this is God’s work and remember that the “ANSWER to all of these needs (is) EMMANUEL!” And that we will always remember with “confidence that He is with us and victory is assured!”

Now, for a few extra prayer items: Pray that former KBTC staff and others will be cooperative and supportive as changes are required. Pray for wisdom as Jack paces himself, determines how to deal with issues and as he shares his vision for change with others. I need patience as I find a balance as we ‘live’ in two places, while seeking to share via the internet what God is doing throughout our area of Sub-Saharan African Peoples.

As I’ve questioned how a problem can be solved, Jack has said, “We are doing what we know God asked us to do; we have to trust Him to provide the needed help!” And He is providing answers to all the needs. it is truly exciting to see how God is at work and how His children are responding!

So thank you, for strengthening and encouraging us as we seek to strengthen and encourage African Baptists to “Sing to the LORD, praise his name, proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:2-3).
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Remember that new nudges to prayer and action are posted daily at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl).

Many of today's photos were taken during yesterday's drive from Nairobi to KBTC.

January 6th Nudge from Sub-Saharan Africa

“There’s nobody there to tell them about Christ… they have no one there.” Will you take 3 minutes to watch this video and learn what it takes to tell the Unreached and Unengaged Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa about Christ?

Daily nudges to prayer and action from Sub-Saharan African Peoples can be found at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ 

January 2, 2013

Happy New Year from Sub-Saharan Africa!  We are thankful for your  greetings for the new year and assurance of prayers – which we are really, really going to need this year!

Early last year, Jack and I sensed that it was time for change and a reassessment of how God wanted us involved in His work.  For months we prayed and prayed, but had no answers.

Then mid-year, my ‘change’ began with the opportunity to expand my ‘social-networking’ to include all of our Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity.*  About the same time, we each began to realize that for Jack to best do his job as the Trainer/ Liaison with the established Baptist work in Kenya (Legacy Work), he needed to ‘refocus’.  So after weeks of approvals and more approvals, it all finally came together in the last few days and I’ll close now and allow Jack to finish this update!  BERT YATES

Today (January 1, 2013) I became Principal of Kenya Baptist Theological College, approved by our mission, Baptist Convention of Kenya and the KBTC’s Board of Governors.  It is not a position I sought, wanted or needed.  However in 2012, God progressively  made it very clear that this was His plan.  As always in our career, Bert and I knew and agreed that this was another of those “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) positions meant for us.

The College for many reasons has lost its faculty and students, and come close to closing.  More importantly it has lost its focus, its way and its purpose.  As it struggles to survive it has taken its spiritual life for granted and that aspect has also suffered. 

SO... How can you join us in praying?

The SPIRITUAL LIFE of the college must be REVIVED.

The college’s UNITY OF PURPOSE must be RESTORED.

The NETWORK of College – BCOK – Association - Church that produces unity and energy must be RESURRECTED.

The ACADEMIC SYSTEM started 40 years ago that provides theological and leadership training for all Baptists of Kenya and other African countries must be REVISED. 

The ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS must seek the marriage of the Will of God with the Call of Ministry and RESULT in full and qualified classes of students.

The FINANCIAL SITUATION must be RESCUED by all Baptists led by God.

The PRESENCE OF GOD through the Holy Spirit must be REFLECTED by qualified, bold and energetic faculty.

The ANSWER to all of these needs?  EMMANUEL! And confidence that He is with us and victory is assured!  JACK YATES
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* Bert's work in the last week has included 'revising' the "2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa" blog for use while a new blog for all of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity is designed.  So when you go to the blog used in 2013, you will find that the title has changed to Sub-Saharan African Peoples - Nudges to Prayer.  Remember that new nudges to prayer and action are posted daily on this blog at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl) . The following photos share more of the story that was the December 31st nudge!