May 8, 2013

Dilemma often faced by missionaries: How do you write a newsletter when the prayer needs you most need to share are ones that you cannot freely share. For some of our co-workers, the problem is based on security issues.

"A faith as precious as ours." (2 Peter 1:1). Questions I asked
myself when I read this verse during devotions last week:
How much do I value my faith?  Do I act as though my
faith is precious? Do I recognize all the precious gifts
my Father offers me such as these Common Waxbills...

Special sensitivity is required by those who work among People Groups where accepting our Father’s love and salvation can lead to persecution, not just for the new Believer, but for their family. This is one of the reasons that I do my work as a Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples – I seek to share their sensitive stories in a safe way so that can receive lots of needed prayer support.

... or these Weavers perched along the fence
leading to the new KBTC building.

Others face another security issue – their own personal safety due to rebels, terrorists and other threats in their area.  This security issue has led to the need for evacuation for many of our co-workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples in recent months – often with very short notice, thus insufficient time to ask for prayer support.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge,
self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love."  (1 Peter 1:5-7)  My question
after reading this:  Am I willing to do all that is required to
accomplish these steps?  Am I willing to take risks?  
Photo:  A risky delivery of a sofa and chair!

Two young co-workers in South Sudan faced this dilemma last weekend.  They were able to share their prayer needs before and after they arrived in Kenya, but I’m sure this was only done after alerting and seeking to ease the fears of their families and closest friends. I have a note on my desk to ask their permission to share their prayer requests as future SSAP Nudges to Action for safety for those they minister among and that this difficulty be a stepping stone to the Taposa and other Unreached Peoples coming to know our heavenly Father and claiming his peace.

"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being ineffective and  unproductive
in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8).
My question:  Is this not also what is needed for us to be
effective and productive in serving our Lord Jesus Christ?
Photo: Productive and effective use of one's head!

Another dilemma is when the problems are complicated and similar to problems often shared in God's word -  problems caused by God’s children.  When Jack began as the principal at KBTC in January, we knew there were many problems that had to be solved, but the depth and breadth of the problems have been and are continuing to be overwhelming as… I need to stop there!  But this does explain why Jack and I have found lots of strengthening and encouragement in the Psalms and the New Testament in recent months!

"...a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19) -  God's words
and views such as this spotted as we returned to KBTC early
one Monday morning are ways that God has encouraged
and strengthened our hearts in the last few months.

Jack and his staff’s desire is that the old problems be solved so that they can focus on the future and how God can use the college to bring glory to himself and no other.  Please join us in praying that the problems at KBTC will be solved and the staff will be able to focus on KBTC being 'once again 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.'

"The Lord know how to rescue godly men from trials." (2 Peter 2:9)
The current staff do believe that God will rescue KBTC from
its current trials and use KBTC for his purposes and glory. 

Pray for God’s wisdom, guidance and strength as Jack and others resolve the problems.  Pray that God will be glorified and his will be accomplished in all that happens.  Pray that KBTC staff members will remain patient and strong as they personally suffer due to the problems. Pray also for students who are to graduate in July, yet many are not ready due to recent problems, including the problem of unpaid tuition fees.  BERT

One of the newest changes at KBTC - a shop selling books to those
preparing to serve our Father.  Begun for the same reason that 1st
and 2nd Peter were written:"To stimulate... to wholesome thinking"
(2 Peter 3:1) God's children because our "Lord ... is patient... not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (3:9).

---   ---   ---   ---   ---

One part of Bert's work is posting daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples on a blog, Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on the SSAP Facebook page, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl ). Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page.

You can also learn more about what God is doing at KBTC on Kenya Baptist Theological College * Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege.

May 5, 2013 - SSAP Nudge to Action

Update on April 7th SSAP Nudge to Action post on recording 100 Bible stories for solar audio players in South Sudan: “I am continually amazed at how culturally relevant the Old Testament is to the Toposa… Joshua’s charge(Joshua 23) is very similar to the speech a Toposa man might give to his family or village. Pray for this project to be done well and help every Toposa understand God’s Word!"

--- --- --- --- ---

For daily Nudges to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, check out  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

and at Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl

(non-Facebook users can view this page).

May 1, 2013

“As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual home… you are a chosen people… the people of God” (1 Peter 2:4,5, 9,10).  First Peter took on new meaning for me this week, possibly because I was watching the corner of the unfinished second floor in the newer building on the Kenya Baptist Theological College be transformed into a shower block during a time of torrential ‘showers’.

Back of building and
in the doorway...

Rains are continuing in Kenya and there was a rainfall last Saturday night that will be remembered for years. A neighbour of KBTC reported that his rain gauge, measuring up to 8 inches, was overflowing Sunday morning. That does sound questionable, but it could be correct as there were many mudslides that night leading to deaths and destroyed homes, roads and railway lines. Thankfully the damage at KBTC was not severe, though the newly repaired road to the upper campus became impassable again, which leads to a praise. Once again, God provided and with the help of the rented donkey, students and others hauling building rubble each time down the mountain, the road is now passable!

... the son of one of the chefs.

And in the midst of this rainy night and many others last week, the construction on the new shower block was done so that groups, such as a pastor’s conference this week, can meet, eat and sleep in one building. I guess these problems of moving around campus if you aren't able to stay in one building, added to watching stones create new rooms, as well as revived memories led to the new appreciation for 1st Peter!

This bird set atop the door at the front of the
building and constantly looked back at me.

I guess I should ask: Have you ever experienced quarried stones being turned by hand into usable blocks for construction? Thankfully the blocks used for the shower rooms were already prepared, but I have memories of listening for hours and hours for days and days as someone sat outside our home chipping-chipping-chipping on stones as they turned uneven shapes into a block ready for building, often with the piles of chips taking more space than the dressed blocks!

When I walked away, it flew into what I thought was
a wasp nest in the top corner of the ceiling, but... 

As I read of our being God’s living stones, I realized that this is what he must do to us! Thankfully the stones don’t feel (or at least I don’t think they do) all the hitting and banging needed to make them useful, but we do! Watching the men and one woman work on last week’s construction crew, I also realized that stone work is messy and hard work. The stones are heavy and often these must be moved up and down steps and even mountains (in Africa man power is used more often than machine power). Plus to get everything joined properly the mortar must be added in excess and then removed to form clean and balanced lines.

...it was a nest, which as this one under
construction shows, has two rooms - an entry
room and a larger  room for the babies!

I don’t want to dwell on negatives, such as on-going spiritual attacks as Jack and his team seek to resurrect KBTC, plus in all honesty, I can’t share most of these problems or identify specific needs! But as God’s chosen people, when we join him in his work, we will “have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1:6) , and be accused of “doing wrong” (2:12). We must keep our focus on the result – “that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory…” (4:11).

Another bit of construction viewed this week - a Hindu temple.
I thought the dome was being painted in three colours, but it
was simply three stages right to left of no paint, a base of
rose and the finished marble look - a definite future NUDGE!

All said (and not said), we ask that you join us in praying that we follow the examples set by our Saviour (2:21-23) and claim the “strength God provides" (4:11) as we seek to serve him this coming week. Pray that we will be “like-minded… sympathetic… love one another… compassionate and humble” (3:8) and in our “hearts revere Christ as Lord (and) Always be prepared (in all our actions/reactions) to give an answer to everyone who asks… the reason for the hope” (3:15) and salvation that we possess thanks to the “resurrection of Jesus Christ” (3:21). BERT YATES

--- --- --- --- --- 

One part of Bert's work is posting daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples on a blog, Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on the SSAP Facebook page, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl ). Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page.

Yet another type of construction - chapati making from balls to cooking. This photo was used on the Kenya Baptist Theological College * Facebook page. *https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege