On Monday Erwin and Timothy set off for ministry in the church of the Lord Mombasa. I am now working with gospel fire ministries and am with their church in Nairobi. Hopefully Timothy will update you on events in Mombasa in the next few days.
Things have accelerated here. The response by the people in the church is excellent and I am finding that God is continuing to give the right words at the right time. The Swahili praise and worship is passionate and you can get so easily enveloped in it all.
On Tuesday the pastor added a street crusade to the end of our afternoon revival service. {I looked through all my sermon noted but found no peace about any of it.} The music equipment we had set up on the main street kept going wrong and as I took the stage with my notes I had chosen something said to me 'Just preach the gospel'. At the end of it many people came forward for prayer and 4 people committed their lives to Jesus. This is the first time this church has done a street event and the pastor told me it is very hard to win souls here but we are now seeing breakthroughs. As a result I have a number of prayer requests.
A Tanzanian lady is raising her children on her own with not enough money to support her family. She asks for a financial breakthrough.
Another lady is in a similar situation after her marriage ended and has no job at all. She came forward saying she wanted to give her life to Jesus. Pray for her to continue in the decision she has made and for a job to support her family.
A young lady from a Catholic background came to recommit her life to the Lord. She has become born again in the past but told us she keeps falling away. We found out that it was the influence of non christian friends that was drawing her away. Pray that she would be given divine strength to stand for Jesus, for the courage to break off ungodly ties and for the establishment of godly relationships in the church which would support her.
In the fist night of the revival services a man came into the church and answered the altar call to give his life to Jesus. Pray that he would continue in that decision for Christ.
A man came forward on crutches with one leg amputated at the knee and told us he wanted to come back to the Lord. He was once a keen christian and student of the bible but got into an adulterous relationship and went his own way. He was wealthy with two cars. Now his life has hit rock bottom. He has nothing. A car accident took one of his legs and he has no job, no wife and no home. He has been put up with his child in a shack and has an alcohol problem. He is overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness. I hope to see him again this afternoon at the service.
God bless you...Steve
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Kenya Calvary Chapel.
Sunday was the 21st anniversary of the main church we have been with in Dandora, Nairobi. People came from Mombasa and even Tanzania to be at the event. I was sent to another church that day and it proved to be the right thing at the right time.
The church is run by bishop Moses who also does mission work in South Africa. He has been driving us round the city all week and I looked forward to visiting the church. Moses is an exuberant pentecostal preacher/evangelist and the church song service was lively.
I didn't even start writing the notes for this sermon until late the previous evening but felt very inspired. I preached on the power of unity, how we are to look after others in the church and a number of other things. It must have gone well because I carried on a long time and the people were still very attentive. I looked at bishop Moses and asked if he wanted me to wrap things up. He was intent on me continuing as long as it took. {The sermon lasted nearly two hours!}
The response afterwards was great. I offered to pray with those who wanted to see prodigals come back to the church and many were touched by the message and requested prayer for loved ones and so the post service prayer ministry went on for a long time as well. Moses told me that the people usually start leaving of their own accord if the service goes beyond One O clock but they all staying. He told me that the message related to the main issue of the church and many were deeply moved. This certainly wasn't down to any talent on my part but was down to the message God gave me.
This seems to be the norm here. I've come with prepared messages but am preparing sermons at the last minute which turns out to deal with the main issue of the church I preach at next. We eventually got to Dandora at around 5:00pm. The event was in it's last hour. It didn't matter as we had such a good service at Calvary Chapel.
There are too many prayer requests to mention but generally I would like you to pray for all who requested prayer at that church and that they would see loved ones come back to the Lord.
God bless you...Steve
The church is run by bishop Moses who also does mission work in South Africa. He has been driving us round the city all week and I looked forward to visiting the church. Moses is an exuberant pentecostal preacher/evangelist and the church song service was lively.
I didn't even start writing the notes for this sermon until late the previous evening but felt very inspired. I preached on the power of unity, how we are to look after others in the church and a number of other things. It must have gone well because I carried on a long time and the people were still very attentive. I looked at bishop Moses and asked if he wanted me to wrap things up. He was intent on me continuing as long as it took. {The sermon lasted nearly two hours!}
The response afterwards was great. I offered to pray with those who wanted to see prodigals come back to the church and many were touched by the message and requested prayer for loved ones and so the post service prayer ministry went on for a long time as well. Moses told me that the people usually start leaving of their own accord if the service goes beyond One O clock but they all staying. He told me that the message related to the main issue of the church and many were deeply moved. This certainly wasn't down to any talent on my part but was down to the message God gave me.
This seems to be the norm here. I've come with prepared messages but am preparing sermons at the last minute which turns out to deal with the main issue of the church I preach at next. We eventually got to Dandora at around 5:00pm. The event was in it's last hour. It didn't matter as we had such a good service at Calvary Chapel.
There are too many prayer requests to mention but generally I would like you to pray for all who requested prayer at that church and that they would see loved ones come back to the Lord.
God bless you...Steve
Friday, 4 July 2008
Recent services and God's favour.
Erwin and myself are now preaching in different places. The church have sent me to one of their daughter churches in the poorest area of Nairobi which is called 'Soweto' named after the poverty stricken area of South Africa.
The night before last I preached on how God can help us overcome fear. The response was overwhelmingly positive. It turns out that fear is one of the main challenges in the area and this word helped people a lot.
Yesterday we all went to another church in Jopka, Nairobi where there is a small but very vibrant church which has faced stiff opposition from some local people. {especially christians}. Some are angry that the pastor is a woman and have told her that God does not anoint women. Despite this she has a wonderful worship service going and the church loves to sing and praise. I knew nothing of these things when I started preaching but I ministered on Davicd overcoming Goliath and the things he overcame beforehand. His elder brother Eliab made nasty accuisations about him that were unfounded yet Davids response to it is very important. I told the church that God is always looking for a man or woman like David and that if we would have his attitude God will fight for us and help us to defeat the Goliaths in our lives. Several things I said related to things that were happening in the church and the word was very well recieved.
Tonight we will be back at Soweto. Pray that God would give us the right words to speak and for a miraculous healing for a young girl by the name of 'Peris' who after a stick went into her eye is now blind in that eye, suffered headackes and blackouts. Her family simply cannot afford to get hospital treatment but we are believing God for a miracle.
God bless you...steve
The night before last I preached on how God can help us overcome fear. The response was overwhelmingly positive. It turns out that fear is one of the main challenges in the area and this word helped people a lot.
Yesterday we all went to another church in Jopka, Nairobi where there is a small but very vibrant church which has faced stiff opposition from some local people. {especially christians}. Some are angry that the pastor is a woman and have told her that God does not anoint women. Despite this she has a wonderful worship service going and the church loves to sing and praise. I knew nothing of these things when I started preaching but I ministered on Davicd overcoming Goliath and the things he overcame beforehand. His elder brother Eliab made nasty accuisations about him that were unfounded yet Davids response to it is very important. I told the church that God is always looking for a man or woman like David and that if we would have his attitude God will fight for us and help us to defeat the Goliaths in our lives. Several things I said related to things that were happening in the church and the word was very well recieved.
Tonight we will be back at Soweto. Pray that God would give us the right words to speak and for a miraculous healing for a young girl by the name of 'Peris' who after a stick went into her eye is now blind in that eye, suffered headackes and blackouts. Her family simply cannot afford to get hospital treatment but we are believing God for a miracle.
God bless you...steve
Prayer requests
On tuesday evening after a service I was asked to pray for a young girl by the name of 'Peris' {Not Paris in case you were wondering}. She had a stick hither in her left eye and the stick actualy went into her eye. It has now gone white and she cannot see through it. She is suffering from headaches and occassionaly faints.
She lives in the porest part of Nairobi called 'Soweto' named after the poverty stricken area of South Africa. There is no way her mother can afford hospital treatment and so we are praying for a miraculous recovery. Please pray for ht efainting to stop and for the headaches to go and for her eye to be healed.
Alos one of the pastors in the fellowship I am ministering for is called Steve. He has been married for 13 years but his wife cannot have children because a tube is blocked. They cannot afford the money it would take for an operation to correct this so please pray for his wife also.
God bless you...Steve
Thankyou....Steve
She lives in the porest part of Nairobi called 'Soweto' named after the poverty stricken area of South Africa. There is no way her mother can afford hospital treatment and so we are praying for a miraculous recovery. Please pray for ht efainting to stop and for the headaches to go and for her eye to be healed.
Alos one of the pastors in the fellowship I am ministering for is called Steve. He has been married for 13 years but his wife cannot have children because a tube is blocked. They cannot afford the money it would take for an operation to correct this so please pray for his wife also.
God bless you...Steve
Thankyou....Steve
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
First services in Nairobi.
We've started our mission in Nairobi at 'The church of the Lord - Faith healing ministries' hosted by Bishop Abednego. Our first service was monday night. Tonight will be the first night of the churches schedued revival services. So far we have held seminars and we have taken turns in preaching.
What has been a real encouragement is when we have seen that one persons message is directly related to the others on the same night. I sat there on monday night and listened as Erwin was summing up and found that the start of my message followed on and relate to what he finished on. Last night I got to hear Timothy preach and he spoke on 'Integrity in Worship' using Job as an example. It was a really good message. I had a sermon prepared but after hearing him preach decided to put it aside and preach the one that I had felt so stirred to write that day. I ministered on loving God or loving the world. The context of the sermon tied in very well with what Timothy was preaching.
The situation here is very different to England. In English churches we have many teachers but not many evangelists. In Kenya there is an abundance of evangelists but few teachers. What I have found is if you preach very directly and with an evangelistic emphasis the people respond very well to that. Also they responded well when I shared one important verse and spoke it in their own language. {Even though I didn't pronounce it very clearly!}. I think the people are beginning to warm to us.
The praise and worship is very vibrant which is another thing I like. Please continue to pray for us as we are only just beginning. The numbers tend to increase night by night as the event spreads by word of mouth so pray that those who are sick will come and be healed and that those who don't know the Lord would come also.
During the day we will be split up and go to various churches that Bishop Abednego has planted out. Despite having written out a umber of sermons I find myself busy making more noted day by day {On the plane, in the departure lounge, even in Dubai airport overlooking a mosque}. God is giving us the words to speak. Continue to pray that God's word would be spoken and that it would bear much fruit in peoples lives.
shalom...Steve
What has been a real encouragement is when we have seen that one persons message is directly related to the others on the same night. I sat there on monday night and listened as Erwin was summing up and found that the start of my message followed on and relate to what he finished on. Last night I got to hear Timothy preach and he spoke on 'Integrity in Worship' using Job as an example. It was a really good message. I had a sermon prepared but after hearing him preach decided to put it aside and preach the one that I had felt so stirred to write that day. I ministered on loving God or loving the world. The context of the sermon tied in very well with what Timothy was preaching.
The situation here is very different to England. In English churches we have many teachers but not many evangelists. In Kenya there is an abundance of evangelists but few teachers. What I have found is if you preach very directly and with an evangelistic emphasis the people respond very well to that. Also they responded well when I shared one important verse and spoke it in their own language. {Even though I didn't pronounce it very clearly!}. I think the people are beginning to warm to us.
The praise and worship is very vibrant which is another thing I like. Please continue to pray for us as we are only just beginning. The numbers tend to increase night by night as the event spreads by word of mouth so pray that those who are sick will come and be healed and that those who don't know the Lord would come also.
During the day we will be split up and go to various churches that Bishop Abednego has planted out. Despite having written out a umber of sermons I find myself busy making more noted day by day {On the plane, in the departure lounge, even in Dubai airport overlooking a mosque}. God is giving us the words to speak. Continue to pray that God's word would be spoken and that it would bear much fruit in peoples lives.
shalom...Steve
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Church of the Lord.
Our mission will start at the 'Church of the Lord' in the city of Nairobi with Bishop Abednego Maundu Nthiwa. The mission will continue there until the 14th July. {Although I will be moving on to minister in other places on the 7th}. Bishop Abednego has planted out a number of churches in the region and we may have the opportunity to visit some of them and minister there.
On the 6th of July there is a special celebration for the church. The church celebrates it's 21st anniversary. Today around 1,000 people attend 'Church of the Lord' with people being trained to pastor and going as far afield as Mombasa on the coast to start a new work.
Our theme for the mission will be 'defeating the giants' and is something I felt God speak to me about and was confirmed by another in a prayer meeting. We will be looking at Daniel chapter 7 as well as how David defeated Goliath. {Not just a children's story! There is a wealth of spiritual truth buried in that passage}. I will also be looking at the 7 tribes of Canaan which the children of Israel has to defeat to enter the promised land. Each of those 7 tribes represent a stronghold in peoples lives which by the power of God and His word we can overcome.
One of those tribes are called 'Perizzites'. They lived in unwalled cities and were known for their violent attacks on the weak and vulnerable. Another tribe are the Jebusites who were the inhabitants of what is now called Jerusalem. They are associated with condemnation and discouragement.
No doubt I will share more when we are over there. I am looking forward to seeing all that the Lord will do.
God bless you...Steve
On the 6th of July there is a special celebration for the church. The church celebrates it's 21st anniversary. Today around 1,000 people attend 'Church of the Lord' with people being trained to pastor and going as far afield as Mombasa on the coast to start a new work.
Our theme for the mission will be 'defeating the giants' and is something I felt God speak to me about and was confirmed by another in a prayer meeting. We will be looking at Daniel chapter 7 as well as how David defeated Goliath. {Not just a children's story! There is a wealth of spiritual truth buried in that passage}. I will also be looking at the 7 tribes of Canaan which the children of Israel has to defeat to enter the promised land. Each of those 7 tribes represent a stronghold in peoples lives which by the power of God and His word we can overcome.
One of those tribes are called 'Perizzites'. They lived in unwalled cities and were known for their violent attacks on the weak and vulnerable. Another tribe are the Jebusites who were the inhabitants of what is now called Jerusalem. They are associated with condemnation and discouragement.
No doubt I will share more when we are over there. I am looking forward to seeing all that the Lord will do.
God bless you...Steve
Flying out today. {at Last!}
At long last time time has come and the three of us {Myself along with Erwin and his son Timothy} will be flying out to Nairobi. We will be stopping off in the United Arab Emirites in the middle east for several hours and will arrive in Kenya on sunday.
I took my first malaria prevention tablet today and made a mistake. The instructions stated that one tablet should be taken after eating food. I got up yesterday morning thinking 'I ate last night. That should be O.K' only to find myself feeling like throwing up. Once I got into town and bought myself a greesy burger I felt much better. {Who said greesy food is bad for you?} I think the tablets are designed to release what they contain into your system gradually and it happens much faster if there is nothing to line your stomach.
I'm also looking forward to seing the middle eastern city of Dubai. Apparently one in four of the worlds cranes are in operation in that city, such is the building work going on there. The city has been built on the proceeds of it's vast oil wealth.
I took my first malaria prevention tablet today and made a mistake. The instructions stated that one tablet should be taken after eating food. I got up yesterday morning thinking 'I ate last night. That should be O.K' only to find myself feeling like throwing up. Once I got into town and bought myself a greesy burger I felt much better. {Who said greesy food is bad for you?} I think the tablets are designed to release what they contain into your system gradually and it happens much faster if there is nothing to line your stomach.
I'm also looking forward to seing the middle eastern city of Dubai. Apparently one in four of the worlds cranes are in operation in that city, such is the building work going on there. The city has been built on the proceeds of it's vast oil wealth.
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