update, March 2011
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Tag Archives: discipleship
teaching …
I (Joshua) had a wonderful opportunity to teach a few weeks ago (28 January – 1 February). Twenty-one pastors and elders from our churches came to our training centre at Ewaso Ng’iro. They represented 19 different communities and eight different geographical regions.
I taught the Enkinosata Ororei Le Nkai curriculum that we finished just before departing for furlough on our last term. But this was also a teachers’ training course: at the end of our 35 hours together, each had been prepared to take these lessons to their home congregations, adapting them as necessary for their specific pastoral context.
Before we departed, Stephen Kereto (and elder from our “home church” in Endoinyo Erinka, who learned to read through CMF’s literacy program) stood and publicly thanked us for providing teaching materials that were prepared in their own language and which addressed their own culture. In the following weeks, John Sosio and Jim Kipees (not pictured, he is my co-worker and taught one of the ten lessons) reported to me how helpful the lessons and dramas were when they taught them in their churches.
So that was a most encouraging time for me. But let us give all praise and thanks and glory to God, to whom it is due.
L-R (bottom): Joseph Sosio, Paul Shuel, Elia Nkilapus, Sammy Pesi, Stephen Kereto (middle): Jacson Mereru, Philip Sitayo Kobaay, Johnson Ntadia, Peter Kiopiro, Peter Tamoo, Jackson Pareyio, Stephen Kutingala (top): Joshua, Paul Karia, John Sosio, Daniel Meipuki (standing), Daniel Kereto, Julius Sinke, Wilson Dapash, Edward Ololchoki, Simon Muya Olokumum (standing) (not pictured): Thomas Pesi”
See the photo albums page for more pictures.
prayer update
January begins our work as curriculum development coordinators …
For our pray-ers: click here to download a PDF of our January 2011 prayer update.
New Birth
death: crucified and buried with Jesus
At church today we had seven baptisms. While the new beginning and new birth of baptism is always exciting, this baptismal service was particularly special, for two reasons. First of all, there were four different tribal groups represented: Maasai, Kikuyu, Luyha, Kisii. What a wonderful foretaste of heaven! Just three years ago, Narok was on the brink of a couple of months of terrible inter-tribal violence during the post-election crisis in 2007-08. Today, at least in this place, representatives of enemy tribes have been brought together in Christ.
new birth: raised to walk in the resurrection life of Christ our Lord
new birth: raised to walk in the resurrection life of Christ our Lord
Secondly, all of those baptized were youth between the ages of 15-18. And I think without exception these youth came from member families. While it is always delightful to witness the coming to Christ of people from completely outside the Church, we have often seen faithful believers mourn that their children are not choosing to become followers of the Way. What a blessing when parents are able to share the good news with their children!