September 5, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this update I want to do two things. First, I want to communicate with you some ministry activities for the month. Second, I want to share with you some of my vision for the next couple of months so that you can effectively pray along with me.

As far as the ministry activities go we have done so many "firsts" again this month. I was able to organize a day-long Bible Club combining all three of the churches that have been started here. I hoped for thirty to forty kids to come but we ended up with over one-hundred-ten! What a blessing to see all those children from five years old to late teens learning about the Bible, memorizing verses, singing, and playing. I also taught for the first time in the Bible Institute for pastors and church leaders. We are currently teaching them Bible doctrines. I was looking forward to this because I love to teach the Bible so much and the men in attendance seem so excited to learn. I also preached for the first time in Kenya since I was here for two weeks in early 2006. I preached in English with a translator and this time I preached in Swahili. I think the people in attendance really appreciated me trying to preach in their language, although I'm sure my grammar and pronunciation were still terrible.

Now for some vision. In the next few months I want to start working very closely with our church leaders here to see where a new church is most needed in this area. We have come here to be used by the Lord to start churches and that is where my heart lies. The gospel is powerful and effective to change lives, and I so desperately want to take the good news of Jesus to areas that need His saving grace and mercy in their lives. We want to see God's Spirit so move in these people that churches are started, people are changed, and then see those churches working and ministering under the influence of the Holy Spirit without needing missionary oversight. I even have a yearning for the outlying areas and villages surrounding the Kitale area. Please pray earnestly for this vision of ministry. I know you also want to see the glory of God shine and the Kingdom of Christ spread in this part of the world.

As you pray, please pray for our safety, as this is a big issue in Kitale right now. Last month a missionary couple were brutally attacked in an outlying village near Kitale. There are bands of thugs attempting to rob houses that may even have police attachments. A couple of weeks ago, our next door neighbors (who are Kenyans) were driven off their compound and threatened with their lives if they tried to return. And just last night a store in town was completely burned out. We don't know if it was an accident or not, but the two guards who were inside were unable to escape and died in the fire. I saw the riot police in town today when I went in. They were making sure the fire from last night didn't spark any trouble. Pray for peace in the hearts of the Kenyan people as they find peace in the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior! No social program can improve the status of Kenya, but the grace of God certainly can and the Kingdom of Heaven is like a little leaven a woman puts into a lump of dough, and before too long the whole lump is leavened. A little gospel can change an entire people or country. May God's peace and joy be with you.

For the glory of God in Africa,

Roger & Julie Tate (and Emily, Amy, & Josiah)