news from kenya

AHERO
Faith is not complete without works.   The faithful men mentioned in Hebrews 11 all believed God.  Abraham abandoned his native land to be a sojourner in an unknown country.  Abel offered in sacrifice the things God required.  Noah laboured and built the ‘saviour’ ark.  Their deeds made them ‘rich’ in God’s sight.   Nicodemus had to learn and believe about baptism.  We all have to have faith and action too.   Jesus cwas born as the only begotten Son of God, the sacrificial lamb to take away sin.  In Golgotha the Lord said, “It is finished”.  What was finished?  His whole life of sacrifice and then the sacrifice of himself when he was crucified and his blood poured out.  Faith and works go together.
Bro. Nelson Otieno

BARICHO
When I think of leadership, I always remember when the children of Israel asked for a king who would go before them and fight their battles, refusing God as their King.  But God did not leave them, although He let them have a king.  Likewise nowadays, not only in countries, but also in churches, there are still battles for leadership.  Leadership means nothing.  True believers know what they are after – everlasting life in God’s Kingdom;  they do not fight for leadership.  An elder in an ecclesia is only there to help guide the ecclesia.  We believe in one Christ and we all want to be in God’s Kingdom here on earth when the Lord Jesus returns.
Bro. David Kabaya

BUNGOMA
I thank you very much for the books.  I and my wife, Gladys, have enjoyed, and still enjoy, reading them and we are drawing topics to teach in our Malondo ecclesia in order to share the knowledge with the Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Bro. John W. Muyala

We are enlightened that Gospel News is quite  independent and this has cleared doubts amongst us who, like other brethren, thought it might be replaced by the Bible Missionary.  May I inform you that some of the youth here are very willing to have the Bible Correspondence Courses from UK.
Bro. Patrick Sawa

I am sorry to announce the falling asleep of our beloved Brother in Christ Benedict Miruka, who was buried on May 29^th. Very many Brethren and Sisters were able to attend the funeral and the burial.  From verse 1 of Romans ch. 6, our Brother Benedict rejected the continuance of living in sin where grace could not abound.  Verse 3 tells us that our Brother was baptised into Jesus’ death.  He was buried with Jesus by baptism into death through water.  That as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the Father, even so having come out of the water he had also to walk in newness of life.  Bro. Benedict is resting in the grave awaiting the likeness of our Master’s resurrection on the day when he will descend from heaven with a shout and the trump of God and with His holy angels (1 Thess. 4).  Our Brother leaves his Sister widow and seven children;  we ask them to keep strong in the faith.  We hope to meet our Brother in God’s Kingdom which will soon be established on earth.
Bro. Clement Fwamba Mateba

GISAMBAI
It is a great pleasure to me to thank all concerned with my baptism at our Givungi Ecclesia, for it has strengthened me spiritually.  I have now realised the real meaning of baptism (Rom. 6:3,4;  1 Peter 3:21).  Since we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, he was himself baptised, Paul was baptised and the converts to the early church were baptised.  We have repented and God has granted us forgiveness (Acts 2:38). And thus we are united with Jesus Christ and will not be enslaved by sin.  We will reign with Jesus when he will come the same way in which he went to heaven (Acts 1:11) and will set up a Kingdom that will stand for ever (Dan. 2:44).  Thanks a lot for sending me Bible Basics which is really assisting me in improving my Bible study. I do appreciate receiving Gospel News.  Actually, I have come to realise the truth and the whole truth through reading Gospel News.  I’ve come to believe that Jesus Christ is going to come (Luke 24:29-31).  As I meet with my fellow Brethren and Sisters and we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 3:42) we pray when Jesus Christ comes he will find us ready.
Bro. Joseph Luseno

ISHIARA
All in all I am fine and still struggling in this mortality, but fully assured that it is going to be very soon and this mortality will put on immortality, when Christ our Lord and King reappears with all his majesty – Amen.  May you soon come, Lord Jesus.
Bro. David Aphaxard

KABABU
Numbers 13 and 14 are sad chapters if used as a sign post to our walk towards the Kingdom of God.  The events shown prove that the Israelites were not ready for the great purpose that Yahweh had in store for them.  Truly it was so.  Consider Psalm 81:11-14.  The Israelites were not hearing the voice of Yahweh as they walked towards the promised land.  God promised them the inheritance of the land, but it was only depending on them listening to His voice, but as we read through these chapters we note that the unfaithful were wanting to walk by sight and not by faith.  Deuteronomy 1:22 shows that the chosen of God sent a deputation to Moses asking that spies should go first and search the land, reporting on its condition and the strength of its inhabitants. Though Yahweh agreed to this, it was not good.  Compare 1 Sam. 8:6,22 with Hosea 13:11 – the Lord permitted what they wanted, but not what He liked.   Brothers and Sisters, as we are the body of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, let us ignore sight-walking towards the Kingdom and have total faith in God’s promises, casting all our care upon him (Mark 11:22; Matt. 6:25), realising that God knows our needs beforehand and will provide.  Let Jesus dwell in our very hearts in all our ways (Eph. 3:17).
Bro Samwel Masawa

KAKAMEGA
Thank you for your letter together with the booklet of model questions and answers re. baptism which I have found very useful guidelines. I have now received material from the ALS - many thanks.  I am now making good use of this and would appreciate any further supply.  I am waiting for the Bible Basics in Kiswahili. I have a student who doesn’t speak nor understand English but can speak Kiswahili fluently.  I also have a group of seven children aged between 3 and 14, but lack Sunday School material. It would be of much benefit if you could send me suitable material for them.  
Bro. Gibson A. Azare

KITALE
It is apostolic exhortation to “behold, the goodness and severity of God”.  Both these sides of the Divine character have to be recognised before we get a wholesome and scriptural view of Him with whom we have to do.  Both are amply illustrated in the historic doings of God with His people Israel.  It is with the latter illustration we are now thinking about.  Isaiah 58 brings before us the severe side of God’s character and at the same time reminds us of some important lessons we are liable to forget, and upon the remembering and carrying out of them will depend our ultimate individual acceptance with Him.  The prophet is commanded to "Cry aloud, spare not: lift up the voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins”. The prophet was not sent to the surrounding heathen, to tell them of their sins, but to Israel, God's own people.  Sin is by no means confined to those who know not God.  The need for condemning sin exists as much, and in a certain sense more, within the house of God than in the outer darkness.
Sis. Lydia Fuchaka

LUUYA
Our Brethren at Luuya ask if the 25^th day of the 12^th month is mentioned in the Bible.   At first sight we read this as December 25, and the answer, of course, would have been no, because the names of the months in the Bible are in Hebrew and different to the English months, as the chart shows.  There is no command to celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25^th.  The mention of shepherds tending their flocks indicates that Christ’s birth could well have been in the spring.  December 25^th was the time of a pagan festival, which was adopted to celebrate the birth of Christ.  The question still remains:  Is the five and twentieth day of the twelfth month mentioned in the Bible?  We are indebted to Bro. George Wabwile and Bro. Wycliffe Wasike of Kenya for bringing this verse to our attention. 

The answer to this question is at the bottom of the Kenyan News.

MASMBWENI
Looking at it from a personal point of view, the qualification required to enter the Kingdom of God is a very simple one – love.  Yet, think of Jacob’s sons, they hated Joseph (Gen. 37:8.  But was it wise of Joseph to explain his dreams to them?   And what about his father’s view? (Gen. 37:11.  We also think of David (1 Sam. 17:28);  his brothers hated him, but he was chosen by God.  Jesus also was hated of his people, because of the things he did and said (Matt. 27:1-2).  However, God loves everybody (John 3:16) and we must do the same.
Bro. Benedict Masai

MBITA
I am happy to tell you that faith is real.  Earlier this year we went to Sindo beach where we witnessed the baptisms of three new Brothers (1) Jactone Okime (2) Elkana Othoo (3) Othoo Michael Orie.  Let us stay close to God, that is the way to find the Kingdom.
Bro. Jared Oketch

MSAMBWENI  
Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ.  I am happy being a young Sister in the truth.  I am interested in meeting and sharing this wonderful hope with others.  Please can you send some magazines about how a young Sister can grow in the truth.  
Sis. Patricia L. Maing

NAKURU
I cried when I read from your letter that in New Zealand three children had three days’ fasting because they wanted to feel what true hunger was like.  I cannot imagine people going without food for days despite having well stocked refrigerators.  This is a challenge to we people in Africa, in poor countries, who may depend on support from our western Brothers.  Time has come to say no, and also provide from our pocket for the spread of the gospel, remembering the poor widow who threw two coins into the treasury box.  Jesus commented that she had given more than anyone else.  For ourselves, we were blessed with three kids, but unfortuntely one fell asleep after birth.  We received some mosquito nets, 15 in number, and distributed them amongst ourselves.  We were so happy to have them as we live in mosquito-infested areas and malaria drugs are very expensive.  I received the booklet ‘Withdrawal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit’; what a nice debate it was.  After receiving it we went through it with our Brothers and Sisters; it arrived at the right time, since we were planning a Bible study and invited our Bible students surrounding Nakuru.  Any other booklets which will help us will be gratefully received.  I am an artist and I move from one market to another selling Mosaic pictures carrying some verses from the Bible.  Whenever I share the word of God with someone, it sometimes seems odd when I explain that tomb, hades, hell etc. mean the same – grave.  By reading my Bible regularly I stay well informed and my journey towards the Kingdom of God becomes easier.
Bro. Peter Thuo Kariuki

NDHIWA
We see Jesus, walking along the dusty roads, standing where people stood; stopped for a weeping woman, a blind person, for a wealthy loner, a beggar etc.  He restored them with compassion and left them rejoicing, forgiven and with new sight.  But he never healed easily, mark that carefully – “Power went out of me”, he said when the suffering woman touched him.  The Healer never healed without pain.  In Bethany, tears were streaming down the face of our Saviour as he stood with Martha and Mary and called Lazarus from the grave.  Most costly of all was the cross of Jesus; that is where we see the highest form of love.  The glory of Jesus shines from the depth of the bitterness, the suffering, the injustice, misery and loneliness of the cross.  But there our transformation began, because the cross demonstrated in shining letters, ‘This is how much God loves’.  The cross carried that love to the point of death, and through it into resurrection.  As Jesus showed his love to us, let us also display this word love on our backs – Ruoth opaki.
Bro. Leonard Mboya Lar

NYERI
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”   When we meet at the Lord’s table to remember his sacrifice we should remember the example of the faith of those of old times, some of whom are mentioned in Hebrews ch. 11.  Abraham and Sarah had a child when they were old.  Faith is often tried, and we have an example of this when Abraham was told to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.  Moses kept the Passover and the Israelites passed over the Red Sea as by dry land.  Even the walls of Jericho fell down after seven days – by faith.  When we come to the time of Jesus we see that women received their dead raised to life.  Jesus bore the agony of the cross – this was the supreme example of faith.  For those Brothers and Sisters who may feel lonely, being perhaps one or two in number, if we have faith in the work of the gospel, God will add more and more Brothers and Sisters to the fellowship of Christ.  So let us love each other and have faith “for without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11 6).
Bro. Alex K. Mwaniki

PALA-SARE
I am worried that the *snap I sent of the ecclesia has not yet been published.  I met with our Bro. Philip Lawrence and his wife, Sis. Kate, in April at Migori.  In South Nyanza we have six ecclesias, but due to time, Bro. Lawrence combined Okumbo and Kababu at one place.  Through God’s mercy two Sisters were baptised.  I hope, trust and believe that one day Brothers from UK will visit Okumbo ecclesia.  Please send Jan/Feb Gospel News which I did not receive.
Bro. John Kine

*Sorry for the delay John.

SIAYA
My new working station is at Siaya, about 250km from Migory; its far away, a different environment and hot weather conditions.  I miss my Brothers in Migori.  I send my greetings to people in Uzbekistan, Tashkent and Bro. Oleg and encourage him to stand firm in the Lord who will protect him all through his mission.  God bless you all.
Bro. Kennedy Kirinya

SUNA-MIGORI
Thank you for your letters that I’ve been receiving.  The teachings they contain are very good and inspiring.  I’ve been able to know the feared beasts, of Daniel and Revelation, the current world situation and that the Lord is coming soon in a cloud, with power and great glory, bringing with him justice, righteousness and order and subduing all evil.  What a wonderful day it will be when we will rejoice with our dear Lord!  We are a group of people in our faith.  The Migori ecclesia is very far from here, so we decided to site a building near us to enable us all to attend Sunday services.
Bro. Peter Omoga

TONGAREN
The Bible tells us that many people will be judged when Jesus returns.  Paul says that Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1).  Responsible people are those who know about God, whether they have rejected him or obeyed Him.  All those shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ and each will give an account of him/herself to Christ (Rom. 14:10,12)  Not all responsible people will be saved (see Luke 13:28).  People who have never known about God will not be raised for judgment because they are not responsible to Him.  Daniel tells us that many (not all) of those who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting destruction (Dan. 12:2).  Faithful believers can look forward to this wonderful blessing.  God is going to send Jesus Christ to bring peace to the world.  After resurrection and judgment those who are saved will enter the Kingdom of God as priests to preach the word of God to all nations.  If we serve God now we will belong to Him in the day when “there shall be no more death” (Rev. 21:4).  May God bless all who do the will of God.
Sis. Nancy Nasimiyu

Because Jesus said the gospel should be preached to every creature, we should encourage people to devote themselves to the work of the Lord, especially by translating the gospel into native languages (Matt. 28:19-20).  A good follower of Christ should not mock or neglect any translation of the word of God, instead he should do the corrections to make the translation suitable for the benefit of coming generations.  Let us unite world wide to assist in every way in translating the gospel into the native languages of the world.
Bro. Isaac Kapa