Stories from the Field

The following story is from Kenya, Africa, where the 2 Timothy Discipleship Kenya initiative is about to begin. The recent unrest and violence that has occurred there has resulted in much suffering, yet God clearly is working in the lives and hearts of believers, as evidenced by this story from IMB Missionary Bert Yates in Kenya:

“Material things are not important.  The important thing is our relationship with God.”  These are not the words of a pastor, but of a young medical professional who lost all his possessions in the early days of the post-election violence. Wedding gifts that he and his new bride, Florence, had not yet opened were among those material things. 

On the morning of the December 29th, they were awakened by shouting and banging outside their windows.  They heard stories of members of certain tribes being attacked on their street.  When it came time for the husband to report to the hospital for his late afternoon rotation, they decided that Florence, who was on vacation from her job at the university, would go with him rather than stay at home alone.  Neighbours of another ethnic background also decided to go with them. 

Newlyweds Sharing Their Experiences

They remember being afraid and praising God when they travelled out of their neighbourhood safely.  Later in the evening the bad news began to arrive.  First the newlyweds received word from their landlord that his house and theirs was being looted. Next came the message that their house had been torched.  Later, a friend called to say that he tried to retrieve some of their belongings, but their house was burned to the ground and only ashes remained.  The couple openly shared the trauma they had experienced, yet they praised God for how he had provided Christians to offer them support and a place to live during the next few weeks.  They also shared their concerns for others who had not been united as a family during the problems and those who had been physically attacked.   The young bride ended with this challenge, “We must recognize that as a church and as Kenyans it must start with each of us to end prejudices and the problems.” 

This was one of the testimonies shared at the healing service at our church this morning. Their stories were not simply reports of the chaos, but the stories of church family members who were among the injured, attacked and threatened during the last few weeks.  We also listened as counsellors shared the who’s, how’s, and why’s of the trauma that many in Kenya are now feeling…Time was given for questions and answers including how to help children deal with their fears and reactions and how does all that has happened relate to the many young couples of differing ethnic backgrounds who are dating and even planning marriages in the coming days. 

We heard incredible songs that spoke of the need for repentance and healing.  We sang the prayer, “Make me over again” and we were given time to pray silently and offer our personal petitions. We were also challenged this morning to obey Ephesians 4:31-2, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us.”

Kenyan Children Praying

Pastor Simon shared, “In Jesus Christ, there are no Kikuyu, Kalejins, Luo, Luhya, Maasai, Kamba, Orma…We are one! There is a fountain of healing.  There is a fountain of peace.  This fountain is found in Jesus Christ.  Reach out to this healing.  Reach out to this hope...I see a revival where hundreds of thousands, no, millions turn to Jesus – Our only hope for healing; our only hope for peace.” 

The service ended with all joining hands and singing again a prayer of affirmation and promise sung earlier in the service, “If you believe and I believe and we pray together, the Holy Spirit will come down and Kenya shall be saved.”