As this year draws to a
close, we are continually thankful to be blessed with such amazing friends. To
be in your hearts, thoughts, and prayers is a blessing that can never be
measured; yet we see the results here everyday. Here are some recent stories
from people in our church and Bible school that really encouraged us.
The first example
is from our own family. Today as we sat for prayer with Julie and Pr. Albert I
could hear our children playing in their room in the background. They were
singing worship and praise songs. That brought a smile to my face and later I
asked them what game they were playing. They responded, “church”. I came to
find that they had built a stage with Legos and were making their Barbies lead
the Worship service. What a great encouragement to see God make His way into
their little lives. I can imagine Jesus right there in their midst smiling with
them as they glorify God with their joy.
I think again of a
visit we made to one of our church members home’s a few weeks ago. This is a
member that has been with us from before the beginning. He came to Bible
studies that we did here when we first visited 3 years ago. Upon moving here
and visiting his home for the first time, we found he was living with another
woman without being married. The visit was awkward and we could feel tension as
we sat in his home. Later we found that his girlfriend was skeptical of us as
foreigners and I’m sure under conviction. Within a month or two without any
direct exhortation from us, this man broke off the relationship citing that he
didn’t feel that his girlfriend wanted God. Another 6 months passed and he
mentioned that he was moving back in with his girlfriend. We said to him why
not marry her and we as a church could do the wedding. What a transformation
came as a result. His fiancé started coming to church, her skepticism was
washed away as she drank in the love from the church and the Word of God. Over
the past weeks as we planned the wedding, her face glowed with a smile that was
opposite of the way we first met her. Yesterday, we did their wedding during
the Sunday morning service. It became an evangelistic event since some of her
family members are Muslims. It was awesome, we had ladies with Burkas in the
church; and we just poured on the Love of God and presented the clear Gospel.
Lukia witth her daughter, Sarah and Joseph!
The last example
was also another wedding (Rededication actually) we did on Saturday – It is the
month for weddings apparently. This ceremony was for one of our church members
who previously lived in England. He and his wife have been married for 7 years
but living apart for a few years due to visa problems. His wife came to visit
for the Christmas holidays and he asked if we could do a rededication of their
wedding vows. We had a great time of fellowship in the days leading up to the
ceremony. His wife was really searching for God, and said that she feels God
ministers to her especially when she visits Africa. We just encouraged her in
God’s plan for her and the providence of God putting us all together. Their
ceremony was this past Saturday; it was a simple and beautiful one. After the
ceremony we were invited to the reception at the family’s home. I was in awe to
see the great reverence of the Word of God. To open the reception, I was asked
to share about the importance of the family. Every person in the reception, 60
people, gathered in the Living room of the home and we shared the Word of God,
it was a full weekend.
KENNETH AND CHRISTINE'S RENEWAL OF VOWS
May God bless you this Christmas and New Years Holiday!
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