Bwana asifiwe (Praise the Lord!) Habari yako (how are you?) “How are you?”, by the way, is the favorite English phrase used by young children who encounter us.
You’ll read two reports for today – the guys participated in the Pastors’ Conference, while the gals threw a surprise baby shower for Charity.
Sammy's Pastors' Conference was conducted with the Kibera Pastors Fellowship (KPF). Much of it was like Sunday's church service -- significant portions of time spent praising and singing and praying. Timing is much more casual here. When someone sets a time for something, perhaps an event to start, or to meet people, it may happen at that time, or it may not. And if not, when it starts, it may sort of “ease into” starting. We experienced this today, as at Sunday’s church service, and almost daily when being picked up and going to other events. At 0900, only a few pastors were there, and Pastor Jeremiah (Pastor of Sammy’s church, Christ-Co, the one we attended Sunday) was walking around the room, making final adjustments and praying and singing out loud. Others were doing the same, and suddenly all of us were singing and praising God together, and 25 or 30 people were in the room!
Reverend Tenega spoke after the introductions. He talked about how in the short two years of KPF’s existence, God has already done much. When Rev. Tenega was first posted to Kibera, he was overwhelmed by the needs. Through much prayer and fasting, and interaction with other pastors, KPF was born. He gave much of the credit to Pastor Jeremiah.
Working in Kibera isn’t easy. It’s the biggest African slum, even bigger (and in worse condition) than Soweto. There are many “giants” here – disease, famine, unemployment, housing, sanitation, orphans. The pastors need to take Mark 16:15+ to heart – only the Good News of Jesus Christ will work in such terrible conditions. While the conditions are bad, we must be faithful, because God will protect us. The KPF is so important to us – it’s easy to become discouraged, and we can uplift and encourage one another. God has promised us all the Earth as an inheritance, Psalm 2:8. Jesus was given all authority by the Father; Jesus has in turn given it to us! Don’t let the giants frighten you – if Jesus is with us, who can be against us?
Pastor Joe presented two sermons. The first dealt with Philippians 2:1-11. Jesus left the glories of heaven to live among those who hated and despised Him. But He intentionally emptied Himself – Kenosis. We’ve likewise been called to empty ourselves and become a servant, as He did to those He created! (Mark 10:45) We’re to be like-minded, which means a unity of spirit in which powerful tensions are held together by overriding, foundational truths. While we can’t compromise on these foundational areas, we can have differences in secondary areas. Regardless, we need each other – we can’t be “Lone Rangers.” We are like-minded in that we have the same love, as in 1 John 3:16.
We also have the same spirit and purpose. It’s not about me, the church, or the pastors. It’s about Jesus Christ, and if we aren’t like-minded, we’re sinning. The people God is calling me to serve are the same ones for whom Jesus died. Significance in God’s eyes isn’t lording over others, but serving them.
We’re also called to humility. Unity in the church begins with slaying the giant of selfishness within each of us, each day. So much of the turmoil and divisions within the church are due to selfish ambition (Gal. 5:20). God lives in the heart of the humble, not the proud (see Isaish 57:15, James 4:6, 10). Thinking of others, especially before yourself, isn’t natural. But God promises to help us (see Matt. 7:1-5). We must also look out for others’ interests, denying ourselves and our comforts.
Following another time of praise and worship, a Bishop spoke (sorry, I didn’t catch his name), and he also emphasized the need for unity. We must overcome the enemy of poverty. The battle is not ours, but the Lord’s. The key is humility – we must follow Jesus’ example, who humbled Himself and was then exalted by the Father (see John 17:5, 10, 11). “So that they may be one as we are one.” Unity is strength – when we decide to do something in unity, it’ll happen. KPF pastors must respond quickly, because there is much to be done. We must imitate Jesus (see Phil. 3:10). Unity makes the church a positive example to the world, and draws people to them (Psalm 133).
After some more praise and worship, Pastor Joe again spoke, and he followed up on the unity theme by focusing on Ephesians 2. As God looks at people, He only sees two categories – redeemed and unredeemed. There is a spiritual hostility between these categories. Beginning in v. 11 and going thru v. 22, we were hopeless. But, thru Jesus’ blood, we’ve been brought near. By abolishing the barriers that formerly existed, He reconciled us to God, and gentiles to Jews. Nothing matters except whether or not we belong to Jesus. The power of the Gospel destroys the dividing wall of hostility among the people groups of the world. Modern technology has made the world a neighborhood; God has called us to make it a brotherhood.
Jesus Himself is our peace. When we come into God’s family, Jesus isn’t my peace, He’s our peace. He told us to pray for our daily bread, not my daily bread; forgive our sins, not my sins. While salvation is individual, the body is corporate. Jesus has destroyed the barriers which formerly separated us. There’s too much division, hostility, jealousy, self-centeredness in the church today. Jesus said if you come to the alter to pray, and hold something against your brother, you must reconcile yourself to him before worshipping, or God will not accept your worship.
We had some more praise and worship time, and then had lunch with them (real Kenyan food). The entire event lasted almost five hours non-stop! It’s been truly a blessing to experience worship with them. They’re so passionate, exuberant, and emotional. Afterwards, one of them smilingly told me I need to loosen up a little when I worship! Certainly, it was a different experience for me.
Later in the afternoon we went to Sammy's mom's "home" in Kibera. "Home" is definitely a stretch, but the one small room did have four walls, a ceiling and a door, and electricity (sort of). The "bathroom" was right outside flowing down the street (I saw several folks using it during our walk thru the slums. The smell was incredible.)
Sammy's mom is still recovering from a blood clot from two years ago. They didn't have money for the doctor, and she almost died. He's from a family of eight kids (his father deserted the family); the oldest child, Sammy's sister, died last year because they didn't have the money for a doctor. Despite her loss, Sammy rejoiced at the funeral, because she was a Christian, he knows she’s in a better place, and will see her again.
When Sammy talked about his mom, and how he lived with her in that one room for so many years, and his Christian testimony, and his sister, the girls were in tears. It's really an amazing story, in a couple of respects -- God's grace and mercy, and the government’s corruption. There was an article in today's English paper about how terrible the corruption is in Kenya, and how it's preventing needed infrastructure improvements, keeping folks in poverty, and keeping investors out of the country, which in turn prevents job creation and exacerbates the poverty. Sigh...
Afterwards, we toured the area Sammy has purchased for $7,000 -- it contains 17 "homes" including his mom's; he needs approximately $15,000 to build a YCT center to replace the rickety one he's now renting. We then went to that YCT center, and watched a dance performance the kids have personally choreographed for the upcoming three nights of outreach evangelism. It was great! Pastor Joe joined in and proved, once again, that Mzungu (white men) do not have rhythm… J
We solicit your prayers for the next three days. Sammy and his team have been working hard the last few days to pull this all together, and we’re praying that God will be glorified and many souls saved. Bwana asifiwe! Kawaheri (goodbye).
In His service, George O’Neal
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