Lord's Day April 28 2024

Once again, this last Lord's Day, while Eddie was holding the fort in Childs Hill, I was preaching to a large congregation in Kenya (this time an even bigger one, more like two hundred, perhaps twice what it was 12 years ago when I was here last). We began with a Bible class led by Dominic Kabaria, one of the elders, on the Trinity. He based his message on Wayne Grudem (who I notice has entered retirement just this week in America) and used the Athanasian Creed, which I ought to know better.

I preached at the 11 am service on John 3:16 and got on quite well I felt. It is intangible but I have the sense that when you prech to a congregation where there has been much prayer beforehand, it makes a huge difference.

After the service, Mark, who is the adminstrator for the Pastors College they have here, led a little gathering of newcomers and others, over a simple meal. Questions were asked and we had good conversation over praying for the dead, the Trinity and the word world inJohn 3:16.

In the afternoon at 3 pm Joshaua Bolaji, my fellow APC speaker, preached on Mark 1:40-2:17. He focussed on the leper, the parlaytic and Levi the tax collector and preached very warmly and effectively. I had never really thought about the fact that the paralytic's muscles would have been wasted away and yet Jesus immediately heals hom and tells him to get up and walk, which he does.

It was good to talk to many of the congregation after, much of the conversation to do with Scripture. The same atmosphere prevailed when we ate with Murungi Igweta and his family at his house on site. Once again, I am forced to accept the words of the Puritan pilgrim John Robinson who said "I am verily persuaded the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of His Holy Word”. This is also confirmed by the reading I have been able to do while here.

It really is a very positive situation here in Kenya, with a lot to be thankful for.

Joshua Bolaji

In Kenya

Preaching in Kisumu

Lake Victoria

Last Monday (April 15) my wife kindly took me first thing to Heathrow where I caught a KLM 'plane to Amsterdam. From there I flew KLM to Nairobi. That took about eight and a half hours/ I was soon through customs and baggage and out into the Nairobi darkness. This is my seventh time on African soil and second time in Nairobi so the sights and sounds and smells were pretty familiar. I was met by Murungi Igweta, pastor at Trinity BC, with his son Asa. I was taken to the church, where I slept in one of the rooms they have on the compound.

Next morning I was driven to Kisumu in the truck by Cetric and two other young Kenyan men. We had to make an early stop for a tyre change and I enjoyed an Americano at a Java Cafe. Not a drop of coffee since then. I'm appreciating black tea anew. By pressing on without stopping we made Kisumu by nightfall. All three drove in turn. The Kenyan countryside is pretty much new to me and so it was fascinating at first to see kids herding small flocks of sheep and goats or cows. We spotted zebra in the distance at one point. Hawkers were selling a large variety of items at different points and several lorries laden with sugar cane were aso spotted. People everywhere walking or on bikes or in mutatas and carrying varied items. In the end it became a little tedious, however and then night fell.

In Kisumu, we called first at the house of the Baptist pastor Tonny Karwa and his wife, Olivia. They have a fascinating story. I stayed at the beautiful house of Ken Otiwa, his fellow elder, and his wife Elizabeth. Very nice. Ken kindly showed us Lake Victoria. We had two days of conference in the Kisumu church. I guess about sixty came each day. We looked at Romans over nine sessions with a Q&A to close. .There were about sixty there. I was joined for this by Joshua Bolaji, a Nigerian born Londoner who has ministered in South Africa for many ears and is very involved in the African Pastors Conferences (more here). Joshua joined us at the last moment having flown from the UK to RSA to Kisumu via Nairobi in less than 72 hours. It was great to meet him and we have been getting on well.

We next travelled to Eldoret from where I write. Jpshua drove this time. The other two young men returned to Nairiobu. This city is somewhat cooler and there has been a lot of rain. It was a great joy to meet Naphtally Ogallo once again and his wife Helida. Naphtally worked with Keith Underhill in the planting of Trinity, Nairobi, a work I have known of since I as a student. It was the church in Aberystwyth where my son now pastors that sent Keith out. Joshua, Cetric and myself are sharing a three bedroom suite in the church grounds. We are being well fed on the local fare, though we sent out for pizza tonight.

The Eldoret conference is much bigger, the biggest APC I have done, with over 120 present. It is not easy to take in what I have to say, however, with my foreign accent and tendency to speak more rapidly as I warm to the subject. In both places we have left notes.

Tomorrow we will share the speaking at the three services. Looking forward.

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