AFRICA MISSION September 3- October 6, 2009

Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda & Democratic Republic of Congo

 

KENYA: Kisumu - September 2-7, 2009 Discipleship Seminar

More than 50 people attended each day’s seminar. About 150 attended the closing session at the Oasis of Glory Church in Kisumu.  All participants received copies of Jesus DVD’s and Discipleship books for their churches.

Theme: Filled and Empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Response: More than 50 people prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit for renewal, personal growth and power for service. Pastor Dan has trained some people to show the Jesus film. As a result several peope have received Christ and new churches started in other communities and villages around Kisumu.

 

BURUNDI: Bujumbura – September 9-15, 2009

Discipleship seminar held at Trinity Tabernacle was led by Pastor Paddy. He received Bibles and Jesus DVDs and distributed them to university students who use the Bible as a text book to learn English as a second language. He also reported that the DVDs in local languages have helped them to lead several people to Christ. Some of them, just released from prisons, are attending his church and other churches in the city.  He received a video projector to help him to do effective teaching and showing Jesus film for evangelism in Burundi.

At Hope University in Bujumbura, over 80 students of the Christian Union received encouragement from a message I preached from Rev. 4:11. “For you created all things and by your will they exist and were created.”  At the Anglican Guest House, a South Korean lady, called Yun, also prayed with us to receive Christ into her life.

Copies of French manuscripts of the “One to One Discipleship” were presented to the Anglican Bishop Pie, Pastor Paddy, and Pastor Etienne. They promised to print many copies for their congregations they were preparing to disciple.

 Pastor Etienne, (Overseer of FECABU, the third largest denomination in Burundi), said the Discipleship seminar is an answer to his prayer. He remarked that after big Gospel crusades they have nothing to teach the people to guide them to maturity in their faith. He asked me to prepare for August 2010, because he is going to mobilize the 24 denominations connected to his ministry for a big Discipleship seminar in Bujumbura.  He received some Jesus DVDs and Discipleship books for his church and Bible school.

 

RWANDA, Butare: September 16 – 20, 2009

On Sept 18, Bishop Nathan invited his 35 priests of the Anglican Diocese and met for two days at St. Paul’s Cathedral for Discipleship seminar.

Theme: How to be Filled and Empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8).

We used study booklets entitled: “Have you heard of the Wonderful Spirit Filled life?”

After praying for God’s guidance I was prompted to ask all present: “How many of you are sure if you died today you’ll make it to Heaven?” To our surprise five priests were not sure. After the Bishop and I listened to their explanations we prayed with them to believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (John 1:12).

One priest testified that he now understands the importance of the Holy Spirit in his life and he will pray daily to be filled for a more effective ministry. Everyone received a Jesus DVD and also watched the Jesus film in their language. They rejoiced with drumming, singing and dancing together with their Bishop. It was very exciting to see the joy of the Lord that filled their hearts in worship.

Seventeen people: 9 women and 8 men, prayed all-night Friday till Saturday evening.

I asked them to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit and power for witnessing.

Sunday, Sept. 20: At the Butare Anglican Cathedral: The first service was in English. 68 people attended.  About 350 people attended the second service. Many of them prayed to receive Christ and to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:13). Bishop Nathan and I preached the gospel powerfully.

 Bishop Nathan and his church elders gave me a gift of Rwandan map wooden souvenir.

 

Democratic Republic of Congo: Bukavu – September 21 – 29, 2009

I was warmly welcomed to Bukavu by Bishop Bahati and his elders. On Sept. 23, at the St. Pierre Cathedral.  About 160 people gathered for the Discipleship Seminar. I introduced the lesson on: “How to be filled with the Holy Spirit” to them. They had 14 study groups of 10 or 12 persons in each group. They got excited when they understood how the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit will work in their lives. They were very open to the Lord to fill and empower them as we read in the Book of Acts.

 Sept 24: We went to Kabanga, a village about 20 km. west of Bukavu to speak to over 200 people from four parishes (some walked 5-10 km.) to come for the Discipleship training.

Two choirs sang and danced joyfully to the glory of God. After introducing the Discipleship lesson on the Holy Spirit to the congregation they got into 15 groups led by pastors, catechist and evangelist who interpreted the lesson from French to Swahili for the participants. We had a group picture followed by lunch time before we returned to Bukavu. Our hearts were filled with joy and thanksgiving to God.

Sept. 26: At  Chirunga, another village of about 14 km. from Bukavu, about 150 people including school children, attended the Discipleship seminar. The children listened to a brief message from Matthew 19:13-15.  They rejoiced with singing and praising the Lord before the teaching session. I spoke on “You must be born again by the Holy Spirit…” (John 3:3-8). About 60 people received Jesus into their lives. It was followed by small groups Bible study on the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Bahati led us to visit the local  Anglican secondary school and chatted with some of the students and the teachers.

Sept 27, 2009: We arrived at Kalehe-Lweza (70 km from Bukavu, but it took us about two and half hours to get there). Bishop Bahati did the confirmation service for about 30 people.

The church was filled with about 700 people. I was asked to preach for 45 minutes. More than half of them prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. I preached on John 14:14-18. Jesus promised that  the Father will give the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who receive Him. They prayed to receive the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus name. There was great rejoicing after receiving the Word of God.

Sept. 28, 2009: We visited the school before returning to Bukavu. 

Sept. 29, 2009: I travelled by bus for six hours from Bukavu through Cyangugu to Kigali, Rwanda and stayed at the IRIS Guest House and flew the next day to Nairobi, Kenya.

October 2, 2009: Pastor Jacob asked me to lead a devotional for 68 teachers and principals doing a seminar at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church at Woodley.

 Purpose for the Mission

I went there was to distribute 640 multi-language Jesus DVDs to the people of Armenia. My friend who visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh)  purchased this Jesus film on DVD to send to help the people of Armenia to help them deepen their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel to others who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour

Armenia is one of the oldest Christian nations in the world. Mountains of Ararat can be seen from every point of Yerevan, the capital city. Mount Ararat is snow capped all the year round. More than 80% of Armenia is mountainous and full of huge stones. All their building are built of stones. It is a great ancient Christian nation.

 Several monasteries and churches have been built on mountains all over Armenia and Karabakh.

Some date from 3rd century A.D. 7th c. AD; 12-13c A.D. up to the modern times. The monastries, churches Temples and chapels were all built in stone and many of them have survived centuries of earthquakes. Some of the monasteries are filled with tombs and graves of ancient prominent people and ornate designs of stone crosses. Each stone cross has its own story from when and who crafted it in centuries past.

Even though they believe in God, their liturgy show lack of personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Armenia needs a Holy Spirit revival. The people need not pray to their saints, kissing graves, tombs and pictures on the church walls and stop burning candles as a means of praying to God. Jesus is our mediator.

From my observation of the services I attended, they have a form of worship, but lack the power thereof. They are very religious indeed.  Join me to intercede for Armenia that as people watch the Jesus film and read their Bibles, the Holy Spirit will give them a revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Pray for salvation of souls .

Armenians are peaceful, loving and God fearing people but they need a revival. I felt deeply moved by the Lord to send more Bibles and Jesus DVDs to them. You can help by giving a donation for Bibles and Jesus DVDs. 

Together we can make a difference in the lives of people of other nations I travel to do Discipleship seminars.

 

Here is part of my itinerary for some of my time in Africa. I would greatly appreciate your prayers during this time of ministry that God would protect and guide my steps.

Departure from Edmonton: September 1 - October 6, 2009

Arriving in Kisumu, Kenya for Discipleship Seminar : September 2-6, 2009 Venue: Oasis of Glory Church 

I will be in Bujumbura, Burundi for Discipleship Seminar.

Arriving in Butare, Rwanda September  2009 Contact: St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral.

 Discipleship Seminar in Bukavu sponsored by the Anglican Dioceses of Bukavu, DRC.

 Jesus Films will be shown in the evening to the public with Multi-language DVDs.

I will appreciate your prayers for all these meetings for God's glory. You can donate to these meetings here.