Journal Archives
- 2010 -
KENYA, BURUNDI, RWANDA and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO: August 16 - September 16, 2010
Dear Beloved in Christ, Mission Partners and Supporters; the Lord has been leading me to the East African Countries in the Great Lakes Region since 2005 - 2010, and many bishops, priests and pastors who attended the Discipleship Seminars received books, Jesus DVD’s and some video equipment. We have received reports indicating that many people in the rural areas of Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya and DR Congo are receiving Christ as a result of the Jesus film shows. Older churches are growing and newer ones are being planted. More evangelists and pastors are receiving training to save the new congregations. The Lord Jesus Christ is indeed confirming His Word with signs and wonders. I praise the Lord that he protected one of my Bishop friends from harm when 15 armed bandits attacked him and his family at his residence. They took his lap tops, cell phones, his wife’s jewelry and all the church money in his office. I was there in April 2010 when this occurred. In spite of such threats and perils he asked me to join him into another territory full of rebels. As the apostle Paul said; “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” Phil 1:21. What my team in Canada and Africa need most in 2011 is more prayer, so that God protects us in the blood of Christ to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. We also pray that God blesses you abundantly so that your continual support will enable us to carry the gospel to the nations of the earth. We love you dearly and pray for you constantly.
KENYA, Nairobi: August 18 - 20
Sandra and I stayed at Gracia Gardens in Nairobi and met Pastor Jacob and his wife for a time of prayer and also to get a report on the effect of the Discipleship on the churches. Pastor Jacob told us that a leader of Munguki, a terror gang in Kenya received Jesus Christ and has been born again. He has been preaching to his large groups of followers to repent and come to Jesus Christ for salvation. He said hundred of thousands of them are getting saved. The leaders came to Pastor Jacob for help and he gave them some Jesus DVD’s and Discipleship books which are helping them, but the demand is so great they need more material and training to mature in their newfound faith.
BURUNDI, Bujumbura, Kamenge, Mugaruro: August 20 - 28
We stayed in the Bujumbura area for seven days. Kamenge is on the outskirts of Bujumbura, and we were there on August 21, 22, and 25. John preached to hundreds of people at open-air meetings near a local market. Each night, about 120 people came forward to receive Christ. They also received prayer for healing and some thanked the Lord for healing and delivering them from bondage.
August 26: We traveled with Charlotte (a missionary from Florida, USA), to the village of Mugaruro which is about 40 km from Bujumbura to minister to the community. She asked John to preach the gospel to about 60 people by the roadside. He gladly preached for about 20 minutes and invited them to receive Christ and all of them did. We were followed by several children to a group of people eating their lunch at a local restaurant where John preached again and about 20 of them accepted Christ. Charlotte led us to a hut (made of sticks and palm branches, with a few benches inside). About 75 people including children had assembled to hear the Word of God. After John’s brief message all of them received Christ and celebrated with loud singing and dancing. We rejoiced in the Lord for the great work He is doing through Charlotte for the people of Mugaruro.
RWANDA, Butare: August 28 - September 1
August 29: Sandra preached to about 45 worshippers at the English language service about Jonah 2:1-10. This was the first Sunday service. John also preached during the second service through an interpreter to about 350 people at the Kinyarwanda language service. Seven people came forward for a prayer of rededication of their lives to the Lord.
August 30 - 31: John spoke on; “The Power of the Blood Covenant of Christ” to some of the priests and the staff of the Butare Diocese of the Anglican Church. Bishop Nathan returned from the “All Africa Anglican Bishops Conference” just in time to meet us before we left the next day to the DR Congo.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO, Bukavu: September 1 - 8
We traveled by bus for three hours from Butare to the River Ruzizi Crossing to the city of Bukavu. We stayed at the Anglican guest house. Bishop Bahati asked us to prepare to join him to Chaminunu in the Kalonge District of the DRC.
On Sunday September 5, we joined the Bishop with his wife and three other priests and traveled in his jeep early in the morning to Chaminunu. The 71 km journey took us seven and a half hours. It had rained for a number of days in that equatorial dense forest conservation. The road was just a muddy slippery jungle trail between the mountains. Our Toyota Prado SUV, got stuck in the mud pools 10 times, thrice which were on wooden bridges. Multiple times God spared our lives, on one of the wooden bridges, our vehicle nearly slipped into the flooded river below. With steadfast faith in God, we persevered with the Bishop, who knew the way. We thank the Lord for about 15 teen-aged boys who ran from the hills and came to dig out and push the Jeep from the knee-high muddy pools.
Victory in Chaminunu
We arrived in Chaminunu at about 3:30 pm. We were greeted by hundreds of people who were waiting for the Bishop and his team of ministers. We heard some had walked all day Saturday to come for the service. The Bishop goes there once a year to confirm new members into the Anglican church. Because we arrived very late, Bishop announced that the confirmation service would be done the next day, Monday morning. Pastor John asked Bishop for permission to preach for ten minutes before the next day, because they had waited so long. He wrapped up the gospel in fifteen minutes and made an altar call and most of the crowd of about 500 people, raised their hands to receive Christ. The church service began at 7:30 am on Monday. Four choirs from different parishes sang and danced to welcome the Bishop and his team of priests to the ceremony. Some rebel soldiers in civilian clothes joined the crowd. As the worship music was playing, John unknowingly danced together with them before he preached the gospel. About 300 people gave their lives to Christ. Bishop Bahati confirmed about 140 people into the church that day. After receiving Jesus into their lives there was joyful celebration among the people.
Bukavu: Discipleship books for Evangelists in Training
Eleven evangelists in training received “Knowing Jesus Personally” books for discipleship lessons. Twelve more books were sent to other pastors in the rural areas we visited.
September 9: We returned to Nairobi and met Pastor Jacob again. He took us to “Christ Is the Answer” (CITAM) head office and John was asked to give a word of exhortation to about 30 staff members present.
September 12: Sandra and John attended the Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Woodley; John spoke to about 70 leaders of the Discipleship group on “The Power of the Blood of Jesus”. We met with Prof. Medo and Justice Benna for brief fellowship before we got to the airport to return to Canada. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all our prayer partners and supporters whose encouragement, financial contributions, love and friendship inspired us to travel to Africa to preach, teach and give out several Jesus DVDs, Bibles, video projectors, lap tops, and 3 electric generators (to DRC).
Letters from Mission 2010
Hi Everyone,
Greetings from the city of Nairobi, Kenya. It is so good to be here. John and I returned from the DR Congo and what an adventure we had. We went through the forest to the interior region of Chaminunu. We took 7 hours to go through the rough, rugged, slippery pathway. By God’s grace we arrived John preached a short message because the number of people who were there were waiting from the day before. They walked many miles because the Anglican Bishop who knows John was going to perform a confirmation service. People from four villages gathered there. Because we were so late the bishop decided that we had to spend the night there. I had my first experience in trying to sleep in a mud hut.
We ate their food of ground provision, antelope meat, bananas, ugali and greens. The following day the service continued many people sang and dance from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. John preached through an interpreter and many souls responded to the Lord. It was a glorious occasion.
Love, John and Sandra Hayford
Praise the Lord!
Sandra and John left Edmonton on August 16 and arrived in Nairobi, Kenya on August 18. We stayed at Gracia Gardens Hotel for two nights and flew to Bujumbura, Burundi on August 20. In Bujumbura, John preached at an open-air crusade at Kamenge (a densely populated outskirts of Bujumbura) to about two thousand people each night on August 21, 22 and 25. Several hundreds of people received the Lord each night. Pastor Emmanuel, who has started a new church in Kamenge about a month ago was very thankful to the Lord for the souls that came to Christ. John gave the church 80 “Knowing Jesus Personally” books to teach the new believers to grow in Christ.
On Sunday, August 22, John preached to about 48 of the new converts in a school classroom church. They were greatly excited to learn of God’s love and the gift of eternal life they have received in Jesus. We met Bishop Pie, of the Anglican Church in Bujumbura, who received us warmly. He got his wife to allow Sandra to speak to 45 women at their Ladies Bible Study on the topic of “Forgiveness and Repentance”. Sandra spoke so passionately to them that the Bishop’s wife felt disappointed when she stopped at the time given to her. She is asked to let them know when she will return be a speaker at Womens conference for all the Burundi Anglican Womens’ Union in Bujumbura.
On August 27, we travelled by road to Butare in Rwanda. Sandra preached during the 7:30 A.M. English service on Sunday August 29, John preached also for the Kinyarwanda service through an interpreter. Sandra and John’s messages were well received. About 8 people came forward in repentance to receive God’s forgiveness. John continued to teach on the “Blood Covenant in Christ Jesus” on Monday and Tuesday evenings. People received the Word with great joy and thankfulness to God. Bishop Nathan returned from All Africa Bishops conference in Kampala, Uganda just on time to meet Sandra and I before we left Butare for D.R. Congo on Sept.1.
We are in D.R. Congo and preparing for scheduled ministry for the weekend and next week. We praise God for His protection and care of us wherever we go.
We appreciate all you prayer support for us. God is indeed confirming His Word with notable signs following. Many people in Africa are finding hope in the Lord Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.
Sincerely yours, Pastor John Hayford
KENYA, BURUNDI, RWANDA and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO: April - May, 2010
John did more open air preaching to several hundreds of people in both Burundi and D R Congo.
- 2009 -
KENYA, BURUNDI, RWANDA and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO: September 2 - October 6, 2009
KENYA, Kisumu: September 2 - 7 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).
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
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
On September 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.
September 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
I was warmly welcomed to Bukavu by Bishop Bahati and his elders. On September 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.
September 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.
September 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.
September 27: 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.
September 28: We visited the school before returning to Bukavu.
September 29: 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: Pastor Jacob asked me to lead a devotional for 68 teachers and principals doing a seminar at the Nairobi Pentecostal Church at Woodley.
ARMENIA: May 12 to 25, 2009
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 3 - 13 century AD up to 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.
- 2008 -
KENYA, BURUNDI and RWANDA: August, 2008
UGANDA, Kampala:
Pastors of Kansanga Miracle Centre (over 8,000 members); and Christianity Focus Centre (over 3,000 members) want the Discipleship training for their members. These pastors invited me to train their leaders in 2008. Three video projectors, Jesus videos, DVD’s, and 5,000 Bibles have been sent to Uganda. Thanks to all donors and DRA-ASI for the shipment of Bibles to Uganda in 2008.
Discipleship Training in Kampala Churches
Bishop David L. Kiganda welcomed the Discipleship training for his 3000 members of Christianity Focus Centre in Kampala. Two pastors met me at my hotel to learn more about how to disciple others. They were so excited about the impact of Discipleship that they are already teaching others. In 2 Timothy 2:2, The apostle Paul said: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” I taught Discipleship at lunch-hour prayer meetings in churches and in downtown Kampala. Each participant received a multi-language Jesus DVD and a Discipleship book. Pastor Isaac Kiwewesi of the Kansanga Miracle Centre accepted the Discipleship training for his fast-growing 8,000 member church. He allowed me to introduce it to the weekly Bible study groups. More than 300 people attended the two nights of Discipleship sessions. When he heard the report from those who attended, he told me that he will include it in their Christian Education program for the church. He also requested 5,000 Bibles which got there in November 2008. We equip the saints. Several churches are growing in numbers in Uganda but they need to grow and mature as Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ as well. Several of the pastor I met in 2007 requested more Bibles, Jesus DVD’s, Discipleship books and video projectors for open-air meetings. Since 2006 Several Discipleship materials have been given pastors and leaders. We do as the Lord commanded: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Nairobi Pentecostal Church (Woodley Assembly Seminar)
On August 23, 2008 Fifty five people attended a Discipleship Seminar at Woodley Assembly of the Nairobi Pentecostal Church. Rev. John Wesley Nguuh, the senior pastor was so excited about what the leaders learned and desires all the pastors and group leaders get discipled to teach all the members of the churches affiliated with them. After the seminar one of the leaders from another church, requested prayer for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and he was filled with great joy. He phoned his wife saying: “Today is the happiest day in my life.” An elderly gentleman was grateful that he could understand the need to become a Disciple of Jesus in order to be more effective in ministry.
Discipleship seminar in Kisumu attracts pastors
Fifty three pastors, some with their families, attended daily the Discipleship seminar from August 25 - 29, 2008. Some of the pastors came from nearby churches and towns around Kisumu. The host pastor Dan Aoyi was presented with Jesus DVD’s and a video projector. He assured me that he will show the Jesus film to all the schools and the towns and villages in the District of Kisumu. Reports he sent by e-mail indicates that several people have come to Jesus and new churches are being planted weekly. They are reaching the areas on the Tanzania border. It’s quite encouraging that people are accelerating the preaching of the Gospel through simple technology as a DVD and a Video projector. This evidence inspires me to do more to equip many disciples with these tools to win more souls into the kingdom of God before Christ returns. Luke 19:13 “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ Jesus expects us, whom He has redeemed with His blood and filled with the the Holy Spirit, to work and reproduce fruit till He returns. Your prayers and financial support makes this mission possible. May the Lord reward you abundantly for your investment into this soulwinning and discipleship ministry. I value your support immensely.
Churches growing faster in East African countries
Churches are growing rapidly in several countries in Africa. It is more visible in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. where I have visited frequently since 2006. I heard numerous testimonies of healings, deliverance from curses, bondage, and fear of witchcraft .These believers are trusting in Jesus only. Others claimed they were healed from AIDS/HIV sicknesses (Hebrews 13:8). They are very thankful to God for their salvation in Christ Jesus. Some of these who have experienced the power of God setting them free from sin, Satan and death are flocking into the churches. In March 2008, Pastor Eneas invited me to preach at his house-church, with about 37 members, half of them were children. All of them were survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. I returned to the same church in August 2008 and found that they have tripled in number with their youth choir in beautiful robes. Their worship was very touching indeed.
Ten Maasai men receive Christ in Kisumu, Kenya
In August 2008, the Discipleship seminar was held at the Oasis of Glory church in Kisumu. Jesus DVD in Swahili and Luo languages, was shown to the public for four days. It attracted over 2000 people. Each night about sixty people gave their lives to the Lord. Six young Maasai men I met on the first night prayed to receive Christ. The next day they bought their friends and all ten of them prayed to accept Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord. Lord. They were beaming with smiles.
Church plant under a mango tree in Nairobi, Kenya
A few weeks after I returned from Kenya, I received e-mail from a pastor whose wife I gave a Jesus DVD to show to their community. The pastor reported that in about two months of showing the Jesus film, he has started a church under a mango tree with over 200 people, most of them being children and young adults. He is also using the Discipleship book for teaching the new believers among them. They requested more Bibles and a video projector to show the Jesus DVD to many others in their neighborhood. Acts 4:12 states: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Discipleship Teaching embraced in RWANDA, Kigali: March 31 - April 4, 2008
At a Baptist Church in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, 110 pastors, elders and leaders attended the Discipleship seminar.
His Excellency Ezra Sigwela, South African Ambassador to Rwanda, officially opened the seminar. He called on the leaders to become true disciples of Jesus Christ, who will be able to disciple others. Lessons from the “One to One Discipleship” books led to small group lively discussions. The groups helped to provide each person the opportunity to learn how to apply the principles to everyday living.
On April 4, Rev. Ezra Sigwela, closed the meeting with a testimony of his suffering under apartheid regime in South Africa. He said his faith in the Lord Jesus strengthened him to survive and also forgive others who hurt him. He recalled how he saw exhumed bodies from the genocide, in a church yard in Kigali in 2003. He believes that only God can heal the pain, the hurt and distrust people still feel. Each participant received Four Spiritual Laws booklets, a multi-language Jesus DVD; and “One to One Discipleship” book for personal training. Several people gave testimonies of how they have been encouraged and blessed with the Discipleship training. Since then, I have been receiving emails also reporting how it is helping the growth of their local churches. I have visited Rwanda five times since 2006 and they want to learn to become more effective servants of God. God is healing the people and the nation as a whole from the atrocities of the genocide. They are improving economically and rejoicing in God.
- 2007 -
WESTERN KENYA, Sindo: August 27 - September 2, 2007
About 400 families from the towns, villages, the islands on Lake Victoria, came to Sindo to attended the conference. I was invited me to teach them Discipleship for five days. Each pastor and elder received a multilanguage Jesus DVD; “One to One Discipleship” book and “Knowing Jesus Personally books. About 1200 adults and children were there.
KENYA, Nairobi: March 2007
Members of the Mission Team: John Hayford, Jonathan Hayford, Allan MacMullin & Dawson MacMullin
Leaving Edmonton on March 8 we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya; on March 10. After waiting for about two hours at the Jomo Kenyatta Intreernatinal Airport, our host, Prof. Medo Misama, asked us to take a taxi cab to the Shalom House in Nairobi. A few minutes after we got there Prof. came to welcome us and showed us the itinerary for the mission.
The following day was Sunday and we attended the second service for the youth, in a fully packed auditorium of the Woodley Nairobi Pentecostal Church. Dawson and Jonathan were glad to see many youth leading the worship service and even expressing themselves with a hip-pop dance.
Right after the service we met the pastors and I introduced the Jesus videos, DVD’s and the Discipleship books to them. They were very excited about the content. Their theme for 2007 is “Evangelism and Discipleship” and they felt it was God’s will for them to learn and teach the whole church how they can become effective disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We also walked through the Kibera Slum where over one million people live in mud and stick, tin and cardboard houses. The children there were very polite and friendly. The adults also seemed quite peaceful and content.
Prof. Misama led us to a small tin-sheltered African traditional church where I preached about God’s love for them. All the 20 people there prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Prof. Misama told us that the Olympic School in the slum area has the highest academic result in the whole of Kenya. Some the children use candles and kerosene lamps to study at night and yet excel academically.
We were invited to share more about the Discipleship and the use of the Jesus video on Wednesday night. About 100 people attended. The senior Pastor was so excited that he wanted us to return and teach fully the Discipleship to the church leaders.
We distributed some Jesus videos and DVD’s to the pastors of the churches around the Shalom House. They were very thankful. It was the first time some of them have seen Jesus video in their local languages.
We traveled through Nakuru, Kisimu, Kericho and got on a ferry across Lake Victoria to Mbita and Sindo in the Subaland District of Western Kenya. Some parts of the roads were quite hazardous but God protected us to endure it. I led two young Dutch ladies received the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour while we were on the ferry. They stayed at the Lake Victoria Safari Resort where we found the accommodation suitable for us also. In spite of heavy rains, loud thunders and frightening lightnings at night, we had two nights of open-air crusades at Sindo, where more than a thousand people prayed to receive Christ. We got our film equipment working on the third day and great was the joy of about 1200 people who saw and heard the gospel in their Swahili language.
I preached on a Sunday morning to a congregation of about 140 people at Sindo. After two failed attempts to show the Jesus film, we succeeded on the third time and over 1200 people enjoyed seeing and hearing in their Swahili language the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We gave out Jesus video to the immigration officers at the Kenya and Tanzania borders. We had a few problems with our rented vehicle on our return to Nairobi but God brought us safely to Nairobi and we flew to Dubai for a few days rest before Jonathan and I got home to Edmonton, Canada.
We pray that the videos, DVD”s and the Discipleship books we gave to the people are being shown frequently and people are getting saved.
- 2006 -
UGANDA and RWANDA: March 2006
March 19: Hon. Victoria Sebagereka, then a Member of Parliament for the Kayunga District, took me from the Windsor Lakeview Hotel to Kampala to meet Pastor Isaac Kyobe Kiwewesi of the Kansanga Miracle Centre. He was conducting lunch-hour Prayer meeting in one of the city centre cinema theatres. The place was packed with over 2000 people praying and receiving ministry from the team of pastors there. Pastor Isaac has a new Cathedral that seats 8000 people. Six months after the dedication of the new facility, they had about 7000 attendants, 75% of which are young people, said Pastor Isaac. He sees the JESUS video and the Discipleship training will be very helpful to his fast growing congregation.
March 19: Visited other pastors in Kampala Pentecostal Church.
March 20: Left Kampala for the Kayunga District and arrived at Sister Victoria’s country home in the evening.
March 21: She introduced me to the Kinyala Full Gospel Church, Nazigo Prayer Palace, Nazigo Kiseveni Agape Church, and Nateeta Agape Church. I spoke for about thirty minutes to each group and gave the pastors copies of the Jesus videos in their local languages, Four Spiritual laws booklets and showed them how to use them for evangelism and follow-up.
March 24: Flew from Entebbe to Kigali and lodged at the Presbyterian Guests House.
March 26: Had lunch with Pastor Nathan K. Gasatura of the World Vision International and shared my mission in Rwanda with him. He welcomed the Discipleship seminar for the churches in Rwanda.
March 27: Met Fidele who introduced me to Pastor Paddy Musoke (now pastoring a new church in Bujumbura, Burundi). He got some Jesus videos and Discipleship materials.
March 29 - 30: Attended Joyce Meyer Festival of Hope crusade at the Amahoro Stadium In Kigali with about 40,000 in attendance.
March 30: Attended the Zion Temple Sunday worship service.
Pastor Paul Gitwaza whom I met in Edmonton in 2002, was glad to see me in Kigali. He said his 4000 member congregation needs the Discipleship training for further growth and maturity. Had discussion with Mr. Kofi Hagan, Rwanda Director of the World Vision. He also expressed interest to have the Discipleship seminar for Leadership Training for over 70 churches that work with them.
- 2001 -
BOTSWANA: 2001
It was a wonderful time for after we showed the JESUS film, we had 60 converts who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. May God be glorified. The second day of showing we had 80 additional converts. Total 140 people.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” May Jesus become known in Botswana.
- 1999 -
ZAMBIA: July 1999
At Chome, I talked to five men by the roadside for about 20 minutes and they all prayed to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They requested that we send them Bibles. People are hungry for Christ. We traveled through this beautiful, big country to Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. We arrived there and continued on to Kabwe where we lodged at the, Elephant Head Hotel for the night. Frank, my friend from South Africa, had previously planned meetings in Kabwe with a pastor there. To our surprise, the pastor had moved to Lusaka to start a new church. We prayed and contacted some of the local pastors and gave them JESUS videos. They promised to work together with us on our next visit. They showed tremendous interest in the Discipleship course. They want to help us show the JESUS film to their people. They were very excited and thankful that God has sent us to help them.