AN ORDINARY MAN

I enjoy reading and usually have at least a couple books or so that I am reading at one time.  I only wish that I had more time to read. When I find myself with some spare time I try spend it with a book.  Mostly at this time I read books that have to do with God's calling on my life, taking the gospel to the regions beyond. I would like from time to time to mention a book that I have read. 

AN ORDINARY MAN

by Paul Rusesabagina

I have recently been researching some of the great human tragedies that have taken place in the areas of the world where God has allowed us to begin ministering.   In the countries of Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo literally millions have been slaughtered in Genocide over the last decade and a half.  The hatred that would cause someone to participate in such killing is hard to understand.  Just a couple of years ago here in Kenya we saw the beginning of this hatred and fortunately we were pulled back just as we were about to walk into the pit of genocide.

Travelling through the areas and ministering to the people where these things have took place causes the need to have a deeper understanding of what happened in order to properly deal with people.  I don't know if I ever will fully grasp what happened and the effect that it still has on people but I know that I must try.

In 1994 over 800,000 people died in just one hundred days in Rwanda when neighbor turned against neighbor, friend against friend, and at times family against family.  The wanton slaughter is hard to imagine even after I have visited Rwanda, talked to the people and visited some of the "killing fields". The killing was all done in the name of Tribe.  Truly tribalism is a great and grevous sin.  A sin that is very prevalent here in Kenya.

This book was not so much about the cause of the genocide or events during the genocide but more about how one man took it upon himself to do what he could do to save those around him.  Paul Rusesabagina was a hotel manager when the genocide started and used the resources at his disposal along with his own wit to save 1,268 people that ended up taking refuge in his hotel.  At times it seemed that all would be lost but always and many times miraculously they were spared.  His story in this book was made into a movie called Hotel Rwanda.

Paul is not a saved man, I believe he is a Seventh Day Adventist and certainly anyone believing their doctrine cannot be saved.  However, the premise behind his story is very applicable to the Christian. 

GOD USES ORDINARY MEN TO DO EXTRA-ORDINARY THINGS.

I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 1:26-28.  "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:"

Why is it that many today are trying to be extra-ordinary in the eyes of the world?  Why is it that many think they must have a super, higher education?  Or a large income?  Or somehow be successful in the eyes of the world?  These are not the things God is looking for in a person.  Certainly in and of themselves they may not be wrong but they are wrong if it is thought that they are what one needs to be used by God.  I don't think we should be trying to gain the respect of the world in order to reach the world.  I believe we should be totally dependant upon God.

Is it possible that many have the problem that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:29?  "That no flesh should glory in his presence".  I believe that flesh looking for glory is just another way to say PRIDE.  We know that God has nothing good to say about pride.  Possibly the reason we are not reaching our generation is because too many of us are looking to glory in our flesh instead of being "ordinary". Too many of us are full of pride.

My prayer to God is that I will always be an ordinary man, only then can I have no glory in my flesh and only then can God use me the way He desires.

"To the Regions Beyond" By A.B. Simpson

2Co 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

I have taken most of the last month preparing the church and myself for our upcoming mission’s conference. We are "rebranding" our missions program with the name GRACE TO THE REGIONS BEYOND.  God has given us a burden, desire and unique opportunity to take the gospel to some of the neediest places in the world. 

As my thoughts have been on this subject, the words to the below song, written by A.B. Simpson over a century ago have been ringing in heart.  Take a few moments and meditate on the message of this song and then say a prayer for the GRACE Bible Baptist Church as we endeavor to take GRACE to the Regions Beyond.

“The Regions Beyond”

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go

Where the story has never been told;

To the millions that never have heard of His love,

I must tell the sweet story of old.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,

Till the world, all the world,

His salvation shall know.

To the hardest of places He calls me to go,

Never thinking of comfort or ease;

The world may pronounce me a dreamer, a fool,

Enough if the Master I please.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,

Till the world, all the world,

His salvation shall know.

Oh, you that are spending your leisure and powers

In those pleasures so foolish and fond;

Awake from your selfishness, folly and sin,

And go to the regions beyond.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,

Till the world, all the world,

His salvation shall know.

There are other “lost sheep” that the Master must bring,

And to them must the message be told;

He sends me to gather them out of all lands,

And welcome them back to His fold.

To the regions beyond I must go, I must go,

Till the world, all the world,

His salvation shall know.

AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS

Dear Faithful Prayer Partners,

Our just concluded trip to DR Congo and Burundi was filled with an abundance of blessings.  We are excited at the prospects of seeing the Word of God go forth in these regions and are blessed beyond measure to be part of His work in His field.  As I mentioned in my last letter, my wife Wendy, accompanied me on this trip and her reaction was exactly as I expected.  She was deeply moved, often to tears by what she saw and experienced.  In the next few weeks she plans to write a bit of what she saw from her perspective.  If you are interested it will be posted on our blog - www.mickeystokenya.blogspot.com .

Wendy with some of the church kids in Uvira, DRC

I was able to preach in Bujumbura, capital city of Burundi, to a group of believers that have been meeting together with brother Kambi wa Ecco.  I first met brother Kambi two years ago when I made my first trip to Burundi.  We have been able to develop a good relationship with him and have begun giving him proper training.  There are a number of people that we are confident are ready for baptism and we hope to soon hold our first baptism service.  During the preaching service we had a crowd of about a hundred show up and eight adults responded to the invitation for salvation.  We are very excited about soon seeing a church started in this area.  We have still not been able to find, nor have anyone tell us about, an Independent Baptist Church in the whole country of Burundi.  It seems that IF there have ever been missions work done in Burundi amongst the Independent Baptist it has been at most on a very limited basis.  Just today I spoke to a director in a large mission’s board and he told me that in his research he has not heard of Independent Baptists ever going to Burundi.  It is obvious the need is great in this country and we are blessed that God is allowing us to take them the gospel.

Pastor Oloo dealing with men who
came for salvation in Burundi

Bro. Kambi and family



I also preached at our church in Uvira, DRC.  We were blessed with a building at full capacity and a great spirit amongst the church.  There were about ten visitors in the service and during the invitation four of them responded to receive Christ.  One of the visitors was a high ranking official in the Security Office named Clinton.   As their name indicates the security people are responsible for the security in a given area.  It was the security people in Baraka that "arrested" us on my last visit to Congo.  Often it is the security people who are notoriously corrupt and demanding of bribes.  Clinton did not respond to the invitation but it was obvious that he was under conviction during the preaching.  Just yesterday I received word from Pastor Oloo that they visited Clinton in his home and he made a decision to trust Christ.  BWANA ASIFIWE! (PRAISE THE LORD!)

Preaching in Uvira, DRC

We plan to open up a branch of our Bible College in both Congo and Burundi this coming January.  This is a BIG step and will take a lot of careful planning, a lot of work, and even more money.   Training is an important part of the great commission and if we plan to have a lasting impact in these areas people must be properly grounded in the Word of God.  

The next month is going to be extremely busy and we would appreciate your prayers for the following things:

• Ongoing preparation for our upcoming session of the Bible College.
• 26-28 November - Grace Bible Baptist Church missions conference.
  
• 29 November - 3 December- Bible College sessions.
  
• 6-13 December- trip to Congo with supporting pastor from Canada.   He has a very good contact in Bukavu, DRC and we will be looking at the possibility of a church being started there.

As we near Thanksgiving time we have many things to be thankful about. At the top of the list is our thankfulness for all who pray for us.  THANK YOU!

His for Kenya,

And the Regions Beyond,

Robert Mickey Jr. and family



AT THE AIRPORT

I am sitting at the Nairobi airport with my wife Wendy.  We are about to get on a plane for Bujumbura, Burundi and then onward by vehicle to DR Congo.  I will be preaching in Bujumbura later today near where we soon hope to see a church started.  To the best of my knowledge I do not know of an Independent Baptist Church in the whole country of Burundi. I am pretty sure that there is not a missionary living in Burundi as I have checked with all the boards and searched high and low but nothing.  We have begun training a man, even bringing him to Kenya for some intense training.  Burundi has a tragic history and we are very excited about possibly opening it up to gospel preaching churches.

 

This will be the first time Wendy has had the opportunity to accompany me to Burundi/Congo.  It is good for the people to meet my wife and also for her to see what is taking her husband away from home so much.  She is a bit nervous leaving the kids behind in Kenya but they are in the capable hands of Pastor Oloo's wife, Carol. 

 

Pastor Mike Njoroge and Pastor Justus Oloo have been in Congo this past month and it will be good to see them and work with them in strengthening the church in Uvira, Congo. 

 

Please pray for us as we travel, preach, testify, witness and serve in some of the most destitute regions of the world.  Also pray for the children while we are away.

 

Wendy

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA

Wednesday we celebrated the 18th birthday of our daughter Amanda.  Where does the time go?  It seems like yesterday I was at the hospital holding her for the first time.  Time truly does have wings.

Amanda has been a joy from the day she was born.  She has never been rebellious or caused us any trouble.  Not including of course the normal problems caused by all girls :).

Amanda is faithful and active in the ministries here in Kenya.  She has been teaching a Sunday school class for the last five years and she heads up our Ushindi kids program.  Ushindi kids meets on Wednesday nights and is a children’s program that was started by our oldest daughter Charity. Charity is now in the U.S. working.  When Charity left Amanda stepped in and has done a great job.  She coordinates the teachers, puts together the lessons, stories, games and etc.

Amanda is soon going to begin her last year of high school and is diligently praying for God's will to be done in her life.

We are very fortunate that all of our children love God and desire to serve him.  Amanda thanks for being a good example and know that Mom and Dad love you and have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!