PASTOR MUSONGA

Last Sunday I was part of one of the most satisfying church services in my life.  I had the privilege to preach for our church in Uvira, Congo and then watch as Pastor Oloo led them in voting for Musonga as their assistant pastor. When the votes were counted it was unanimous, Musonga was now Pastor Musonga.

Preaching with Pastor Oloo interpreting

Nearly three years ago we were passing out tracts in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo inviting people to attend the first services of the Independent Bible Baptist Church of Uvira.  One of those tracts ended up in the hands of a child who was on his way to school. When arriving at school his Muslim teacher, a man by the name of Musonga asked what was written on that paper he had in his hands.  Musonga confiscated the tract and began to read it. His curiosity about what was written on the tract caused him to enquire where it came from and later that day he arrived at the church building full of questions.

Pastor Mike Njoroge was happy to answer all his questions, taking much time to show him what was written in the bible.  As some time went by Musonga began to fall under deep conviction and soon repented of his sins, trusting Christ as his Saviour.  The very next Sunday I had the privilege of baptizing him in Lake Tanganyika.  It was a glorious day when he was baptized because he was the FIRST person we baptized in Congo.

Musonga was like a sponge; soaking up everything he was taught.  When we began the bible college classes, he was one of our first students.  It was about one year after he was saved that God called him to preach. We began taking him on some evangelistic trips, giving him as much training in and out of class as possible.  Our pastoral teams that have spent the last three years working in Congo have done a tremendous job preparing Musonga for the ministry.

I am always humbled as I watch the people here serve God.  They do so much with so little. When many our falling to the temptation of more money, more education and more prestige they just continue doing God’s will, and doing it God’s way.  Their reward in heaven will be great.

Please pray for Pastor Musonga and our Kenyan teams as they  continue to press forward taking the gospel into the darkest parts of the Dark Continent.

                    Musonga being baptized in Lake Tanganyika.  He was
                    our first baptism and now he is the assistant pastor.

March 8th Update

I apologize that it has been so long since I sent out an update. I didn’t realize so much time had gone by.  Some have asked if I fell off the face of the earth and I think others were hoping I fell off the face of the earth (:  I assure you we are alive and well.  I hope to get everybody updated on some great blessings in the coming weeks. 

I will be leaving Nakuru tomorrow to begin another trip to Burundi/DR Congo.  This will be my third trip this year and it seems that each time it gets better and better.  The church in Uvira has taken great steps of maturity and I love every opportunity that I have to be with them.  Their love for God and joy in serving Him is rejuvenating to be around.

The highlight of this trip and honestly probably one of the greatest blessings thus far since coming to Africa fourteen years ago will be the church in Uvira calling a Congolese man to be their assistant pastor.  Brother Musunga (soon to be Pastor Musunga) was the first convert to be baptized.  He was brought to the Lord out of the wicked religion of Islam.  Since his salvation he has seen a number of his family members saved.  He and his wife have grown tremendously over these last three years.  He has been a great student in the Bible College, was called to preach and now will become the first of what we hope will be many that get saved, baptized, trained and enter the harvest field.

To see this happening is truly what missions is all about.  To see the Grace Bible Baptist Church, a church we organized in 1999 out of my sending church, the Cleveland Baptist Church, mature to the place that they are now sending missionaries to other lands, starting churches, seeing people trained and then watching the whole cycle repeat itself brings joy that I cannot describe.

All the praise, glory and honour belong to God but humanly speaking, Pastor Justus Oloo, Pastor Mike Njoroge and Pastor Isaac Mungai deserve recognition for the labour of love amongst the Congolese people.  They have sacrificed huge amounts of time away from their church, homes and country to see the Word of God go forth in Congo and Burundi.  They truly are great men who I have the privilege of serving with side by side.  God has made us into a team, something that I desired to see happen and it is a joy to call them friends and fellow servants of Christ!

On a closing note we are leaving for furlough on April 23^rd.  We will be in the states until October.  Our oldest daughter Charity, will be getting married in June and Amanda and Timothy will be attending Heartland Baptist Bible College in the fall.  We still have a good number of open dates from mid June through early October.  We would love the opportunity to report to more of our supporting churches and also if possible present the work to some new churches.  If you would be interested in having us come please email me at rawtokenya@gmail.com

Thank you very much for your prayers. 

His for Kenya,
And the Regions Beyond,

Robert Mickey Jr. and family