AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015 PRAYER LETTER

RIFT VALLEY BAPTIST COLLEGE

We just concluded our second term classes of the Bible College.  We have a good group of students from various places in Kenya that faithfully attend classes.  Through the years nearly fifty pastors have been trained in the college.  The college has expanded into various “divisions”.  Most of the students are in the English “division” but we also have a Swahili “division” and a deaf “division”.  There is also a satellite school that meets in Nairobi along with those that are meeting in Burundi and DR Congo. Our desire is to continue to expand the training opportunities by offering satellite classes in other parts of Kenya.  The preparation, planning, and teaching keeps us quite busy, but it also is a ministry that continues to bear much fruit.

DEAF MINISTRY

Several years ago God answered our prayer and sent someone to Kenya that had a burden to see deaf churches started.  Brother B.J. Cormier and his wife have labored tirelessly to train our people in the language of the deaf.  We have several that have become very proficient in sign language.  All of our services are now translated into sign language, and we have deaf that faithfully attend.  Last Sunday morning we had our highest deaf attendance ever, but more importantly, we saw our very first deaf make a profession of faith.  The deaf of Kenya have truly been neglected and we are excited that God is allowing our church to have a small part in reaching them.  When Ephraim got saved he immediately asked if we could give him a Bible.  Please pray for him as he grows.

BURUNDI

The situation in Burundi continues to be volatile.  Almost daily we hear of more trouble with reports of torture and killings.  I have taken several trips to Burundi in the last couple months to visit with the people of the Independent Baptist Church.  I am happy to report that they are staying strong and even in some ways thriving in the midst of the trouble.  Nearly half of their membership have fled the country and are now living in displacement camps in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Congo.  Pastor Kambi at this time has no plans to leave, believing that his place is with the people that remain.  In spite of the trouble, the work of the church has gone forward.  I was amazed to see the work that they continue to do on the building.  Since the beginning of the year they have completed the walls, windows and have put on the doors.  They have done all of this without any outside assistance.  They love their church and are sacrificially giving to see that their building is completed.   I will again be leaving in a few days to spend some time in both Burundi and Congo.  One purpose I have in visiting them so often is to be an encouragement to them but truthfully, I always return to Kenya with them being an encouragement to me.

Independent Bible Baptist Church- Bujumbura, Burundi