July-August 2016 Prayer Letter

WORK PERMIT

I applied for our work permit renewal in January in anticipation for it to be ready when our current one expired in March.  Unfortunately when March came the work permit was not ready.  Since that time I have made numerous trips to the immigration department in Nairobi and to my dismay I am now told they can’t find my file.  I was asked to write a letter of complaint so that they could begin an official investigation to find my file!.  Please make this issue a matter of prayer.  I do not believe that there is any trouble in the permit being issued, it is just a matter of disorganization.  Unfortunately not having the permit has added to us the additional burden and cost of staying in the country on tourist visas.  It has also made it impossible for me to travel to Congo and Burundi as those countries will not issue me with a visa because the status of my Kenyan permit. 

SOUTH SUDAN

The situation in South Sudan seems to be going from bad to worse.  In the past few days fighting has erupted in the capital city Juba, between forces aligned with the president against forces aligned with the vice president.  As is the case many times in Africa the fighting has taken on a tribal influence.  Just in the last two days several hundred citizens have been killed.  If things continue as they have over the last few days then a civil war is imminent.  The Peter Kosgei family is in the process of going to South Sudan as missionaries but the turmoil in the country keeps delaying our plans.  We still plan, Lord willing, to take another survey trip to South Sudan later this year. Please keep this issue a matter of urgent prayer.

RIFT VALLEY BAPTIST COLLEGE

The Bible College ministry is a vital part of our training program for both those called into the ministry and to strengthen the churches with members who can handle the Word of God properly.   The college has now been in existence for eighteen years and we have seen much fruit and believe that it is “fruit that will remain”.  We often have guest lectures travel from the United States to teach a class or two.  We would like to give an open invitation to any Pastors, Assistant Pastors, or any others who are skilled in handling the Word of God to come over and help us.  The classes meet during the months of April, August and December.  It would require a week of your time and you would teach in the “block” format.  It would be a blessing to both the teacher and the learner.  Please contact me for any additional information.

May-June 2016 Prayer Letter

GRADUATIONS

In May both Amanda and Timothy graduated from Heartland Baptist Bible College. Timothy graduated with a major in Missions and Amanda graduated with a dual major in Elementary Education and Missions.  Timothy will be attending graduate school for the next two years and Amanda has been hired by the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama, to teach second grade in their Christian school.  As an added blessing Amanda was named Valedictorian of her class with a 4.0 GPA. We are thrilled that all of our children love God and desire to serve Him. 

WEDDING

Two days after graduation Timothy married the young lady God had prepared for him.  It was a blessing to watch how God brought them together during Timothy’s senior year. We are excited to welcome Amanda into the family and look forward to seeing what God has in store for them as they continue to seek His will.

RIFT VALLEY BAPTIST COLLEGE

We had a wonderful first term session in the Bible College. I am more convinced today then ever before that we need to continue expanding our efforts to see people properly trained in the doctrines of the Bible. With almost forty churches sending students to the college, we are able to have a vast influence in seeing that Kenyan churches have properly trained believers.  As an added blessing, we had our highest attendance yet in our deaf branch of the college with twelve students.

Amanda receiving her diploma

Timothy receiving his diploma

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Mickey

February-March 2016 Prayer Letter

GRACE TO THE REGIONS BEYOND

One of the most satisfying part of the ministry in Kenya has been seeing the maturing of the Grace Bible Baptist Church in the area of missions.  This maturing has not only been in the area of giving financially but also an ever increasing burden to reach the neighboring countries that can be some of the most difficult physically to reach.  The church has also been able to encourage other churches to become involved in missions and has been instrumental in getting missions programs established in several Kenyan churches.  We now have a number of Kenyan churches that have begun financially supporting our mission program, Grace to the Regions Beyond.  God continues to open new doors of opportunity for us.  Not long ago a former Kenyan missionary who was pastoring in West Virginia, Pastor Scott Hall, surrendered to come back to Kenya to specifically help the Grace Bible Baptist Church in its outreach into these countries.  We are excited that with his help we will be able to reach into more areas in these countries.

GRACE TO SOUTH SUDAN

We continue to train Brother Peter Kosgei and his wife for their eventual move to South Sudan as missionaries.  South Sudan is in a difficult condition at the moment with a terrible civil war being fought. We have nearly 50 South Sudanese students in our Christian School that allows Peter to interact with them personally. We hope to take a second survey trip with Peter to South Sudan later in the year.

GRACE TO CONGO

We continue to have men from the Grace Bible Baptist Church in Congo at all times.  The churches are continuing to grow spiritually and the Bible College continues to train men.  We had some problems with our original registration with the Congo government that required us to start the process anew.  Thankfully God intervened and allowed us to get registered properly both on the local level and district level.  We are now beginning the process of extending the registration to a national level.  This part of the registration seems to be much more costly and time consuming.

GRACE TO BURUNDI

Please pray for the country of Burundi!  Last spring the president decided to defy the constitution and the peace agreement that brought an end to the civil war by running for a third term.  Because of tribalism he won easily, but since that time the country as been teetering on a civil war.  Some are saying that if something is not done soon the world will have another genocide on its hand.  Nearly 300,000 people have fled the country and are now in displacement camps, most living in horrid conditions.  Nightly both government and rebel forces are slaughtering innocent people.  I have been to Burundi four times since the trouble started and have seen this for myself.  Every night we could hear the battles being fought and in the morning bodies of innocent people would be found on the streets.  Assassinations and targeted killings have become the norm.  In spite of this, the Independent Baptist Church of Bujumbura and Pastor Kambi continue to do well.  Although half the church has fled because of the trouble, those that remain continue to grow spiritually and the spirit of the church remains strong.  I have preached for them several times over the last few months and am always amazed and encouraged when I am with them.  I am scheduled to be with them twice over the next six weeks. Please remember these trips to Burundi in prayer.