Pastor Matthew Mogire and Neema Baptist Church

This past Sunday morning Pastor Oloo and I left at 4:30 am and drove to Masimba to preach at the Neema Baptist Church.  This church is pastored by Matthew Mogire and is a church plant out of the Grace Bible Baptist Church.  You can read about the beginning of this church at this link  http://mickeystokenya.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-church-off-to-great-start.html

Pastor Matthew opening the service in prayer

Masimba is in a staunch SDA area and Pastor Matthew and the church regularly receive ridicule and even persecution from those in the community.  It has been very difficult to find a building to rent because of the SDA influence and the fact that they do not want a Baptist Church in their area.  We have found one woman who has been willing to rent to us because of financial hardship, but she has made it clear if she was not desperate for money, we would be gone. 

A young lady named Judy walked forward during the invitation for salvation, on the very first Sunday the church met, April 24, 2011.  A short time later she was obedient in baptism and became determined to grow as a Christian.  Her mother, who happens to be the landlord of the building, gave her an ultimatum… return to the SDA church or find another place to live.  Since she would not turn her back on Christ, she was thrown out of the house.  To this day she has not slept in her mother’s house, but instead has had to live with relatives.  It has not been easy for her but she has remained faithful to God.
 

Judy has remained faithful in spite of being thrown out of her home

The small building they use was full with around 30 people in attendance.  The joy of the Lord was evident in their life and it was obvious that they have a great desire to build a church for the Lord.  

Small building is full

Pastor Matthew has been reaching out into the communities around him desiring to see the gospel penetrate into his region.  He has begun training a man that he has reached by the name of Job Nyangau, even beginning a bible study in his house.  Brother Job has joined the bible college and has shown a great desire to see a church started in his village.   

Pastor Matthew and Job. Job has joined the Bible College.

 

The area around Masimba is one of the more difficult areas of Kenya to reach with the gospel because of the strong SDA hold in the area, and the extreme pressure put on people to not leave their cult.  But as the Bible teaches, the light of God’s Word can penetrate even the darkest of areas.