Praying for Kenya

The first day of an official three day mourning period quietly dawned.

God has given me Psalm 116 for these days.


Read it with me in coming days and pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on the people of Kenya in great power, helping them see that only God can provide the help and security they long for... that He is good, compassionate and loving.


Pray that believers would be ready with a word of witness and a warm embrace to help calm their fears and give them hope.

Westgate Mall -- confronting mortality.

"I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.  Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2

This is our prayer for the people of Kenya.  Many people have called upon the Lord in these past days, as the Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi was taking place, it has just been amazing.
As we posted on facebook, we were amazed at the coverage that this event continues to have and the amount of God-glorifying comments.

Thank you for your prayers for us, and on behalf of the people here in Nairobi.

Westgate is just a minute or two walk from our house.  For the past three days the sounds of frequent gunfire, grenade blasts and the roar of low flying police and army helicopters, as they circle atop the mall, are constant prayer reminders.

However the Kenya spirit through the events of this crisis has been amazing. People came out in droves to donate blood, food, water and even money to the Red Cross to help the victims which numbered at 150, (50 remain in the hospital at the time of this posting).  The official government count is 62 dead.

There was a twitter account set up with the address "we are one" and Kenyans, in country, and worldwide, continue to tweet encouragement -- many using scripture verses and God-glorifying comments.  These continue to be read over national television stations.

Amazingly, a national television station played the Christ-centered song, "You're the God of this City" as background music for an image collage of the attack.  Crisis brings people to their knees before the throne!

Pray now for divine appointments -- that God would visit in power through dreams and visions.

Pray that people who were confronted by the question of their eternity would hear and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ, that their question of what eternity holds would be answered.

Helicopters continue to circle overhead ... the Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi, Kenya

The world is a fallen place!  This reality was brought home to Kenyans this weekend.

Nearly 1,000 people buying their weekly groceries or attending specially advertised children's events were brought under attack as the Westgate shopping Mall in Nairobi fell into the hands of terrorists early Saturday afternoon.

The siege continues at this hour -- almost 24 hours after it began.

We are hearing helicopters circling overhead, occasional, sporadic gunfire and sirens (We live a 3-minute walk from the mall). So far this morning an additional four hostages have been released from inside the mall.

We don't know when this crisis will conclude; but we are hearing reports of the indomitable spirit of Kenyans; going in droves to the Red Cross to donate blood for the over 175 injured, taking food, blankets and water to victims in the hospital, and holding prayer meetings in churches for the ongoing crisis.

What you can do ---

Pray for a quick resolution to the siege at the mall.

Pray for family and friends of those who have died in the terrorist attack. (reports say 59 dead so far)

Pray for families and individuals at the mall who were injured or traumatized.

Thank God that most people were able to escape the shopping mall.

Pray for Kenyans and ex-patriots as they come to grips with evil in this world.
Pray that as they see and understand their need for a Savior, they would hear and accept the Good News of Jesus Christ allowing Christ to change their lives and give them peace.

Pray for the Konongo people of Tanzania

Historically, the Konongo people lived on the ivory/slave trade route; today however, the area is a remote, arid woodland toward the west and south in Tanzania.

Modern conveniences have not yet come and available medical care is basic. The knowledge of God was brought by the Catholic fathers which was then interwoven with their own ancestral rituals and witchcraft.  

Today they have little knowledge of God’s FREE gift of salvation. Their efforts are in earning God’s favor and appeasing their ancestors who have the ability to bless or curse life.   Knowing about God and believing in God are two very different things.  

Pray for the Konongo people to understand that God is not only the Creator but our Father who wants a personal relationship with us individually and that He gives the FREE gift of salvation to those who believe in Him.  

Pray that they would be released from the bondage of fear that ancestor worship brings. 

Pray for believers to have a burden to pray for the Konongo people and that God would impress upon willing hearts the need for them to step out of their lives of comfort to tell these lost ones about God’s amazing grace.

Pray for the Kutu people of Tanzania

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.



Located in the vast country of Tanzania, the Kutu, historically, have largely been overlooked by religious groups.  Living along the eastern side of central Tanzania, the Kutu live by subsistent farming; planting rice and maize and raising goats, sheep, and chickens.



Following the Islamic religion, mostly through dress and the observance of Ramadan, the Kutu are not particularly devout,   however; Kutu children attend Islamic school where they are taught the Koran.

While a smattering of Christians and churches can be found among the Kutu; many find it difficult to leave behind their worship of ancestors and try to add a belief in Christ along with their prayers to the ancestors.

Pray for the Kutu to have ears to hear and hearts open to understand that Jesus is the only way to God and to the hope of eternal life.

Pray that God would impress upon the hearts of His people an urgency to share His truth with the Kutu people.

Mzee

Mzee (Mm-zay) is a KiSwahili word with abundant meaning – mature, wise,
elder, respected – not as much, how old you are -- more, how much you know.

Samson Kisia is a mzee among Baptists in Kenya and we have come to listen and learn.  He has been planting churches, discipling and mentoring Christians for over 40 years.  He holds the office of Chairman of the Trustees of the Baptist Convention of Kenya.


National pastors and churches with a heart for reaching the unreached partnering together with U.S. pastors and churches with a heart for reaching the unreached is an effective way of spreading the gospel and planting new churches across Kenya and East Africa.

As we discuss reaching those unengaged and unreached people groups, the question is asked, "What is the greatest challenge for you when going?"

He says, “When I go on a mission and meet a person; I must get to know that person. As I come to know him, I must find scripture that will speak to the heart of that person to lead him to Jesus.”  He continues, “You can’t effectively teach or learn to do missions, you just have to go out and do it.”



"Many groups go with their own agenda. They have so much to do; they don’t sit and listen," remarks Kisia,  "It is important to stay in their home, this is when you truly come to know them."
Kisia continues, “It is important to listen to the heart of the people and get to know them; when you understand their needs, you can show them that Christ is the answer.”

Pray for Pastor Kisia as he prepares to leave for a three week mission trip to Burundi, taking nine others with him. His mission is to be a witness of God’s love and grace to everyone he meets and plant new churches.