May/June 2009

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21

Our ministry partners,

We thank you for praying and allowing us to see God do things beyond our expectations. We want to share with you some highlights from the last two months.

OUR CHURCHES

Most Sundays Zion Road Independent Baptist Church is quite full. Each Sunday afternoon is dedicated to a door-to-door evangelistic outreach called "Netcasting," and we have seen several adults accept Christ as Savior. At an average morning service we have four to six first-time visitors, and some have made us their church home. In March we ordained our first deacon, Brother George Wambugu. Also we now have a church treasurer, Brother Zakayo Mwenga. We praise the Lord for these important steps toward the church becoming fully indigenous.

Santon Independent Baptist Church has been growing more slowly. We have about fifteen adults and thirty-five children on an average Sunday. Our two African pastors, Lawrence Isoka and Charles Okari, have been faithfully visiting the homes in the area and have won several people to Christ. Adults visit the church, but then, because of the great poverty in this community, they quickly move on looking for work elsewhere.

OUR COLLEGE

We finished our first term at Independent Baptist College of Ministry with twenty-eight students at the end of March. We open classes again on May 5th with thirty students from about a dozen independent Baptist churches. The college has been moved to the Zion Road Independent Baptist Church as construction continues on the multipurpose building which will be used for both college and church classrooms. We await the Nairobi City Council giving final approval of our building plans so we can finish the classrooms and library by the third term beginning in September.

OUR CO-WORKERS

Tom and Denise Canfield and their children have their tickets purchased, and we look forward to their arrival in Kenya on June 23rd. Our ministries have greatly expanded, and the Canfields will be a much-needed help to us.

OUR COUNTRY

For several months Kenya has been in the midst of a severe drought, and estimates are that as many as ten million Kenyans are at risk of starvation. We have already given food aid to some of the rural churches we fellowship with, and we will be taking more this summer. Some rain finally came the end of April, but it is now quite late for some of the crops to be planted. Also, the coalition government formed last year after the disputed Presidential election has begun to unravel as the President and Prime Minister compete for power. Some Kenyans are calling for new elections, which we fear would be violent in the present environment.

MEET ONE OF OUR FAMILIES

Zakayo and Mama Vivian Mwenga have been one of our most faithful families for the past four years. Zakayo is a Kenyan government seismologist. He is now also our church treasurer. Mama Vivian is a school teacher who leads an Awana Club and is also the chairlady of our women's fellowship. Their teen-agers, Denise, Martin and Vivian are believers and attend the Zion Road Independent Baptist Church when they are home from boarding school.

PRAYER CORNER

Would you please pray for the following needs:

* For an abundant rainy season that will end the drought and for unity in the Kenyan government

* For the addition of four families at Santon Independent Baptist Church who find employment and remain in the community and church

* For approval of our multipurpose building plans by the Nairobi City Council by the end of May

*For the safe arrival and quick adjustment of the Canfield family to life and ministry in Kenya

In Kenya for Christ,
Mike and Gail Mestler

John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease."