What Did We Say When We Came Back?

Bible Reading: Luke 15:17-21

Focus verse: John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives”

The reading in Luke talks about a son who after living a wasted life, a life of sin and separation; he realized that it was time for him to go back to the father.  He is reminded of the good social life he used to live while with the father and he now carefully plans how he would win back the heart (love) of the father. He identifies that his sins have separated him from the father and is not worth to be called a son. He as well knew that he had no authority to reinstate himself, only the father could make him as one of his again. All he had to do was to accept his sin and ask for forgiveness.

We all at one time have wronged our friends, our bosses, our families, our spouses or people we really love and cherish. We have made them be broken in the hearts so that they could not find peace. We’ve made some of them to regret if surely they made right choices to have us as friends or spouses. Some have lived with the pain and agony we have caused then so that anytime they are reminded about the pain/scars we caused them, they still weep bitterly. To some, the pain is today completely healed while to others it has remained a fresh sore/pain always. Why? The difference lies on what we said when we came back to them, whether we said the truth/confessed and asked for forgiveness or denied/lied further and remained with the guilt. The Bible says “Truth sets us free”.

Equally we have all sinned against God. All sins whether one or hundreds is enough to separate us from God. He is not happy when we are separated from him and wants us back all the times. Many desire to come back when they realize they are far from Him. We should remember that it is what we say when we come back that unites us back to Him. Many people come back but still live under the guilt of the sins committed because they did not truly confess to Him and repent. They want to falsely justify their own mistakes. God is not pleased when we walk under the guilt of sins that separated us from him. It’s not coming back to the church or Christian family or walking with Christian friends that tell we have come back to God. The major concern is whether we confess to have sinned and ask forgiveness when we come back. Unless we do that, we still live under separation and the guilt of our sin.

Our repentance can set us free and bring healing to the hearts of our friend or loved one that we have made to suffer. Our marriages and broken relationships with friends can blossom again if we accept to confess our wrong doings and ask God to reestablish us again. Do we have friends who are living with scars/pain because of our wrong doings?  Are we responsible for the regrets in the lives of our loved ones? Only a statement of “forgive me for all the wrongs I did to you” is enough to help them heal.

Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries and
Repairer Christian School

Kids at Guilwe

Kids at Gulwe primary school hearing the Gospel, maybe for the first time! This is a school on the interior of Mfangano Island. We have never visited here before because it is such a challenge to navigate the interior of the mountainous island. The determined team made the trip and around 300 children proclaimed that they want to repent and follow Christ. Please pray for that seed in them to grow and for the pastors as they follow up with them. We always leave copies of a new believers growth book for the teachers to teach... in a public school. 

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May News Flash

Ever since the beginning of Interlocking Ministries, we have always found an good place to stay, but it is not consistent.  Since part of our ministry involves taking teams to the area, we felt it necessary to improve in this area.  After announcing our intentions to build a guest house to a group of supporters, there were enough donations to begin construction on a six bedroom, three bathroom home!  Praise the Lord!  It will meet the basic needs and some luxuries (like running water and a flush toilet).

After spending time in Kenya, we define luxuries differently than we used to.  :)

Sign up for prayer emails: www.interlockingministries.org

World Malaria Day: April 25

Tomorrow is World Malaria Day.  "Malaria still kills an estimated 627 000 people every year, mainly children under 5 years of age" ~World Health Organization.

With the death of Pastor Tobias and Anna's baby to malaria in March, Interlocking Ministries is launching a malaria prevention campaign named after the young boy.  His name was Praise.  We call it "The Praise Project".  It is our desire to help the communities in Kenya guard against this terrible mosquito-bourne disease through education, treated bed nets, and providing medication. 

Through an interested donor, the project already has a beginning.  Please consider how God might have you get involved with a fundraiser within your group or a donation.  www.interlockingministries.org to donate.  If donating online, please send an email to us to direct the donation toward the Praise Project if this is what you desire.

Dylan's Soccer Ball Drive

Kids in Kenya make homemade balls with grocery bags and string.  We are thrilled that this young man, Dylan, started a soccer ball drive for Interlocking Ministries. He advertised within his soccer league for new and gently used balls of any size. This is his first collection! He plans to continue his efforts in the league and extend it to his school! Bayshore Christian School The balls make great gifts to the schools in Kenya! Thanks Dylan! You can't imagine the joy this gift will bring!

 

 

March 2014 Trip Report

Dear prayer team,
A seven hour van ride provides a long time to wonder if I had done the right thing. I had invited two Kenyan friends, Jeff and Carol, from Nairobi to the island.  I had met them 18 months ago at the city market, where tourist buy souvenirs.  Jeff and Carol are co-workers.  Jeff was a pastor and Carol professed to have been born again,  but that's about all I knew. We weren't on the island very long before I knew that the decision I had made was ordained by God. Pastor Jeff's eyes were opened to how much ministry was going on in western Kenya.  He said "I can hardly believe how receptive these people are to the gospel; people are not that way in Nairobi.  I just want to come back here again and go door to door telling people the good news of Jesus!”  Carol, on the other hand, had never shared her faith like this.  I asked her if she would like to share Christ with some people while on the island.  She said "yes I want to, but you'll need to show me how."  What a joy it was for me to show a Kenyan how to lead another Kenyan to the cross.  The adventure for these two city dwellers turned into revival for the pastor and discipleship for Carol.  I enjoyed seeing God’s plan in this decision.

Pastor Eliazar's elderly father, Christopher Wambo died before I arrived.  He was always very supportive of all the ministry in the community and served in the church.  There was a large funeral for him which held over a thousand guests and lasted the entire day.  Tragically, Pastor Tobias's four month old son died unexpectedly of malaria.  We know God always does all things to His purpose, but it sure is hard to understand Romans 8:28 at times.

Great news though, God is still at work in the hearts of those who heard the Gospel.  Through public school visits, and open air beach preaching we watched as over fourteen hundred people surrender their lives to Christ.  I am always moved with joy in seeing people repent, and come to Christ. 

We are working toward establishing a Bible Institute on the island for training pastors.  We will have trained pastors come from Nairobi to teach in this college.  This is a big deal for the pastors on the islands, because many of them do not have the resources to travel to Nairobi for training.  We believe there is great return for discipling the pastors that will disciple those new believers. 

We have made preparations to build a 5 bedroom guest house on the island.  This is really needed to have an adequate place for teams to stay while on the mission field.  We thank the Lord for donations from our friends that are making this possible.  This was just the first of four trips planned for this year.  By now you know you are welcome to join us on any of these trips to see Christ's church body being built in western Kenya.  Thanks to many of you that prayed over the request that Page sent out while I was gone, and thanks to those that continue to give to this ministry that enables us to carry this good news to the far reaches of western Kenya.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

March trip preparations

Pray for Bobby as he prepares for his March Kenya trip. He will be having meetings with Bethesda Faith Ministries board. (A board that was started to coordinate the ministry in the Lake Victoria area.) They will discuss the design and construction of a guest house, creating a Bible Institute for pastors and the vision of a library on Mfangano Island. Bobby will also visit schools and hold some open air evangelism events. When you disciple a community for Christ, you impact a country.