Pastor Eda and Albert Outa

Sasa Nairobi Chapel! We are thrilled to touch base with you and highlight some of our experience at Elmbrook Church, Wisconsin.

‘Hit the road running’ does not begin to explain our experience. Before we knew how to get around, I (Albo) found myself leading the young couples’ fellowship, facilitating worship for the 20’s group ministry and leading outreach to a mental health facility in downtown Milwaukee. Eda has been working in the Middle School ministry with the 11-13 year olds. Her role has been to oversee Sunday morning classes for 300 students, facilitate the social element of the mid-week program, curriculum development and organizing events. She has thoroughly enjoyed her job—even when she was presented with a task that seemed much bigger than her. She has sensed God walk with her to do a lot more than we could have asked or imagined.

We were very well received and accommodated at Elmbrook. In the church it has been amazing to see how many faces light up when we say we are from Nairobi Chapel, even among the youth! Our host family is a young couple with two kids. They have overwhelmed us with hospitality, and God has used those two kids to prepare us for our family—we are expecting our baby later this year!

There have also been plenty of lessons to learn. One of the values of the 20-something ministry is authenticity – meaning that to speak effectively to this highly transitional and dynamic age group I have had to get over a lot of clichés and Christian jargon. Honestly, I came to the US thinking, wacha I’ll show them what we've got. I have been humbled to realize that God desires more, that prayer goes a longer way than creative ideas. It has been a humbling and hard lesson, that when the fun and creativity flow out of a dependent position in prayer, many lives are meaningfully transformed. Both of us have also been conscious of the cultural differences between us and the context we work in. But our experience has been cushioned by the people who have supportively walked with us as we transition.

On the lighter side, I have realized that kumbe I have a strong African accent. Initially even ordering at a fast food was stress because I got "What did you say sir...Oh Water" or the time I asked for the map section in the mall and the lady led me to get a "mop." Worse is when I forget that I am not in Kenya and find myself driving on the left hand side of the road, much to the dismay of the Americans. The dumbest thing I have tried so far is down-hill skiing. Bad idea. You could tell it’s a Kenyan when you see a mass of snow, skis, limbs and an ouch! tumble at the bottom of the hill! I was in pain for a while afterwards.

At the core we are still shameless shao Kenyans! Missing ugali and nyam chom! When we come home the goat must die!!! We have been convinced that the African church has a lot to give the global church. In a strange way, though our experience has been extremely positive it has left us both with a hunger to come home and plug into ministry there.

Word from Eda’s Supervisor:
Hello good people from Nairobi Chapel! My Name is Brandon Brown, and I am the Middle School Pastor at Elmbrook Church. This year I have had the tremendous fortune of supervising Eda in her work with us at Elmbrook. It has been an incredible joy for us, and she has been so helpful we will be so sad to see her go. Her passion, education, and grace speak very highly of what a wonderful ministry Nairobi Chapel must truly be. PS... Please give her and Albo three chickens when they get home. (He heard about the chicken affair after our graduation. :-) )

This month’s preaching series – The Art of being an Armor Bearer

• The heart of an armor bearer
  
• The task of an armor bearer
  
• The challenges of an armor bearer
  
• The rewards of an armor bearer
  Preacher: Pastor Janet Mutinda

Bereaved: Pastor Albert Outa – currently on a one year internship program abroad – lost his younger brother this past week. Albert and Eda will be travelling home next week to attend the funeral. Pray for the family, and also for journey mercies for this couple

Julie Kihara Mum’s passed away.  Pray for the family, who were also recently bereaved by their grandmother

Unwell: Pray for Eugene Ngugi’s sister – Hazel- who had a stroke this week. Pray for healing and also for peace of mind for this family who recently lost their Mum.

School of prayer: Pastor Simon Mbevi of Mavuno Chapel has compiled a fine training manual on prayer. This manual is being use to lead different groups from Nairobi chapel churches through the School of Prayer. One key objective of this school of prayer is raise a movement that will cover the ministries, the vision and the leadership of the churches in prayer. We urge you to be in prayer over this so that the Lord would cause a prayer revival within the congregations of Nairobi Chapel and beyond.

Children’s Ministry: The children’s ministry is seeking to extend its ministry to reach out to many more children than it is doing currently. As such the ministry is seeking to build the capacity. Pray for the Jamhuri primary school ministry. Pray also for an opening at Toi Primary School, which is in the neighbourhood of our Tent. May these children be impacted for the Lord while they are still young.

Parking: Next week you can park at the road reserve outside our tent! Praise God that through the intervention of an “Esther” in our midst, the town clerk has allowed us to park on the road reserve Sunday mornings, for the next six months until the end of August. We will need to protect the trees—please park carefully so as not to damage any trees. We are also required to beautify the area. Our permit from the city council is also for the period up till the end of August. After that we will have to find alternative parking, so pray seriously about our relocation to Jamhuri, where there will be no more parking problems. 

Children’s Baptism: Those parents who have registered your children to be baptised, kindly go by the info desk and give very important details that will be needed during the baptism.

Children’s Camp: The children’s ministry is organising an age-specific camp for 10-12yr olds. The camp will be on the 19th, 20th and 21st April. Venue will be communicated soon, but parents of this age group, please plan to send your child to this very special camp.

Are you a Graphic Designer? As we prepare to make the BIG move to our Jamhuri property, the theme of “JUBILEE” has been chosen for the celebration service on 2nd Sept. We need help to design a logo for this theme. If you are gifted in this area, kindly submit a complete logo to us by the end of the week either to our Information Desk, the church office or send it to info@nairobichapel.org. We will select the best logo for use on our branding for the move celebrations.

Sermon CDs last week: did you purchase a CD last week? The sermon may not have been recorded to the end. We apologise for that. Please exchange it for another at the info desk.

Watch and Pray: We need to cover our regular ministries, the relocation, and the vision 2020 in a lot of prayer. We have begun a prayer meeting, led by the prayer counsellors here at the tent every Wednesday at 5.30. Please come and intercede for the church. We also have a prayer meeting every Sunday at 9:45-10:15 am, before the main service. Come early and join us for a time of prayer.

Marriage Enrichment Retreat: For those who have registered, the deadline for paying the deposit of Ksh.10,000 is today, 18th March. Some couples from the other churches are working on securing a chartered flight to Turtle Bay. If you have paid and are interested, please let us know. Details of cost will be communicated as soon as we know how many are interested in the chartered flight.

Logos Christian School: There is capacity at the school for children in Pre-unit, Std 1, 2, 3 and 4. Register your child now to transfer them next term. Call Clara on 020-2723428

Worship: today our worship is led by Nthenya of First Friday.

Books to read: Here are 2 good book recommendations on the work of an Armor Bearer
“Leading From The Second Chair” Mike Bonem & Roger Patterson, Jossey Bass, 2005.
“The Courageous” follower” by Ira Chaleff

Fundraising Committee: Error correction – Ken Obimbo, our Fundraising Committee Chair, works for Chase Bank, and not East African Bottling Company as reflected in the bulletin last week.

Receptionist: We are looking for a receptionist for our front desk office. We wish to offer this job to someone who is currently unemployed, as opposed to someone looking for a new placement. Must be a member of our congregation, and fluent in English and Kiswahili. No prior training necessary as we will offer relevant training. Send in application by end of March. Interviews immediately.

H.E.L.P.:  With the fast growing relocation work building up – we need extra admin help around the office. Can you help. College students on hols, anyone in job transition, stay home mum’s - can you lend a couple of hours a day? We would really appreciate it. Please let us know by signing up at the book table, or sending an SMS to 0721921660, & your name, and we’ll call you pronto.