Kenya needs you

With the current situation there is a constant flow of information from the mass media. One reaction would be to try to act on everything you hear and try to help in every way you can. Another reaction would be to respond negatively, to criticize everything. Being negative will only polarize an already volatile atmosphere.

A third reaction is indifference. Most of us have come to the place where we are numbed by the news. We feel that there is not much we can do so we leave it to the diplomats and try to continue with our lives as usual.

 As Christians we cannot afford to be like the proverbial ostrich that buries its head in the sand and hope the problem will fizzle out. We are the salt of the earth, the light of the world placed on top of a hill. How do we avoid getting benumbed?
 
Pray: none of us can say we do not know what to pray for. If you hear rumors of impeding crisis, pray instead of being scared. If you have a dream or a vision that warns you, pray. When you watch or listen to news, do not move on to the next thing before you pray about the content of the news.
 
Give sacrificially: right now over 350,000 people are displaced out of the places they have called home for many years. Some of these are children who do not even understand why this is happening to them. This far, the church has done really well in donating basic provisions to the internally displaced people. But the task of helping the IDPs is not over. Many people are still in camps until such a time as it can be right for them to return to their homes. The situation in camps is getting harder because of congestion related problems, so more than ever our help is needed.

In the last several weeks many of us have given generously. We will need to continue giving sacrificially. This may mean making sacrifices in our lifestyle habits, the sort of food we eat and even the purchases we might want to make now.   We can save up on our expenses to help others in their hour of need.

Be an ambassador of peace: Nairobi chapel leaders have sensed the calling to give leadership to the church in Kenya to lobby for peace and all that it represents.  They will lead pastors and a representative team of Christians to major Kenyan towns on a reconciliation mission, conduct joint prayer and healing ceremonies and deliver humanitarian supplies. Let us be in solidarity with our leaders as they spearhead this initiative dubbed Msafara. Tell your friends and colleagues about it. Mobilize support for the initiative. You too can preach peace and reconciliation. Be an ambassador for peace wherever you are and challenge others to do the same. 

Pastoral Care. Do you know of a member who has been bereaved recently, is in hospital, or has gone through trauma? Please, please call our office on 6752346/0725650737 or call Rose Muiu on 0722317961 to let us know. We want to care for our members well, but have no other way of knowing unless someone informs us. Once we know we do a great job at responding and being at their side . . . but only if someone let's us know first. So  if you have the news, take it upon yourself to alert us immediately.

The economic situation following the ongoing crisis is grim for our nation. Inflation is up by 6.2% and probably rising. The tourism industry is hard hit with a 78% drop in earnings. Many have lost their jobs and many more will be out of employment in the near future. What this means in the day-to-day life of many Kenyans is that many will be unable to meet their basic needs and many will slide into poverty. Crime rates will also rise as a result of this.

Let us pray that god will intervene in the restoration our national economy so that many will have work. Experts project a slight economic growth but we pray to a god who can turn the economy around speedily.

Continue to pray for those who have been displaced in this crisis. Many of them have lost businesses and thus a means of livelihood. Let us pray for restoration and direction as many seek to start all over. Let us pray for the different organizations that are organizing group loans to support these Kenyans.

We continue to pray for those in IDP camps across the nation. Pray for the security situation. Many women and children have been exposed to sexual abuse and many have sold their bodies in return for food. The camp sanitation facilities are stretched to full capacity and there are reported outbreaks of cholera and dysentery. Continue to pray for quick resolution to the matter so that these people can return to their homes.

Many of the children in the camps have been unable to return to school. The uncertainness of the whole situation does not guarantee that they will go to school in this term. Pray for the parents; pray for the teachers who also cannot report to their schools in the conflict areas.

We pray in faith for our countrymen that this situation will be turned around. Like the captives who returned to Zion (psalm 126), they will be filled with joy when the lord intervenes for them. We pray that their fortunes will be restored.

Sermon CDs and DVDs: if you ordered sermon cds or dvds last year and have not collected and paid for them, please do so.  Effective this sunday, please  pay for sermon cds and dvds as you place an order and not on collection.

Gift sunday: we will be doing more improvements on our site. The next phase will be putting up classrooms for our children in Sunday school. Sunday march 3rd will be our gift Sunday. All our giving on that day will be geared toward this project. Be in prayer on how you would give on that day.

Teachers training retreat: there will be a Sunday school teacher training retreat from the 6th to the 8th march 2008. We are inviting sponsors for the teachers at 2,500 per teacher.   
New believers: for those who have recently been saved and those who have never had an opportunity for discipleship, we will be starting a new believer's class from the 17th February 2008. Please sign up at the info desk.

Children’s’ baptism
Baptism classes are being offered on the following dates:-
« 17th Feb.     
« 24th Feb.  
« 2nd march               
«  9th march
«  16th march
The baptism event will take place on 23rd march 2008. Please sign up your child at the information desk.

Adult baptism: are you a believer and have never been baptized? We will be
Having baptism on the 21st of March, 2008. A baptism class will run
From the 24th February for four weeks. Please plan to attend.

Youth camp!! Dudes and dudettes lemmie hear you say yeyeah! There’s camp! As in we goin’ camping the 14 -19yr olds, from 14th-19th April, 2008. Charges are 3,500bob only. Venue will be communicated later.

The oasis: you don't have to go to a restaurant or hurry home for lunch after the service. Our interns have started a canteen service to cater to the congregation after the Sunday service. It is called the oasis as a significance of refreshment. It will be at the tent located on your way from the tents to the main parking area. They have yummy bites and drinks at very affordable prices.