Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Maasai churches report good news
Dan Crum, leader of CMF’s Maasai team in Africa, recently shared the latest report from a meeting of the Maasai Advisory Committee, and it was full of encouraging news about the Community Christian churches there.
There are now 85 churches in 15 geographical clusters in Maasailand, 10 more than at the last report. Around 150-200 baptisms have been performed in the last six months alone.
The cluster of churches in the Elangata Enterit area is undergoing a significant revival. There are now seven churches there. This had been a very resistant, slow-growth area, so this news is particularly welcome. Several of the new and revived churches are still small and struggling, yet they are meeting consistently and are shepherded by the current leaders. Elders that were ordained several years ago are being referred to as leaders of these small churches. The Olepishet church is doing particularly well, and runs about 100 people, up from about 20 only six years ago.
Women’s events continue to be very popular in Maasailand. Nearly 200 women attended a conference at Olchurrai in August, and about 200 are expected at next month’s women’s conference at Miton.
About 2,000 people attended a five-day, area-wide fellowship held in Tumpelian in the area of Siria last month. It was well-received by the area councillors and chiefs; even the Chairman of the TransMara County Council (a local government representative) attended. Some chiefs, councillors and laibons (traditional African spiritual guides) gave their lives to Christ.
One of the outcomes of the gathering in Siria was that people agreed that a church building should be constructed for Ole Kimanu, one of the four elders of Siria who was ordained in 2000. Kimanu is a simple, friendly man, full of faith, who is very evangelistic and well respected. He was not interested in the church when it first began in Tumpelian; his testimony is a good account of how God is working in Africa, just with Africans.
There are now 85 churches in 15 geographical clusters in Maasailand, 10 more than at the last report. Around 150-200 baptisms have been performed in the last six months alone.
The cluster of churches in the Elangata Enterit area is undergoing a significant revival. There are now seven churches there. This had been a very resistant, slow-growth area, so this news is particularly welcome. Several of the new and revived churches are still small and struggling, yet they are meeting consistently and are shepherded by the current leaders. Elders that were ordained several years ago are being referred to as leaders of these small churches. The Olepishet church is doing particularly well, and runs about 100 people, up from about 20 only six years ago.
Women’s events continue to be very popular in Maasailand. Nearly 200 women attended a conference at Olchurrai in August, and about 200 are expected at next month’s women’s conference at Miton.
About 2,000 people attended a five-day, area-wide fellowship held in Tumpelian in the area of Siria last month. It was well-received by the area councillors and chiefs; even the Chairman of the TransMara County Council (a local government representative) attended. Some chiefs, councillors and laibons (traditional African spiritual guides) gave their lives to Christ.
One of the outcomes of the gathering in Siria was that people agreed that a church building should be constructed for Ole Kimanu, one of the four elders of Siria who was ordained in 2000. Kimanu is a simple, friendly man, full of faith, who is very evangelistic and well respected. He was not interested in the church when it first began in Tumpelian; his testimony is a good account of how God is working in Africa, just with Africans.
Labels: Church Planting, Kenya, Maasai
¶ 12:35 PM Tuesday, September 2, 2008
News from Bangkok
Michal Ruth Penwell (Globalscope Thailand) wrote today to share an update about the political situation in Thailand and its effect on the team's ministry and daily lives. Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Bangkok after clashes with the supporters of the People's
Alliance for democracy (PAD) left at least one person dead and dozens injured in the worst violence seen in Bangkok in 16 years. This situation is rooted in a bloodless coup by the military in Sept. 2006, when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was removed from office. Thaksin and his wife were tried in Bangkok in July 2008, but fled into exile in the UK. PAD supporters say the new government is a front for Thaksin.
Meanwhile, the CMF's team's ministry activities have continued regularly and they anticipate that they will continue without problems. Living north of Bangkok has helped the team members avoid the crowds of protesters, but PAD did hold a small public meeting on the campus of the university on Monday.
"The students in the ministry are concerned about the situation, but talk very little about it," writes Michal Ruth. "Most people would rather not become involved. We feel safe and will continue to remain away from the demonstrations. We also hope that we can show an attitude of respect and peace. We do appreciate your prayers for Thailand, our ministry and our students."
Alliance for democracy (PAD) left at least one person dead and dozens injured in the worst violence seen in Bangkok in 16 years. This situation is rooted in a bloodless coup by the military in Sept. 2006, when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was removed from office. Thaksin and his wife were tried in Bangkok in July 2008, but fled into exile in the UK. PAD supporters say the new government is a front for Thaksin.
Meanwhile, the CMF's team's ministry activities have continued regularly and they anticipate that they will continue without problems. Living north of Bangkok has helped the team members avoid the crowds of protesters, but PAD did hold a small public meeting on the campus of the university on Monday.
"The students in the ministry are concerned about the situation, but talk very little about it," writes Michal Ruth. "Most people would rather not become involved. We feel safe and will continue to remain away from the demonstrations. We also hope that we can show an attitude of respect and peace. We do appreciate your prayers for Thailand, our ministry and our students."
Labels: Campus Ministry, Thailand
¶ 8:05 AM 
