September 1994

His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
September 7, 1994

We trust that you are all well in America. We are all doing well except for minor colds. This last month has been very busy due to starting a new church growth study, and going to the annual meeting of the Luo churches.

If you can remember, the last church growth study was done in 1991 containing all of 1990 and half of 1991. This study will be covering August of 1991, through July of 1994. We are just starting the study, therefore it is too early to say what the outcome will be. We hope to finish by the end of October and have a report ready by the end of this year. Many of the Christians are not wanting to see us leave in 1996, and some are talking about writing to you in America to see if our time here can be extended by at least five years. We are not sure ourselves yet how we feel about this idea. The results of the church growth study may give us a better idea where the church stands, both spiritually and physically, thus helping us evaluate our need to stay longer. We have seen a great need in some areas such as culture, and realize that change in areas such as these do not come overnight. Please pray for the church growth study and our ability to use it wisely.

The annual meeting was from the 19th-22nd of August at the Gembe congregation near Sindo at the far Northwest corner of South Nyanza. Because of this, we did not expect a good turn out due to the high cost for travel and far distance that everyone would have to go. However, to our surprise, 12 churches and 120 people arrived. More than 30 people walked 26 miles to attend the meeting. We praise God for His help in increasing our faith! During this meeting we taught on "The Christian Walk", and were able to address many cultural problems within the South Nyanza church. Many of the Christians are still talking about this meeting, and the same topic has been chosen for the annual meeting next year. We feel good about this, since it shows that the Christians are finally seeing a great need for teaching about cultural problems that are in the family of God.

A few years back, Stacy wrote in a newsletter about Jonathan Pengo, who killed a cow for the annual meeting which was being held at his home. In that letter she told how the Lord had blessed Jonathan with the birth of two sets of twin calves, because Jonathan trusted that God would bestow a blessing upon him, (Malachi 3:10) since he gave willingly. Jonathan's faith has continued to show over the years, and will continue to show, even after his death on July 17th of this year. You see, Jonathan showed his faith in God by casting off the traditional way of burial, telling his family that his soul was going to be with God, hence there was no need of buying a casket or burial cloth for a body that is without a soul. After all, once a person has gone to be with God he cannot return to this world (Luke 16:19-31). We thank God for Jonathan's example to his family, and pray that they will follow our Lord and Saviour as fervently as Jonathan did during his life on earth.

Much work lays ahead of us in the area of customs and traditions. Please pray for the Luo Christians (especially Clement Kasuku's wife), as well as ourselves, as we labor together to overcome what stands between us and our Master. May Gods richest blessings be showered down upon you because of your efforts and prayers for South Nyanza.