Eldership

Brother Eric Omondi Abwao was duly recognized as an Elder/Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church on December 21st. in the morning service. We had two other churches represented, Joshua Karani of Faith Reformed Baptist in Nairobi, and David Awan Malek of the Trinity Baptist Churches of South Sudan. The other brother was John Muketha the chairman of our Deacons. Pastor Murungi led the service and I was told he “conducted it very soberly, even gravely.” The brother were are next considering for the Eldership later in 2015 wrote, “I enjoyed seeing it, though with some trepidation as I pondered the oaths that Eric took for the sake of God’s people, and thought of the probability of taking them as well. The men who prayed did so very earnestly. I was particularly moved by Karani’s prayer.” We know you are praying with us for a strong, united Eldership that will lead the church forward in the ways of the Lord in the years to come.

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Couples’ Retreat

12th. December we had a day-long meeting especially for those who are in relationships they hope will lead to marriage. We met in a Retreat Centre far the other side of Nairobi and had lunch and refreshments provided. We were 7 married couples as the panel and about 20 young people, all but one from TBC. There was a sense of unity of purpose in wanting to live according to the Scriptures in our relationships. Matters of conflict with culture were brought up and well discussed – dowry payment, wife is considered as daughter in groom’s family, dominant role of extended family in society. We are so thankful to God that He has given us wise brethren as these issues are dealt with.

New Roof in Nairobi

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After 24 years we found it necessary to replace the roof which had become brittle so that there were leaks, and the auditorium had become so hot with the sun beating down on the roof. It also gave us the opportunity to get rid of the part-asbestos tiles and have aluminium roofing so that we can harvest the rain water.

2013, No. 8 (30/8/13)

Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ from Nairobi. We arrived well late on Wednesday 14th. (2 weeks ago). The first week or so is always devoted to getting things clean and up and running. There always seem to be computer issues! Having now progressed to Windows 8 I have found it impossible to send out any emails since returning. Going out to get things solved can be ry time consuming because of the incessant traffic jams.

The first thing we wish to communicate to you is our deepest thanks in the Lord for your prayers while we have been away from Kenya these 4 months. We were able to visit very many of you and we were much encouraged by your warm fellowship in the Gospel, expressed in so many ways. From the end of May we were in UK and had the privilege of talking about Kenya and ministering in 14 local churches. Although most are smaller than TBC, Nairobi, and the cultural environment far more hostile than in Kenya, we were struck by the many efforts being made to bring the gospel – door-to-door, open-airs, beach missions. May the Lord help you to continue on faithfully, and may that day not be long distant when He will again pour out His Spirit on such an unworthy people!

Our first Sunday back in Nairobi (18th.) we were reunited with our brethren and it was a very joyful time. There were a number of new people who are wanting to be committed to the life of the local church. The ministry of the Word was profitable: A Sabbath Oriented life (Adult Sunday School), Mark 6:1-6 – Christ Rejected Yet Gracious (Morning), and Exodus 2:23-25 (Evening). There was also a well-attended Women’s Fellowship before the evening service at 4 p.m. Everyone said how much they had missed us, yet how much they have been encouraged by the church in the time we have been away.

Our second Sunday (25th.) was another encouraging time: the last in the series of A Sabbath Oriented Life taught by Eric Omondi, Ephesians 6:5-8 – God’s Instruction to Slaves, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 – Would You Prefer a Tent or a Palace? In the afternoon there was a Young Adults meeting with over 25 present! They led it and discussed the forthcoming Grace & Truth Conference, and the Book Club. The latter has taken off as they have been reading and discussing in many groups the book by Cheesman, Saving Grace.

I had hoped to write this before the RBAK (Reformed Baptist Association of Kenya) meeting of the past days. Although there were fewer delegates than normal, it was a most encouraging time, and I will report on it next time. The work of church planting and growth continues.

Ministry

Please PRAY about the forthcoming ministries for the next 3 weeks:

(1) Preaching the next 3 Sunday mornings, continuing in Ephesians from 6:9.

(2) Grace & Truth Conference Friday 6th. & Saturday 7th. September. This is a new venture for us, targeting young adults, and presenting the ‘Five Solas’. We are expecting 60 to attend.

(3) PTC (Pastoral Theological Course) 11th. to 18th. September. I shall be teaching Old Testament History & Theology. Friday 13th. evening will be opportunity for a further ‘Meaty Forum’ on the Doctrine of God, especially the Trinity.

Urgent Requests

(1) Miathene. For the past year there has been a leadership struggle here. The pastor who was dismissed refuses to vacate the premises with the few people who remain with him. We have been advised that the best way is to hire a company to guard the premises day and night and to keep everyone out for a time. Please pray that a godly resolution will soon be forthcoming so the church can operate normally without any danger of open rivalry.

(2) Rendille. The church in Korr is struggling without a trained leader. Of the 3 leaders there, 2 are illiterate, but we still believe the Lord will use them and the church will be held together until a suitable man is found. Please pray the Lord will raise up men to lead here, and elsewhere.

Please continue in the fellowship of prayer on behalf of the work the Lord has entrusted to us. In Christ’s service,

2012, No.15 (19/11/12)

Dear Brethren

Greetings in Christ’s name from Nairobi. This is a quick email to solicit your thanksgiving and prayer for us.

Pastoral Theological Course (PTC)

From 7 th to 14 th November I taught the last session this year, on Reformation Church History and Apologetics. 4 of the 7 students have now finished their course work in Nairobi. All that remains is to finish some assignments at home, complete the 2 papers, and then they will graduate. The students have been a tremendous encouragement to me by their faithfulness and we had a lovely time of reflection and prayer with a small cake on the last afternoon. Microsoft Word - 2012, No. 15.docx

  • Elly Achok returns to his church in Mumias (West Kenya) having grown so much.
  • Charles Awelo returned to his church at Ihonje (near Mumias) and promptly resigned as it has become clear that the real power behind the church is a polygamous man on whose land the church is built and whose relatives make up most of the congregation. We will pray the Lord leads him into a fruitful ministry.
  • Isaiah Juma returns to Kasei in North Pokot where we have sent him especially to minister to the students in the secondary school.
  • Joseph Mucheru returns to Gilgil (near Nakuru) where he is seeking to plant a church. Our young people will be going there after Christmas for a mission to encourage him in evangelism.

We have agreed on 4 new students to admit for January 2014. We are also hoping that one Sudanese brother from a remote place on the Ethiopian border, Pochalla in Jonglei State, will be able to come. It would be impossible for him to travel each time as one way it would take him at least a week. We are thinking of the possibility of bringing him and his small family to the refugee camp in north Kenya (Kakuma) where many of his people escaped during the civil war, or even to Nairobi.

Church Meeting

We had a congregational meeting on 17 th where the Lord graciously gave us full unity. It is our practice that each pastor is re-evaluated every 3 years and the members again gave me their backing. I told them this will probably be the last time as at 70 I will seek to retire from the leadership of the church. May the Lord raise up more leaders to join with Pastor Murungi!

Pokot North

Tomorrow morning I am leaving early for another week and a half in Pokot North. I am going with Vincent Kajuma, a fairly new member with his wife Maggie, and at the meeting (above) we agreed that he should be one of our 2 interns in 2013, and also that he should join the PTC. Please pray that I will be an encouragement to the brethren there as I bring the word of God to them and exhort them again to put their preaching ministry ahead of school administration.

Priscilla is with Jonathan and family in the States and is due back the beginning of December, Lord willing. Please excuse the haste as it is bed time and I must leave before 06:00 tomorrow morning in order to beat the traffic jam.

In Christ’s service,

Keith Underhill