At the Board of Administration of the Burundi General Conference meeting held on May 29, the election of Rev. Nixon Dingili as Bishop of the Kenya General Conference was officially recognized. The inaugeration of the first bishop of Kenya and the launching of the Kenya Free Methodist Church as a General Conference will take place on July 19.

On March 31, Rev. Nixon Dingili was elected as the nominee for Bishop of the Kenya Provisional General Conference. On May 19, this election is to be ratified by the Board of Administration of the Burundi General Conference of which Kenya has been an Annual Conference until it gained Provisional General Conference status.

Rev. Dingili earned a BA degree in Christian education at Kenya Highlands Bible College and is currently working on an MA in Theological Studies at Hope Africa University in Burundi. He has served the Kenya FMC in the past 4 years as national superintendent and previously as Director of Youth, Director of Christian education, South Rift Valley District Superintendent and currently as Central District Superintendent.

Bishop Elect, Rev. Nixon Dingili’s earnest prayer is for transformation of hearts and lives in his church in Kenya.

Many people literally around the world have been praying since the beginning of this year for the transformation of hearts and lives. I believe that God is answering these prayers. I continuously am hearing of how God is, in fact, changing lives. Praise the Lord! The battle is not over but we can be encouraged that “the battle is the Lord’s”.

On March 30-31, Kenyan Free Methodist pastors and delegates will meet to establish the Kenya General Conference and two Annual Conferences. At this time a bishop will be elected as well as 2 Annual Conference Superintendents. I believe that the outcome of these days will determine the direction that the Free Methodist Church in Kenya will take in the days ahead. God has laid it on the hearts of many to pray diligently for the leadership of the Kenya Church. The present national superintendent, whose office will be discontinued at the time of the election of the bishop, has called for a day of prayer and fasting for March 29. Many Kenyan Free Methodists are rallying to pray for the events of March 30 and 31. If God should lay it on your heart, join us in prayer.

Debbie

The following is an e-mail sent out by the national superintendent of the Kenya Free Methodist Church.

Dear friends,

 

We are aware that you are already getting lots of demands on your resources. This, however, is a compelling appeal as it relates to saving lives — many Kenyans are starving and some actually dying, be part of growing list of donors and contribute to this worthy cause of saving Kenyans.

 

More than10 million Kenyans are faced with starvation.  The population of Kenya is estimated to be around 33 million people.

 

Kenyans are suffering; they are hard hit by the ravaging famine and are looking at the government to come to their aid. It is so unfortunate that our politicians are ignoring the plight of their residents and instead they are engaged in succession campaigns for the year 2012. Churches and people of good will are setting up Kitties in deferent parts of the country for relief food.

 

In Taita district, it was reported that 550 primary school pupils had dropped out of school due to hunger.   Majority of who are orphans who are loitering in urban centers or engaging in child labor to supplement family incomes – according to a report by a District Education Officer.

 

In Kisii district, a man was burned to death for allegedly stealing maize from a neighbor’s granary on Sunday night.  It was reported that he had been forced to steal because of hunger at his home.  This killing came amid reports that more and more families were sleeping hungry in the district as famine continues ravaging parts of the country. 

 

To curb the hunger situation, some local initiatives have brought relief to some families by forming a group they call “Good neighbor” which aims is to feed the hungry by supplying food rations as short term goal and creating irrigation projects to sustain food security. The group has decided that to avoid falling in the trap of reliance on relief food, the initiative also involves itself in sinking boreholes and building dams.

 

Last week, our president, Mwai Kibaki was in Rift Valley province to give Di-ammonium phosphates (DAP) fertilizers and Calcium ammonium phosphates (CAN) to 78,000 farmers and announced new reduced prices for maize seed and fertilizer in the region. This was meant to boost morale and increase production. — DAP had risen to Ksh 6,300 (US$ 83) from Ksh 2,500 (US $ 33).  The President said, “food should not only be available to the rich but every home must be able to put proper meal on the table”.

 

A University from United States of America, Western Kentucky University donated food to over 300 residents in Taita district.  The university distributed 36 bags of maize (corn) and 20 bags of beans to more than 300 residents in Taita district.  Prof Mike Stokes, who led the group to Kenya, said he was touched by reports that he read in one of the daily that the residents of Taita were eating wild roots to survive, some eating dangerous wild tubers to survive.

 

There has been despair in North Eastern province as residents share food with game.  Famine has forced residents into a rare bond with wild animals.  The two have previously clashed over dwindling water and pasture, with casualties reported on either sides; but with biting famine, starving villagers in Ijiara and Garissa share relief food with dying buffaloes.  Residents say that the beasts now enter homes looking for food.  Many other animals have since succumbed to the drought.

 

Your assistance to the brothers and sisters in Kenya will go a long way in saving a life.  May the Lord bless you as you pray and support us during these hard times.

 

Yours Sincerely,

Rev.Nixon Dinglil,

National Superintendent, Free Methodist Church of Kenya

Today a conference  opened in Nairobi,  Kenya.   A delegation from Kenya’s elite,  diplomats who interact with the Kenyan government and representatives of business  interests are meeting together for the purpose of vision casting with a goal of moving forward into an ambitious plan of economic and social reform.  The theme for the conference is “The Kenya we Want”. 

Media televised the morning proceedings, opening speeches and local entertainment to launch the conference.  This effort got me thinking — What is the church we want, then — what is the Church God wants?  I came to a sobering conclusion that too often we are in need of vision casting to move forward into a plan of spiritual and personal reform!  A month ago God spoke to me in a very clear and profound way — “I don’t know how, but there is power when I am on my knees” and that the way forward is God’s way and that we need to be praying that hearts to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and that lives reflect this heart transformation in their everyday situations.    I know from the reports coming back from  the Burundi General Conference that God is working in his leaders and in his people.  Let us consider the church that God wants — one empowered by the Holy Spirit, a church characterized by love and unity and one that desires more than anything that souls come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and an ever-growing relationship with Him.   A church whose priorities include  bringing people to Christ and providing the means by which all people will develop and grow in their personal and practical faith.  A church under the guidance and direction of spirit-filled leaders who are motivated by a love for Jesus and and a desire that their lives and his church exemply His character.  This is my prayer for Kenya.

This time last year I was sending e-mails concerning the political crisis and violence that struck Kenya at the end of 2007. After many attempts at bringing the country to a peaceful resolution, finally the (now) president and the leader of the (then) supposed opposition agreed to meet and a coalition government was put in place. Not all the issues that brought the country to chaos have been resolved but the government continues to hammer out a new constitution and make some efforts to keep peace.

I would like to put out another request for prayer.
The Kenyan church is, I believe, fighting a spiritual war. Last Friday I had my 2nd car accident in 6 weeks — Just before Annual Conference on Nov. 24 I was hit by a matatu (mini-van taxi). I was not injured. The driver sped away, however, a policeman (along with many others) witnessed the accident and the policeman followed (in a taxi) and found the matatu driver and brought him back to the police station where I now sat waiting. (the accident happened in front of the police station). The owner was called and agreed to pay all the damages.
The 2nd accident happened this past Friday. This time my car was hit by a lorry whose driver had decided that he wanted to be where I was. My car was side-swiped and the driver left me. My car is now at the garage for repair and I am working with the insurance company to get it fixed. Again I was not hurt.

So this brings me to the wonderful time that I had with the Lord on Sunday. I was not able to get to church on Sunday because of my “crippled” car. I decided to listen to the music on my ipod and almost the first song that came on was “On my Knees” by Nicole C. Mullen — It struck me like never before and I listened to it several times and allowed the words to sink in. One line is particularly compelling, “I don’t know how, but there’s power — when I’m on my knees”.
Then the Lord drew my attention to a conversation that I had had with a pastor just the week before about the need for transformed Christian lives in his church. Two days before the accident I had received an e-mail about a man ( a journalist) who had grown up in Malawi and had recently made a return trip to Malawi. He is a proclaimed atheist but as he worked with an aid organization digging wells in Malawi he made a profound observation — “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God … I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.” (from timesonline.co.uk/matthew parris).

I have been concerned lately for the lack of purpose and desire to work together in the ministry of the Lord. Being a Christian seems to have become “institutionalized” — and being a leader in the church is cherished for the position itself, not as a responsibility to move the church ahead, but as an opportunity to exert authority over others and by assumption, to attain whatever benefit there might be, imagined or otherwise. In this I see that we are fighting a spiritual battle.
So, I was yet again struck by the idea of transformation and the Lord made 2 things clear to me 1) there is power when I am on my knees 2) there must be transformation in the hearts and lives of Kenyan Christians (not to mention myself).

I have set for myself to be the missionary described in the article by Matthew Parris that speaks forth a gospel that transforms and I want not only to proclaim this message but to live it. I have yet to learn what all this means, but I am willing and ready.
The Lord also made it clear to me that an army of prayer warriors needs to be raised up to pray that the church be transformed and mobilized to meet the challenge of God’s purpose for it here in Kenya.

I would like to have you join this army of prayer warriors and to enlist others to pray for the transformation of hearts and lives in the Kenya Free Methodist Church. I think it would be encouraging to know just how many will participate. I ask that these prayer warriors pray 15 minutes every day until mid-March (I don’t have a date yet) when the FMCK will be restructuring into 2 Annual conferences and a Provisional General Conference.

Feel free to contact me at dhogeboom@yahoo.com to enlist yourself as a prayer warrior or to ask questions.

And thanks so much.
Debbie

The name for the proposed Bible College to be located at the property (Leberio) near Eldoret, Kenya was approved at the Kenya Annual Conference held at the end of November.  Springs of Hope College will be affiliated with Hope Africa University in Burundi.  SoH College will service Kenyans in training for church ministry at the certificate and diploma levels.  Students who do not qualify for diploma  will be able to complete a certificate level through the modular program which will be redesigned from a 2-week 3 times a year program to a 3-week  – 2 times a year program over a period of 5 years.  This new design will allow for more “meat”.   Also,  students who qualify will be able to enter the 3 year diploma program in an upgrade as they prepare for ministry in the church and community.    As well students having attained at least a high school leaving certificate students will be eligible for direct entry into the  dipoma program.  Studetns who  complete the diploma program and who qualify may attend Hope Africa University in Burundi to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

The name “Springs of Hope College” is derived fromthe many springs on the property and the “mother school”, Hope Africa University in Burundi.  Bringing hope for the future. 

We are looking  for interested persons and churches who will partner with us.

A team of 10 men and 2 women came to Eldoret to dig rocks at the Bible School property — well, not quite — the women carried water from the river and prepared chai (tea) and lunch for the men.  There are LOTS of ROCKS which are being broken into gravel by hand to provide balast when it is time to dig the foundation for the buildings.  This helps to cut the cost.  Realizing that the Kenyans would not have the resources to build the school complex but wanting them to take ownership, 2 Kenyan initiatives were put in place so that the Kenyans have an integral role in  developing the property — and they have been eager to do so.  Kenyans are participating in Kenyan workteams and Buy a Brick for the Bible School.  As one pastor said, “we may not have financial resources but we have the ability to work and the time.  Praise God!

Last weekend a Saturday kid’s club was started with 7 children in attendance and on Sunday we had an “old grandmother” – Gogo.  She left after the service eager to report to her neighbours about the new church in the community and to invite them for next Sunday.

One week ago I arrived in Nairobi and today I travelled to Eldoret.  It is good to be “back home”, yet there is much to do to get back into the swing of things.   Tomorrow I have to get new tires on my car and then finish unpacking and getting my house in order.   Yesterday I got set up with Internet capability so it is good to be able to get back in touch.  Check out the prayer request page for updated requests.

Encouraging the Samburu church

I have confirmed my flight for September 30 and am now making preparations to be on that flight.  I have had a busy 6 months and look forward to the opportunities that present themselves in Kenya.  I know it will be a busy time as Annual Conference will be at the end of November.  I have had a great time visiting churches throughout Ontario and would have liked to have gone further but time would not permit this time.  Thank you to all the churches where I had opportunity to share what God is doing in Kenya.  Thank you to those who I have not had the opportunity to visist but who continue to be faithful in prayer and financial support.  Thank you for your prayers while home and when I was in Kenya and as I return.  I invite you to continue your partnership with me.  The development of Bible School property in Eldoret is the ”big project” that is on the burner and your support for this has already been shown and I trust will continue as we move ahead.  God has great plans for the training of men and women in Kenya at Living Waters Training Centre (named for the natural springs on the property).

At the first opportunity I hope to visit our Samburu churches.  I will keep you posted so that you will be able to pray as we visit these Christians in a difficult remote area.  There are 3 churches with about 20 people each in an area that is unreached.