The Kenyan church, as a whole, hasn't quite gotten the point of sending out missionaries. Frequently, they still see themselves as receivers, so the job of a Kenyan missionary-to-be is a little more challenging than that of a "western" missionary-to-be. First, they must convince their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that the church is commanded to take the Gospel to all nations, and that means their responsibility, not just the western church's. Once they are able to do that, then they must raise support in a community with overwhelming unemployment and poverty. Yet, God still calls them and they still respond.
Just after we arrived here, SIM commissioned three new Kenyan Missionaries. I'd like to share with you "Yakub's" call. I'm using the pseudonym as a safety precaution because of the work he's involved in. Yakub, his wife, and their children live in a slum in Nairobi. He is very active in his church there and is well-known to his whole neighborhood. Yakub has a burden to reach the street gangs of youth that run through the slum, so he's made a point to get to know them whenever he has the chance.
Recently, Yakub was hailed by the leader of several of these gangs. Yakub, hesitantly, approached the man, not really sure what was going to happen. The gang leader said, "Preacher, I've been watching you for 10 years now. You are always happy, look smart and you don't seem to grow old. What is keeping you young? You come by here every Sunday. Where do you go?"
"To church," Yakub replied.
"Hmm," the man replied. "I want to know what they tell you there, but I haven't had my breakfast. Give me 50 shillings as I'm not going to church. That will be 10 cigarettes for me, then come back here after church and tell me what keeps you happy."
When Yakub returned, the man was drunk and in the company of other gang members. So - quite boldly - Yakub told him that he couldn't talk to him in his state and he'd be back next Sunday. If the man was sober, he'd talk to him. Yakub shared with me that his palms were sweating and his heart was pumping faster than usual when he said this, and he thought the man might kill him on the spot, but the Lord led him in what to say. The man answered, "I'll see you next Sunday. Thank you for the cigarettes you gave me. Remember to carry some offering for me as well, Preacher!"
Since then, Yakub has met with the man many times, has encouraged him to get an honest job and give up theft, and has even recommended the man to change his appearance. "You're scary to look at with your long, uncombed hair," said Yakub. "You've done many bad things. That's why people avoid you." Through these very frank discussions and other talks on matters close to the man's heart, Yakub has built a relationship with this man.
During this time, Yakub shared with me that the Spirit has not lead him to share the gospel directly, but rather just to let this gang leader see Christ through action. A couple weeks ago the man asked to accompany Yakub to church!
I anxiously await each report from Yakub to see how God is working through this humble man in the middle of his neighborhood to affect a heart-change of the greatest magnitude!
Yakub is currently raising his own support for missionary life. If you are interested in supporting this man's ministry in any amount, email me and I'll pass along the information you need to donate to his account.
