Africa 2005 N.
Kinangop Migori Rangi
Kisumu
Neema Children's Home
Suna - Migori, Nyanza Province
Migori Worship Center
Bishop John Okinda
January 5th - January 10th 2005
We
flew into Kisumu airport to spend the night with Apostle Joel Otuoma before
being picked up by Bishop John Okinda the next day for our trip to Migori. The
greeting at the airport blew us away. The choir from Nyamasaria Church
(one of Apostle Joel's churches) with Bro. Henry at the lead sang and sang of
the glories of our God. Bro. Tim could not believe such love existed. It brought
tears to all of hearts. Such love even after almost three years. Bro. Julius
from Kakamega (30 km to the north) was also there at the behest of apostle Lloyd
Phillips of the FlintNet (www.flintnet.org).
We had a great time of fellowship that night and the following morning. Even
with a span of time and distance we could still see our love for one another. A
testimony to the work of the Holy Spirit. We prayed for Pr. Julius' wife who was
brought into the hospital with a leg infection before he came to Kisumu. The
next morning she was released as she was healed. Bwane Asifiwe! (Swahili),
Apaki Jesu! (Luo)
Bishop
Okinda showed up at one o'clock to bring us to Migori. He tells us that we would
be staying in the school dorms that he has been building since our last time
here. We were to be the first to do so. He also told us that we were there to
celebrate the fifth [GRACE] anniversary of Migori Worship Centre. Apaki
Jesu! After settling in we had a service which started at 8:00 p.m. It was
good to se all those whom we enjoyed fellowship with the last time. David taught
that night on "the Tabernacle of David." Tim had sung
two song of the Holy Spirit in which the congregation "was almost lifted
up to heaven." They were powerful and filled with the Holy Spirit. God
is raising up the Tabernacle of David which had fallen down. Being before the
presence of God, and letting our hearts rejoice.
The next morning, after a sumptuous meal of scrambled eggs and
toast (prepared by John who loves to cook American meals for missionaries), Tim
shared on "To the Praise of His Glory." He had shared
this at Bible Rock late last year. The students assembled enjoyed it thoroughly.
It built in them the desire to be just that... "to the praise of the
glory." After this Bishop Okinda preached a fiery message on "The
Power of Vision." It was to build the vision for those in the Migori
Worship Centre for growth in leadership and ministering. Part of this vision
was for 400 cell groups by the end of two years. This along with the growth of
the eight other churches in the area which have been planted by the Centre.
Hallelujah! Joe Cahill shared to end the first session on "Intimacy
With the Lord." It drew us into a desire to walk with the Lord in
much intimacy and therefore holiness. "Bwane Asifiwe!"
Here are some pictures from last nights service with more "bubbles" only on certain pictures.
The next couple of day we ministered to the leaders of the
church all day. We were able to share on all aspects of the Holy Spirit, worship
and servant-hood. The congregation has been extremely blessed, and it is good to
see people that are able to remember the teachings. They come up to us and speak
in depth of the Word of God that was presented. If they don't understand they
are very free to ask us so that their understanding in deepened.
Worship
on Friday night was very powerful. The Joy of the Lord came in as everyone
danced wholeheartedly before our King. There were hankies being waved and all
(including children) were worshipping without abandon. It was the second time
that we photographed the worship like this and once again, "bubbles
appeared on the pictures. Not all of them, but interspersed throughout all of
the shots taken with Tim's camera. The interesting thing is that at other nights
we have photographed the worship and nothing like this happens. You decide. We
felt the presence of God. The photographs give us a verification of His glory in
that place.
On
Sunday we celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the Migori Worship Centre. Joe and
Arne shared with the youth earlier in the morning. Joe shared on "Draw
Near to God and He Will Draw near to You." The youth went in age
from 3 to 20. Arne shared on 2 Timothy 2:9 on God calling them and saving them
with a purpose. They opened it any questions but there were none asked. I guess
that they taught it to the full extent of knowledge and understanding. It is
unusual in that most of the time there are many questions asked.
On
Sunday, January 9th, 2000, Pastor John Okinda opened the doors for the church
for the first time. It began in a building nearer to the center of town. This
was five years to the day as this Sunday was also January the 9th. All week long
Bishop Okinda was declaring on the "Power of Vision".
The vision is being cast as "bread upon the waters." He built
the expectation thast it would return in many days. The building that we are in
is twice the size that it was when we were here almost three years ago. Hapaki
Jesu! David shared on Psalm 17:15 as David declared in the Word of
God, "I will be satisfied when I AWAKE in your likeness." In
order to have vision, our eyes have to be opened and we have to be awake. Revelation
16:15 says that "Blessed is the man that stays AWAKE and keeps his
clothes..." May the Lord bless the vision with much fruit for and in
the harvest.
During the service David was shown a woman in the congregation
who was the wife of a pastor at Migori. He felt that she was hurting. She
continually stared out into the landscape through the doorway. David asked the
Lord, "Why is she hurting?" His reply was that "She is
barren." David then asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
The Holy Spirit replied, "Because you are going to declare the answer of
hope to her prayers." David said that he would gladly do that, but in
order to make sure that the Lord was involved, He [the Lord] was going to have
to bring her husband around after the service. As we were back at our rooms, the
pastor came around and David asked him "How is your wife doing?"
The pastor said, "She is well." David again asked, "How
is your wife doing?" It is then that the pastor declared that she had
never had a menstrual cycle in all her years. They had only been married for
nine months. David then declared to the pastor what had been shown him from the
Holy Spirit. The pastor went and got his wife and she was so blessed to hear
that god was answering her prayers. David and the others spoke it into being by
faith and she received. She later reiterated that she was supposed to have gone
that day to have some type of procedure but that God had told her to go to the
service and she would received something from Him. Our God is so good! His
merciful love endures forever! Praise His Holy Name! Tim stated that she
would not have to experience the menstrual cycle for another nine months. Praise
God.
After
the service we headed off for a few minutes in Tanzania. We walked across the
border for about a 1/4 mile and headed back home. We did not have visas so we
could not stay that long. It was definitely a border town feeling. We were not
very comfortable especially when some walked very close to us. Still we claim
Tanzania for the gospel of Jesus Christ. After that we went to the Migori Air
Strip which is exactly what is is when you look at the picture. A strip for
small charter aircraft. Bishop Okinda was building the vision for future trips.
Monday
was a day of dedication and groundbreaking for the Hope Centre for Children.
Bishop Okinda along with leaders from the community have seen the plight of the
AIDS epidemic in the town. Within the Migori Worship Centre congregation
alone there are close to fifty children. Along with Dr. Simeon Oniango and some
others from town they have come up with plans for this home on the grounds of
the church. This would be in conjunction with the Tyrannus House and Training
Centre [our name for it] where we have stayed over the past week. It would
be able to house up to eighty children comfortably. Praise God as we broke
ground for the site. Once again we have seen how we have been led to sponsor
ministries that have put their effort into helping the orphans.
Tomorrow we head off to Rangi to once again meet up with Apostle Otuoma. We are sure that we will have full schedule with him and with those he ministers with in the area. So closes the Migori chapter of this journey. Praise Jesus Christ our Lord. Bwane Asifiwe!
For
more information you can
mail us at info 'at' biblerock.org
Africa 2005 N.
Kinangop Migori Rangi
Kisumu
Neema Children's Home
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