|
Friends United Meeting |
 |
May 1999
One Life at a Time: Indiana Yearly Meeting Responds to the Call
By David Brock
When David Phillips, pastor at Wabash Friends Church, called me in early September and asked if I would consider being part of a team representing FUM at a conference in Kenya, I knew immediately that God was drawing me to the project.
|
Putting the five of us together on a team seemed coincidental. But, unbeknownst to us, the Kenyans were planning not only a conference for pastors, but also a second conference for yearly meeting superintendents and presiding clerks. Under God's direction the team David had put together included a pastor, a yearly meeting superintendent, a presiding clerk, and two key Friends who had served in many different leadership positions at the local meeting level. The Kenyan planning committee set a goal of having all 14 yearly meetings represented at the conference. This seemed impossible given the past history of dissension as well as the barriers of no place, no funding, and no speakers. Yet, throughout this time God was quietly orchestrating this project until all the pieces fell beautifully into place. Our first purpose for going was to speak at the Kenya National Friends Pastors' Conference held in Malava at the Friends School. When we arrived at the conference site at Malava, in the Western Province of Kenya, it was about 9:00 p.m. on December 31. We had left a crowded marketplace in Nairobi where people were beginning their New Year's Eve with drinking and loud music. We arrived to a sea of faces in an auditorium lighted only by four kerosene lanterns. These people had traveled over difficult roads in packed vehicles, walking the last couple of miles. But here they were already praising God in prayer and song. Our focus on finding a bed as soon as possible changed quickly as we entered into this powerful experience of worship and expectancy. |
Becoming AliveIn Turkana, there is a proverb which says: if a son leaves Turkana to work in Nairobi, and he sends money home to his mother but he does not visit her, then the Turkana people say that that son is dead to his family. If he is only sending money, then he is only in touch with the physical, the material side of his mother. Only if the son is coming to visit, coming to be in touch with the physical, the mental, the spiritual part of his mother and his family-is that son alive. In the last several months, we have had more visitors from FUM than we have had in some time-a group with David Brock, David Phillips, Don and Janet Garner; a group with Ray and Jean Bubak and Harold Williamson, who consulted with us on some of our projects; and Matthew Keller from the FUM staff, who visited with our staff and with many Friends groups and church members. Because of these visits, FUM is becoming alive now for many in Turkana. That is a very good thing. From John Moru Losike, Turkana Friends pastor, as told by Matthew Keller, FUM staff member. |
Before long the team also included Bob Phillips and Don and Janet Garner. Bob Phillips, David's father, has been active in Jonesboro Friends here in Indiana Yearly Meeting and he has a keen interest in missions. Don and Janet Garner are both leaders at Bethel Friends Church here in Indiana. In addition to this, Don had just finished six years as clerk of IYM, and both he and Janet have taken a special interest in the Friends work in Kenya.
Over 500 people were registered and stayed on the campus during the three-day conference. The conference concluded with about 2,000 people in Sunday worship-some packed inside and many others outside listening and participating.
The theme of the conference was "Peace-What Would Jesus Do?" John 14:27. During the services we saw that the search for global peace was real in a country recently racked by the U.S. Embassy bomb blast and surrounded by war-torn nations. We found that the search for peace among the community of Kenyan believers was real in the midst of some long-standing church rifts. And, finally, we were touched to see that the search for inner peace was real as person after person came forward to ask forgiveness from God and to begin their life on a new level with Him this new year.
Since the conference, many reports have come back about how the pastors returned to their homes and held gatherings everywhere telling people what they had learned. They feel things will be different now as they implement some of the tools they learned at the conference and as they listen carefully to Jesus as he guides them in finding peace for themselves and others.
Sandwiched between the two conferences was a trip to the northern part of Kenya, the desert area known as Turkana. We visited the mission sites there. John Moru, pastor, was our host and guide. We met with the team of dedicated workers led by Herman Otioko at the Turkana Friends Mission. We saw where meetings for worship were beginning under trees, where wells were being drilled to find the vital water supply (see News, p. 17), where homes, schools, and meeting houses were being built, and where orphans were being nurtured. The need is immense and our team was overwhelmed with questions about where to begin. A little money can go a long way in this mission area opened up by the Kenyan Friends Church. Again we could see God's hand at work multiplying little to much as Kenyans go about building His kingdom of grace in a parched land.
As we left Turkana and hurried back to Kaimosi in Western Province we were all anticipating our next assignment wondering how the talks we had prayerfully prepared in the States would apply in a very different culture from ours.
The conference with the superintendents, general secretaries, and presiding clerks was a
big step in faith because it had never been done before. Amazingly, all 14 yearly meetings sent representatives and we
had a great time talking about how to minister more effectively and how to manage yearly meetings. We found that Kenyans face many of the same problems we do in United States yearly meetings. The good news is that significant steps for needed change were agreed upon before leaving the conference. The spirit as we closed in worship on Sunday was one of hope and excitement.
This conference was held at Friends Theological College which gave us a chance to see the college and spend some time touring the school and visiting with Rich and Sandy Davis who are our FUM representatives in Kenya. Rich is also the principal of the college and Sandy works with the library and does many other administrative tasks. Rich and Sandy are doing a great job and it is evident that God has carefully prepared them for this time in their lives.
My last trip to Kenya was in 1994. At that time, I was with my wife, Linda, and David Phillips on a fact-finding trip for FUM. We were to assess the needs of the college and how we felt Friends in the U.S. could help FTC as they sought to upgrade the quality of their school. Many Kenyans longed to raise the standard of the school and the FTC board had approached FUM for input.
I can still picture the drab buildings with leaky roofs, the dismal library, and the lack of any extra space to expand the tiny principal's office which served as the total space for the administration of the college. Most of all, though, I remember the faces of the discouraged staff and students. These faithful Friends were struggling to excel against insurmountable odds.
It has been very exciting for me to hear the wonderful reports of how many Kenyan yearly meetings are working together, donating and helping upgrade the college. As we walked around the campus, everywhere, we saw major differences from when I was at the college before. Buildings and equipment are upgraded in the classrooms and other areas. The quality of students is outstanding. Sunday night Vespers service led by the students was very spiritually moving experience for me as I sensed the progress and their deep spiritual hunger. I could see the answer to many prayers, much waiting, and a large monetary investment by many people over the years. Here were men and women dedicated to serving God through pastoral ministry even though they have little hope of being paid much salary and knew they would face many other problems in their ministry. They have a deep faith that God has called them and He will make the way possible.
Before I left for Kenya, Linda told me to be sure to look for a student at the college named Simon Oyiengo Lubang'a. Simon had been a student in the school when Linda and Mary Glenn Hadley had worked at the college in the first term of the 1995 school year. Simon's life is a testimony of how God is moving in the lives of the students at FTC. I had time to talk to Simon and hear his story. He had a wonderful spirit and a strong sense of call from God. He had applied and been accepted to the college in 1995 but because he had lacked the funds to complete Form 4, the equivalent to our high school, he did not have the skills to succeed academically that term. It was evident to those who taught him that his call to the ministry was real, yet they all saw he was struggling and often failing academically. The acting principal, Oscar Lahombo, met with Simon and his mother to try to find a solution. The only answer seemed to be for Simon to return to Form 4. This must have been very discouraging to Simon. But he knew, if he was going to do what God had called him to do, he would have to swallow his pride and go back. He finished Form 4 and now was at the college doing very well. He is part of the praise and worship team that leads the college in worship and travels to other places as well.
Simon has overcome
many financial obstacles. He returned to Form 4 on faith not knowing where
he would get the money for tuition. Simon prayed. People in Kenya and
here in the U.S. helped him. Portland Friends and Lynn Friends both gave
money for his schooling when he went back to high school.
Simon wrote to us after our return: "I appreciate your gifts of insights before and after your departure for USA. The hand of the Almighty God is working on my side. I will stick on your advices that drove me home via my spiritual needs on Christian faith as I am a Christian. I will never ever leave my Saviour who died at Calvary to save me from my sins and its repression. I thank Him for this and I am striving in my life to work tirelessly for my Saviour Jesus Christ. He brings peace and comfort unto me, for I am walking in his light."
Every student at FTC has a story of how God has worked wonders to place them where they are at the college. Simon's ministry will be only that of one pastor out of many monthly meetings and yearly meetings. Yet, what would have been lost if people had not helped this one person? Who can say what the impact will be? Only God knows. How many others can we help-one at a time?
We can't help everyone, but we can help one. We can help the one that God calls us to and the one that God is calling to do His work. We can be the tool that God uses to help someone else overcome discouragement, financial roadblocks, and spiritual setbacks. In what ways is God calling you to reach out to one life today?
David Brock has been superintendent of Indiana Yearly Meeting for 13 years. David and Linda first went to Kenya in December 1993 as a part of a Friends United Meeting Christian Education Team. They say that it was a life-changing experience for both of them. This article grew out of David's third trip to Kenya.
Copyright (c) 1999 Friends United Meeting