MANY EGYPTIANS ARE TURNING TO CHRIST DESPITE VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION

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Back in 2019, pro-Islamist President Mohammed Morsi supporters took to the streets. Thousands took part in the protests in Alexandria, Suez and other cities calling for Morsi to be reinstated and urging military leader General Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to step aside.

According to David an I.N. Network worker, these protests put his family at risk. David says protesters surrounded his home for 50 days.

“They consider the area as a holy place, and they try to come back to the area again and again,” he says. “So the police and the army surround the area. Every Friday there is a big group of the Muslim Brotherhood. They try to come back, and they fight with the army and police.”

While David and his family have had to leave their home for a time, they are safe.

Since the Muslim Brotherhood took power, Christians have been the targets of violence. Once the government was sacked, Christians had hoped that would change. But, David says, it hasn’t.

“They are still creating troubles and problems,” he says. “The militants want to destroy the country. They attack many churches. Many churches have been burned. Many Christians have been killed.”

David says that’s why the I.N. Network has established an emergency fund to help survivors of the violence.

“Winter is approaching in Egypt,” he says. “And many families—especially in the south—don’t have enough clothes. They need blankets, so we’re doing a project to distribute blankets.”

While the violence has been difficult, David says there is good news.

“Churches are united together. And the spirit of prayer is happening in all the churches. People are praying all the time,” he says.

The response to the violence against burned churches has also been remarkable. Christians posted signs on their burned-out churches that read, “You burned our church, but we love you.”

David says,”It’s a great message of forgiveness. This makes many Muslims discover the reality of Christianity, and many of them come to know Jesus.”

While Muslims are turning, that’s creating another problem.

“Until now, they find difficulty for security reasons to join local churches, so they meet underground in a secret way,” David says. “They worship the Lord together, and they’re growing.”

As Muslims come to Christ, they’re uniquely qualified to share the gospel. “The easiest way to reach Muslims is through converted Muslims,” David says.

While David isn’t praying for more persecution, he’s excited about the Holy Spirit working. “It’s always like this,” he says. “When there is pressure over the churches, the Holy Spirit is working, and many people are coming to know Jesus as Savior.”

One reason why “many people are coming to know Jesus as Savior” is because once you have been directly persecuted as a Christian, any fear or shame you had about sharing your faith evaporates. Here’s how one believer in the Middle East put it: “Once you experience persecution, the fear goes away … you lose it. Persecution has made me bolder in sharing my faith.

Almost 5 years on and David says the church is still powering on for God and seeing many saved. This gives us a picture of what I believe the “last days” church will look like only “in spades”.

MISSION AUSTRALIA YOUTH SURVEY

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The latest Mission Australia Youth Survey has revealed that the environment tops the list of concerns for young people. More than 18,000 people, aged 15 to 19, were questioned by Mission Australia for the survey. 

51 percent of the young responders in the survey named the environment as one of the most important issues in Australia (up from 38 percent last year). One-quarter of those questioned were also “extremely or very concerned” about climate change.

More than one-third of young people said that equity and discrimination were an “important national issue”. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of the young people surveyed said that due to their gender, race/cultural background, or mental health, they had been unfairly treated in the past year.

Further, nearly 30 percent of people reported they had “high psychological distress”, while 23 percent said they felt lonely all or most of the time. And more than half of the responders have required support with their mental health.

On its website, Mission Australia states:

Our purpose

Inspired by Jesus Christ, Mission Australia exists to meet human needs and to spread the knowledge of the love of God.

We are delighted that over the past decade, more than 200,000 young people and more than 1,000 schools and organisations have participated in our Youth Survey. Our young people are our future leaders and it’s essential we hear them and act on what they tell us.”Sharon Callister, Mission Australia CEO

Despite Mission Australia’s stated Purpose, there was not one question in the survey about God or Jesus Christ, and yet the primary reason why these youth are in such poor mental health is they do not know the God who loves them enough to send His only Son to die for them. More than half have required support for their mental health.

Many Christian organisations including most of the denominational churches are no longer relevant and are certainly not living and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us that this will be the state of the church prior to His second coming. In fact, Jesus says that prior to His return, the world will be like it was in the days of Noah when God poured out His wrath for the first time on an unrepentant world.

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.“ Luke 16:26-27

“But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7

We need to start living eternal now knowing that Jesus is returning soon to rule and reign with the resurrected Saints on this earth for the next 1000 years. My book is available on Amazon as a paperback or ebook. I hope it will help Christians to be “last days” overcomers.

FACE PERSECUTION OR FLEE?

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The end times church will be faced with this question (face persecution of flee) more and more as Christians experience the coming prophesied tribulation in the last seven years before Jesus returns first to rapture His church and to pour out His wrath on a lawless, unrepentant world.

In this photo taken Sunday, June 3, 2018, the demolished house church is seen in the city of Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan province. Under President Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, believers are seeing their freedoms shrink dramatically even as the country undergoes a religious revival. Experts and activists say that as he consolidates his power, Xi is waging the most severe systematic suppression of Christianity in the country since religious freedom was written into the Chinese constitution in 1982. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Three years ago, 62 members of China’s Shenzhen Reformed Holy Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, fled to South Korea to escape persecution from the Communist government. They requested political asylum in South Korea but were denied. The church is now in Thailand, where members hope to gain refugee status, and eventually resettle in the United States. Until then, they face many challenges, including possible arrest by Thailand immigration police and being sent back to China.

The Mayflower Church believes that they are like the Israelites in Exodus who God brought out of Egypt. As well, if you study the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul fled persecution. Most Christian churches in the Western world would support the course of action taken by the Mayflower Church, however, many of the Chinese house church Christians have a self-identity of being “patriotic martyrs”. They are willing to suffer and be martyred for their faith. So when a group decides to leave persecution and martyrdom, that creates some tension in what has become a cultural and religious identity of the entire house church Protestant movement in China.

Regardless, it was encouraging to learn what Pastor Pan said in response to this contradictory view, “While church members still face restrictions and potential deportation, we enjoy the freedom we have to worship. I struggle with many uncertainties in my heart like most of my congregation. But we find strength every time we experience how God has been faithfully providing for our daily needs and how He is constantly protecting us from the evil men who want to harm us. “Whether we go live in the US or are taken back to China, we will regard this experience as listening to God’s call and continuing to be a vibrant testimony of His goodness and faithfulness.”

IS THIS THE CHURCH GOD INTENDED?

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The catholic church like most institutional churches is not the church God intended, as described in the Book of Acts. It is very different, there were no buildings and no paid clergy. In fact, all members of the church were to be disciples that made disciples.

Look at what is unfolding in the catholic church. It involves the recently deceased Australian Cardinal Pell who incidentally I respected for what he tried to achieve when he was Archbishop of Sydney.

The following post was taken from an article in BBC News entitled “Late Cardinal George Pell called Pope a ‘catastrophe’ in an anonymous memo“

Cardinal George Pell has ripped into Pope Francis from the grave, with an explosive secret memo scathing of his “catastrophic” papacy, detailing that the Vatican is losing as much as 35 million euros a year and that the Pope has used his power to interfere in judicial proceedings.

Cardinal Pell not only penned a column directly challenging Francis’ credibility about the process surrounding the adoption of the Catholic Church’s synod for The Spectator magazine, but he is also now revealed to be the author of a hard-hitting series of blogs to Vatican insiders and a bombshell secret letter that was distributed last March to cardinals.

The previously anonymous cardinals’ letter ridicules Francis’ tenure as being “a disaster”, “a catastrophe” in which “decisions (were) made for political correctness” and claiming the political influence of Pope Francis and the Vatican was“negligible”.

It also alleges a widespread practice of wire-tapping inside the Vatican and claims that the extent of losses on an infamous corrupt investment, the Sloane Avenue building in London, is as much as 217 million euros.

He said this was in addition to the $230 million lost by the Vatican in the Banco Ambrosiano scandal in the 1980s, and because of inefficiency and corruption, he said the Vatican has lost at least another 100 million euros in the last 25-30 years.

As well, he warned the Vatican finances were “serious” with financial deficits almost always every year of at least 20m euros which has escalated in the last three years to 30-35 million euros a year. In addition, the Vatican faces a large pension fund deficit that is projected to be around 800 million euros in 2030.

On the eve of the funeral, it emerged that Cardinal Pell, 81 was a secret contributor to the Vatican blog Settimo Cielo as well as the author of the cardinals’ letter. The Vatican journalist Sandro Magister had regular dialogue with Cardinal Pell, whom he said used the pseudonym “Demos” for the blog and had asked for him to distribute the cardinal’s letter, which he wanted to become public.

The Australian Newspaper has seen the contributions made by Demos, which say the centrality of Christ in teaching is weakened and Christ is removed from the centre. He also details the extent of the Vatican’s financial woes, which are much worse than many believed.

“Commentators from every school, though for different reasons, with the possible exception of one, agree that this pontificate is a disaster in many or more respects, a catastrophe,’’ he wrote.

“Previously the motto was: “Roma locuta. Cause finite est” [Rome has spoken, the cause is over]. Today it is: “Roma loquitur. Confusio augetur” [Rome speaks, confusion grows]’’.

He added that the Christocentric legacy of St. John Paul II in faith and morals is the object of systematic attacks.

In a blow to Francis’ papacy, “Demos” wrote that the political influence of Pope Francis and the Vatican is negligible. “Intellectually, papal writings show a decline from the levels of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict. Decisions and policies are often “politically correct”, but there have been serious failures to uphold human rights in Venezuela, Hong Kong, mainland China and now the Russian invasion.

The Bible tells us that in the last days, there will be a great falling away as the church compromises with the world. We have seen it with many of the denominational churches approving gay marriage, homosexual pastors, and Jesus is no longer central to Christianity. They no longer believe and teach the following Scripture.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Now it is being revealed that the catholic church is going down the same path as these other institutional churches.

“This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come” 2 Timothy 3:1

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,” 2 Thessalonians 2:3

This Pauline perspective and prophecy of apostasy in the last days is not merely Paul’s, for it had been foretold by the Holy Spirit. 

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith…” 2 Timothy. 4:1-3

AMBASSADORS OF GOD

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The authentic Christian church is an agency of transformation. It is the embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven in the fallen world

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21-22

That Kingdom, said Jesus, is like leaven it permeates and transforms.

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33

In contrast to mere revolution, transformation works from “inward to outward” – from the Holy Spirit’s interaction with the human spirit outward through soul and body. What is inside is ultimately “worked out” (Philippians 2:12).

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

We need to living as ambassadors for Christ now in preparation for ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ in His coming Millennial Kingdom.

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.“ Revelation 20:4-6

END TIMES APOSTATE CHURCH

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Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, provocatively but convincingly calls “neo-pagan Anglicanism”—Anglican in style but not substance.

Speaking with a prophetic mantle, Beach observes that “liberal innovations in theology and sexual ethics” are hidden within an orthodox façade, comparable, I would say, to the Trojan horse: This so-called gift to Anglicans in North America and Great Britain signals ruin. He bemoans:

“Neo-pagan Anglicanism is beautifully packaged in some of the most elegant liturgy, music, and tradition in Christianity. But it has become liturgy for the sake of liturgy, music for the sake of music, and tradition for the sake of tradition. As the apostle Paul wrote, they are “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). And as Athanasius argued against Arius’s heresy, the Jesus whom they promote is not the Jesus of which the Bible speaks.“

As a result of this tragic accommodation to culture, Beach eschews the flaccid slogans of Canterbury and New York City about “communion across difference,” “mutual flourishing,” and “walking together” because there can be no truce with heretics and schismatics who advance a counterfeit gospel (Romans 16:17–18). Estranged Anglicans in the Global North, he argues, can address their “ecclesial deficit” by joining forces with Anglican leaders from the Global South, who, beginning in 2008, formed the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), which has continued to serve as a vital reform movement: “As colonial and aging wineskins continue to promote neo-pagan beliefs and practices, the new wine of Christ’s continuing redemptive work will burst out to transform lives and renew our churches among the nations.”

I would like to think that Beach is right that GAFCON “will burst out to transform lives and renew our churches” but I do not believe the institutional church is capable of doing it.

C. S. Lewis envisioned Christianity as a house with “a hall out of which doors open into several rooms.” The rooms are ecclesial traditions that offer disciples a fire for warmth, a chair for rest, and a meal for nourishment and fellowship, whereas the hall is “mere” Christianity, a place where disciples greet and gift each other with riches from their respective rooms.

The Book of Acts describes the early church meeting in homes and the church in various cities, like the church in Antioch or the church in Caesarea were a collection of house churches but one church and the leaders of those house churches would often meet to deal with issues that sought to divide the church in that city. The “end times” persecuted church will be like the church in the Book of Acts and like we are now seeing in places where the church is already under intense persecution like in Africa, China, Middle East. Moreover, we are hearing amazing stories of the tremendous growth of the church in Iran.

A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW IS CRITICAL

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A biblical worldview is critical because that’s what enables you to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Romans 12 talks to us about, ‘you have to have your mind renewed’, you must be ‘transformed’ by that ‘renewing of your mind’ with God’s principles at the core of all of your thoughts so that you can in fact live like Christ.”

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Moreover, this is impossible unless we have been born again with the Holy Spirit now indwelling our spirit. Proverbs tells us that the spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord and of course a lamp needs oil to function which is, of course, the Holy Spirit. To function as God intended we have always needed the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, our comforter, and our teacher.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

 Also, according to Barna, the only way to achieve cultural transformation is if people choose to “believe God’s truths,” which in turn will allow them to “act upon those truths based upon those things that you believe.”

“We are here to be salt and light. That’s what transformation is: changing the world around us forever based on God’s truths. But in order to do that, we need a healthy church. We need believers who get it, believers who are willing to put their lives on the line. Today’s traditional church and leadership model has veered far from Christ’s New Testament model of disciples making disciples typically in house churches.

In fact, a study released earlier this year by the Cultural Research Centre of 1,000 pastors found that only 37% of Christian pastors in the United States have a biblical worldview. The majority possess the hybrid syncretism worldview.

“As you read the Scriptures, you find that biblically, it is the role of the community of faith, i.e., our churches, to be supporting families and particularly parents in that process, equipping them for raising up their children to be dynamic followers of Jesus Christ,” Barna advised. Only the church model Jesus established, as described in the Book of Acts, will achieve that goal. I a convinced that the House church model is Jesus model and the institutional church will not survive the prophesied “end times” tribulation.

CHRISTIANS WILL REJECT THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE IN THE LAST DAYS

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David Wilkerson prophesied in 1986 that God is going to smash ministries that reject the ministry of repentance. This prophecy has proved to be true as God has exposed so many TV ministries. Hillsong in my own country, Australia, is a major one of those ministries that preached prosperity and the leadership has been exposed. Thankfully, some pastors like Francis Chan have walked away from megachurches and gone back to church as described in the Book of Acts.

Megachurch during Covid pandemic

David Wilkerson shows that even the O.T prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied what we are seeing in these last days. The way of the flesh is so attractive: money and crowds. David Wilkerson admits he was on this path and repentance was essential for him before he could preach this message.

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;” Isaiah 30:1

“And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear
the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 30:8-11

Jesus carried out his ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit, announcing the good news of salvation. He showed numerous times his compassion for the poor and the outcast. He fulfilled prophecy and carried out His purpose: to seek and save the lost.

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.” Psalms 37:23-29

LAST DAYS DECEPTION

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In this message preached over eight years ago, David Wilkerson exposes and rebukes Kenneth Copeland and the prosperity preaching crowd. These false prophets have been exposed and there is no reason why any true believer should follow or listen to their preaching or teaching. The false teachers have repeatedly given false prophecies and have drained poor people of all their money with the false promise of prosperity.

Pastor David Wilkerson warred against the false prosperity gospel for much of his ministry. David Wilkerson passionately exposed the last day’s deception. He encouraged listeners to pray and seek God. He preached with anguish. Enjoy this sermon and share it with others.

KHC MISSION TRIP TO MBITA KENYA

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REPORT BY PASTOR CHARLES OTIENO OWINO

Purpose: Discipleship & Evangelism mission.

Hosts: Joshua Chiro & Wilfred

Arrival date: August 3rd and departure August 7th

My team received a warm reception from Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Chiro and Wilfred his stepbrother, who were our hosts.   

On the evening of day one, we held our first evangelism meeting at the entrance to Mbita Marketplace, the meeting was attended mostly by youths and a few adults. Pastors Omwenga and Samuel Osogo ministered the gospel message of salvation and repentance to the hearers. Later that night, we continued with prayer ministry in the home of Brother Joshua, our host.

Pastor Omwenga and Samwel Osogo ministering to passersby on roadside evangelism at Mbuta.

On Day 2:  

Our evangelism team led by Pastor Jacob conducted house-to-house visitations and roadside meetings. They moved from village to village ministering the gospel message, praying with the people, and inviting them to our tent meetings. Many of the elderly were unable to attend our Tent Meetings so were appreciative of the effort that was made to visit them in their homes. Many were prayed for and considered their spiritual needs were met with many reported healings and deliverance.

The rest of the KHC leaders ministered indoors and at the tent meetings.

Dorfina Achieng

The Holy Spirit touched the lives of many people and convicted the hearts of sinners to repentance. Many gave powerful testimonies concerning their past life before coming to Christ Jesus.

Sick people were healed from various sicknesses. The stand-out healing was a woman named Dorfina Achieng. She had been suffering from leprosy for 30 years. When she surrendered her life to Jesus after hearing the gospel message on repentance and salvation she was instantly healed from the deadly disease. Her joy was evident as she later testified about how miserable her life of shame and isolation had been for the last 30 years.

DAY 3:  In a meeting at the home of brother Wilfred, four men, Mr. Otiende, Mr. Ouma, Mr. Komollo, and Mr. Adiema responded to the gospel message and were prepared to give their testimonies to the group. All four men testified to the fact that they had been secretly practicing witchcraft within their villages. Their activities had harmed people in the village for which they were now sorry. We prayed again for the four asking God to forgive them for their past evil deeds. When asked all four were eager to join a house church group.

Mrs. Brigita Otondi

At a meeting in the home of Mr. Otondi, our evangelism team was able to minister healing to his wife Mrs. Brigita Otondi. She was suffering from an enormous growth that had turned solid on her left arm. She was prayed for and was instantly, miraculously healed from the disease and pain she had suffered.

Anne Anyango is a lady who was seriously cut by her drunkard husband. Her husband claimed to have found her involved in an act of adultery. We prayed for her healing after she repented and accepted the gospel message of salvation. 

At another time, Pastor Jacob Isogo ministered to a few women sitting beside the road, looking tired and weary after working long hours, he shared with them the gospel message about Jesus’ salvation, repentance, and His soon coming return. Some Jacob said believed the message, but some questioned Jesus’ soon coming return. He prayed with them and they all promised to come to our Tent Meeting the following day, which they did.

Led by Mr Joshua & Wilfred, our hosts, 12 members of the newly formed Mbita house church are standing in front to give their last word before the meeting came to a close on Sunday.

DAY 4: Before departure the following day, our team mounted an evangelism ministry within the central business district of Mbita Marketplace. It was a huge success with children, youths, men, and women turning up to hear the gospel message. Pastor Melkio with the help of a young lady translating ministered the gospel of salvation and the urgency to prepare for Jesus second coming. Many people welcomed the message and termed it timely and Biblical. 

God through the Holy Spirit truly ministered to us as well as those we ministered to. Despite our financial challenges, God came through providing for our needs and using us to minister to the spiritual needs of many in Mbita county. His promises are sure as long as we continue to remain steadfast, trusting Him.

 A NEW MBITA HOUSE CHURCH

The formation of a Mbita House Church with twelve members is the most positive outcome of our Mission Trip.

If you have been moved by these reports on the Kenya House Church Movement then I would ask you to consider joining me to support funding their monthly mission trips to rural areas. It would be great to help them provide bibles and training materials in Swahili for the new House Church groups. I have provided a DONATION icon on the Home Page specifically for the KHC Movement.