Report from Burundi

Kobero, BU

Buhiga, BU

Theophile teaching in Bujumbura, BU

The following is from my email update posted from Burundi about 2 weeks ago. If you would like to be included on my email list, please email me at: jonathanmenn@yahoo.com.

Theophile Rugubira and I have been working hard in Burundi. Our first pastors conference was in the eastern village of Kobero, which is along the border with Tanzania. 50 participants had been budgeted for, but 71 showed up, including a pastor from across the border. We did our introductory course of 1 Timothy, since we had not been to Kobero before. Very few people in Burundi speak English, especially people in the villages. Fortunately, we were able to distribute copies of the Kirundi version of the 1 Timothy notes (even though it has not been fully edited and is not yet posted on the website). This shows how valuable the translation project is.

The conference itself went very well. Of the 71 participants, only one had ever studied an entire book of the Bible before section-by-section from beginning to end, and none had ever preached a series of sermons through an entire book of the Bible. The participants seemed very interested, appeared to learn a lot, and asked lots of questions. I want to try to have as much time for Q&A and discussion as possible, instead of using all of the time in lectures. The questions stimulate interest and demonstrate whether or not the participants are understanding the subjects we deal with.

Theophile also had a very good suggestion. I had asked him to obtain the contact information of those participants who seemed the sharpest. He suggested that, instead of doing a separate follow-up session, he would do a TOT (Training of Trainers) with those "sharp tacks," and use that also to learn what the pastors are doing to follow-up on the conference. I think that is a great idea, since it achieves the ends of follow-up and makes sure that we push ahead with in-depth (TOT) training as soon as we can. It also makes sure that we use the general pastors conferences as a "winnowing process" to identify and train those who appear to have the potential to be good teachers.

From Kobero we traveled inland about 30 minutes to the village of Buhiga. 55 village pastors showed up for the 1 Timothy conference instead of the 50 we had planned on. Their comments were along the following lines: "Amazing." "We have never heard this before." "This is challenging us." One pastors told me, "This is so good it is making us shake." Another pastor told Theophile, "I have never heard this before. I never knew that 1 Timothy dealt with so many issues. If 1 Timothy has so much to say, I wonder what the other 65 books of the Bible have to say." That pastor had actually been to a Bible school. Comments like that make me both happy and very sad. Given the fact that most of the pastors are largely biblically illiterate (including, evidently, some of those involved in Bible schools), as Frederic Harerimana, our partner who arranged the Buhiga conference, said, "It is only by God's grace that we (the church) are still alive at all."

We are now finishing a Biblical Stewardship conference in the capital, Bujumbura. Both Theophile and I are of the same mind that we want to spend more time in the villages, rather than the large cities, because the village pastors have almost no theological education, resources, or opportunities to attend conferences or seminars, while the city pastors have somewhat more of those things. Our impact will likely be greater among the village pastors. Even here in the city, however, the pastors are being challenged. When we discussed family budgets, not a single one of the 35-40 pastors had a budget. After a lengthy discussion of getting control of one's finances, led by Theophile, the pastors commented: "At first this [i.e., our budgeting and finance recommendations] was like death, but after the discussion it was like resurrection." They committed to think about these things, and I am sure that several of them will start to apply what they learned. Within a year those who do should find themselves on the road to financial freedom. May God bless them as they try.

Having good African teachers like Theophile is hugely important. He has taught the majority of these sessions, and he leads all of the Q&A and discussion sessions (things flow so much better in the local language, rather than having to interpret into English). I am blessed to have him.

2010 Year-End Report

I have completed 5 trips to East Africa, and am next scheduled to leave the States again (for Rwanda and Burundi) on January 10, following EPI's annual board and staff meeting on January 7-8. Now is a good time to highlight this year, as we look forward to 2011.

Statistics: The Deepening of the Church in East Africa
In 2010, among the 5 countries of the East African Community (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda), I was involved in different 33 events. These included both pastors conferences and TOTs (Training of Trainers), as follows: Burundi: 3 pastors conferences; Kenya: 10 pastors conferences and 6 TOTs; Rwanda: 4 pastors conferences and 2 TOTs; Tanzania: 3 pastors conferences and 2 TOTs; Uganda: 1 TOT, 1 meeting with East Africa national coordinators, 1 meeting with Uganda national leaders.

In terms of subject-matter, the breakdown is as follows: 1 Timothy: 12 conferences, 2 TOTs; Biblical Stewardship: 4 conferences, 5 TOTs; Marriage and Parenting: 1 conference; Expository Preaching: 2 conferences, 2 TOTs; Biblical Counseling: 2 TOTs. There were approximately 1432 participants at the pastors conferences, and 180 participants at the TOTs. The above numbers do not include the Biblical Counseling TOT led by Dr. Frank Cummings in Lira, UG, or the Biblical Stewardship pastors conference led by Theophile Rugubira and Martin Odi in Bukavu, DRC.

5-Year Strategic Plan
2010 was a milestone year for EPI's work in East Africa. For the first time sine EPI was founded 12 years ago, we not only have national coordinators in all of the countries of the East Africa community (Martin Odi: UG; George Kariuki: KE; Theophile Rugubira: BU and RW; Wilbert Seme and Joram Ibrahim: TZ). but all of the national coordinators have met together to formulate a united strategy for EPI's work in East Africa. Our meeting occurred in Kampala, UG in October, and resulted in a 5-year plan.

Here are the highlights: Our goal: to see significant change in the churches and the church leaders. The specifics of such change can be measured by the major aspects of the things we teach: e.g., the pastors and their spouses have marriages that are biblical and reflect the relationship between Christ and the church; church leaders are selected by applying the principles of 1 Timothy 3; the churches have formal written budgets; interdenominational pastors fellowships are created and there is greater cooperation between the churches; the pastors begin teaching and preaching expositorily; the churches begin formally discipling new believers. In order to achieve that, in the next 5 years: we need to get all of our course materials translated into the major East African languages; in each country we will develop a core group of committed, passionate, good teachers who will be our national leaders; we will provide good theological materials to those leaders; we will endeavor to have those leaders all meet together up to 2 times; and I will endeavor to recruit 2 Americans who can do what I do in East Africa.

EPI's Theological Resources
The "resources" page of our website includes our course notes and other materials. We currently have 8 comprehensive sets of course notes: Bibilical Interpretation; Biblical Theology; 1 Timothy; Biblical Marriage & Parenting; Biblical Stewardship; Forgiveness & Reconciliation; Expository Preaching; and Biblical Counseling. All of the notes have been revised on several occasions, so that they provide the best substance in the best format. I am in the process of completing a set of notes on Biblical Eschatology, which I hope to finish sometime in Spring 2011.

Here are comments from African pastors concerning EPI's written materials:
"I have gone through the EPI website and read some of the materials you have posted in it. I am greatly impressed by the level of research potrayed by those Pastoral Training Materials. They are simple to understand and relevant to our context. The depth and the organisation of the materials is commendable. It is easy to read and its stimulating. Any serious minister will find the truths you have written relevant. You have done an in-depth look at the themes you selected. It is a carefully structured research work. Your work covers a wide range of spiritual issues touching the pastoral ministry. Your resources are the kind of materials I have been longing to come across for my spiritual growth and also for those the Lord has entrusted to my care. It will help us equip a generation of church leaders. I am a pastor in the rural part of Kenya in Africa. I came to know of your training resources through Rev George Kariuki [EPI Director, Kenya]. He is of great help to us. Always sacrificing to bring transformation to our community." (Kenyan pastor)
"I would like to thank you very much for the great work you have accomplished in producing a commentary on 1Timothy in LUGANDA. This will be a tremendous resource to our clergy in terms of preaching from the Epistle as well as teaching from it. I will discuss with Archdeacons and find out the best way of accessing the printed material to all clergy." (Ugandan pastor)

Those comments highlight the need to get our materials translated into the indigenous East African languages. In East Africa, almost all good theological resources (other than the Bible itself) are only available in English. In Rwanda and Burundi, some materials also are available in French. Unfortunately, very little is available in the primary East African languages. As part of our 5-year plan, EPI wants to change that, by getting all of our course notes translated into the primary indigenous East African languages.

Currently, the following EPI courses or portions of courses have been translated into East African languages: 1 Timothy: Outline, Commentary, & Inductive Training Manual-Luganda; 1 Timothy Outline & Inductive Training Manual (only)-Kiswahili; 1 Tmothy: Inductive Training Manual (only)-Ateso; French; Kinyarwanda. Expository Preaching-Kiswahili; Luganda. Biblical Stewardship-Kiswahili; Luganda. In addition, the Kiswahili translations of Biblical Marraige & Parenting and the 1 Timothy Commentary are nearing completion, as is the Luganda translation of Biblical Interpretation. I recently sent the Biblical Stewardship notes to translators for translation into: Acholi; Ateso; Alur; Lumasaba; Luo; and Ruyankole-Rukyiga.

Already We are Making a Difference.
Here are some Testimonies:
"This thing is becomimg contageous. We had a conference with local pastors and a few from outside Nairobi, i.e., Coast, Central and Rift Valley and my subject was; MONEY IN MARRIAGE AND MINISTRY. I did teach from your notes and the impact was tremendous. Out of this a Bishop has invited me to teach his church leaders on the subject and multiple invitations are coming in from pastors who attended the conference. In fact one pastor told me that he has now eatablished a finance committee in his church after listening to the teachings." (Kenyan pastor)
"Since I met you and EPI teachings, I have changed HOW TO TEACH, by using context, paragraph, book to book, verse to verse. I have seen a lot changes in my church, but what I realized it is different with the first way. You have to give your time for preparation to the sermon that you will be preaching at least 4 days before." (Rwandan pastor)
"Through your teaching, now I'm a teacher of THE BOOK OF FIRST TIMOTHY!!! I like and I love so much this book." (Tanzanian pastor)

Looking Ahead
As I have mentioned in previous reports, I want to spend more time in TOTs or "TOT-like" conferences (i.e., smaller numbers, with more Q&A and discussion among the participants). We also want to continually use the conferences and TOTs to identify and winnow the the best teachers to develop good, ever expanding, core groups of well-trained, passionate, committed, and excellent teachers in each country. They will have a greater impact, and for a much longer time, teaching other pastors in their own countries than I would ever have trying to do the job myself.

Thank you for your Prayers and Financial Support
EPI is a 501(c)3 organization, so your financial support is tax-deductible. This ministry depends on the loyal support of you, the faithful body of Christ. I am responsible for raising the financial support for anything that is done under my jurisdiction. That includes the conferences, TOTs, costs of translation, printing notes, my airfare, ground transportation, lodging, etc. Each set of notes costs about $250-$300 for translation into one East African language, some more or a little less, depending on the length. Checks can be made payable to EPI, and sent to EPI, c/o Jonathan Menn, 714 S. Summit St., Appleton, WI 54914.

Additionally, I would like to provide the key teachers who do not have laptops with their own laptops. Basic laptops can be obtained for $500 or less apiece. We take these things for granted in the West, but they would be a HUGE resource for the African church leaders, especially since I could load them with good theological materials (and I have already sent to my African contacts a list of good biblical research websites).

We live in strategic times where we CAN make a difference. If you are already supporting this efffort through your prayers and financially, I thank you (you know from past reports that your prayers have made a huge difference in saving my health and life and the health and lives of others). If you have not yet joined this effort, please consider doing so. It is well worth it. God bless you.

Return from East Africa

Rwanda 1 Timothy TOT Group 1 Timothy group at lunch

Overlooking Kigali, RW

The remainder of my trip since my last update went well. We had a very good 1 Timothy TOT in Kigali, Rwanda with 15 pastors, and a Biblical Stewardship TOT in Mbale, Uganda with 12 pastors. The TOT in Mbale was particularly fruitful in that it took place at the Pentecostal Theological College. One of the participants was a professor at the college. I talked with him and one of the students, and both expressed interest in translating EPI's material into the Ateso language, and perhaps other languages.

I want to make most of my conferences closer to the TOT format: i.e., participants selected by the African leaders with an eye toward those who are sharp and can be good teachers; smaller numbers; more Q&A and discussion. I think the impact will be greater, as well as the costs held down.

I Guess I am Officially Old--This is the first trip I have made to Africa in which several people have called me "mzee" (i.e., "old man"): a boda-boda (motorbike) driver, someone on the street while I was walking, and a few others. One woman guessed that my age was 60 (I am 58). That is the first time someone over here has erred on the high side of my age. As I was leaving Mbale I was talking with the girl who had been primarily in charge of the food. I said something like Ï hope to see you again if I am back here next yeear." She responded by saying, "Yes, I look forward to seeing that grey hair again." I replied, in as measured a way as I could, while trying to maintain a smile on my face, "Thank you . . . that's very nice of you to say . . . I'm sure."

An Opportunity for You--At the meeting of the EPI East Africa national coordinators, one of the things we talked about was concentrating on creating and equipping core teams of committed, passionate, capable, and well-equipped national teachers in each of the countries. One aspect of equipping them is technologically. Right now, very few of the pastors, including the good teachers I need to rely on, have their own laptops. I would like to help them to get laptops, which I can load with excellent biblical resources. This is where you can help. If you have a used (or new) laptop, would you please donate it to EPI? The donation is, of course, tax-deductible. You could deliver/ship it to me at: 714 S. Summit St., Appleton, WI 54914. The effect in the lives and ministries of these men and women would be tremendous, and it would greatly facilitate our work in East Africa. Please consider this, especially as it is now approaching year-end.

Biblical Eschatology--I am currently working on a set of teaching notes on Biblical Eschatology. This is quite a challenging project, especially since there are 5 main views on the subject. I took 4 books on the subject with me to Africa, as well as the 50 pages of manuscript that I had completed before I left (which is about 1/2 of what I want to write). While in Africa I made copious editorial revisions. I will be spending my time while I am home working on this project. Undoubtedly I will be going down to Deerfield, IL to use Trinity Evangelical School's excellent theological library more than once before the project is completed (which I project for sometime in the Spring). This is an area that sparks great interest in Africa, but is one on which there is much heat but little light. Please pray that I will be able to bring some needed light and clarity to the subject.

And Finally--I hope and pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I will be home until early January, when I will leave for Florida for EPI's annual meeting and, probably, from there back to Rwanda and Burundi. With the laptop project, translation of multiple sets of teaching notes into several East African languages, and the prospect of many new all-African conferences and TOTs, the need for financial support, of course, is growing rather than diminishing. I thank everyone who has supported this important ministry over the last few years (you know who you are, I know who you are, and God knows who you are). I would simply ask you to prayerfully consider this, and, as Paul says in 1 Tim 6:18-19, be generous and share because, by doing so, you are "storing up a good foundation, and taking hold of that which is truly life." Thanks, and I hope to see many of you before I leave again for East Africa. Take care and God bless you, Jonathan

PS--I have to close now because it's time for my warm milk, and then I have to take my teeth out.

Report from East Africa #2

Rwanda Stewardship TOT group View from Gitarama, RW

Theophile Rugubira teaching at Gitarama conference

Here is the report I sent while I was in Rwanda in the recent Ocy.-Nov. trip:

My trip to East Africa has continued to be busy and productive since the meetings with the national coordinators and the Ugandan leadership team about which I previously emailed you. Following the meetings in Uganda, I took the bus to Kigali, Rwanda (about a 10 hour ride). We began the next day with an excellent Biblical Stewardship TOT for about 15 participants. The participants were from both Rwanda and Burundi. Lots of spirited discussion and understanding.

Following that, we had a pastors conference for about 60 pastors in Gitarama, RW. Gitarama is a scenic town in the Southern Province. I had never been there before. 1 Tim 1:5, as you may recall, talks about the goal of our instruction being love. That spoke powerfully to the participants. In their small group sessions they clearly identified major deficiencies in their churches, ultimately stemming from a lack of love and failure to as a family (see, 1 Tim 3:15). They resolved to make changes.

At the conference, a pastor from Gitarama (who also had been one of the TOT participants) asked me to preach on the goal of love at his church the next day. I expounded on this, and God did a most marvelous thing. One of the women church leaders went out of the church during the sermon and encountered a poor, older woman whose roof was leaking quite badly (it had been raining a lot for the previous several days). The woman wanted to know where she might get a tent. When the leader came back into the church, I was just saying something about practical ways of showing love, including saying something like, "If your mother's house has a roof that leaks, wouldn't you fix it?" She took that as "prophetic." After the sermon, she came forward, spoke at some length (in Kinyarwanda, so I couldn't understand), about the poor woman she had met. She found the woman and brought her forward. Several people, some of them in tears, came forward. One man pledged 2 iron sheets for her roof. One woman pledged 2 bedsheets. Two women pledged some clothing. Two people pledged 30,000frw (about $55.00) apiece. More than one person mentioned that God had brought this woman to the church as an opportunity to demonstrate love. The pastor also told me that he knew men in the church who could do roofing.

Further, one of the church members identified two other needy women. The woman leader who had begun the process said that she would be identifying other needy people in the church. This was not merely an emotional response, but appears to be the beginning of a process whereby this church will be transformed by love. The pastor told me that he would make sure that this was just the beginning, not the end. The transformative power of Christ, when people really grasp the gospel and its implications, is truly amazing. It was one of the most heartening things I have seen and experienced since coming to Africa. Praise be to God. Please hold up Ebenezer Church of Gitarama, Rwanda, that it would follow through, and be a shining example of Christ, the gospel, and the power of love in action.

Report from East Africa #1

JMM and East Africa national coordinators Uganda leadership group

On Oct. 10 I left the US for Uganda and Rwanda. I returned hom on Nov. 5. Here is the first report I sent to those on my email list, while I was in Uganda:

The meeting of the national coordinators in Kampala went well. We spent 2 very full days talking about our vision for EPI, talking about a 5 year plan, and how to actualize it. Our goal ultimately is to see significant change in the churches and the church leaders. The specifics of such change can be measured by the major aspects of the things we teach: e.g., the pastors and their spouses have marriages that are biblical and reflect the relationship between Christ and the church; church leaders are selected by applying the principles of 1 Timothy 3; the churches have formal written budgets; interdenominational pastors fellowships are created and there is greater cooperation between the churches; the pastors begin teaching and preaching expositorily; the churches begin formally discipling new believers.

In order to achieve that, in the next 5 years: we need to get all of our course materials translated into the major East African languages; in each country we will develop a core group of committed, passionate, good teachers ("the cream") who will be our national leaders; we will provide good theological materials to those leaders; we will endeavor to have those leaders all meet together up to 2 times; and I will endeavor to recruit 2 Americans who can do what I do in East Africa. So, if you're interested in teaching in East Africa, please get in touch with me! Our 5 year goal is also to reduce the American portion of the funding of our conferences and TOTs from its current level of almost 100%, down to 50%. This will be a challenge, since the funding requirements will actually increase because, as we develop good teachers in each of the countries, they will be doing conferences and TOTs on their own. Thus, the total number of conferences and TOTs will be increasing substantially. The East African economy will not double or quadruple in the next 5 years, and I am responsible for funding these conferences and TOTs. Over time, by their using the resources they do have, concentrating on smaller numbers of participants, getting foodstuffs donated, etc., the Africans will be able to increase their share of the funding. This will require great prayer and work. But, in the long run, it is hugely necessary if the Africans are truly to take "ownership" of EPI's work in East Africa. That is my goal and their goal. All of the national leaders will keep each other informed by email as they take different steps to achieve these goals.

Following the meeting with the national coordinators, I met with Martin Odi and an interdenominational group of pastors he selected as the core of the Uganda EPI leadership team. They enthusiastically endorsed the importance of what we are trying to achieve. They will all be meeting themselves later this year to strategize and tackle some of the difficult logistical and funding issues. It was a very productive meeting. I want to concentrate on training them (and the similar groups from the other East African countries) well, as they will be the leaders in equipping the African church leaders and transforming the African churches.

We all agree that East Africa--given its history, location, relative stability, democracy, and prosperity--is the key region for all of sub-Saharan Africa. Islam is extremely aggressive, well-funded, and is a substantial threat to Christianity in Africa. As East Africa goes, so goes the rest of the continent. Consequently, what we are doing now, in developing well-trained indigenous pastoral teaching teams for equipping and strengthening the church in East Africa will have important and long-term consequences.

Return from Kenya

Gabriel--one of the Expository Preaching student preachers

A typical Nairobi street scene

Dr. Frank Cummings leading a Biblical Counseling workshop

On Sept. 9 I returned from almost 4 weeks in Kenya. The trip featured a lot of variety: Expository Preaching TOTs; Biblical Counseling TOTs; Biblical Stewardship conference; and 1 Timothy TOT. Further, except for the last 3 days, the weather was quite cold and wet--colder, in fact, than it was in Wisconsin! That was a surprise.

The Expository Preaching and Biblical Counseling TOTs were the most eye-opening. This summer I was introduced to Dr. Lori Carrell, a Professor of Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Dr. Carrell also works for the Center for Excellence in Congregational Leadership at the Green Lake conference center. Her particular interest is sermons, concerning which she has researched and written extensively. Her survey data indicates that average sermon preparation time generally is in the 12-13 hour range. In Kenya, however, the pastors indicated that they spend only about 1-3 hours on sermon preparation. I also discovered that most of the pastors had never really done much in-depth analysis of biblical passages. In the Expository Preaching TOTs we spent most of our time analyzing both OT and NT passages (generally ranging from 6-10 verses), so as to be able to preach them. At the conclusion of the 2nd TOT, one of the pastors remarked that, when the TOT began he couldn't understand how anyone could spend 15 hours or so preparing a sermon. However, he said that now he understands, and he now sees the importance of good analysis of a passage and preparation. I also learned that, to be most effective, I should eliminate the general Expository Preaching conferences, and turn the TOTs into 5-days instead of 3. I would also like to return to the same participants next year to build on what we learned this year.

The Biblical Counseling TOTs were similarly eye-opening. My friend, psychologist and counselor Dr. Frank Cummings, made his 2nd trip to Africa. He expertly led the 2 Counseling TOTs, and was well-received and liked by the participants. In fact, he will be traveling to Uganda next month to lead another Biblical Couneling TOT in Lira, Uganda with our Uganda national director, Martin Odi.

We learned that, although many of the pastors had been doing "counseling" for many years, most of the counseling really amounted simply to advice-giving. As with the Expository Preaching TOTs, the Biblical Counseling TOTs were very "hand-on" affairs. Most of the participants' time was spent doing simulated counseling, either as counselor, client, or critiquing observer. The workshop manual that Dr. Cummings and I prepared was very well received. One participant indicated that he learned far more from the experience than he had learned from an expensive counseling course he had taken some years earlier. Again, as with the Expository Preaching, Dr. Cummings and I both agreed that turning the counseling TOT into 4 or 5 days, and returning to work with the same participants and build on what was done this time, would be most effective. We also saw certain revisions that would be helpful in the order and contents of the workshop manual, which Dr. Cummings is now making.

All in all, this was a productive trip, in which we as well as the participants learned a lot. By God's grace, that will lead to more effective and fruitful work in the future. Much remains to be done in all of these areas, but a solid foundation is being laid. Thank you for your prayers and support. They make this all possible. God bless you.

Report from the field--Kenya

1st Expository Preaching TOT Participants

Bishop Kamau and his wife

The following is the report I filed while in Kenya last month:

Many of you know that 1 Timothy and Biblical Stewardship are two of our "foundational" courses which we typically lead off with when we go to new venues. In April we did 1 Timothy in Embu and Nyahururu, Kenya. In this trip I led off with a 1 Timothy TOT for 18 participants who had attended those conferences. It was, I think, probably the best 1 Timothy TOT I have been involved in. The discussions throughout were lively and dealt with important issues and problems facing the Kenyan churches. At such TOTs the participants all give 2 oral presentations, which the rest of the group then critiques. These are a rare opportunity for pastors to have their substance and style assessed by their peers, and proved to be a very valuable exercise. One participant had the right attitude when he wanted to quickly move on from what he did right to hear "the other side of the coin," because he said that's what he knew he needed to hear in order to improve.

We then moved to the Kirinyaga District of Central Kenya for a 1 Timothy conference. It was very powerful. Three bishops were present, which was a very good sign. The Kenyan EPI leadership team has caught the vision. Now, wherever I go in Kenya I can count on well-trained Kenyan pastors from the EPI-Kenya leadership team to come and teach with me. Four of them--George Kariuki, Ernest Mwilitsa, Bob Mwangi, and Thomas Mwai--taught at the Kirinyaga conference and were excellent. One issue we still face, however, is getting the conferences to be more interdenominational. My East African national leaders and I will address that issue (among other things) when we meet in Kampala, Uganda in October.

Bishop Simon Kamau, general overseer of the Christian Foundation Fellowship (CFF) church took charge of me for the weekend. We attended a traditional post-wedding ceremony (his daughter had been married a few months ago), where the bride's side of the family visits the groom's family for a day of formal inter-familial bonding and feasting. I drank some of the traditional Kikuyu porridge ("mokeo") which was not too bad. I was requested to make some remarks, and was able to campaign that the bride (who is now expecting) name their first-born son "Jonathan." (My arguments had nothing to do with the fact that I am named "Jonathan"!) I preached at Bishop Kamau's church and at an open air meeting. Although I am neither called, nor particularly comfortable or competent at such evangelism, Bishop Kamau was gracious in his assessment of my remarks (I suppose such graciousness is one reason why he is such a good and well-respected bishop).

We then did the first of the 4 remaining TOTs we have scheduled for this trip: 2 on Expository Preaching and 2 on Biblical Counseling. I am particularly excited about the Expository Preaching TOTs because: (A) there is a great need for good preaching in East Africa (most preaching here is topical and has little to do with expounding what the Bible says); (B) it is an area I am particularly interested in, since persuasive communication was one of the areas I extensively studied and applied when I was a lawyer; and (C) the TOT process is where I see the greatest and most lasting impact among the African pastors taking place. As we worked through several passages to try to identify good propositions and organizational sentences, at first no one seemed to "get it." The next day, however, something seemed to click, and the 19 participants started coming up with very good propositions and organizational sentences (which are important for understanding the thrust of a passage and organizing the sermon well so as to preach it persuasively). We then added the important aspects of specific application and issue-or-problem-based introductions. All of these things are, essentially, new concepts here--but will make a substantial difference in their preaching.

The Expository Preaching TOT ended on a relatively high-note. The last day I preached and was critiqued by the participants. One of the participants made a point about my introduction which caused me to see that it had really not been formulated properly to correspond with the main point of the sermon. That has forced me to re-analyze the introduction and revise it. That participant probably had never analyzed such things before. The fact that he was able to improve me makes me extremely happy! The 2 students who preached did creditable jobs. There is room for improvement--but they both showed good promise. If they apply what they learned, I foresee good things for the churches. I am now in Embu, Eastern Province, doing a conference on Biblical Stewardship with George Kariuki, Bob Mwangi, and Robert Mwango. Bob told me that he had talked with one woman who was so discouraged that she wanted to leave ministry. After hearing the first few sessions, she said that she felt restored and would carry on with renewed purpose. We thank the Lord for that! We also have seen something that is, unfortunately, all too common here: only 1 of the approximately 70 pastors had a personal, household budget, and only about 5 had formal church budgets. Our materials address that. We include both information and sample budget forms. As Pastor Bob taught the people, they all committed to develop personal and church budgets. That, of course, can make a huge difference in their lives and ministries. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. "Slowly-by-slowly" (as we say here in Africa) it is making a difference. God bless you.