What a year this has been, we have truly seen the Lord
work in many different ways. From the saving of old men,
the starting of new churches (Story Telling Points), more
teams coming to Kenya to work among the Maasai, His
divine hand of protection, the taking Home of my Mother,
the soon to be a recognized Society in Kenya and on and
on we could go.
God is truly good all the time! In every instance this
year, we have seen God's loving hand of provision and
protection.
There is so much to report that there is no way we can
put all of it down but we will try to summarize with
numbers but they never tell the full story of what God is
doing in the lives of these precious pastors, new
converts, new church starts, in the lives of the
volunteers that have shared in the ministry this year,
and of course in their home churches as they return with
a heart ablaze for what they have seen God do among the
Maasai.
In 2007 we have seen 479 Maasai pray to receive Christ
and most of these have been old men. The only reason we
emphasize old men is they control all of Maasai Land and
it is imperative that we reach them if we are going to
have an indigenous church planting movement among this
people group. This has been our greatest year of reaching
old men. As we reach them and then disciple them in
the story cloth, we then challenge them to reach their
own people beginning first with their own boma
(Homestead).
We have seen at least thirteen new church starts this
year and have strengthened many more.
In the past two years, we have seen over 30 new
church plants and they all seem to be growing and even
some of them are reaching out to start new churches. We
have seen more church starts in the past two years than
ever before in the Narok area.
A personal note from Blaine Anderson as he was working
north of Suswa in a place called Nraampani.
Three different trips yielded many old men
coming to Christ. One of the Nyankusi that had been
saved on our last trip got up in John's church in
Suswa and shared this testimony: "I was a drunk and in
fact I had been drunk and broke my arm in a fight,
after I sobered up some came from Calvary Road
Ministries and led me to Christ. I am now a changed
man, I go to church, and celebrate Jesus all the time,
thank you very much for bringing me Jesus!"
On another occasion, Blaine went back to a place he
had been before where many old men had prayed to receive
Christ and this time they brought him gifts (bead work).
This is a great honor when old men bring someone gifts,
as they were putting the bead work around Blain's neck
they had him kneel and surrounded him as they prayed for
him and Calvary Road Ministries.
Prayer requests:
< Leadership training for current pastors and
places for that training.
< God to raise up pastors for the new church
starts.
< We will need to buy another vehicle this coming
year--our biggest expense is maintaining vehicles for the
bush.
< The health and well being of all our paid
staff.
< The up-keep of our house (Base Camp and operating
headquarters).
< For God to raise new Partnership Churches to team
with us to reach the Maasai.
< That God will not let anything stand in the way
of our getting Society recognition from the Kenyan
Government.
< As this recognition arrives, pray that we will
have a smooth transition in getting our own Bank
accounts, registration of vehicles, licensing, insurance,
and work permits through Calvary Road Ministries of Kenya
and that everyone in the process will be agreeable and
will work with us in this new direction. (There are many
many things that can happen in this process and we are
looking for God's Hand in it all!
< Pray for us as we venture into Northwest Tanzania
this year. There are many many areas where there is not
one church of any kind and pray that the old men will be
receptive to us and the Gospel.
Thank you so much for all your prayers, financial
support, and especially our Partnership Churches that
send the volunteers for our mission in Kenya. Without
each of you, it would be impossible. Thanks for letting
God use you as an instrument to minister to the Maasai of
Kenya and Tanzania.
Many of the old men and all of our pastors send their
regards and prayers and their sincere appreciation for
sending them the Gospel.
One very touching personal note: While I was in the
hospital in August, Blaine Anderson and John Rampei were
sharing about my illness with the old men deep in the
bush, they began to cry and call out to God in my behalf,
asking Him to heal me and bring me back to them. What a
people, what a God and Savior we serve and to Him goes
all the glory.
By the way, all the medical tests came back OK and
they could find nothing. God took care of it Himself and
to Him goes all the praise. I am so looking forward to
getting back among my people and telling them about Jesus
and training them to „
"Go and Tell"! There is much work yet to be done as we
move into new areas. KEEP PRAYING, BELIEVING, AND OBEYING
and remember to answer the greatest question the Lord has
ever asked me: "Do you want what God wants more than you
want anything else?"
Shepherds Following the Lamb,
John & Elise Shepherd
