The Kenyan Crisis

Many of you who read this blog probably know that my heart is attached to East Africa. Kenya was the destination of my first mission trip 10 years or so ago and since that time I have been to various parts of East Africa some 20-25 times. The current situation in Kenya is heartbreaking and I am desperate to have your prayers in connection with it.

First, let me assure you that our full time missionary (Debbie Gray) at Pavilion Village and all of the staff and chidren are doing fine. They have no been subjected to any of the violence that has racked Kenya over the last several weeks, however, much of the country has suffered. Included in the suffering have been our friends and family at Agape Fellowship Centers around the country. I recently recieved an email from Bishop Steve Kabachia that brought the closeness of the situation home to me in a powerful way. In this recent email and from various phone conversations over the last several weeks I have learned the following items that I ask you now to lift up in prayer:

1. One of the staff members at Pavilion Village lost a sister to the riots in Western Kenya and another sister is in critical condition.
2. Two of the Agape churches in Western Kenya have been burned to the ground.
3. One of the Agape churches in Garissa stands to loose its building if they don't pay $1000 this week. This is a Muslim area and there is no compassion for the difficult financial times Agape is having trying to help people in this crisis.
4. Many Agape church members are without homes and have been displaced with nowhere to go.

These are only a few of the very personal issues that have arisen from the turmoil in Kenya. so, you may be saying how can I help. Since you asked, let me suggest a few ways:

1. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
2. Send funds for relief efforts (gifts can be made to Advocate Ministries (Project AIM), 4445 Crescent Road, Birmingham, AL 35210). Please send a note and mark on the outside of your envelope that your gift is for Kenyan Relief Fund.
3. Prepare to Go. That's right, I said prepare to go. When things calm down, there is going to be a desperate need for believers to go to Kenya and to minister healing to the people.

These are a few ways you can help. I am sure you can think of others. I welcome your comments with your thoughts, your ideas, and your prayers. If you wish, please comment with words of encouragement for the believers in Kenya. I will see to it that they are forwarded to our friends and "family" in that region.