Kenyan Olympians...Way to go!

I came across this article from a Kenyan paper today. Kinda cool!

Basking in the Olympic Glory, We Are All Kenyans

The Nation (Nairobi)

18 August 2008

By Macharia Gaitho
Nairobi

WE'RE IN ONE OF THOSE periods when we need to watch television broadcasts from far-off lands to become Kenyans.

Pamela Jelimo, Richard Matelong, Janeth Jepkosgei and Brimin Kipruto all did us proud on Monday with a fantastic medal haul of two gold, one silver and one bronze in just two track events.

Almost every place where there is a television set, Kenyans have been glued to the little screen yelling, cheering and screaming in unison.

Nobody gives a moment's thought to the ethnic origins, race, political affiliations or religious beliefs of the athletes doing their best to bring glory to Kenya at the Beijing Olympics.

They are Kenyans, period, and it is the Kenyan flag that is being paraded round the track and raised at the awards ceremony.

We all stand up and shout ourselves hoarse applauding a Kenyan victory, not a Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Luo, Giriama winner.

And when we lose to one of those darned Ethiopians, the groan expelled with the agony of defeat again encompasses the entire Kenyan nation irrespective of any of the puny sub-nations within.

There is something notable about this Olympic season: The decibel count from our noisy politicians has gone down. I don't know whether that is just a blessed coincidence or some realisation that they will get scant attention when Kenyans are preoccupied with much more important things during this time.

As we cheer on our boys and girls in Beijing, it is a real blessing, so far at least, that our attentions have not been diverted by the destructive sabre-rattling ethnic jingoism that our so-called leaders usually employ to divide us for selfish ends.

Actually, it is real wonder that not a single one of our leaders has come out to demand ethnic balance in the team.

No politician has taken to the stumps to demand that his ethnic group get its fair share in the team. There have been no calls for a Commission of Inquiry into the way the team was selected and why some tribes were left out.

Not even Parliament has bothered to send a select committee on a Beijing junket in an effort to establish the ethnic background of each team member and whether there was corruption, nepotism and ethnic bias in the conduct of the Kenya Olympic trials since 1964.

Neither have there been any calls for affirmative action in team selection or moves to address historical injustices that have given some communities domination when it comes to securing Olympic tickets.

Sports truly unites us and relegates all those diversionary issues to the back-burners where they belong.

Let's pray that true peace comes to Kenya, the peace that comes only through the love and grace of Jesus Christ!

Neema na Amani, (grace and peace)

Jonathan (for Adrienne, Josiah and Christopher)

Be A Part of the Ministry in Nairobi!

Thanks so much for all who were able to attend our BBQ in June. We had a wonderful time to share about the ministry and we had a great time getting to know those that were there.

There are SO MANY opportunities for you to become a part of the ministry in Kenya through Disciple Support Ministries. Here are the current needs:

Ministry needs:

Urgent need for missionaries:
Short-Term (10-12 days)
Feb-July 2009
Seminar and Bible Teaching Teams
Administrative Assistance
2-4 people per team

Mid-Length (14 wk commitment)
Bible Teachers
Administrative Assistance

Long and Full Term missionaries

Monthly Support for the Ferguson Family - ~$3500/month
(Includes: room and board, insurance, travel expenses, car and fuel costs, and taxes)

Ministry Financial needs:
Student Semester Supplies - $3000
Microphone system and small generator - $2300
Stationary supplies, handouts, copies - $2000
Student Meals - $1300/month
Latrine construction for one of the schools - $1200
Cooking Shed repairs - $500
Facility fees - $400
50 new Bibles - $9 each

Prayer! Prayer! Prayer!

Before leaving for furlough in December, the missionaries at DSM were ministering to 135 pastors and ministry leaders. Upon arrival in April, the attendance had jumped to 165. The May-July semester saw over 200 disciples! The demand for bible teaching has grown so much, that the ministry has had to add two additional days of teaching per week! But perhaps the most amazing part of this blessing is the fact that the five new teachers that DSM is using are former students! Please pray for these new disciple makers: Pastor Daniel Matheka, Pastor Felix Atila, Pastor Simon Mise, Pastor Edward Owino and Pastor David Ochieng (left to right above). Please prayerfully consider joining us in Nairobi as we minister along side these amazing men of God!

We would love to share with you or your church how you can be a part of this amazing ministry to the pastors of the least in Kenya! If you are interested in finding out more about Disciple Support Ministries, our heart for Kenya, and how you can partner with the ministry, please consider meeting with us. We would also love to share at your church, bible study, or small group!

Mungu Bariki, (God Bless)
Jonathan

BBQ for the Fergusons at Refuge

We will be having a BBQ at our church for those who are interested in hearing more about Kenya. Please come if you are interested in any capacity. Here are the details:

Who: Adrienne, Jonathan, Josiah and Christopher Ferguson
What: BBQ-hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Bring a side dish to share!
When: Saturday, June 28th at noon
Where: Refuge-7800 Edinger Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Why: We are leaving for Nairobi, Kenya and would love to share what we will be doing once we get there. We would love for you to come and be a part of this awesome work the Lord has called us to.

Please RSVP: ferg4africa@gmail.com
Since the church is providing the food, we need a head count so please RSVP.

We look forward to seeing you...

Adrienne

The Call

Today, I was visiting a website of a friend from our church. She is still in her teens and she has decided to spend 6 months in South Africa. Jonathan and I had the privilege of knowing this girl when we helped lead in the high school youth group at our church. This girl amazed me with her faith and spiritual maturity and her devotion to God. She continues to be an inspiration to me and an encouragement. She posted message on her website that brought me to tears and I wanted to share it with you all:

"Isaiah 61:1-3

"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me. Because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Proverbs 31:8,9 "Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die (sons of passing away). Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."

This is my heart. I feel that God has spoken this to my heart in response to the verse above. I wrote it down a couple years ago in my journal. I feel that it is the best way to show where I am coming from and the best way to share the conviction which is compelling me to go out.

Whisper when the words aren’t spoken, hear when the words aren’t there. Speak for those whose hearts break open, shed with them their mournful tears. Look into their eyes and see it. Feel the need that they must feel. See the love they long for and be it. Take for them their burdens here. Hold up the weak, encourage the strong to be stronger. Don’t forget the lonely faces and don’t believe that someone else will do it. You are that someone. Simply caring isn’t enough to save lives. Act quickly, they are fading away. Give their voices a freedom to sing for joy. Break the chains around their feet so they can dance. Unlock their hands so they can clap. More beautiful than sunlight see their shining faces. Like no other sound, like angel’s voices rising all around.

I want to live a life worthy of the calling. Worthy of of Christ. I don’t see another way. I want to know God. I want to love like Jesus loved. I can’t ignore the scripture. I can’t pretend I didn’t hear Him calling me to live a more involved and selfless life. I can’t ignore it. I am accountable because I know. That is why I must go."

Reading this, you may think God can only use the mighty. But God uses the meek, a girl who has not been out of high school for long. God has called you to be something extraordinary. This is calling to all who follow Christ; to walk in fellowship with Him and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. To disciple and love. I hope you are encouraged and I hope this has inspired you like it has me.

Adrienne

Christopher Ryan Ferguson

Well, it has been a few months since our last post and we are so excited to announce the arrival of our sweet son, Christopher Ryan Ferguson. He was born on Wednesday, April 2nd at a healthy 8 lbs. 12 oz, and 20 inches long.
We were so proud to see our sons meet face to face just hours after Christopher arrived. Josiah gave Christopher a big kiss and Jonathan and I read a few scriptures with our sons and prayed over them. It was such a blessing to have our little family reading and praying together as our first "event" we did as a family. Our hearts our full as we see our family growing and serving the Lord together.
We thank you for all your prayers and support over the delivery of baby Christopher. The C-section went very smoothly. The hospital care was excellent and we actually got sleep in the hospital!

A Late Night

My work at the Police Department is not usually the cause of great moments in my faith, but last week I found that my shift produced an interesting moment.

My current work schedule has me coming home at 3:00 am four nights a week. Now after a ten hour day, I find it hard to fall asleep quickly. It usually takes me a while to relax enough to get to sleep.

Last week I found it expecially hard to unwind after my shift. I decided to read my Bible to help calm my nerves after this particularly hard evening at work. At the time I was reading through Exodus. Now I must confess, this particular night I thought, "well, I'm in the middle of reading about the construction of the tabernacle. If anything, this might help me fall asleep sooner." Not a great attitude to have when reading the Word of God!

I started off by praying, and my heart was really turned to praying about Kenya. I had been recieving a lot of flak about the idea of taking my family to a country in the midst of a near civil war, and began praying for God to guide us. I prayed that God would keep us here if it wasn't truly His will for us to go. Basically, I was asking God to keep us from going if it was just our emotions leading us.

I began my reading that night in Exodus 33. When I read vs 13-17, I caught my breath:
Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

Here was my answer! God would go with us! It was truly a comfort to know that God would answer my prayer so quickly. I was floored, and began to thank God for the answer. What a confirmation of our calling.

I continued reading on into Exodus 34, where I came across v. 10:
And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Praise the Lord God Almighty! I find so much comfort in a God that answers our prayers, that promises to go with us. I find great peace in knowing that our passion is not in vain. God will grant us the desires of our hearts, and I can't wait to see the "awesome things" that God is going to do in Nairobi!

Mungu Bariki, (God Bless)
Jonathan

Meeting with the Cowleys

This last week I had the opportunity to fly out to Florida and meet with Paul and Marcia Cowley, who head up Disciple Support Ministries in Nairobi. It was a great trip out there, even though it was very short!

I flew out Monday night. After trying to check in at the airport, I found out the my flight had been cancelled A MONTH AGO and was never notified. The airline was able to get me on another airline to Tampa, but it required a little juggling of the schedule, and I made it in time to meet up with Paul and Marcia.

During the meeting, I was able to see just how amazing this ministry is. DSM reaches out to the pastors and ministry leaders of the churches in the slums of Kibera and Mathare. Since these men and women already lead churches, the impact is phenomenal. With approximately 150 students each semester, this ministry basically feeds 150 different churches, reaching out to thousands of Kenyans.

A typical day at the school is very full. At 6:30 in the morning, students begin their day with service. typical jobs include cooking breakfast, cleaning the floors, setting up the desks, and others. At 8:00 class starts. Normally they go through a book from the Old Testament. Class runs through 12:00, when they break for lunch. At 12:45 school begins again, and for the next four hours they study a book from the New Testament. at 4:45 clean up begins, and usually lasts until 5:30.The schools each operate one day a week. The pastors are required to maintain a job outside of the church while attending school, so they are not tempted to fall into fleecing the church members. The pastors also regularly meet with DSM leaders to discuss areas of discipleship, such as family and work issues.

There is only one textbook at this school: the Bible. The pastors are taught how to interpret the Bible and teach the Bible by relying on the Holy Spirit to enlighten them. Since most of these pastors would never be able to afford a commentary or book about the Bible, this truly is a blessing. It has been said that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, and this ministry seems to live on that motto.

The amount of paperwork created by this ministry is large. 150 students created 300 homework assignments a week that need to be graded, and 300 test a month. This work, combined with the student files for the 500+ students that have gone through the school, shows just how important the gift of Administration is to DSM. DSM is constantly in need of people with administrative backgrounds.

I left the meeting feeling very confident about working with DSM. At this point, we are praying for God to confirm yet again that this is where He wants us. Please join us in praying that God will confirm this to myself, Adrienne, the Cowleys, and all others involved.

Mungu Bariki,
Jonathan