A Joy to Teach God’s Word

A Report from Joshua Yong, True Life Missionary to Bible College of East Africa, Kenya

 

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I thank God for the concern and support of God’s people in True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore. It is encouraging and comforting to know that while I am here in Kenya, there are many in Singapore who are remembering me in prayer.

Reflecting on the month that has passed so far, I am filled with much thanksgiving to the Lord. By God’s grace I have settled down and adjusted comfortably to the Bible College of East Africa (BCEA). Although January to March is supposed to be the hot season, the weather here is cool and dry. It may be hot during the afternoon, but because it is not humid, you do not feel very uncomfortable. However, when it rains, the temperature would drop and it will be colder. Rain is very rare during these months and unlike Singaporeans, Kenyans always regard rain as a blessing and they enjoy a fresh downpour (in fact, it is raining right now as I write this testimony). The environment in BCEA – with the trees, flowers and greenery – is also very conducive for the study of God’s Word. Thank God that I have also been given a nice place to stay in. Now I know why Dr Khoo often wished he could “transport” the weather and the environment over to FEBC.

Classes have started on the 10th January. In BCEA the year is made up of three terms. Each term is made up of three months followed by a one month vacation. This term I have the privilege of teaching four subjects (10 credits). It is a privilege because it is always a joy to study and teach God’s Word. Nonetheless it has not been easy and much time is taken to prepare for the classes. Many of the students here are eager to learn and are appreciative of the Word of God being taught; some are also rather inquisitive and they do ask quite a number of questions during classes. Every time I attempt to answer a question, I am always reminded of the solid training which I have received from the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC). Many of the class notes which I am using are also adapted from the course notes of FEBC – my
teachers have been very gracious in allowing me to use these materials. The impact and influence FEBC has on me in my spiritual growth and theological training cannot be overstated. It is thus my prayer that God will preserve FEBC, for it is a God-fearing and God-honouring institution which only seeks to teach, preach and defend God’s Word.

Apart from teaching, every Thursday we go out with the students to the smaller towns for evangelism. We would walk for about half an hour to these towns and would go house to house or to the people in the streets and share the Gospel with them. Unlike Singapore, the people here would not immediately reject a conversation with you. However the struggle here is that 70% of Kenyans profess to be born again Christians. When you share with them the gospel, they would say they believe, yet in fact only a minority are truly born again believers. Many of these professing believers are either Roman Catholics or Charismatics, or from the cults, and very few actually attend Church on the Lord’s Day to worship God. Nonetheless, this ministry is most necessary and we know our labour is not in vain. At times on Thursday afternoon, we would also visit Church members who may be sick, or who have not been attending Church regularly. Rev Kim always uses the illustration that when a farmer gathers his chicken in the evening and he finds one chicken missing, he would go out and search for that one missing chicken. This is the importance of the visitation ministry.

Every Saturday there are also fellowship meetings where four groups of five students with a teacher would go to a member’s home for fellowship; there is also a campus fellowship which is held in the school premises. This term, the fellowship group I am in charge of is of the Mirema/Ngomongo area which is about half an hour walk from the school. The church members would gather for a time of singing (the Kenyans love to sing and all of them can sing very well), for the studying of God’s Word, followed by prayer session and chai (tea) fellowship. This ministry is a very important ministry as it reaches out to the church members and here we understand their struggles. Though many have their own personal struggles, yet they would faithfully come for fellowship and Sunday Worship Service. Some would even walk for 45 minutes to an hour to attend Glory Church at BCEA. The Church in BCEA holds two worship services every Lord’s Day – a 10 am service and a 5 pm service.

 

The missionaries in BCEA are not just engaged in the Bible College work, they have several missions outreaches as well. During my first week here, I had the opportunity to see three missions outreaches in the Maasai area (about 180 km from BCEA). Churches  and schools have been planted in two of these outreaches, and we are looking to starting another church in another outreach. All the pastors serving in these outreaches are graduates of BCEA, which shows the importance of the Bible College movement in this region.

Thank God for His grace and mercy. I have enjoyed my time here thus far, though not without struggles. It is in the  ministry where you have a better understanding of the value of FEBC’s total training of a person. After the first week where Rev Kim’s and Rev Yoon’s family helped me with the meals as I adjusted, I started cooking some of my own meals. It is then I remember how I was given an opportunity to cook in FEBC. Thank God that I have been eating well.

Do continue to pray for the work in Kenya as the work here is not easy. One big problem in Kenya is the problem of polygamy – many mothers here are single mothers. There is a very low sense of how heinous sin is where many tend to repackage sin. Pray for me as I continue to prepare for the classes in BCEA. Pray also for safety as we travel each week for evangelism and fellowship meetings. Thank God that Nairobi is generally not a dangerous place; nonetheless, we should still pray for God’s protection. Please also pray for the approval of my work permit. We have made the application, but we are still waiting for the immigration office to approve the application. Do also remember my family in prayer.

In BCEA when the faculty meet every morning, we always remember FEBC in our prayers. We are seeking for God’s will to be done.

Thank God that we can always maintain this fellowship in Christ through prayer. May God’s blessing be upon you all as you continue to study and defend God’s Word.

 

Thank You Notes

Dear Bro Charles Kan,
Thanks for your note on the remittance of the above gift. I have checked with the bank and it was credited on 14th January 2011. The figures are in the local currency and it exchanged for ksh.590,774.

Thanks to the church for such a large gift. We now have a building project going on and we needed funds to carry on the work. Our committee agreed to use all that money for the building project. The building will provide housing for our teaching staff and also the students and guests. It is going to be a three storey block.

We continue to pray for FEBC that all will go well. Charles Sang who is currently studying at FEBC will join our teaching staff when he graduates.

Thank you again and may the Lord bless you all.

In Christ,
Rev Michael Koech
Principal, Bomet Bible Institute, Kenya

 

True Life BPC Session and Elders, Dear Sirs,

It is with humble thanksgiving I received your exceedingly generous amount of AUD1000 today, 17th January. The throne of grace has recorded my gratitude but I would like to express this to each of you also. The true value you have in my heart is for your faithfulness to the Word of God. May the God of all grace strengthen your endeavours in faithfulness and obedience. The cause for Christ and His Word has always been small but the end result will be a multitude that no man can number. Psalm 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Mrs John Mackenzie
Para Hills, Australia

Dear Dr Khoo:
I want to thank you and your dear wife, and all the other fine Christian people that I met in Singapore. You were outstanding examples of Christian hospitality. I was encouraged to see what the Lord is doing through you all. I look forward to the Lord allowing us to cross paths again. Your legal battle is in our prayers.

Pastor Phil Stringer
Chicago, USA