Student Visa a GO!

Hello Friends,

I wanted to share some good news. Today I found out that my KPP (Kenya’s Pupil’s Pass / student visa) has been approved. Praise Him!!! There was a good chance that my KPP would not be approved in time, but God has graciously provided.

I wanted to say thank you for taking the time to pray. God has heard your prayer and faithfully answered. Please continue to stand in the gap and be heard among the nations.

Thank you again.

Aaron

Less than two weeks before I leave, yikes.

Changing Demographics

There have been some people who have asked what I will be studying in Kenya. The simplest and most straightforward answer is Islamic Studies (the name of the course). However, I do not believe this title accurately communicates my focus of study. Therefore I desire to communicate my passion and interest of study.

There are two disciplines I am primarily interested in studying. I desire to integrate the fields of theology, especially systematic theology, with missiology, the study of missions. The purpose is to show how the expansion of global Christianity can serve as a positive influence on the way we think about and discuss God, his revelation, and his work in the world. I believe Christians in the West should think of church life in Africa, Asia, and Latin America as an important factor in the formulation and practice of theology. The simple reason Christians in these continents matter theologically is because they represent the majority of Christians in the world today.

Sadly, Christians are uneducated when it comes to global theology. If I asked you to name one theologian or pastor outside of the United States, could you? I don’t believe the average American Christian could think of one (feel free to prove me wrong). In response to not being informed about His bride/church, I am planning on posting mini biographical sketches of majority-world theologians and pastors. The first theologian is Tokunboh Adeyemo who is a frequent guest at NEGST and the general editor of the first all African Biblical commentary (©2006). I hope you are blessed by what God is doing.

Tokunboh Adeyemo was born into a royal Muslim family in Western Nigeria. He was the second child, but the first male child of eight. The tradition among the village called for the oldest son to be the chief of his tribe, therefore he was educated in the best institution in the country. He enjoyed politics as a young man and became the secretary leader of a political party. He continued to be a faithful Muslim reciting his religious prayers and faithfully participating in Ramadan by fasting for thirty days. According to his testimony, “people looked at him and saw a young man with a promising future, but Tokunboh felt an ache inside, an emptiness he could not fill” (Carden).


In his early twenties Tokunboh began to ask questions of life’s meaning, specifically where people went after death. His search for true meaning in life soon became his sole passion. It was not until he witnessed people with few material possessions worshiping God with joy and fever that he was impressed. He decided to find out the reason for their joy. The young man went back to the same church to find out if their passion and zeal for Christ was sincere, he was surprised to find out they were even more zealous for God the following night. As Francis Manana, professor at Pan African Christian College, says “after years of searching and depression, he was converted in 1966 in a small independent church in Ibadan when Rev. E. White, a South African missionary, clearly presented the Gospel” (Manana). The pastor spoke on John 10:10, explaining that Christ came not to introduce another religion, but a relationship. As Adeyemo explains, “as the man concluded, I decided to follow Yeshua, the giver of life”.

Today Adeyemo continues to be one of the leading evangelical Christian figures in Africa. Adeyemo served for twenty five years as the General Secretary of Association of Evangelicals in Africa before becoming the Executive Director of the Centre for Biblical Transformation located in Nairobi, Kenya. His keen understanding of biblical absolutes and passion for the unreached of Africa has made him a distinguished figure in Africa. He truly believes the Bible and theology is not dead but affectively moving among the African people. Adeyemo leads by example making sure his theology is not only studied but lived throughout his life. Adeyemo believes that for any Christian theology to be relevant and lived out in East Africa; account must be taken of the African worldview and self-understanding of the African people.

Where in the world is Kenya?

I desirer to use this blog to inform my prayer partners how they might affectively pray for me and the people of Kenya. Therefore I wanted to share some general information about Kenya. I first must admit I have seen those Jaywalking videos by Leno so I realize this info might be new to a special few (I was recently asked if Kenya was in South America...uh yep).

The country of Kenya is in Southeast Africa (hopefully the map helps). The population is roughly 38,943,000 while 22% of the population is urbanized. The largest city, which is also the capital, is Nairobi with a population of 3,363,000 (this is the closest city to NEGST/school). The official national language is English while Swahili comes in at close second.

Now regards to ministry within Kenya, the country is roughly 78% Christian, 11% ethnic religions, 8% Muslim, and .3% Hindu. Contrary to what some might believe, Protestants outnumber Roman Catholics 33.8% to 26.5%. The 78% Christian adherents might seem surprising to some; however there must be an understanding of the ethnic diversity in order to properly understand the situation.

According to the Joshua Project there are still 35 unreached people groups in Kenya (there are 112 people groups total). "An unreached people are a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group" (Joshua Project). There are some that suggest that the percentage of a population needed to be influenced to impact the whole groups is 2% Christian. The majority of the 35% unreached people groups are Muslims. One of those Muslim people groups are the Digo people who I hope to ministry amongst (more info to come).

Hopefully the statistics and facts help you understanding the situation. Next time I'll try not to use so many numbers, I know some people will be thankful. Please save this link and come back every so often. I will try to write two new post a month.

Godspeed,

Aaron

Please continue to pray for my student visa. Right now it's a waiting game with the Kenyan government, the visa could be accepted tomorrow or a month from now (I would prefer tomorrow : )

I also forgot to mention when I will be leaving for Kenya. I leave on Tuesday the 25th of August and I will arrive in Kenya on the 27th. Please keep me in your prayers.

A Brief History of NEGST

The Lord first made me aware of NEGST three years ago reading Byang Kato's Theological Pitfalls in Africa. During the 1970's, as Africa experienced great revival, Dr. Kato lead the way for evagelicals. Below is a brief history of NEGST (negst.edu) and how God used a Dr. Kato to lead the way.

In the 1970s, evangelical churches in Africa had seen little need to provide training for their pastors beyond the certificate or diploma level. Dr. Byang Kato of Nigeria, the first African General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), spoke often of what he saw as a coming crisis of Christopaganism in African Christianity. He was convinced of the need for African Biblical theologians with advanced training.

The ultimate objective was not simply the enrichment of the scholar, but of the ordinary believer in the churches-the African Christian who was often poorly taught and vulnerable to a confused understanding of Christian truth.

Before his death in 1975, Dr. Kato made arrangements for launching a Francophone graduate school, established in the Central African Republic in 1977. After his death, the Association of Evangelicals of Africa assumed the responsibility for establishing NEGST-a companion Anglophone graduate school.

The stated purpose was to create a graduate school higher than the existing evangelical theological schools in Africa. The existing schools would then serve as feeder schools to NEGST. The goal was for the school to offer masters degrees in biblical and theological studies, and eventually doctorates in theology.

The first class of four students began their studies in October of 1983, and in July 1986, NEGST granted its first four graduates the Master of Divinity degree. The dream had become a reality.

Today, over 20 years later, NEGST has over 500 graduates from at least 30 countries. Presently the student body is 150 residential and 170 extension students. Our graduates consistently take positions of leadership in their countries, churches and Christian organizations.

In September, 2005, the first doctorate programme was launched, under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Carew, Vice Chancellor. The first PhD cohort is due to graduate in 2009, with succeeding groups in 2-3 year intervals.

Dr. John Stott, evangelical statesman, has said, "NEGST is doing, and will increasingly do in the future, a job of outstanding importance. I am impressed with the very fine students NEGST attracts. I believe NEGST graduates will be taking places of increasing importance on the continent and around the world. NEGST has my enthusiastic endorsement

Why Nairobi?

I know what a lot of people are thinking (and asking), "why Africa? Aren't there plenty of great seminaries in America?" Therefore I wanted to share some of my thoughts.


I want you to know it was after prayer and encouragement that I applied to Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) and was accepted. There are several reasons I want to share with you why I believe God is leading me to this school.

1. I believe God has awakened the African people and He has gone before them (just read Phillip Jenkins, The Next Christendom). I am trying to be obedient to his voice and follow Him (John 10:4).
   
2. I believe understanding a person’s worldview (how he or she views the world) is of utmost importance while ministering. Studying in America will give me little insight into ministry within Africa, unlike being taught by African scholars. I see attending NEGST as providing me strategic on field training.


3. Studying at NEGST will give me the opportunity to be involved in cross-cultural ministry while I further my education. I am connecting with organizations/ministries in Nairobi and especially within the Mombasa area where large Muslim communities reside (I will send more info soon).


4. I will be making vital contacts for future ministry. One ambition the Lord has placed upon me is to see the universal church united and functioning the way God designed it to. NEGST is one of the most diverse graduate schools within Africa, which would allow me to make necessary connections (here’s my plug- http://www.youtube.com/user/AllTheNations2819). There are several other reasons I desire to attend NEGST, so feel free to ask.
   
   

I close by saying God is a sovereign God who closes and opens doors in His timing. May I be submissive to His will wherever He sends me.

News Update

Hello Friends and Family,

I just wanted to give you a quick update; I hope and pray you are doing well.

Praise and Blessings

After four years of study and ministry I have graduated from Moody Bible Institute!!! I still remember the first night in the dorm, kneeling beside my bed to ask God to give me the strength to complete the four years. He has graciously answered my prayer, praise Him!

The winter retreat I spoke at in Virginia went better than I expected. The kids were great; receptive to the messages on prayer and participated in all the activities. The retreat was also a blessing for me getting away from school and seeing how God was moving amongst my friend’s youth group. Thank you for partnering in prayer and interceding before the father. (the pictures are from the time spent with the youth group)

Currently I am in Washington State trying to save money in order to attend NEGST. Thankfully the Lord has provided several landscaping jobs to keep me busy.

***Prayer***

The first prayer request is the speedy reply to my student visa application for studying at NEGST. The Kenyan government will eventually accept the request; it is just a matter of time. I can still attend the school without a student visa, but there would be several future complications.

Please pray for brothers and sisters in Christ who desire to partner with me in ministry. Living far away from home in a distant culture is not easy, much less trying to share the gospel to spiritually ignorant people. There are numerous ways people can partner with me.

Sending e-mails, Skype calls, etc. is probably one of the greatest blessings of partnership.

There is also financial partnership, where people who want to invest in God’s work, can partner in my service. I am asking God to provide monthly support, so that I can study Islam at NEGST and minister amongst the Muslim people of Kenya and Africa.

Then there is spiritual partnership which means people prayerfully intercede for the people of Africa and my ministry.

Also pray for the right contacts in Kenya. The Lord has already provided a few contacts through African Inland Mission, CrossWorld, YWAM, and a few churches, but please ask for the contacts God desires.

God Bless,

Aaron