Zambia
“Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?”
The group of eight men that I spent most of my time training in Zambia
Hello, my friends! I hope this letter finds you well. Penny and I are feeling very blessed these days enjoying our kids, grandkids, and the incredible privilege of serving our Lord. Along with developing my ministry here of discipling men, coaching pastors, and churches, I spent the last half of January teaching with my friend Mark Albright at the International Bible College of Zambia. We considered the example of "The Good Shepherd" in leading and loving people. It was an incredible time. In two weeks I leave for Haiti to train pastors there. I will be going with a team led by Josh South from Westwind Church in Waukee.
Please pray for our trip. If you feel led to help me with airfare and expenses that would be a huge blessing. The team will be doing various work projects while I will be working with the local pastors. This will include classroom teaching, and spending time one on one to encourage and coach them as they minister to the Haitian people.
Ministerial education tends to be more academic. True biblical discipleship, however, means a very real, intensely personal, and at times, painfully honest relationship with someone, "truthing" them with Scripture, loving them with grace. I have a heart to train pastors to do just that... as a former pastor, I can empathize with how they feel and have experienced the battle they face. In May, I am headed for Romania to train pastors with a friend who is a missionary there. I'll be returning to the Philippines in October to train men for ministry and then back to Africa to do the same. I love coaching these current pastors and preparing the "pastor-wannabees".
God is doing something in my life... He is really STRETCHING me. God is humbling me as I see Him provide for us as along the way. This is a Walk of Faith like I have never experienced before... I do not like asking for help, but it is part of this journey. We were reminded recently in a sermon that as the Israelites were leaving Egypt on the night of the Passover, (Exodus 12) God had put favor for the Israelites in the hearts of the Egyptians. The "kicker" for us came when in this passage, God also expected the Israelites to ask for help (traveling money?). So, our lesson is that God prepares the hearts, and we must do the asking.
Maybe God is preparing your heart and if He is, will you help us in this journey? A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who are already helping. Pray for us as we minister in response to the Great Commission.
WE LOVE YOU!!! Keith and Penny