Ending 2011 with a Bang!

Joshua is a Maasai pastor who is well over sixty years old - in Africa, reaching this age is quite an accomplishment. Steeped in Maasai culture and rural lifestyle, Joshua is very comfortable sitting under an acacia tree watching his cows. Elvis and Janet (seated together on the right) are a complete contrast. Westernized, urbanized, with excellent English, this young couple is familiar with issues of globalization and world affairs. They own a transportation company in Nairobi and drive their own vehicle. Joshua doesn’t know how to drive, walks most places and does not know what “globalization” means. What does Joshua have in common with Elvis and Janet? They are all students in the Vineyard School of Ministry’s first course launched earlier this month. Joshua is a pastor in a serene countryside Vineyard church while Elvis and Janet are young leaders in a Vineyard located near hectic, downtown Nairobi.

Africa has more refugees and displaced people within the continent than outside the continent. Famine, migration, and refugees fill up the first chapter of the book of Ruth and are issues that most Africans can readily relate to. As we taught these leaders how to interpret Scripture, we studied passages like Ruth one and drew parallels between the story and culture of the Bible and African culture. Animated discussions and even debate made the course a lively experience as the material clearly resonated with the students.



(Students in the first VSM class)

As we end 2011 and look forward to 2012, we do so with a sense of accomplishment. Two projects that we have been working on for almost two years have finally been launched. Our last blog posted earlier in December told of the start of a Financial Empowerment program designed to address poverty. Now we can also celebrate the opening of the Vineyard School of Ministry!

( Lenoard Lumumba, at the front of the classroom above, is being mentored by Doug to teach future VSM Courses)

Our thanks to you for your -
Love and Friendship – your emails, calls, and cards have helped sustain us during some seasons of frustration and near despair.

Prayer and Financial Support – we have faced as serious a spiritual battle as any time in the decades of our being Christians. The resources you have given have had direct impact on our ability to influence and empower others towards the Kingdom of God.

for the Kingdom,
Doug and Sue

Confronting Poverty

“Extreme poverty is the best breeding ground on earth for disease, political instability, and terrorism." Jeffrey Sachs

Kenya, for the first time as an independent nation, is at war. At war with the al-Shabaab (“the youth”) terrorist group in Somali. It has been well documented that the al-Shabaab is largely the product of crushing poverty, famine, and disenfranchisement that has left Somali youth vulnerable to those who promise them some sort of future no matter how violent.

"Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit." Eli Khamarov


When we first came to Africa, we arrived with the awareness that oppressive poverty would surround us and numerous handouts had only deepened people’s sense of despair and disempowerment. We resolve not to perpetuate the cycle and instead have chosen to empower people by developing in them a sense of dignity brought on by their own accomplishments.

Nelson Mandela has said, “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our time--times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation--that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils."



Poverty must be confronted through specific and practical strategies. Last month 24 participants from all over Kenya gathered in Nairobi to be taught basic business principals using material developed by Care International (Australian AID). The goal is to have a team of trainers for each region of the country who can then equip others to develop their own businesses. We are aiming for exponential growth as those we are training to develop businesses will then train others.


While Doug met with the leaders of the program to strategize the training and the methodology, this program was entirely lead by Kenyans and for this we rejoice! We thank those of you who specifically contributed to efforts to alleviate poverty. Other trainings are planned for the new year as we seek to keep the momentum going.

We celebrated the wedding of the “two Kelseys” this past month - our youngest daughter, Kelsey Anne, wed Kelsey Beck Fernandez on the 13th of November. We also greatly enjoyed being able to spend time with many of you.

 Please pray for future financial empowerment trainings in 2012
 Please pray for the Vineyard School of Ministry course being offered later this month
 Please pray for the future influence of Karen Vineyard Church, who is responsible for making so much of the Vineyard kingdom work done in East Africa a reality.
 Please pray for us, to protect our time together and use our time wisely

for the kingdom,

Doug and Sue

Extending our Influence

Vineyard School of Ministry Africa
In the Gospels, Jesus spends the bulk of his time equipping his disciples to spread the good news of the kingdom. Whether it is the sending of the twelve or the seventy-two,the focus is on investing in those who will extend the kingdom. Jesus spent time equipping those who would contribute to exponential growth. Aren’t we called to do the same?

We are excited to finally be launching VSM Africa which has been in process for more than 2 years. Daystar University gave the ‘green light’ to Doug to proceed with the recruiting of students and scheduling of the first classes. Vineyard School of Ministry Africa (VSM Africa) is committed to investing in those who will multiply kingdom impact.

Sue has worked hard with our intern Mark Davies in developing the website for VSM which can be found at www.vsmafrica.org .


Discipleship training
For the past two years Sue has been facilitating a discipleship course. The group completed the entire course of seven books and formed a tight community of friends. We celebrated the student’s ‘graduation’ this past Sunday with the presentation of certificates of completion.



Developing Entrepreneurs
Poverty must be confronted through financial empowerment. Regional Leaders from the eight areas of Kenya have identified 15-20 young leaders who will be trained in the principles of business development and entrepreneurship this month. A Harvard trained Kenyan, Karibu Nyaggah, on Doug’s right in the photo, and member of Karen Vineyard Church will be leading the training.






Finally brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you." 1 Thessalonians 3.1

A Family of Nations

Occasionally we need to be reminded that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. A “family of nations” gathered last week in South Africa. The Vineyard family, representing some seventeen nations, gathered together. There were several countries lacking representation because their delegates couldn’t get visas, another reminder that life in Africa can be full of obstacles and difficulties.

We worshipped & danced together

We learned together

We celebrated each nation





AVC Kenya National Coordinator, Noah Gitau, was one of the main speakers.


















Thank you for praying!

Doug presented his proposal for the Vineyard School of Ministry Africa (VSM Africa). The informal leader of the Vineyard in Africa, Costa Mitchell, repeatedly promoted VSM Africa throughout the week. Leaders from Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, and other nations expressed interest and asked Doug to come to their countries to launch the program. There is the real possibility that what was first envisioned as VSM Kenya could extend into other African nations. Because of this, we have decided to rename it to VSM Africa.

A few days ago Doug met with Dr. James Kombo, Vice-Chancellor of Daystar University. The meeting was very positive, with Dr. Kombo saying he was 99% certain that the Council will approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Vineyard in its December meeting. He suggested that we start student recruitment and enrollment for a first course to be offered this December or January 2012.

Sue has agreed to help with all the administrative tasks surrounding this new endeavor which are many, as you can imagine.

Please pray for:

VSM Africa: Pray as we launch our first courses and develop a strategy to take the program beyond the borders of Kenya.

Vineyard Financial Empowerment: Pray for the training course that is being held on Nov.4-5. Our goal is to train those who will then conduct Entrepreneur Workshops in different regions in the country. We need the right trainers in the right places.

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Tears welled up in Edward’s eyes and I thought he was going to start crying. He was describing how his uncle had stolen 200 acres of land from his father. As a child, he had no idea at the time how this event would radically alter his future. Being landless in Africa is to be sentenced to a life of poverty. Edward and his family quickly fell from a middle-class status to one of impoverishment and this at the hand of a relative! The tension in the room was palpable as the other Kenyan pastors described their families' struggles to maintain their land or buy land.

Doug was conducting a trial course entitled 'Understanding Advocacy & Socio-Economic Justice: The Prophetic Literature'. The social justice issue focused on was land. Comparisons were made between land issues in the OT Prophets age and in Africa today. The similarities are astounding.

In a week, we will fly to South Africa where Doug will present his proposal for the Vineyard School of Ministry to a wide spectrum of Vineyards from around Africa. The last gathering of this type had 22 nations represented. This is an awesome opportunity to influence the future of the Vineyard in Africa and we desire to hear God's heart in all of this.

Sue continues to keep the Association of Vineyard Churches finances on track. Here she is seated with Noah Gitau, the National Coordinator, Graham Silcock, the secretary, and another committee member and pastor, Robinson. Noah commented that Sue's help has "revolutionized" the Vineyard's ability to plan for the future. With several church plants in process and the Vineyard in Kenya committed to continuing this priority, financial planning is critical.

Doug has made a proposal to the UK Vineyards to set up a Short Term Mission and Internship Program. The proposal has been approved and we are excited to set up a training center that can mobilize younger believers into mission and ministry. We are excited to invest in others who are passionate about the kingdom of God.

Pray for us as we roll up our sleeves. This is a very busy season in the best sense – both rewarding, as we see God touch people, and expanding as we experience God’s favor.

Love,

Sue & Doug

Kenya’s Fastest Growing City

The fastest growing city in Kenya is the Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya which grows at the rate of 1,300 refugees a day. It has become Kenya’s third largest city. Famine has created this “city”. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen noted that droughts are natural phenomena, but famines are man-made. Many countries have successfully prevented drought from leading to famine over the years, but the horn of Africa is not one of those places. The worst drought in more than half a century has swept its way through the Horn of Africa driving some 12 million people towards starvation.

The challenges facing relief efforts are numerous. Relief food intended for starving refugees has been stolen in transit by those who seek to sell the produce elsewhere. The al-Shabab terrorist group, who is in control of much of Somali, refuses to allow many people under their power access to the refugee camps. Other complications include some trying to use the camps as a transit point to European countries after attaining refugee status. A significant percentage of the people facing starvation are pastoralists, those whose cattle and goats have died. Farming, through the use of drip-irrigation, could be a significant part of the solution to this crisis, but convincing those who have been pastoralists for generations to switch to farming is an enormous cultural/social challenge.

While the world focuses on Somalia and the starving refugees pouring across the Kenyan border, Kenya is on the brink of its own famine, with 3.5 million people at risk of malnutrition. You can drive the 10 hours from Nairobi to Dadaab along rocky dirt paths without seeing a single drop of water. When camels are dying you know things are bad. Last week three Vineyard pastors visited the Turkana District to explore more possibilities of food distribution. The Vineyard church’s in Lodwar and Kalokol will help with this effort as they are familiar with the people and the region. Karen Vineyard Church is taking an offering to assist with the purchase and distribution of the food.

Please pray with us:

As the Vineyard in Kenya seeks, in small ways, to assist those who are starving

For the annual Pastor’s Conference – August 24-27th - pray that Pastors and their teams will be encouraged, strengthened, and unified in the face of discouragement and financial challenges.

For the Young Leaders Seminar – August 23-26th Pray that these young leaders will be empowered to identify their giftings, their place of leadership and opportunity to minister.

Pray for us to be wise and stratgeic in whom we invest ourselves.

Pray for our family as the separation from them is difficult at times.

Empowering People

Individualism is irrelevant in Africa, life is about people. Purpose and direction are discovered in community. African proverbs express this strong conviction with sayings such as “Many sticks burn together” or “Two hands wash each other”.

E.M. Bounds writes, “We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency of the gospel. The trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of people or sink people in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of people, far more of them than of anything else. People are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through people. God does not anoint plans, but people.”

“I feel like God is moving inside me”, said a twenty year old leader towards the end of Doug’s workshop entitled “Doing the Kingdom”. The one day seminar held at the Ngong Vineyard, some twenty-five miles outside of Nairobi, was attended by leaders from seven different Vineyards. The focus was not on proclamation, but demonstration. Several people were physically healed, many received words of knowledge and prophecy and everyone was encouraged.

Finances are a constant struggle in this part of the world – we don’t require a world-wide financial meltdown to have people in financial crisis. Self-reliance is a key to poverty reduction. Sue taught people financial management skills and how to create saving plans. Participants in the class have approached Sue to tell her stories of how this class has changed their lives.

Doug taught a series of classes entitled Being Transformed. It is a series that enables people to identify their areas of personal struggle, articulate the challenges and get the needed healing. Amazingly not a single student missed a class – 100% attendance throughout. God was busy at work during the course of this class and beyond. An IT specialist from Holland met with Doug just last week to pray through personal issues that were brought to the surface via the course. On Sunday he shared how his personal healing has also positively impacted his work environment.

The Kingdom of God grows one person at a time. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up . . .” ( 1 Thess.5.11). We are committed to this task of encouraging and building others here in Kenya one person at a time.