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.
