Tanzanian Launch

"I felt something leave me when you shook
 my hand." Albert, a retired school teacher,
greeted Doug with these words on the second
day of class in Arusha, Tanzania.  A member of the Vineyard in Arusha, Albert told of the many involved in witchcraft in his neighborhood. Knowing that he is a Christian, those using evil for financial gain have attempted to intimidate this follower of Jesus.  Doug, along with Kenya's National Director, traveled to Tanzania to lead Vineyard School of Ministry's first course in that country, which, ironically touched on traditional African religions and the prevalent practice of various forms of witchcraft employed in Africa.

Arusha Vineyard 

                                                                  Together we explored how the Good News might be more effectively communicated across tribal and cultural lines. The Book of Acts was our text and we studied how Paul dealt with differing worldviews in his travels.

Doug with Tanzanian Leaders

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Students were challenged to draw the Gospel story and communicate it in such a way that people from a different tribe could understand.
The group below had a Maasai leader who told how a certain person in the village had the authority and responsibility to stop conflict by standing in the middle of the village with a raised staff and crying out. This example became their vehicle for telling their good news.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Deliberations before drawing their story.

Eating together.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   




Eating together is a universally held value signalling a peaceful gathering. In Africa, eating together goes even further - it is almost a sacred occasion indicating a unified community who share together. When everyone gets to eat and do so together it is like the Kingdom of God has arrived.

We have been stirred by these Tanzanian leaders' stories of perseverance as well eagerness to learn in a way that they can relate to their people.

for the Kingdom,
Sue & Doug

 

Bringing the Kingdom into the Real World

New Students

"In this world we are like Jesus" 1 John 4.17

For two weeks earlier this month,
students from around Kenya and Uganda  gathered in Nairobi for intensive study. Some of our new students included a nurse, a children's pastor, a business entrepreneur, a church planter, a youth pastor, and an electrician.


                   

He did it!

                                               Being together for long hours every day bonds people together quickly.  Laughter comes easily as does the ability to argue over how to apply the Bible to difficult situations. When discussing social ethics - how we apply decisions of right and wrong in social situations - the students wrestled with how to uphold their cultural norms and what Scripture says.                                                        


One pastor has a family who came
to faith in Christ while in his church.
Yet, before their conversion the family was polygamous - one man and multiple wives. To send all the wives away except one would make these women and their children homeless and unemployed. What should one do? Another pastor was given funds to scholarship some of the children in his church, but not all of them. Those families who did not receive scholarship assistance left the church and slandered the pastor in the village. What should he do as he is well known and involved in community affairs?

Almost all our students receive prayer during the duration of the courses.  Several were in tears at different points.  One pastor who had undiagnosed pain in his feet for over a year was healed. All were challenged with the claims of the Kingdom of God in their real, everyday world.

In about 7 weeks we will enjoy a 3 month Sabbatical in the US. One of our needs is use of a vehicle from October 20 to January 20th.
Please contact us if you are able to loan us a car

Sue & Doug                                      

A Big Step Forward

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3.13-14

In this passage in Philippians, Paul reminds of the importance of having a goal and in particular, one that has eternal implications. It is significant that the letter to the Philippians reveals a tenderness and depth of friendship that is not necessarily present in his other epistles. His goal is personal.  It is directly tied to relationships he has forged through many trials.

Three years ago a group of men and women began a journey. They made sacrifices to achieve a goal and along the way made rich friendships.  On the last Saturday of June they graduated from VSM Africa with a Diploma in Theology. For each of them this accomplishment is directly tied to the work they are already committed to – transforming the lives of the poor and broken ones. 

In Africa, all theology is practical and involves plunging one’s hands in the soil of life with the poorest of the poor. 

We celebrate with these leaders who have lived lives of tenacity and perseverance to achieve something not just for themselves, but for those whom they serve.

for the kingdom,
Sue & Doug

Keeping Our Focus

Survivor of Garissa University attack.

Just over 200 miles northeast of Nairobi was the location of the worst terror attack in Kenya's history since the bombing of the US Embassy in 1998. Current figures list 147 dead and 79 wounded with Christians being the specific targets. People are shaken and doubt that there is a reliable deterrent to terrorism. Please pray with us as we both care for those impacted by this horror, and at the same keep focused on the ministry tasks before us.

Ministry Tasks


Financial Freedom

Sue leading Financial Freedom Course

With a high rate of unemployment - 67% for those under 35 - and an ever increasing cost of living, many Kenyans list finances as their number one concern.
Sue & a team led another Financial Freedom Course as one way we endeavor to help our community.
Almost invariably troubled finances are related to other relational challenges and God works in people's lives at all levels.






Leaders Developing Leaders

Joseph Musyoki

After three years of study Joseph Musyoki will graduate in June.  Joseph says that when he began VSM courses he felt like he was spread thin and had a hand in most ministries of the church. Interactions with other church leaders attending VSM courses, and provocative classroom conversations about church leadership caused him to reevaluate this leadership style.  He feels like he has discovered his area of calling – developing people.

Doug and Bernard

He began mentoring Bernard, now also a VSM student, and observed how Bernard has now changed. Joseph discovered more about himself and Bernard in the process. Joseph recently commented that “The uniqueness of VSM is that it focuses on practical theology and equips people for ministry in the real world. “

Five Year Plan 2015-19

VSM Africa Board

The Board of VSM has developed
and is now seeking to implement its
5 year plan. The unique curriculum combined
with the distinct delivery method makes
VSM Africa a transforming tool that can be spread through more of Africa.

Sue keeping the Board on track

To paraphrase Paul in Philippians 3.13-14 "One thing we do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us . . . "

for the kingdom,
Sue and Doug

Is Christ a Stranger?

Is Jesus considered a stranger to the continent of Africa? The class discussion was about the trinity.  Few Africans have a problem understanding God the Father or God the Spirit as African Traditional Religions have beliefs in versions of both.  But God having a son whom serves as a Savior and Mediator for humanity has no history in traditional African philosophies. This missing piece is also the case for other cultures around the world.

However, on the African continent stories abound of Messiah-like personalities who have done something heroic to stop a plague, prayed passionately for rain, or endangered their lives on behalf of others. These legends provide the bridge into more detailed conversations about how the gap between fallen humanity and God is filled. Christ's mission and therefore ours is to make God's transforming power accessible to troubled humanity. This accessibility is accomplished by entering the other's world with the good news contextualized to their context.  This is exactly what we are attempting to do through VSM Africa.

VSM Instructors with 20 Diploma Courses

Twenty Diploma Courses Completed!

Small Business Entrepreneurs

A 3 year journey of dialogue with instructors, pastors, and leaders from other disciplines accompanied by researching and writing, has resulted in the completion of twenty Diploma level courses. One guiding principle in the writing of these courses is that the student pastor or leader would be equipped to minister to their people in ways that are comprehensible to their setting and therefore intensely practical.  It has been said that there is no Systematic Theology in Africa, only Practical Theology.

Distributing Chickens

Poultry Business
In a world where macroeconomics and big business makes the news, it is perhaps amazing to some that 3 or 4 chickens can change someone's life. Donations made by the Children's Ministry of Vineyard Community Church has empowered small businesses to take a step forward in providing for their families!

Prayer Requests

Please Pray:
For Sue as she assists various ministries with their finances.
As we train new teachers.
As we roll out a Certificate program in rural areas.
As we explore extending VSM Africa to other nations.
for the Kingdom,
Sue & Doug

Doing what we've Learned

Hills of Rwanda

Rwanda has been called "the land of a thousand hills". This beautiful land marked by green sloping hills is mostly identified in the West with the genocide of 1994. While the healing of the land and people's souls will go for years, sowing seeds of future hope is happening.

Dorcas the missionary

Vineyard School of Ministry student Dorcas Karuiki is not only learning a tremendous amount in her classes, but she is implementing what she is learning.
Having already made one exploratory trip to Rwanda's capital Kigali, she is planning another trip in 2015 as she wants to be a missionary to this war-torn country.

Dorcas with fellow VSM students

There is nothing theoretical about what is learned in VSM and the student's attitude is consistently one of implementing what they are learning.

Please pray for Dorcas and other students like her who are passionate about Jesus and have a hope for Africa.

Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7.24

for the kingdom,
Sue and Doug