A New Address, Not A New Heart

 Over the millenia humanity lived in an agrarian culture with a natural cycle of seasons. You never planted a new crop without the old one dying out. There was a season for planting, cultivating, pruning, harvesting and then beginning afresh. These days, we are less comfortable with seasons such as pruning. However, to use the words of Dr. Henry Cloud, we must have "necessary endings" so that we might have necessary beginnings.

April's class

We have just experienced a necessary ending which leads to a necessary beginning. As we have told many of our students and congregants who are grieving our move - "we may have a new address, but not a new heart".












Meet Felix Opunde, a new student who
was introduced to the program

Felix Opunde (center)  with Janet and Elvis

through Janet and Elvis, who are lay pastors at a Vineyard Church plant in a tough neighborhood near downtown Nairobi. Most young ladies in this area are pregnant by the age of 13 and 14 and most young guys are sniffing glue and have committed an array of crimes by the same age. Felix is the first one to turn up on a Sunday
morning. He shows up in the trenches and serves in a variety of ways. At the age of 23 he is the first Christian in his family and has become the spiritual compass for the family. His sister now attends the church and there is movement with others. When asked, "Why attend VSM?", Felix replied, "I am now teaching a Bible Study and I don't have answers. If I don't grow the people I am trying to teach won't grow". Felix is but one example of the students who take what they learn and immediately apply it.

Mary, Moseti, and baby Aiden

Sue receiving goodbye gifts

Sue invested significant time with Mary (pictured) who is  the Registrar for VSM Africa and also the Treasurer for AVC Kenya. Mary's life was changed by Sue's investment and patient training.




We were sent back to the US via a party thanking us. In good African tradition, speeches were made, food was eaten, and gifts were given.
We celebrate both a necessary ending and a necessary beginning. While we have left Kenya, it is our hope that Doug will be able to go back once or twice a year to teach and for Board Meetings for VSM. At the same time,  the leadership team in Kenya will pick up the reins and continue to move the ministry forward in our absence.

We are reminded of Paul's words to the Philippians; "In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will will carry it on to completion until they day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1.4-6

for the kingdom,
Sue & Doug