It was a joy to host 52 African church planters from 15 different countries, along with a bunch of Americans and one Australian for a week-long church planting intensive at our home in Nairobi. Thankfully, God has provided a home for us that allows us to sleep twenty people between five guestrooms (two of which are pictured below) and eleven bathrooms! Our Teammates are also able to host up to thirty people between their homes. Our garage serves as a training center that stretches out onto the driveway and can seat fifty. We also of many nooks and places around the yard, including the trampoline, for small group meetings, eating, and prayer time. We want the trainings to not only be sharpening, but a time of rest, fellowship, and retreat. In the evenings, we play ping pong, foosball, corn hole, soccer, chess, jump rope, worship around the bonfire, and once we even brought in an acrobatic troupe! Thankfully we have fantastic weather all year long so we can host trainings outside.
We have been working with most of the believers who came to this training for a long time, so it was sweet to be reunited with them and to hear stories of what God is doing. It's a privilege to be around so many people who have literally sacrificed everything for the Gospel, they are sp[iritual giants. At one point in the week, we asked everyone who had been persecuted, beaten, or imprisoned for the Gospel to stand up, and several did. Shortly after the training ended, we heard back from one guy who had already replicated the training with 68 of his leaders. Another one with 35, and another one reported that he went home and led 16 Muslims to cross. Talk about exponential potential!
Update on Urban Centers
In order to reach the entire continent with the Gospel, we are trying to establish urban centers for church planting across the continent. We are so excited to say that the work is well underway, and God continues to open new doors. Click for an explanation of the phases.
Nairobi, Kenya: Phase 5 (Churches Reproducing )
Ukunda and South Coast Kenya: Phase 6 (Churches Multiplying)
Nakuru, Kenya: Phase 6 (Churches Multiplying)
Garissa, Kenya : Phase 4 (Local Churches)
Mombassa, Kenya: Phase 1 (Adoption)
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: Phase 3 (Believers)
Zanzibar, Tanzania: Phase 2 (Gospel)
Kampala, Uganda: Phase 5 (Churches Reproducing)
Accra, Ghana: Phase 2 (Gospel)
Johannesburg, South Africa: Phase 3 (Believers)
Cape Town, South Africa: Phase 2 (Gospel)
Middle East: Phase 1 (Adoption)
CB, Morocco: Phase 1 (Adoption)
Lagos, Nigeria: Phase 1 (Adoption)
More places coming this summer
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