We got up and going early this morning to finish getting ready for the conference. The conference was scheduled to begin at 9:00am and I wanted to be there early to make sure everything was ready. I also hod to get copies of papers printed, but the computer place across the street didn’t open until 8:00am. I skipped breakfast this morning to get everything finished and ready for the computer place to open. At 8:30 we were picked up and taken to the Kisii Hotel where the pastors were staying and where the conference was being held. The hotel offered a beautiful backyard behind the office and rooms that were immaculately kept and cared for – they even had grass!
Russ standing beside the conference hall at the Kisii Hotel.
Our conference was being held in a separate building in the back that provided more than enough room for our conference. Table were all set up and a blackboard was ready for use. Several pastors began to emerge from the hotel, as well as church leaders from our area churches and we greeted them all. It is always such a wonderful opportunity to see these men again after a year, knowing the faith and work that we share.
Our conference started at 9:30am. Pastor Fred (Chotororo, Kenya) served as the conference facilitator, and after a few announcements, he asked Pastor Enosh to open with a devotion. Most of the men in attendance understand and speak English, but there were a few who have difficulty, so the conference was translated throughout the day. If someone spoke in English, it was translated to Swahili; if someone spoke in Swahili, it was translated to English. While this is time-consuming and cumbersome, it is important for everyone involved.
After the devotion I was asked to present the first study. I presented “Church Organization” which presented the benefits of congregational and synodical structure, and explained how this should be done in our congregations and areas in East Africa. It is our hope that we will be able to unite this different church bodies into one church organization in the future, and we are laying the groundwork for that right now. Many questions were asked and there was some very valuable discussion at the conclusion of the presentation.
Following lunch Pastor Fred presented his paper on “Walking with God.” His paper dealt with the topic of prayer, and also led to some very good discussion and application in congregational life. To conclude the days study, Pastor Malyi presented a study on Islam. Pastor Malyi presented a very beneficial look at the background and history of Islam, which is rapidly growing here in East Africa. This study was also very helpful.
We wrapped up our conference with the singing of a hymn and prayer at around 5:00pm. For the next two and a half hours I met with various individuals and groups of pastors to discuss the work in their various areas. This can be very tiring, but it is important to get as much done as possible with the little time that we have.
Tomorrow will be the final day of our conference. We will try to close at around 1:00pm so that those who have a long return trip home can catch buses. After that Larry, Russ and I will be getting ready for our road trip to Uganda. Usiku Mwema (Good night)!
In His service,
Nathanael Mayhew
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossianss 3:16).
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