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November - December 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
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The Mission of "the Quiet Man from Kenya"
by Jeff Henderson
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When you first meet Joseph Kimani your initial
impression is that of a quiet, reserved, and even shy
individual. Yet, the normal demeanor of this gentleman
from Nakuru (a city 100 miles NW from Nairobi the
capital of Kenya) comes with one major exception: Get
him on the topic of God and Spiritual matters and he is
truly transformed!
Joseph becomes more than talkative. He burns with great
zeal to expound on the Scriptures and of the Way of
Salvation through Jesus Christ. This is just one of the
simple reasons why the Nakuru congregation of the
Apostolic Church of God 7th Day call him "Pastor
Joseph."
This last August, my wife Cathy and I had the pleasure
of receiving the gifted Pastor Joseph as a house guest
during his recent swing through the San Francisco Bay
area. We were glad to help him in this part of a
nationwide visit to Sabbatarian groups and churches. His
goal has been to raise money for an expanded evangelical
outreach in his native Kenya and surrounding African
countries.... Such a noble mission is easier said than
done.
Equatorial Kenya is quite different than our back
door. Though a Commonwealth of Nations member, life in
this former British crown colony and protectorate is a
lot simpler, and yet far from easy. Even in the cities,
most people walk, and the rest either ride bicycles or
use public transportation. Kenya has 42 tribes, each
with its own dialect-and the average daily wage is 80
cents (one U.S. Dollar is equivalent to 75 cents Kenyan
money; ... so, a loaf of bread costs about 20 cents).
Agriculture has been the backbone of Kenya. Yet, a lack
of rain in the last few years has brought a turn for the
worse. According to an Associated Press report:
"Struck by the worst drought in 30 years, reservoirs
around East Africa's largest city are drying up. The low
water levels mean hydroelectric dams can generate little
electricity; the most precious commodity in Nairobi is
water."
Again according to AP, as recently as August, to
children that were wearing red and navy blue school
uniforms, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture handed out
bowls of boiled corn kernels mixed with beans-supplying
them with possibly their only meal for the day. (Corn
and beans had usually been one of the staple crops of
Kenya.)
What had been just a railway outpost in 1900, the
municipality of Nakuru is now an urban development
(situated in the Rift Valley, squeezed between Menengai
Crater and Lake Nakuru) which has grown quickly since
Kenya's Independence (1963). Yet, here, the only thing
certain is change. The United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements (Habitat) website states, "Known for its
flamingos and once dubbed 'the cleanest town in
East-Africa,' Nakuru, Kenya, has lost a lot of its past
glory. Particular environmental concerns are caused by
the inter relation between Lake Nakuru National Park and
the residential and industrial expansion. This situation
is aggravated by the fallen standards of urban services,
requiring a new approach towards urban planning and
management...."
While impressed with the radical contrast in living
standards between Kenya and the United States, Pastor
Joseph nevertheless noticed another stark difference
between the two countries. As he put it-in a very
telling statement, "The American people need true
repentance and a return to God. Simply put, the
U.S. needs salvation." But, the "quiet" man from Kenya
did not stop there: "The spiritual condition of
Sabbath churches is lukewarm and needs revival."
In the view of Pastor Joseph, American Sabbath keepers
need to preach the full gospel of Jesus-not simply the
"gospel" of the Sabbath and particular pet
doctrines. His strong words need our echo: "The true
gospel is what Jesus did on the cross and the power we
receive when we believe. The whole gospel-salvation from
sin, the power of the Holy Spirit, keeping the
commandments by the power of the Spirit, and living a
Christian life-these are the real spiritual
issues."
Kenya is unique, with 3% of the Christian population
embracing Sabbath observance. Still, according to Pastor
Joseph, there is much work to be done. "We must work
while it is day, for night comes when we will not be
able to preach the gospel-and we don't know when that
time will come."
How can one preach the gospel to a hungry and thirsty
people? Our faith needs to work in Kenya. (James
2:14-18)"What doth it
profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but
have not works? can that faith save him? 15 If a brother
or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, 16 and one
of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and
filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to
the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it
have not works, is dead in itself. 18 Yea, a man will
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy
faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show
thee my faith."
Monies raised by this U.S. trip will be used to help
Saints in need, to purchase a van with which to generate
funds for spreading the gospel, to purchase a video
projector and "p.a." equipment for use in reaching
remote villages with gospel presentations, for the
building of new church buildings, and to (hopefully)
help defray the cost of American ministers coming to
Kenya for evangelistic campaigns.
Joseph and his wife Esther have four children ages 9
through 16. The Kimani family last saw their father in
May when he left on this mission. He plans to return to
Kenya in October.
The most important thing that Pastor Joseph requested
was for the earnest prayers of all the Saints-that God
might heal Kenya and bless their Kenyan ministry with
success in reaching that part of Africa with the saving
message of Jesus Christ!
Editors Note: The BSA President, various BSA Board
Members, and the Editor of TSS were recently in
attendance at a conference dealing with the subject of
how to preach the Gospel to the world and the forming
of an Evangelistic Association for just such a purpose
(see Sept/Oct TSS). The preaching of the Gospel in
African countries was among the various similarly
focused topics of conversation. While we are all still
just talking, "the quiet man from Kenya" is
working-helping to fulfill this mission.
Letters and donations may be mailed to Pastor
Kimani at this address in the USA:
Pastor Joseph Kimani c/o Association for
Christian Development
P.O. Box 4748
Federal Way, WA 98063
Any gifts or offerings of support may be made out
by check to "Pastor Joseph Kimani." The ACD will
deposit all of these in his Bank of America account,
which is directly accessible in Kenya. All letters
will be forwarded to him in Kenya. Those wishing to
reach Pastor Joseph Kimani directly can e-mail him
at: Joseph_Kimani@Yahoo.com
Jeff Henderson pastors the Believers in Christ
Church of God, Redwood City (San Francisco Bay area),
California. Comments can be sent through their
website at: http://www.biccog.org
TSS
November - December 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel
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