Utumishi Blog

Today is arrivals day for the next iServe Africa Ministry Training Course (MTC). The theme is Steadfast 24/7 in light of the Cross of Christ. Just to give a bit of background, the idea of the MTC weeks is for apprentices to come back together once a quarter, from placements all over Kenya, to debrief, be encouraged and particularly to receive training in five areas:

1. Servant leadership – gaining a true biblical understanding of gospel ministry; apprentices understand themselves as servants and growing in servant-heartedness.
2. Faithful Bible Teaching – understanding what is meant by expository preaching, becoming convinced that it is the way to teach the Bible and growing in skill in teaching the Bible faithfully and effectively.
3. Gospel priorities – getting clear on and enjoying more the gospel of Jesus, appreciating and being convinced of the centrality of Christ crucified and the priority of word and prayer ministry.
4. Gospel partnership – understanding and appreciating the concept, being committed to it in practice and growing in the skills of partnership development at all levels of ministry.
5. Mission – coming to see mission as primarily God’s mission, concerned with the gospel of Jesus and the spread of this gospel to all nations, and developing a 24/7 every-believer everywhere mission mindset.

If you are a praying person, please pray for:

• The apprentices as they arrive this afternoon – many after very long journeys (up to 48 hours!) – that God would prepare their hearts and minds and give them strength to engage and receive and grow.
• The speakers tomorrow (Monday) – Harrison Mungai, Sammy Maina, Sukesh Pabari, Edward Ngaira and myself teaching on topics including ‘the gospel and guidance’, ‘Christ from the whole Bible’, and Athanasius – that we would have faithfulness, clarity and wisdom to share just the right things in the short time available.
• The Word to do the work – as we look at Romans 6-9 in morning small group Bible studies, as the apprentices preach mini-sermons on passages from Isaiah, as Sammy preaches through Job for us, and as we go through Ephesians in a number of the afternoon sessions – pray that it would be the Spirit that sets the agenda and teaches us and transforms us through his living and active Word.

I’ll try to put some updates here throughout the coming week. We really appreciate your prayers. And if you don’t know what iServe Africa’s all about, have a look at this…