We need a good relationship with someone who we consider as being the person we would want to follow in our Christian life. Someone, you could choose to be around a lot, almost as if he were a close sibling. For example, we take on the character traits of the one we hang around the most, and the one we pay the most attention to. We should choose someone we will like and agree with, but we also want someone who will definitely influence our walk in faith positively. We should first look at ourselves to see who we are as a Christian, and who we influence. We should then consider who we want to strive to become. There are three categories from which we can choose from whom to follow: the most popular Christian, the most thrilling Christian, and the most humble Christian.There is the most popular one. The one who knows what it takes to be an influencing example of Christ, but he lets popularity get in the way. He desperately tries to be a Christian who tells others about Jesus, but professes he is a Child of God with arrogance and a tinge of pride. Instead of emphasizing that Jesus is the One who saved him, he goes on to say that he is the one that can now get to heaven by what he himself did (accepting Christ as his personal Savior). This idea changes the meaning of Salvation, and it gives the anticipating sinner a wrong impression of the Gospel. But only a few can spot his downfall; they follow in his steps, regardless of what he says. Here we have an opportunity to see the end result, and we find out that this is the type of person we do not want to be influenced by.Another choice widely available would be the most thrilling Christian. One who has great speaking ability and can give his audience emotion and retells dramatic accounts of the Scriptures. He uses this ability to reach out to the lost. But too often we see that he is consistently forcing Christianity "down their throat." He points out the sins that others do, and he does not let anyone forget what they did wrong. The problem is that he does not point out his own sins to everyone as he does to others. Something else is that he does not even mention a hope for those who do wrong. People decide to reject everything he says, because of his pounding, grating attitude. Remember that the Bible says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with that judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." In other words, we should leave the judging part to God, and we should keep track of what we do wrong and not "worry" about the wrong things of others. We find out through this Christian that by what we say can turn others away from the Gospel.Our last example is the most humble Christian. This person often waits patiently to be noticed; He does not openly proclaim He is present. Only when we listen cautiously can we hear His still small voice. In most instances, He gets our attention by circumstances or hard times in life; but even then the majority of people never notice Him. Only When we look closely can we see the lives He turns around, the sick He heals, and those faithful witnesses He blesses. Then, only when we decide to trust in His grace, we realize that He had been knocking on the door to our heart the whole time - patiently. Here we see that Jesus Christ is the one we should follow.Jesus left behind the best example of the Christian walk, better than anyone else would be able to be. Though other Christians may seem to be pretty good examples, there is always something that will bog them down. We may not know exactly how to act in a particular situation or what to say at a given time; but if we ground ourselves in the Scriptures, we will be influenced incredibly. We now know who we should choose, but we should consider if we are a good example for those around us or not. Are we the proud Christian, or the misleading Christian? Or are we truly striving to be a picture of who Savior is, the Perfect Brother?Written by: Abigail Shelby
Monday 5 December 2011
The Perfect Brother (By Abigail)
Thursday 10 November 2011
Thanksgiving (By Breanne)
Thanksgiving is one of the most savory of the holidays. Thanksgiving reminds me of our family's time together. Thanksgiving at our house, is completely packed with good things to eat, such as Momma's delicate herb-crusted, oven-roasted chicken; for some reason when Momma bakes this dish it reminds me of the pilgrim's meal, simple yet delicious. Cranberry sauce, which reminds me of fall; with its sharp tangy-sweet flavor, is more of a modern addition to the classic dinner. Without rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans, this meal would be unfinished; a main dish without the condiments would be like a house without furniture. Last, but definitely not least, pumpkin pie; the spicy aroma of cinnamon always saturates our house on this thankful holiday. It's not only the smell that helps incorporate a thankful attitude; but having my family around me, assists me in realizing all the blessings that have been showered down on my life.
Written by: Breanne Shelby
Friday 14 October 2011
Hello!
Boy, has this been a relaxing week, well, compared to the last few weeks. This week we only had school, Bible Institute, and Miss Alice (the lady who comes to help clean the house, was involved in a minor motorcycle accident, resulting in, a sore leg) not being able to help out here; but when you compare that with getting up at five o’clock to prepare breakfast for twenty people, working outside in the hot sun for about ten hours each day, and then coming home in the evenings to prepare supper, (again for twenty people) for two weeks straight; this has really been a relaxing week.
When we first got back from Siaya I was not sure how I would be able to adjust back too normal life, but it seems to go much better than I had anticipated. Though I am still extremely tired at night I am now able to stay up till 9o’clock without falling asleep on the couch first.
My Science Project is on Acids, Bases, and Salts. If you have any interesting facts that I could use, feel free to tell me about it. (We are a little low on information right now).
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Grandparents (By Abigail)
There are many types of grandparents when it comes to how the react to their grandchildren.
THere are cases when some grandparents are not able to see their grandchildren often. But when they are able to, they spoil them. They give them every kind of sweet one can imagine. They also give them toys that they want and literally everything! Whether or not the parents approve is not even thought of. This behavior may not last long, but it lets the child know that his grandparents love him and miss him when they are apart.
Other grandparents are those that keep the children giggling. Acting like a clown. And playfully arguing about what the child knows. When a child has the knowledge that one plus one equals two, the grandparent will start a playful argument that one plus one really equals eleven! This behavior lasts throughout the child's lifetime - the grandparents consider them as children no matter what age they are, right?
Grandparents mostly are very good at story-telling. For the first part, they are usually experienced at it. And second;y, they have a very wide range of their own personal stories of growing up and such. This gives the grandparent a time to teach the younger generations through illustrations of right and wrong, and good and bad. But they can also teach history, Bible principles, and farts that the children will need to know in their lifetime.
Most grandparents have traits of all three examples given in this composition, but usually there is one trait that best stands out when grandparents are around their grandchildren.
Written by: Abigail Shelby
Tuesday 11 October 2011
August - October 2011 Prayer Letter
Dear Supporters and Friends, August - October 2011
Greetings from Kisii, Kenya. God has been so good to us, and it is great to be in His service. We want to thank you for your prayers for our safety in family and ministry. It has been very busy here over the last two months, and we thank God for His protection over us. The kids had a great week of Missionary Kid Camp during the first of August learning how to be conquerers and having rain gutter boat races. Then I met with our pastors for a fellowship time, planning for graduation at the end of the year, and for some plans for 2012. Then Tonya had her annual ladies meeting, where nearly 30 ladies, from all of our churches, came for teaching and training for ministry in their local churches.
In September, Calvary Baptist Church in Sidundo, finished building their building on the 5-acre plot that was given to us by the community. On September 18th, they met for the first time on the property for a service. Local government leaders were present; and we had a prayer service, a ribbon cutting, and we entered the building to begin using the building and the property for God’s honor and glory in reaching souls for Christ. There was a total of 290 in attendance, 18 adults and 23 youth were saved that day, and the spirit of God was all over the place. It was a great blessing to all of us.
BUILDING OUR FIRST ORPHANAGE
Beginning on September 14, we hosted the international CLAIM TEAM with BIMI, which was a group of 10 men and women volunteers who visit missionaries and help them with building projects under the leadership of Missionary Philip Smith. They were with us for about two weeks, and they were a big help in getting this orphanage built. They also helped us with doing a two day VBS, where there were 106 and 165 in attendance respectively. The ladies also participated in the weekly ladies’ meeting and on visitation into some new homes.
We chose to build the first orphanage in Sidundo because of the availability of the plot, the influence of the church testimony in the community, and the great need to help the orphans in the church and in the community. The living conditions in the area are very poor for even Kenya’s standards. Most goods are sometimes 3 times as much as they are in nearby cities, if they are even available. Many diseases are rampant, and it is very difficult for many families to get the medical treatment that they need; much less the well-being of the orphans are being overlooked. There were four funerals in the village during the two weeks that we were there, and another child in the church died shortly after we left.
We had a great time of fellowship and a lot of hard work in the hot equatorial sun. The Lord answered so many prayers in His own time and allowed us to finish the basic structures just in time before the team had to leave. We thank them for the hard work that they did and for their dedication to us and the people here. The team was only on the site for 11 days, and it is amazing to see all the work that was accomplished. In addition the ladies planted about 400 trees around the edge of the entire property.
The orphanage was built to be a home for a capacity of 40 children, and we hope to have it finished and ready to bring the first kids in January 2012. We did finish the majority of the work, but there is still a lot of detailed work that will need to be finished in order to open the orphanage in time. We will need $2,000 to buy the rest of the materials for plastering the walls, finishing the roof, gables, and the floors, doors and windows, and to build two toilet/bath facilities.
Thank you so much for your prayers and your ministry with us.
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Greetings from Kisii, Kenya. God has been so good to us, and it is great to be in His service. We want to thank you for your prayers for our safety in family and ministry. It has been very busy here over the last two months, and we thank God for His protection over us. The kids had a great week of Missionary Kid Camp during the first of August learning how to be conquerers and having rain gutter boat races. Then I met with our pastors for a fellowship time, planning for graduation at the end of the year, and for some plans for 2012. Then Tonya had her annual ladies meeting, where nearly 30 ladies, from all of our churches, came for teaching and training for ministry in their local churches.
In September, Calvary Baptist Church in Sidundo, finished building their building on the 5-acre plot that was given to us by the community. On September 18th, they met for the first time on the property for a service. Local government leaders were present; and we had a prayer service, a ribbon cutting, and we entered the building to begin using the building and the property for God’s honor and glory in reaching souls for Christ. There was a total of 290 in attendance, 18 adults and 23 youth were saved that day, and the spirit of God was all over the place. It was a great blessing to all of us.
BUILDING OUR FIRST ORPHANAGE
Beginning on September 14, we hosted the international CLAIM TEAM with BIMI, which was a group of 10 men and women volunteers who visit missionaries and help them with building projects under the leadership of Missionary Philip Smith. They were with us for about two weeks, and they were a big help in getting this orphanage built. They also helped us with doing a two day VBS, where there were 106 and 165 in attendance respectively. The ladies also participated in the weekly ladies’ meeting and on visitation into some new homes.
We chose to build the first orphanage in Sidundo because of the availability of the plot, the influence of the church testimony in the community, and the great need to help the orphans in the church and in the community. The living conditions in the area are very poor for even Kenya’s standards. Most goods are sometimes 3 times as much as they are in nearby cities, if they are even available. Many diseases are rampant, and it is very difficult for many families to get the medical treatment that they need; much less the well-being of the orphans are being overlooked. There were four funerals in the village during the two weeks that we were there, and another child in the church died shortly after we left.
We had a great time of fellowship and a lot of hard work in the hot equatorial sun. The Lord answered so many prayers in His own time and allowed us to finish the basic structures just in time before the team had to leave. We thank them for the hard work that they did and for their dedication to us and the people here. The team was only on the site for 11 days, and it is amazing to see all the work that was accomplished. In addition the ladies planted about 400 trees around the edge of the entire property.
The orphanage was built to be a home for a capacity of 40 children, and we hope to have it finished and ready to bring the first kids in January 2012. We did finish the majority of the work, but there is still a lot of detailed work that will need to be finished in order to open the orphanage in time. We will need $2,000 to buy the rest of the materials for plastering the walls, finishing the roof, gables, and the floors, doors and windows, and to build two toilet/bath facilities.
Thank you so much for your prayers and your ministry with us.
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Thursday 29 September 2011
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Other than the work on Luke's car, we have been able to rest some while we have been in Nairobi. Yesterday we just took it easy, ate out, & did a little shopping. Today we spent the morning @ the Resource Library. Then we went to Rosslyn Garden Nursery (so I could get a few more herbs to add to my herb garden), then lunch & a little shopping @ Village Market. Now we are just relaxing Hampton House.
We want to thank the Lord for allowing our vehicles to run well enough to get the CLAIM to and from the airport and construction site while they were here! The morning after they had all left, Luke's car refused to start. We came to find out that the timing chain broke (evidently when he got back from the last trip to the airport)! Since it broke, it also damaged the valves & some other things. But Luke and Bernard were able to get new parts for all of it, and they finally got it all back together this afternoon late. Bernard will drive that vehicle back to Kisii tomorrow & the rest of us will head home in my van on Saturday.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #12
Group #1 of the CLAIM Team flew out @ around 8 AM today, the kids & I drove to Nairobi to be with Luke a few days & to get some rest before heading back to Kisii, & group #2 is on their way to the airport right now. Their flight is scheduled to leave close to 11 PM.
Monday 26 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #11
The CLAIM Team headed to Nairobi & Miss Katie, our children & I headed home to Kisii this morning. We made it to Kisii without any trouble. Luke & the Team were broke down on the side of the road for a little while, but they got everything back up & running. They should be getting into Nairobi right about now. Please pray for them & all of their flights tomorrow. What a wonderful group of people! We thank the Lord for allowing us to get to know them & work alongside them for this short time.
Sunday 25 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #10
Please pray. We have 2 Team members who are very sick today. I just took one of them back to the guesthouse to rest. The church was already full when I left. And there were so many children that I was not able to get a count. But I will be sure to try to post more this afternoon once church is over. Thank you for your prayers!
Our last services today with the Team here @ Sidundo. Not sure of the total count, but I know there were 175 kids! 4 adults were saved also. 1 of them was a young man named Henry. Some of the Team has been witnessing to him since the 1st day, but he said he just wasn't ready. Well today he finally took that step! He is now 1 of our brothers in Christ! It was amazing to see the change in his countenance afterward! Praise the Lord!
The 2 Team members who were sick are feeling much better. I believe everyone is mostly packed & ready for the trip to Nairobi tomorrow. They will be on the road by 7 AM, so please keep them in your prayers over the next few days as they make their way to their homes. The children & I & Miss Katie will head back to Kisii tomorrow too; after we go through the houses & make sure that everything is packed up.
Our last services today with the Team here @ Sidundo. Not sure of the total count, but I know there were 175 kids! 4 adults were saved also. 1 of them was a young man named Henry. Some of the Team has been witnessing to him since the 1st day, but he said he just wasn't ready. Well today he finally took that step! He is now 1 of our brothers in Christ! It was amazing to see the change in his countenance afterward! Praise the Lord!
The 2 Team members who were sick are feeling much better. I believe everyone is mostly packed & ready for the trip to Nairobi tomorrow. They will be on the road by 7 AM, so please keep them in your prayers over the next few days as they make their way to their homes. The children & I & Miss Katie will head back to Kisii tomorrow too; after we go through the houses & make sure that everything is packed up.
Saturday 24 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #9
The roofs are on all the buildings! The trees are all planted! The Jesus Film was able to be shown in full tonight to around 368 people! We praise the Lord for His goodness. And we thank you for your prayers. The Team was able to meet the orphans that will be living in the home they built & they were able to take pictures & give out gifts to each of them. What a blessing the CLAIM Team has been to our family & the village if Sidundo!
We are looking forward to a great day of services tomorrow!! Please be in prayer for each person that will be teaching, preaching, or helping out in some way during Sunday school, church, & junior church.
We are looking forward to a great day of services tomorrow!! Please be in prayer for each person that will be teaching, preaching, or helping out in some way during Sunday school, church, & junior church.
Friday 23 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #8
Wow, where has the tome gone? The project is almost complete (just need the metal roofing sheets-please pray that we are able to get them), 400 trees have been planted & watered, VBS went very well (around 160 kids/175 with the adults & workers included), tomorrow we will make a couple of special visits, we will have a time to sit down & get to meet all the orphans, & we will be showing the Jesus Film one more time! A lot has been accomplished, but we are not done yet. Please keep us in your prayers!
Thursday 22 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #7
We were able to water all of the trees that we planted (that takes a while when they are on the perimeter of a 5 acre plot)! The Girls' dorm is almost finished; I believe they have just a couple of more rows of bricks. The trusses are all finished & ready to go up. Please pray that we are able to get the metal roof sheets tomorrow (the hardware stores are giving us a hard time getting the supply we need).
We had our first night of VBS! Bro. Dan taught on Jonah & the whale, & Miss Stefanie taught about the 3 Hebrew children. We had 106 on our first night (the normal teacher said that we would only have around 60)!! Almost all of them said that they would bring a friend tomorrow night!
We had our first night of VBS! Bro. Dan taught on Jonah & the whale, & Miss Stefanie taught about the 3 Hebrew children. We had 106 on our first night (the normal teacher said that we would only have around 60)!! Almost all of them said that they would bring a friend tomorrow night!
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #6
I was told that around 70 trees were planted today. The boys' dorm was finished, & the girls' was started. Miss Katie & I spent the day driving to Siaya searching for food supplies & bottled water. So I am sure that I will be surprised by the progress when I go to the site tomorrow! The buildings are going up so fast!
Sorry I forgot to say that the mid-week service went well also. Thank you for your prayers.
Please be in prayer with us about the meetings & work over the next few days. Tomorrow we will begin VBS, & Saturday we will show the Jesus Film again. Please pray that we are able to show the whole thing this time.
Sorry I forgot to say that the mid-week service went well also. Thank you for your prayers.
Please be in prayer with us about the meetings & work over the next few days. Tomorrow we will begin VBS, & Saturday we will show the Jesus Film again. Please pray that we are able to show the whole thing this time.
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #5
We were able to plant 125 more trees, & the boys' dorm is almost finished (just 2 more rows of bricks & then the trusses can go up). Please pray for the Team as a few of them are having some health issues due to the intensity of the equatorial sun, & Bro. Phillip (the Team leader) has a kidney stone.
Monday 19 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #4
We planted about 50 more trees. The kitchen/dining hall is ready for it's roof tomorrow. All of the bricks, gravel, sand, & cement have been delivered. The wood for the trusses of the 2 dorms & all of the metal roofing sheets will be delivered tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will be having a ladies' meeting @ the church where we are building the orphanage. Please pray as I teach these ladies what God has laid on my heart. I can't wait to see what God has in store. It is still hard to believe that He allowed me to lead 22 young people to Him yesterday!! He is so good!
Wednesday will be mid-week service. Thursday & Friday will be a mini VBS time, Saturday we have plans to meet with all of the children who will be benefitting from this orphan home. We also wanted to let the CLAIM Team to be able to meet the children whom they will be helping. Please pray for these meetings & for all of the building that will continue being done throughout all these things.
Tomorrow we will be having a ladies' meeting @ the church where we are building the orphanage. Please pray as I teach these ladies what God has laid on my heart. I can't wait to see what God has in store. It is still hard to believe that He allowed me to lead 22 young people to Him yesterday!! He is so good!
Wednesday will be mid-week service. Thursday & Friday will be a mini VBS time, Saturday we have plans to meet with all of the children who will be benefitting from this orphan home. We also wanted to let the CLAIM Team to be able to meet the children whom they will be helping. Please pray for these meetings & for all of the building that will continue being done throughout all these things.
Sunday 18 September 2011
Orphan Project - Day #3
Where do I even begin? God is so good! The church has been praying fir 200 in attendance for their 1st service in their new building & on their own property. The day started with people coming slowly by slowly, because of all the rain. But by the time preaching started, there were over 290 in attendance!! The building was completely full, and all of the children had to meet outside. We had 18 adults & 22 children (10-14 year olds) come forward for salvation!! Praise the Lord! The devil has been fighting us all week, but it is all worth when. God gives us an amazing victory with all these precious souls!
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Update & Prayer Request
I know that it has taken a while for you to hear from me about any updates on the orphan ministry.
The monthly visitation in the homes of 23 orphans and the food assistance are continuing as well as give food to other 3 churches for their needy orphan children. To explain in case of misunderstanding, the children who have finalized their documentation to prove in every way by birth certificates and death certificates of both parents are those 23 are visited in their homes. Other names and partial information of children are nearly 150. These children are being help now as we bring the food to the church and then the local church divides it among them. These children are receiving about half of what the 23 are getting. Part of the problem of getting the information from the guardians of the children is coming from the local governmental offices because many times they ask for bribes to do little things like writing these letters. I will probably need to visit these offices myself to see how I can expedite the process, when I can get to those areas to visit them, mostly the hindrances are time and rains that block some of the road ways.
We are building the first orphanage and I have attached the plans for its compound for you to see. A group of 11 with CLAIM at BIMI is coming under the leadership of missionary Philip Smith next Wednesday to be with us for ten days in order to help us build the basic structures. Each of the buildings are 15 ft. by 30 ft. Please pray for their trip as they will leave the states and Canada on Tuesday the 14th and leave Nairobi on the 26th of this month. The site is five hours from our home in Kisii so we have booked an entire guest house and my family also will be staying there for those days as well. Tonya will be doing the cooking for the team and helping the ladies who come to plant trees and other things.
The orphanage compound size of the drawing is about 130 ft. by 150 ft. and it is inside a 5 acre plot that we have ben given by the local community for the church and any project that we can do to assist people in the community. The land is where they use to have their local bull-fighting and wrestling with bulls and other sports activities. It is all open land and not owned by any individual. The church has just finished building a building next to the road and they are planning their first meeting in the church on the 18th of this month. We are inviting community leaders to come to the service and many from the surrounding areas to attend this special occasion. The church was started as a Bible Study in 2009 and then we opened it as a church with the first baptism in March of 2010. We fenced the property in May of this year and the orphanage compound is in the back of the property behind the church. When we finish the basic structures then we will fence the orphanage part by itself for better security for the children.
I was there yesterday and we put up markers for where the buildings would be and they are beginning today to dig the foundation so that it will be ready for the team to build when they arrive on the site on Thursday next week. We are praying that the foundations, walls and roofing will all be done in this short time. Please pray that rain will not be a hindrance to getting these things finished.
This orphanage will hold up to 40 children at capacity so the expenses are increased because of the availability of land and the need in this area. We already have names of 26 children who will be able to benefit from this project. Please pray that all of the beds, tables and chairs, kitchen utensils, caretakers, a good water supply, and other things will be able to be put into place by January of 2012 so that we can open the doors to these children.
Also please pray for wisdom in choosing the right caretakers for these children, and the monthly financial support to care for them.
Thank you for your continued support for this project.
After finishing what we can do here we will be looking at the town of Kuresoi with Glory Bible Baptist Church to see how we can get started with that project there. The land is in good condition and there are 15 orphans who we are visiting monthly. The number may raise to 20 once we open the doors, but the area is a hot place for political violence that we saw in 2008 where many of these children's parents died. The government is beefing up the security in the area so that it does not happen again. Elections will take place again next year. Please pray that God will give us direction on the way forward.
Please forgive us for the laxity in communication with you. Due to a tight schedule, low internet access, and electricity outages, we have not been able to keep everything up to date on our website about the orphan ministry and the children.
May God bless you and as you pray for these children in Kenya.
Wilson O.
Hi, my name is Wilson O., and I am 4 years old (born in 2007 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I am in Nursery school, and I have 2 brothers (Anthony and Esborn). And we live on a farm with my Grandfather. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my family and I.
Sincerely,
Wilson O.
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I am in Nursery school, and I have 2 brothers (Anthony and Esborn). And we live on a farm with my Grandfather. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my family and I.
Sincerely,
Wilson O.
Wednesday 31 August 2011
I was saved under my dad’s preaching at the age of 15. And I surrendered my life to the Lord to do or go anywhere He called me. Luke and I met at Bible College, and we were married in 1995. It is still amazing to me to see how God has worked in my life to prepare me for the challenges that He knew we would face here. But He has always been by my side through every blessing and every trial. He is truly faithful!!
I feel privileged to be able to serve the Lord here in Kenya with my husband and family. We have seen the Lord do some “Great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3) in our life, and I thank Him for the opportunity to serve Him here as a family.
Sunday 28 August 2011
I was saved in October of 1981, at the age of 7. I was called to preach when I was 16, and I surrendered to the mission field of Kenya the following year.
I feel privileged to be able to serve the Lord here in Kenya with my wife and family. We have seen the Lord do some “Great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3) in our life, and I thank Him for the opportunity to serve Him here.
Saturday 20 August 2011
Thursday 11 August 2011
Tuesday 2 August 2011
May - July 2011 Prayer Letter
Dear Supporters and Friends, May - July 2011
We thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family over the years and to several that were able to take us on for support during our last furlough. It does help us in trying to fulfill the ministries here in Kenya and in assisting us to reaching the churches here that need encouragement. God is blessing in many different areas, as we look for new opportunities to win the lost, to baptize them, and to edify believers in the churches that we are working with.
Short Term Missions
Over the last two months we had a single teacher, Miss Melissa Lapp (from Jacksonville Christian Academy and our home church), come to visit with us; and she was able to spend 6 weeks working in children’s and music ministries. She had a great time of teaching Sunday School, VBS under trees, and in a local school, passing out tracts and John and Romans in three different areas where we have churches already. She also helped Abigail learn a lot more on the piano, as well as one of our College Students who is leading the music in our church in Kisii. We took her to the game reserve and saw several animals many of which we had never seen before like a monitor lizard, mongoose, dik dik deer, and a leopard with a kill. It was a really great time. Melissa was a real blessing to us, and the kids had a great time with her.
Orphan Ministry
The orphan ministry is picking up steam. We are visiting 23 total orphans (from 2 churches) in their homes each month; and we are giving them a food care package, as well as getting better information on how to care for them medically, and also helping them with things that they need when they go to school. These children have all of the documentation of proof of their situation, and we will begin with these children when we set up the orphanages in the local churches. There are 61 other children scattered out in 3 other churches that we are helping through their church. They are still trying to get their documents finalized. There are several that are HIV positive, and we are praying that God will help us with the wisdom and resources to minister to these children in every area of their life. Please pray with us.
Local Church Building Needs
Calvary Baptist Church in Sidundo is building their church building now on a 5-acre plot, and by the end of this month we will be putting the roof on it for them. It will cost around $700, and if you would like to help with this ministry please send it to our home church or BIMI. We are also trying to get the churches here to help with benches, so that they have a helping hand in this new ministry. In September, a BIMI CLAIM Team will be coming to join hands with us in building our first orphanage on this church’s property. We will send out another letter next week with all of the details about this wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of so many young lives!
God bless you and thank you for your prayers.
Luke and Tonya Shelby
We thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family over the years and to several that were able to take us on for support during our last furlough. It does help us in trying to fulfill the ministries here in Kenya and in assisting us to reaching the churches here that need encouragement. God is blessing in many different areas, as we look for new opportunities to win the lost, to baptize them, and to edify believers in the churches that we are working with.
Short Term Missions
Over the last two months we had a single teacher, Miss Melissa Lapp (from Jacksonville Christian Academy and our home church), come to visit with us; and she was able to spend 6 weeks working in children’s and music ministries. She had a great time of teaching Sunday School, VBS under trees, and in a local school, passing out tracts and John and Romans in three different areas where we have churches already. She also helped Abigail learn a lot more on the piano, as well as one of our College Students who is leading the music in our church in Kisii. We took her to the game reserve and saw several animals many of which we had never seen before like a monitor lizard, mongoose, dik dik deer, and a leopard with a kill. It was a really great time. Melissa was a real blessing to us, and the kids had a great time with her.
Orphan Ministry
The orphan ministry is picking up steam. We are visiting 23 total orphans (from 2 churches) in their homes each month; and we are giving them a food care package, as well as getting better information on how to care for them medically, and also helping them with things that they need when they go to school. These children have all of the documentation of proof of their situation, and we will begin with these children when we set up the orphanages in the local churches. There are 61 other children scattered out in 3 other churches that we are helping through their church. They are still trying to get their documents finalized. There are several that are HIV positive, and we are praying that God will help us with the wisdom and resources to minister to these children in every area of their life. Please pray with us.
Local Church Building Needs
Calvary Baptist Church in Sidundo is building their church building now on a 5-acre plot, and by the end of this month we will be putting the roof on it for them. It will cost around $700, and if you would like to help with this ministry please send it to our home church or BIMI. We are also trying to get the churches here to help with benches, so that they have a helping hand in this new ministry. In September, a BIMI CLAIM Team will be coming to join hands with us in building our first orphanage on this church’s property. We will send out another letter next week with all of the details about this wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of so many young lives!
God bless you and thank you for your prayers.
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Thursday 28 July 2011
Veronicah N.
Hi, my name is Veronicah N., and I am 13 years old (born in 1997 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I have 1 sister and 2 brothers (Mary, Albert and Albert), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandmother. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Veronicah N.
Susan W.
Hi, my name is Susan W., and I am 11 years old (born in 2000 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I have 1 sister and 2 brothers (Monicah, Joseph, and Denis), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandmother. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Susan W.
Mary N.
Hi, my name is Mary N., and I am 9 years old (born in 2002 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I have 1 sister and 2 brothers (Veronicah, Albert and Albert), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandmother. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Mary N.
Kennedy M.
Hi, my name is Kennedy M., and I am 4 years old (born in 2007 - exact date unknown).
My mother died a few years ago, and we have not heard from my father since the election violence came to our village in 2007. He is presumed to be dead as well.
I am in nursery school, and I have 1 brother (Dickson). And we live on a farm with my Grandmother. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Kennedy M.
Jane M.
Hi, my name is Jane M., and I am 12 years old (born in 1999 - exact date unknown).
My mother died in 2009, and we have not heard from my father since the election violence came to our village in 2007. He is presumed to be dead as well.
I have 1 sister and 1 brother (Milliam and George), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandfather. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Jane M.
George K.
Hi, my name is George K., and I am 5 years old (born in 2006 - exact date unknown).
My mother died in 2009, and we have not heard from my father since the election violence came to our village in 2007. He is presumed to be dead as well.
I have 2 sisters (Jane and Milliam), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandfather. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
George K.
Dickson M.
Hi, my name is Dickson M., and I am 5 years old (born in 2006 - exact date unknown).
My mother died a few years ago, and we have not heard from my father since the election violence came to our village in 2007. He is presumed to be dead as well.
I am in nursery school, and I have 1 brother (Kennedy). And we live on a farm with my Grandmother. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Dickson M.
Albert M.
Hi, my name is Albert M., and I am 3 years old (born in 2008 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I have 2 sisters and 1 brother (Veronicah, Mary and Albert), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandmother. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Albert M.
Albert K.
Hi, my name is Albert K., and I am 14 years old (born in 1997 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I have 2 sisters and 1 brother (Veronicah, Mary and Albert), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandmother. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Albert K.
Thursday 12 May 2011
March - April 2011 Prayer Letter
Dear Supporters and Friends, March - April 2011
Greetings from a rainy Kisii. The rains have been here almost every day for a few weeks, and it is very refreshing after a day of hot sunshine and temperatures in the upper 90’s. It helps cool things down from the equatorial sun. We are so glad to be back here in Kisii.
Tonya and Miss Katie have started classes learning the Swahili language. We have a tutor that comes from Nairobi; and they are taking classes for 5 hours a day, for one week each month. Tonya’s class is more of a refresher course to give her more confidence in speaking to the ladies in our different churches. The kids are catching a lot more than they have in the past, and Kay-Leigh is trying to read Mama’s homework for her.
God has helped us to be able to visit some of our churches, to catch up with the faithful people that we have led to the Lord in the last several years, and to hear their stories of trusting the Lord during the time that we were on furlough.
During the months of March and April, we were evangelizing as much of the area around our church in Kisii town as possible. Kisii has a population of over 100,000 people, and we were able to get into the homes of about 3,000 people who live around the church. We passed out a total of around 10,000 John and Romans and 20,000 tracts to people all over town. It seems like just a small amount compared to the need that is so great. I have a vision for this church, that started 4 years ago, to give birth to many more churches that will one day reach all of Kisii’s population. On Easter Sunday, April 24th, we had 303 in attendance to break the record for the church’s attendance since its opening in 2007.
We also visited the last church that we started in Sidundo, Siaya; and we saw God’s hand on Pastor Charles and the members there, as they have continued to grow during our absence. There are over 30 that are ready for baptism. And since the rains are here, we will be doing this very soon. There is a 5 acre plot that has been donated to the church, and we have started fencing it. The church has been meeting in an old movie house for two years, and they have been filling it up. They have started gathering materials to build their own building; and when they are finished with the frame, then we will put the roof on it for them. If you would like to be a part of this project it will cost around $700 to put this roof on. We will also be building an orphanage later on in the year that will hold up to 25 children.
We have received a few large gifts to help in the orphan project that we desire to start in every place that we already have a church. Most of the offerings have been set aside for the building of the homes, when the land and church issues are finalized. But we only have about $200 that is designated for the orphan’s food care packages every month; and we definitely need more support in this area to consistently help these children with food, clothing, and sanitary needs. Please visit our website (www.shelbysinkenya.com or www.shelbysinkenya.org) and pray for these children; and as God touches your heart to be a blessing, please help us with small “handfuls of purpose” as we endeavor to reach these villages for Christ.
For Souls in Kenya
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya
Greetings from a rainy Kisii. The rains have been here almost every day for a few weeks, and it is very refreshing after a day of hot sunshine and temperatures in the upper 90’s. It helps cool things down from the equatorial sun. We are so glad to be back here in Kisii.
Tonya and Miss Katie have started classes learning the Swahili language. We have a tutor that comes from Nairobi; and they are taking classes for 5 hours a day, for one week each month. Tonya’s class is more of a refresher course to give her more confidence in speaking to the ladies in our different churches. The kids are catching a lot more than they have in the past, and Kay-Leigh is trying to read Mama’s homework for her.
God has helped us to be able to visit some of our churches, to catch up with the faithful people that we have led to the Lord in the last several years, and to hear their stories of trusting the Lord during the time that we were on furlough.
During the months of March and April, we were evangelizing as much of the area around our church in Kisii town as possible. Kisii has a population of over 100,000 people, and we were able to get into the homes of about 3,000 people who live around the church. We passed out a total of around 10,000 John and Romans and 20,000 tracts to people all over town. It seems like just a small amount compared to the need that is so great. I have a vision for this church, that started 4 years ago, to give birth to many more churches that will one day reach all of Kisii’s population. On Easter Sunday, April 24th, we had 303 in attendance to break the record for the church’s attendance since its opening in 2007.
We also visited the last church that we started in Sidundo, Siaya; and we saw God’s hand on Pastor Charles and the members there, as they have continued to grow during our absence. There are over 30 that are ready for baptism. And since the rains are here, we will be doing this very soon. There is a 5 acre plot that has been donated to the church, and we have started fencing it. The church has been meeting in an old movie house for two years, and they have been filling it up. They have started gathering materials to build their own building; and when they are finished with the frame, then we will put the roof on it for them. If you would like to be a part of this project it will cost around $700 to put this roof on. We will also be building an orphanage later on in the year that will hold up to 25 children.
We have received a few large gifts to help in the orphan project that we desire to start in every place that we already have a church. Most of the offerings have been set aside for the building of the homes, when the land and church issues are finalized. But we only have about $200 that is designated for the orphan’s food care packages every month; and we definitely need more support in this area to consistently help these children with food, clothing, and sanitary needs. Please visit our website (www.shelbysinkenya.com or www.shelbysinkenya.org) and pray for these children; and as God touches your heart to be a blessing, please help us with small “handfuls of purpose” as we endeavor to reach these villages for Christ.
For Souls in Kenya
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya
Sunday 24 April 2011
4th Anniversary
During the months of March and April, we were evangelizing as much of the area around our church in Kisii town as possible. Kisii has a population of over 100,000 people, and we were able to get into the homes of about 3,000 people who live around the church. We passed out a total of around 10,000 John and Romans and 20,000 tracts to people all over town. It seems like just a small amount compared to the need that is so great. I have a vision for this church, that started 4 years ago, to give birth to many more churches that will one day reach all of Kisii’s population. On Easter Sunday, April 24th, we had 303 in attendance to break the record for the church’s attendance since its opening in 2007.
Saturday 16 April 2011
Orphan Ministry Update 2!
Dear Praying Family and Friends,
Thank you for your patience, we have not been able to write updates as frequently as we hoped (due to a number of reasons!). But we do hope that you will take the time to read the following update about Orphan Ministry project.
We have been getting applications from our local Pastors for the orphans in each of their areas. We have been given names and a total count of nearly 150 orphans. From the applications that we have on file, we have bee able to confirm that 30 of them are total orphans (both parents are deceased). But these children are the targets of this ministry, because they are the most needy. These are the children that will be able to live in the local church orphanages in the different locations.
We have also confirmed that around 50 of these children are in need, but they still have one parent living. We are encouraging our churches here locally to help in the visitation of these orphans and widows from their own benevolence funds. We are trying to teach them that it is their responsibility to follow Bible standards in their local villages, as they have the ability. They have just planted their fields, and they are making plans to use a portion of their harvests for this purpose, as it is mentioned in Deuteronomy 24:19-22.
The remaining children do not have any documentation; but we are visiting the churches to help them speed up the process. We will be meeting with all of the churches in our Annual Church Growth Conference at the end of April. At this time we will be finalizing the documentation of the orphans and set up the visitation times to begin taking food to their homes.
The process of identifying the place where we will build has also not been as easy as we thought it would be, because the need for the orphanage is not as great in some of the areas as it is in others. And those areas where it is greater, there are still some land issues to be clarified between the church and the mission before the project can begin.
There are two locations where the need for the orphanage is coming together with the other pieces of the puzzle.
1. Bible Baptist Church - Thidhia Village. The Pastor had already started caring for some orphans, and there are a total of 13 orphans. They had built a mud building with a grass roof to house them, but they have had to abandon it for a short time; because the rains were too heavy, and it was leaking badly. There is also a lady who has been barren all her life, and she has been willing to help in this ministry as a caretaker of the children. I am still waiting on a meeting withe the leaders of this church, to work out the details. We will need to expand the building, renovate it, and put on a metal roof instead of the grass one.
2. Calvary Baptist Church - Sidundo Village. Here there is a 5 acre, undeveloped piece of land that we have been given by the community for a project to be started. This land was allocated to us before going on furlough last year, and we are waiting for the finalization of the paper work for the title deed. We will begin shortly fencing this property and bringing in fill dirt to form a road and foundation where we will build the church first and then the orphanage. This church is a 5 1/2 hour drive from our home in Kisii, and there are 22 orphans at this location. We will be visiting there this week to finalize all of the documentation of the children, and to meet with the leaders of the church to set the ground work for this work to begin.
During the months of March and April we have been able to visit our churches in the Villages of Thidhia, Ibanchore, Sidundo, and Kisii. As we visited each of these churches, we gave beans, white maize, and sugar to the church to divide between the orphans while we are still in the investigation stage of this ministry. While at the churches, we took pictures of each of the children; so we could learn to know them, and so that you have a picture to go withe the name when you pray for this ministry.
We would have been able to visit more churches, but we have also been busy with a Spring Visitation Campaign in Kisii every weekend, Bible College Classes, two funerals in our church in Rongo, and dealing with land issues in Migori. We have also been able to make contact with government offices here in Kisii, to try to get mosquito nets for all of the children, and also to try to buy the white maize and beans in bulk from the government at cheaper rates.
Please be in prayer for this ministry as we take one step at a time towards reaching each of these precious children with the truth of God's love for even them.
Serving Him in Kenya,
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kisii, Kenya
Sunday 3 April 2011
Bring Them in Campaign
We want to thank all of you who have been praying for our "Bring Them In" campaign. The Lord is truly blessing everyone's efforts.
Today was Children's Day. We gave out bags of popcorn to every person who came today. (We popped 5 kg. of popcorn yesterday evening!). And we had our Annual Baby Dedication Service too. We had 5 couples who came to dedicate their young children today. Please pray for these young families as they try to raise their children for the Lord.
Kay-Leigh and Caleb had 73 children in their class today. So they were both very excited to see 26 first time visitors (many of which they invited personally this week) in their class. Just 3 weeks ago this class was averaging around 20 children.
In total we had 153 in church this morning. Most of the visitors came due to the John & Romans and tracts that we passed out throughout the week. We are excited to see our people getting involved in visitation as well. We had 11 go out yesterday to knock doors. And today, you could see the excitement in their eyes when all of the visitors stood up! Thank you again for your prayers for this church and its Sunday school campaign, but we are only half way. So, please continue to be in prayer with us. Our goal is to have 300 on Easter Sunday!
Serving Him in Kenya,
Luke and Tonya Shelby Family
Missionaries in Kenya
Today was Children's Day. We gave out bags of popcorn to every person who came today. (We popped 5 kg. of popcorn yesterday evening!). And we had our Annual Baby Dedication Service too. We had 5 couples who came to dedicate their young children today. Please pray for these young families as they try to raise their children for the Lord.
Kay-Leigh and Caleb had 73 children in their class today. So they were both very excited to see 26 first time visitors (many of which they invited personally this week) in their class. Just 3 weeks ago this class was averaging around 20 children.
In total we had 153 in church this morning. Most of the visitors came due to the John & Romans and tracts that we passed out throughout the week. We are excited to see our people getting involved in visitation as well. We had 11 go out yesterday to knock doors. And today, you could see the excitement in their eyes when all of the visitors stood up! Thank you again for your prayers for this church and its Sunday school campaign, but we are only half way. So, please continue to be in prayer with us. Our goal is to have 300 on Easter Sunday!
Serving Him in Kenya,
Luke and Tonya Shelby Family
Missionaries in Kenya
Thursday 17 March 2011
Silvans O.
Hi, my name is Silvans O., and I am 3 years old (born on December 29, 2008).
My father died before I was born, and mother has died since then too, but exact dates I do not know.
I am in nursery school at our church, and I have 2 brothers (Calvin and Steve) and 2 sisters (Faith and Beril). The oldest is 13, and I am the youngest. We live on a farm with my Uncle and his family. We attend Thidhia Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Buluku.
Thank you for praying for my family and I.
Sincerely,
Silvans O.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Esborn K.
Hi, my name is Esborn K., and I am 12 years old (born in 1999 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I am in Standard 5 (5th grade), and I have 2 brothers (Anthony and Wilson). And we live on a farm with my Grandfather. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my family and I.
Sincerely,
Esborn K.
Anthony S.
Hi, my name is Anthony S., and I am 6 years old (born in 2004 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I am in nursery school, and I have 2 brothers (Esborn and Wilson). And we live on a farm with my Grandfather. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my family and I.
Sincerely,
Anthony S.
Paul K.
Hi, my name is Paul K., and I am 13 years old (born in 1998 - exact date unknown).
Both my father and mother have died, but exact dates I do not remember and their death certificates were lost in a fire during the election violence came to our village in 2007.
I am in standard 5 (5th grade), and I go to school at Mwarangania Primary School. And I live on a farm with my Grandfather. I do not have any living brothers or sisters. We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my Grandfather and I.
Sincerely,
Paul K.
Milliam W.
Hi, my name is Milliam W., and I am 9 years old (born in 2002 - exact date unknown).
My mother died in 2009, and we have not heard from my father since the election violence came to our village in 2007. He is presumed to be dead as well.
I have 1 sister and 1 brother (Jane and George), and we are being raised by our elderly Grandfather. We live on a farm in Mwarangania Village outside the town of Kuresoi. We live off of the land, and we are not able to go to school at this time (lack of money for books and uniforms). We attend Glory Bible Baptist Church and our pastor is Pastor Gesanda.
Thank you for praying for my siblings and I.
Sincerely,
Milliam W.
Friday 25 February 2011
January - February 2011 Prayer Letter
Dear Supporters and Friends, January—February 2011
We are glad to be writing you from the warm highlands of Kisii, Kenya; where the temperatures are ranging from over 100 degrees down into the 80’s at night. Kay-Leigh got her answer to prayer for snow on Christmas Day, but she kept praying and wanting more snow. And it almost caused us to miss our flight to Kenya, because we woke up to 6 inches of snow the morning we were to fly out of Little Rock. We have been able to get settled back in here, and most of our things are unpacked. We are waiting for the shipment of our crates, which should be arriving in April, which have the things that we gathered during furlough to use here in the work.
We have been able to meet with all of the pastors and leaders of our churches, and Bible College classes began the last week of January. We just finished the second month of classes; we have six new students, and seven others who are expected to graduate the three year course in December. This week 11 souls were saved during College soul-winning. God is good! We have scheduled most of the activities for the year, and we are excited about what God has in store for us this term. We are glad to see the stability of many of these men who are being examples to their own people. Though we have not visited the churches yet, we are encouraged by the reports that we have received. Updates on each of our ministries will be available through our website as we visit them.
We have also been able to organize and set a plan to begin our “Orphan Care Ministry.” We spoke to the pastors and asked them to get the number of orphans that their church members are caring for as guardians. This week as I spoke to them the second time (this report is from only 9 of our churches), we have a number that has been narrowed down to 101 children. These 101 children are classified as “destitute double orphans;” This means that both of their parents have died, and the guardians are not able to adequately take care of these children. There are many more poor children in these areas that these pastors would like to help, but our resources are very limited. We need to have over $1,500 a month support just for the visitation program of these few children. This visitation program allows us to visit in each child’s home and deliver a small care package (food and toiletry items) to them each month. With us being here and seeing these children face to face, it is so much more personal. We feel that we need to help all that we can in this visitation process, even if it is just a small “handful of purpose.” And that purpose is to get the Word of God into each of these homes so that souls will come to know Christ as their Savior. Please help us with small “handfuls of purpose” as we endeavor to reach these villages for Christ.
We have identified three locations already to set up Local Church Children’s Facilities based on land, security, and the number of orphans. The pastors are helping us by getting the personal details of each child, and we will be looking at the most needy children that we will be able to raise in these Local Church Children’s Facilities. We still have several steps to complete before we start the facilities; and as we visit the orphans in their homes over the next few months, it will give us time to know the most pressing needs and to train those who will care for them at each of the churches. Please pray for us and for the local leaders in these churches to use Godly wisdom in making the needed decisions in the weeks and months ahead.
We will be updating the “Orphan Care Ministry” with pictures and details about the children on our website, when we receive the information. Please visit our website (www.shelbysinkenya.org or www.shelbysinkenya.com) and pray for these children to receive the help that they so desperately need. God bless you.
For Souls in Kenya
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya
We are glad to be writing you from the warm highlands of Kisii, Kenya; where the temperatures are ranging from over 100 degrees down into the 80’s at night. Kay-Leigh got her answer to prayer for snow on Christmas Day, but she kept praying and wanting more snow. And it almost caused us to miss our flight to Kenya, because we woke up to 6 inches of snow the morning we were to fly out of Little Rock. We have been able to get settled back in here, and most of our things are unpacked. We are waiting for the shipment of our crates, which should be arriving in April, which have the things that we gathered during furlough to use here in the work.
We have been able to meet with all of the pastors and leaders of our churches, and Bible College classes began the last week of January. We just finished the second month of classes; we have six new students, and seven others who are expected to graduate the three year course in December. This week 11 souls were saved during College soul-winning. God is good! We have scheduled most of the activities for the year, and we are excited about what God has in store for us this term. We are glad to see the stability of many of these men who are being examples to their own people. Though we have not visited the churches yet, we are encouraged by the reports that we have received. Updates on each of our ministries will be available through our website as we visit them.
We have also been able to organize and set a plan to begin our “Orphan Care Ministry.” We spoke to the pastors and asked them to get the number of orphans that their church members are caring for as guardians. This week as I spoke to them the second time (this report is from only 9 of our churches), we have a number that has been narrowed down to 101 children. These 101 children are classified as “destitute double orphans;” This means that both of their parents have died, and the guardians are not able to adequately take care of these children. There are many more poor children in these areas that these pastors would like to help, but our resources are very limited. We need to have over $1,500 a month support just for the visitation program of these few children. This visitation program allows us to visit in each child’s home and deliver a small care package (food and toiletry items) to them each month. With us being here and seeing these children face to face, it is so much more personal. We feel that we need to help all that we can in this visitation process, even if it is just a small “handful of purpose.” And that purpose is to get the Word of God into each of these homes so that souls will come to know Christ as their Savior. Please help us with small “handfuls of purpose” as we endeavor to reach these villages for Christ.
We have identified three locations already to set up Local Church Children’s Facilities based on land, security, and the number of orphans. The pastors are helping us by getting the personal details of each child, and we will be looking at the most needy children that we will be able to raise in these Local Church Children’s Facilities. We still have several steps to complete before we start the facilities; and as we visit the orphans in their homes over the next few months, it will give us time to know the most pressing needs and to train those who will care for them at each of the churches. Please pray for us and for the local leaders in these churches to use Godly wisdom in making the needed decisions in the weeks and months ahead.
We will be updating the “Orphan Care Ministry” with pictures and details about the children on our website, when we receive the information. Please visit our website (www.shelbysinkenya.org or www.shelbysinkenya.com) and pray for these children to receive the help that they so desperately need. God bless you.
For Souls in Kenya
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya
Saturday 19 February 2011
Orphan Ministry Update!
God has given us a vision and an opportunity to help orphans around each of the local Independent Baptist Churches that He has allowed us to get established in the Nyanza Province of Kenya.
When we left Kenya to begin our furlough in the United States, we did not tell the Kenyan people about what God was laying on our hearts. We wanted to pray about it more and make sure that we were following the Lord’s leading and not our own desires in this matter. So, when we returned to Kenya 5 1/2 weeks ago, we felt that it was time to share our vision with each of our Kenyan Pastors as well.
During our first meeting, which we held in order to share our vision, to set up a committee, and to put some strict guidelines in place went very well. As a matter of fact, we found out that the Lord has been dealing with some of the Pastors about working with orphans as well! One, Pastor Samuel Buluku, took it upon himself, his family, and his church to start a small orphanage at their church - that was half way through our furlough, and he had no idea what we were wanting to do. He and his wife are acting as parents to 15 orphaned children already! Isn’t it amazing when you can see God’s unmistakeable hand moving and working in the hearts of people!
Now Pastor Buluku and his church have not had an easy time, but they have tried their best to take care of these children. This church is in the village of Thidhia in the southern part of Nyanza Province, and it is an area where the majority of the people are living below the poverty level. But seeing what they are trying to do, makes you stop and wonder what might be possible if some of God’s people (who do have some resources at their disposal) get a hold of this vision and help by supporting it financially on a monthly basis! It reminds me of the “widow’s mite” in the Bible - she gave everything she had to the Lord. Well, that is what this Pastor and his family are doing too. They are struggling to make ends meet on a day to day basis, but they know that they are taking care of God’s children.
You might be asking yourself right now, “How can I help orphans who are half way around the world, people I have never and might never meet?” Well, there are a few ways that you can help:
- You can pray for Pastor Buluku & his church as they continue helping as they can.
- You can pray that we can start similar projects at our other churches & that the other Kenyan Pastors will claim this vision for their areas too.
- You can donate a one time monetary gift to help these children.
- You can support these children on a monthly basis:
$15 - allows us to take a small care package to each child monthly.
$30 - allows us to give full support in a home setting like Pastor Buluku has implemented.
If you are going to pray for this ministry, please send us an email (click here) to let us know of your prayers for these children. If you would like to donate, please click on the “Donate” button below (you will be taken to BIMI’s secure paypal site - all donations will receive a tax deductible receipt).
Thank you for your Prayers & Support!
Thursday 3 February 2011
How you can help.
You can help by supporting this ministry on a monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or yearly basis.
The money that you donate will be able to provide a better life for each of the orphans in our care and the care of each of our local churches.
-$15.00 per month provides a monthly care package to one orphan; and it will contain basic food items, general hygiene items, a mosquito net, blanket, and other miscellaneous items.
-$30.00 per month will provide full support for one orphan living in one of our local church facilities.
-$1,500 given as a one time gift, will provide the facility (the building, the furnishings, a well, and other necessities).
You can make donations by check or online. If paying by check, please send checks payable to Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI) account #1107 (with Orphan Care written on the memo line), P.O. Box 9215, Chattanooga, TN 37412. Or you if you choose to pay online, then please click on the button below; and you will be taken to BIMI’s secure paypal site (it will be posted to Luke Shelby Family - Orphan Care account).
Monday 10 January 2011
Church Planting
We are church planting missionaries; and we strive to plant indigenous Baptist churches that are self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. God has allowed us and some of our College graduates to start 18 such churches since we arrived in Kenya in 1999.We believe that the purpose that God has given us (as Christians) in the “Great Commission” is to witness and see souls saved by the grace of God, to baptize, to edify in the faith, and to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We also believe that it is the Local Church that was given this “Great Commission” as they were sent out “into all the world” to preach the Gospel of Christ. God has the purpose of the Local Church as His instrument on this earth to fulfill the “Great Commission.” So it is the Local Church that has the authority and responsibility of sending, preaching, winning souls, baptizing, discipling, and edifying the body of Christ.
God has called us to a place where souls need to be saved, a place where Satan has had a stronghold for a long time, and a place where false religions are very strong. Kenyans need the Lord. We have preached to many, and many have been saved (over 5,000 professions); but that is not the end of the “Great Commission.” They need to be discipled. They need to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They need a shepherd, a guide, a church and pastor.
That is why God has called us to plant churches in the different villages where people have gotten saved and are willing to be taught. We began to start churches in areas where other pastors needed some encouragement and training to equip them to do the work of the ministry. Our goal is to train the national men, who are called by God; and then to duplicate ourselves in them, so more can be accomplished in the work of God. Another truth is that no one can truly reach the Kenyan people like the Kenyan people themselves. We truly want to develop church planters that will continue this work in their own areas.
We start churches with a national man that has a desire to do the work of the ministry. We then train him in the Bible College as he holds a Bible Study in the area that he wants to minister. After he has finished his training and has begun developing mature believers, then we assist him in market revival meetings, passing out tracts, soul-winning; and when he has a place to meet, then we start a new church. The church is started with the national as the pastor, and we help in overseeing the work and assisting him in teaching and with materials.
In our ministry, God has now allowed us to have churches that are starting churches; and to have a mission program to assist those churches in the beginning stages. We are also seeing those that were saved in the earlier works, finishing Bible College, and going out to start churches also. Nothing is fool-proof, we have learned some lessons the hard way; but I do believe that God is helping us. And it is a just matter of time until we will have independent Baptist Churches covering every corner of our region.
Please take the time to look at what the Lord has done, and we hope that you will be encouraged by it. If you have any questions or comments please contact us.
Sunday 9 January 2011
South Nyanza Baptist College
II Timothy 2:2 exhorts us to “...teach men who shall be able to teach others also.” God has given us the desire to train men and women to be pastors, pastor’s wives, and various church leaders in their local churches. South Nyanza Baptist College was started in 2001, and on December 6, 2008, we held our 3rd Graduation.South Nyanza Baptist College began in 2001 with two students. The purpose of the college is to prepare national pastors and church leaders in the areas of Bible study, sermon preparation, soul winning, and church planting. We have a goal of helping these men to be indigenous church planters. We also see the need to train men and women as teachers, youth ministers, music directors, and Christian lay leaders.
The college is the vehicle for the Shelby Family to train pastors and leaders to assist in evangelizing the lost and church planting. It has been financed and operated by missionary finances since the beginning, and the process has been started to gradually guide the college to be indigenous. There are now three teachers that are graduates (and former students themselves); and they are helping in teaching, organizing, and overseeing (at least a little bit) the student body and the schedule during the weeks of classes. We have a desire to encourage the churches that have benefitted from the college; and those that are sending students, to support the college. This will enable the nationals to take more of a central role in providing training for their own people. This will also ensure that the classes will continue to be under sound leadership even when the Shelby Family is on furlough.
South Nyanza Baptist College has scheduled its classes to fit with the majority of the farmers in our region. The pastors and students come to the college for classes one week per month to give them time to work their land during the remaining part of the month. Students meet 9 months out of the year, according to the schooling schedule in Kenya, for the three year program to receive a diploma of Graduate of Theology. The three year course includes 36 subjects on Bible Study and Christian growth, as well as instruction on general areas of service in the church. We opened “Swahili” classes for students in May of 2008.
Those who have graduated and other pastors meet in the three remaining months of the year for seminars in our Pastoral Program. These subjects include more in-depth studies in pastoral training, church planting and church growth.
Other programs for working with older teens as an introductory course to the Bible College, and programs for working with the Pastors’ wives are being organized and planned for use in the near future.
SNBC began with English classes only in 2001. Through the years, SNBC has met at several different locations; but is currently meeting at the Calvary Baptist Church property in Kisii Town. SNBC currently has 20 students enrolled in the English 3 Year Program.
SNBC began its Swahili classes in May 2008. The majority of the people here know English, but we wanted to make the classes understood by everyone. We are still in the process of translating some of the College curriculum into Swahili. SNBC currently has 10 students enrolled in the Swahili 6 Year Program.
Saturday 8 January 2011
Bible Studies
In order to find out a good area to start a church and to help train students to be busy in teaching the Word of God; we hold Bible studies in homes near an area where we want to start a church. It produces mature Christians to help start a church at the right time and place.God has allowed us to start Bible Studies in many key areas of our province. As these Bible Studies continue to grow, as a Kenyan man feels led of God to be a pastor to one of these locations, and as soon as we feel that it is in God’s timing; then we will eventually begin churches at each of the locations below.
Friday 7 January 2011
Prison Ministry
Preaching in the prisons is a desire that was given to me through my father-in-law, Dr. Robert Keeton, who has been serving with the Rock of Ages Prison Ministry for more than twenty years. We were able to begin this ministry in 2001, and we have seen countless souls saved.There are four towns in our region that we have access to enter into their prisons and preach the gospel every month.
Kisii Prison – 1400 men – 100 women. We are currently preaching to a group of 200 men and 100 women in separate services twice a month. These inmates are those that are already condemned with prison sentences. There is a small group of 11 that are currently involved in an intense Bible Study. This Bible study program is a “big brother” discipleship program that we pray will bring slow but great lasting results where the mature inmates can help the other inmates learn the Bible. We are able to preach to only about 1/3 of those that are condemned at a time because of their work schedule in the prison’s compound. Then there is a group of 800 remandees, that are still waiting for their offense to be mentioned or finished in court, that we are able to preach to in one big service a month.
God has allowed us to see 237 saved this year in the Kisii prison; and more programs to the officers and their families, who all live on the prison compound, are opening up to us. Pastor Charles Ogori from Imani Bible Baptist Church in Mosocho is assisting me with other men from our church at Calvary Baptist Church in town.
Migori – 300 inmates – all men. We have been in this prison several times in the past and we have seen many saved; but recently because of election violence, we have only been able to preach in this prison once. And 9 men came to know Christ as their personal savior. This is a smaller prison, and it is further from all of our churches; so we are only able to go in to preach to them once a month. We started in September 2008, and Pastor Walter Andere and Pastor Bismack Osee assist in the meetings. We pray that we can get some of the programs running like we do in Kisii. There are already other missionaries that are ministering in Migori, and there is also a big muslim influence that hinders some of the programming.
Homa Bay – 400 inmates – all men. We have been in this prison several times in the past, and we have seen many saved. But recently, because of election violence, we were not able to go there in 2008.
Kericho - We were recently given the opportunity to visit and preach in this prison; but since the election violence, we have not had the chance to preach there again..
They are in the process of building another prison in the town of Nyamira, and there is also a juvenile detention school near our area that I am trying to get into. Please keep these ministries in your prayers.
Thursday 6 January 2011
Ladies’ Ministry
We have a very active Ladies’ Ministry which includes: weekly and monthly Bible study meetings, Retreats, teachers’ training classes, and lots of fun and fellowship! Please take time to check out what is happening in the lives of our Ladies.I am delighted that the Lord has allowed me to have a small part as a leader for our Ladies’ Ministries. God has allowed me to play a vital role in the spiritual growth and encouragement of the Kenyan Ladies in our region.
The ladies in our ministry come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. I am praying that those who have not placed their faith in Christ will come to know Him, that those who know Him will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, and that all of them will support and encourage one another in the Lord.
When God calls us to ministry, He gives us the power to accomplish the work that He gives us to do. It is not by our intelligence or our skills that we serve, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
If you have a desire to help our ladies in any way, please contact me. I am here to answer any questions that you or your church might have concerning our Ladies’ Ministry here in Kenya.
May the Lord continue to bless this ministry and all of these precious women. Please keep us in your prayers.
With His Love,
Mrs. Tonya Shelby
Missionary Wife in Kenya
Wednesday 5 January 2011
Youth Ministries
With 1/2 of the population under 15 years of age, it is very important that we reach the next generation with the Gospel of Christ. We have Vacation Bible Schools, Youth Camps, and we also preach in the local public schools.
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Bible Correspondence School
We have a desire to teach anyone in our fellowship churches under the leadership of their pastor. This helps the students be ready to make the commitment to come to Bible College to learn more.
Some basic facts about Kenya.
Population: 38 million people
19 million are under the age 15.
Only 1 of every 5 children born will reach his fifth birthday.
5 million children are orphans in Kenya.
2.5 million of these are orphans due to the aids epidemic.
Monday 3 January 2011
Evangelistic Ministries
In areas where churches need to grow, or when we start new churches; we pass out tracts, preach in the markets and village centers to draw people under the preaching of the Word. We show the “Jesus Film” in the local languages, and the results are astounding.
We need your help!
1. Basic Need Care Packages
Given monthly if they are living with relatives $15/month per child ($.50 a day)
2. Local Church Orphan Care
Daily care by a family under the authority of a local church $30/month per child ($1 a day)
3. Facilities
Accommodations for 10 children on the property of a local church $1,500 (one time gift)
4. Child Development
Depends on laborers and additional donations
Sunday 2 January 2011
Orphan Ministry Project
One of the projects that we believe God wants us to be a part of is helping orphans and widows. We have several families that have been saved, were faithful members who have died, and they have now left several widows and orphans that urgently need assistance.
We are currently on furlough. We are visiting our supporting churches, and we are trying to get in a few new ones to raise new support for our Ministry Work Funds. One of the projects that we believe God wants us to be a part of is helping orphans and widows. We have several families that have been saved, were faithful members who have died, and they have now left several widows and orphans that urgently need assistance. The 18 churches and several preaching points that we have started are scattered throughout the villages in the southwestern part of Kenya near Lake Victoria. Most of this area is the breeding ground for the worst kinds of malaria, fastest spreading of AIDS, and the life span of most of the area is only 35 years old.
We are starting this program to first help the members of our local church congregations that seriously need help, and then we want to reach out into the community to give hope to the many orphans who are ostracized in the community because of the growing poverty. The workers and volunteers will be members of our churches under the leadership of the local pastor of their church, who will be coordinating all efforts with us. We will deliver the needed supplies to each church, and then through combined efforts, we will”...visit the fatherless and widows…” in the church and community, as the Lord provides the funds.
Right now we need $300 monthly for this ministry (this amount will help 20 orphans each month). Our goal is to have it ready to be started in January 2011, when we return to Kenya.
-You can help through your continued prayers for our ministry and this project.
-You can set aside special offerings to be given through your local church.
-A church can set aside VBS offerings for this need.
-And a church could take on this project as a separate mission project for monthly support.
Please view the brochure, and if there are any questions please send us an e-mail (click here).
Thank you for considering this project for support!
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