“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”—Romans 10:1
I am thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the fulfilling of the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:6-7: “For
there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.” As a follower of Jesus Christ, I desire to be a watchman for the remnant of Israel both here at home and abroad.
My name is Caleb Shelby, and I was born and raised in Kenya, East Africa with my three sisters for eighteen years by the two most wonderful, godly parents Luke and Tonya Shelby, missionaries to Kenya. At the age of seven, I had the opportunity to accept Christ as my personal Savior. I went to my mother and told her that I needed to be saved, and she showed me from a soul-winning booklet that I was a sinner, that I deserved to die because of my sin, but that Jesus came to the earth to die on the cross to pay for my sin, and that all I needed to do was to ask God to forgive me of my sin and take me to Heaven when I die. I prayed to God for salvation there in our family room on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Several years later, God put the burden on my heart to do what He wanted me to do; therefore, I began to pray for His will for my life. On Wednesday, July 12, 2017, God called me to preach and be a missionary to the Jews (of whom the most densely populated region is Israel). It was through the book of Romans that God showed me and confirmed His will for my life with a focus on Romans 10:1.
After finishing high school and graduating from Jacksonville Christian Academy, I entered Bethel Baptist College to continue my Biblical studies. Both institutions are ministries of my home church Bible Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Mike Files where I am happily involved in serving the Lord as a weekly bus captain, Sunday School and Children’s Church teacher, usher, and choir member. Now having finished four years of Bible college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Theology and Missions and awaiting my graduation this May, I have the opportunity to take a couple internship trips to Israel this year.
I am trusting God to raise $7,000 for both of these internships combined. The funds will include two domestic flights, two round-trip tickets to Israel, living expenses while there, and aid for the hosting missionaries and mission projects. I pray that you would consider partnering with me in prayer and financial support as I continue to seek for the avenue in which God would have me to fulfill His will for my life. Should you choose to partner with me financially, any support can be sent to my home church’s address: Bible Baptist Church, c/o Caleb Shelby, 3301 North First Street, Jacksonville, AR 72076. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (501) 457-1776 or email me at caleb@shelbysinkenya.org. Thank you tremendously for undergirding me in your prayers this year. I look forward to reporting what the Lord does in my heart and in the hearts of those to whom we minister.
In Christ the Messiah,
Caleb Shelby
Micah 6:8
