Ministry Updates: New Church Projects, Feeding Program, and Prayer Requests

 March 2025

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Greetings from the hot shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya!

We are thankful for your continued prayers and support as we navigate some challenges and experience God’s direction. Recently, Tonya underwent some blood tests here, and the doctor says that she has "long Covid." The symptoms resemble her COPD but are causing more fatigue than usual and has weakened her heart. We are thankful that God has given us some clarity in her health, and we’re in the process of moving to a more suitable single-level house to help with her recovery and daily needs. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as we seek God's guidance and strength during this time.

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Calvary Baptist - Uwasi

We are pleased to report that electricity has now been installed at the church, thanks to the generous offerings we’ve received. We’ve also received additional funds for the orphanage, and the supplies will be arriving this week to help the children start living on the compound. It’s a great blessing to see this progress.

The church building project continues to move forward as well. The church members are actively making bricks to finish the building. Despite facing many challenges in the community, this faithful group of believers has remained committed to seeing the work of the Lord continue. They are also making important decisions regarding the organization of the church, one of which is choosing one of their own to lead the congregation. I will be working closely with him, mentoring him to become the future pastor of the church. Please pray for James Nyandimo as he steps into this important role.

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Building Program

We are thrilled to share that we have received $5,700 toward the construction of two new church buildings in Ilikerin and Kipkirui. In Ilikerin, we are still waiting for the rains to stop and for access to the plot to be cleared before we can begin building. We are moving forward with Kipkirui and are collaborating with other pastors and churches in the area to start the construction.

Last week, I visited a neighboring village where we witnessed two souls saved, including Dorca, a blind woman who prayed with her face lifted to Heaven, asking Jesus to save her. It was a powerful moment, and I could only imagine her joy and the clarity she must have felt, envisioning the face of Jesus as she received Him into her heart. What a glorious day it will be when we see His face!

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Feeding Program

Thanks to a church in North Carolina, we were able to start a feeding program in Kisii through Calvary
Baptist Church in January. This program is serving needy church members, as well as their families and neighbors. We have been able to provide food packets to 9 families, with each packet costing about $40.

Please pray for this ministry as it continues to impact the community and reach souls for Christ. Calvary Baptist Church in Kisii is currently the pilot church for this program, and we hope to expand it to other churches once we have a routine and guidelines in place.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, encouragement, and financial support. God is using you to accomplish amazing things here in Kenya, and we are so blessed to serve alongside you in this ministry. Please continue to pray for our health, the building projects, the ministries, and the many souls being reached through these efforts.

May God richly bless you,
Luke & Tonya Shelby
Your Missionaries in Kenya

Faith in Action: New Churches, Lives Transformed, and Prayer Needs from Kenya

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Greetings from the hot shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya! We have experienced temperatures over 130°F during the past few weeks, with only a few refreshing showers to cool things down. Despite the intense heat, the fall season has been full of blessings and progress. Our Bible College graduated 13 students, and we hosted Olympic Youth Camp in Kisii (you can watch a recap video HERE). Apologies for the delay in sending this update, but we are grateful for your ongoing prayers and support.

Thank you for praying for Tonya. Her medical trip to Little Rock, AR, in November went well, and she received the necessary infusions. She is feeling some improvement, though she still struggles with low energy, especially in the heat. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she continues her recovery.

Bible College Update:

Our Bible college has opened its doors for the new year with over 50 new students, bringing our current enrollment to over 115 students across the Certificate, Diploma, and Pastoral programs. We are excited to see God’s work in the lives of these students, and we will provide a more detailed update next month once I’ve visited all 10 branches and completed the first month of classes.

Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi & Orphanage Update:

The Lord has been blessing Calvary Baptist with consistent attendance, and we are getting closer to housing a few boys at the orphanage. Some of the existing buildings on the property are being updated to accommodate them, and we expect to have them sleeping there next week. We have also been working closely with the church to finalize the selection of a new pastor. I have been guiding the leadership and preparing one of the men to take on more responsibilities, and getting closer for us to step away as they begin to operate everything on their own. There have been several funerals in the church over the last two months, which has affected some of our plans, but we are pressing forward.

We are not currently in need of additional funds for the building project, but we do need to raise around $500 to bring electricity to the compound. Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to serve the children and the community here.

Maasai - Nkirukoto (Faith) Baptist Church in Ilkerin:

On November 17, we officially started our 34th church in the village of Ilkerin! The week of visitation and soul-winning was fruitful, with 90 souls saved. We had four baptisms on Sunday, and several others are ready for baptism as well. The Maasai people can be slow to commit due to a lack of education, but once they make a decision, they are incredibly faithful. We had over 35 people attend the first service, including many children.

During our visitation, we walked through fields with wildebeests, ostriches, and impala, and we even passed through a forest where elephants roam daily. At night, we could hear the hyenas from up the hill where we were sleeping. While the challenges are great, the opportunities are even greater. We would not trade this experience for anything.

Unfortunately, we were not able to build the church during our last visit, as we are still waiting for the county surveyors to complete their work. We have a plot number, but we have not received a map to locate it within the village. Once the land process is completed, we plan to begin fencing and building the temporary structure as soon as the rains subside in March and April. The cost for the fencing and building will be between $3,000-$4,000. As Ilkerin is far from major towns, materials and food costs are much higher.

Tumaini (Hope) Baptist Church in Kipkirui:

We are excited to announce that our next church plant will be in Kipkirui. The land process will be completed next week, and we will begin fencing and building the temporary structure this month. We do not have a set date yet, but the Bible study group has already chosen the name “Tumaini” (Hope) for their church. This church will be led by one of our students, Marsden Chahenza, who is doing a great job. We are praying for the remaining $2,500 to complete this project in the next month.

As always, we are deeply grateful for your prayers and support. Without you, we could not do the work God has called us to in Kenya. We are seeing lives transformed, souls saved, and churches established because of your partnership in this ministry. Please continue to pray for our family, the Bible college students, and the church plants across our region of Kenya.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Your Missionaries in Kenya

Prayer Requests:

• Tonya’s health
• Bible College
• Laborers for the harvest
• Leadership transition at Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi
• Electricity for the Church and orphanage ($500)
• Fencing and church building in Ilkerin ($3,000-$4,000)
• Tumaini Baptist Church plant in Kipkirui project ($2,500)

Please use the KENYA LEGACY FUND account #501 for these projects. 

Thank you!

New Church Plant in Ilikerin Maasai Village: Faith, Walks, and New Believers

Nkirukoto Baptist Church: A New Beginning in Ilikerin Maasai Village

This week has been a truly exciting and exhausting week of ministry here in Ilikerin Maasai village. We have spent countless hours walking—sometimes through the homesteads and sometimes across quiet roads, with the incredible sight of wildebeest grazing in the distance! Every day, we’ve walked, visited, and shared the Gospel with people eager to hear the good news of Christ.

So far, we have seen 63 individuals come to Christ. It’s amazing how the Lord is moving in this community, and we still have more outreach to complete tomorrow as we follow up with others we've met along the way. Market day tomorrow will be another opportunity to meet even more people, engage in conversations, and invite them into God's family.

One particularly special moment happened a few days ago when a young man came to the house where we are staying. After hearing the message, he accepted Christ and went back home to share the news with his family. Today, his mother and brother came to church and both accepted Christ as their Savior! We’ve been invited to visit them tomorrow morning and meet the rest of the family. Praise God for the power of one person's testimony!

In a beautiful show of unity, the people of Ilikerin have chosen the name Nkirukoto Baptist Church—Nkirukoto meaning "Faith" in the Maasai language. Today, we held the first official service for the church, and it was a beautiful day full of excitement and joy. We had four baptisms, many visitors, and even more souls saved.

The work in Ilikerin has only just begun, but already we are seeing the fruit of faithful laborers and eager hearts. Please continue to pray for the growth of Nkirukoto Baptist Church, for the new believers to grow in their faith, and for the ongoing outreach in the surrounding villages.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are grateful for each of you who is walking this journey with us. God is doing incredible things here, and we are blessed to be a part of it!

Stay tuned for more updates from Ilikerin, and may God bless you abundantly.

#NkirukotoBaptistChurch #FaithInAction #MissionsInKenya #WalkingByFaith #NewBelievers #ChurchPlanting

Faith in Action: Exciting Ministry Updates, New Outreach Opportunities, and Building Progress in Kenya

Dear Prayer Supporters and Friends,                                      August - October 2024

We are filled with gratitude for the Lord’s guidance and protection over our family. Please keep Tonya in your prayers as she prepares for more medical treatments in Little Rock, AR during November.
We are incredibly thankful for the faithful pastors assisting us in teaching at our Bible college, which spans across 8 different churches. These churches are actively reaching out to 15 other villages that currently lack a church, training our students to engage in soul-winning and visitation in their home areas. We are thrilled to report that nearly 1,000 souls have been saved over the past few months—a testament to the goodness of the Lord and to the hard work of these pastors and students.

Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi and Orphanage Update

We are excited to share that we are getting closer to housing a few of the boys on the property as we update some of the existing buildings. The church is also in the process of selecting a new pastor, following the previous pastor's departure when the church relocated. I have been guiding them and preparing one of the leaders to take on these responsibilities. Three men have stepped up to assist in various areas, and we currently do not need additional funds for the building project. The church is raising funds for materials, and we will schedule workdays to continue the progress. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for this ministry.

Maasai - Oltepesi Land Fencing & New Church Starting SOON in Ilkerin
We are pleased to announce that we have completed the fencing of the 2.5-acre plot generously given to us by the community. The Lord is opening many doors for the Gospel in the surrounding villages. During our last visit, we walked 8 kilometers to the village of Mariti, where we preached at three different homesteads to over 25 people, leading 13 to the saving knowledge of Christ before returning. There are numerous unreached areas with significant distances between them. Please pray for laborers for His harvest in the Maasai regions. 

On November 17, we will begin the new church in the village of Ilkerin, where we will spend a week conducting evangelism and constructing a temporary structure on the land that has been provided to us. The opportunities are amazing, and we are eager to make the most of the time the Lord has given us to serve Him here in Kenya!

Outreach Meeting in Kipkirui
We will also have a follow-up outreach meeting in Kipkirui from November 1-3 (previously named Ong’adi). This area sits on the border of the Luo and Nandi tribal divisions, and land has been donated for future use. The average attendance has been around 25-30 each Sunday, and we hope to officially start the church in the coming months. Bro. Marsden is doing an excellent job, and several have been saved there. There is a rich history of a Baptist church in this area dating back to the 1980s, which has laid a solid foundation for this Bible study.

We are immensely grateful for each of you who lift our family and ministry in your prayers. Your support is invaluable, enabling us to carry out the work God has called us to do.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Your Missionaries in Kenya

Exciting Ministry Updates from Kenya: Land Dedication, Building Progress, and Outreach Initiatives Ahead!

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We have had a fantastic few months here in Kenya, filled with exciting progress and fruitful ministry. Recently, we were thrilled to host a group from our home church Bible Baptist Church in Arkansas for a short but impactful trip. They joined us in canvassing for a new Bible study in Chemilil, distributing tracts in Kisumu, participating in a church painting project, visiting our church in Kisii Town, and enjoying a memorable game drive where they saw lions and other wildlife.

Calvary Baptist Uwasi Land Dedication Service & Project Update: 

In June, we celebrated the dedication service for the new property of Calvary Baptist in Uwasi. It was a joyous occasion with an attendance of 108, including many visitors. We are grateful that three souls were saved during this special event. The land purchase and title transfer are now complete, and we've used over $8,000 for initial renovations and moving expenses. The church is now settled in their new location and filled with excitement for the future. Progress on their church building is moving forward steadily. We have laid the foundation, erected the metal frame structure with the roof, and are now preparing to raise the walls using bricks salvaged from previous buildings on the old property. Additionally, we are planning to install electricity on the property, a crucial step that will require approximately $600.

Maasai - Oltepesi Land Fencing & Ilkerin Plot Development: 

In August, we will begin fencing the land in Maasai - Oltepesi, a project that carries a cost of $750. This initiative is crucial as we continue to nurture spiritual growth among the community, particularly focusing on the leadership training of Bro. David and Bro. James, who are instrumental in leading the Bible study there. Please pray for their spiritual growth and readiness to serve God's purpose. We are also finalizing plans for a plot in Ilkerin, that was generously given to us by the community, with hopes to establish a church in the coming months.

Outreach Meetings in Buyangu and Ong’adi: 

Next month, we have outreach meetings scheduled in the villages of Buyangu and Ong’adi. These are new areas for our ministry, located in Vihiga and Nandi Counties respectively. Our focus will be on canvassing the area, engaging in soul-winning efforts, and identifying potential attendees for Bible studies, laying the groundwork for new churches. These efforts are led by Bro. Ezekiel and Bro. Marsden, recent graduates who are dedicated to spreading God's Word in these villages. In Ong’adi, situated on the edge of Kajulu Forest in Nandi County, we are pioneering a Bible study among a new (to us) language group, while also utilizing Swahili.  We have started working in a couple of different areas where the Kalenjin language is spoken. We are excited about the progress of First Bible’s project to translate the Bible into the Kalenjin language, which is expected by year's end. This will greatly enhance our ability to reach and teach in local villages. Please join us in prayer for the success of this project and its impact on sharing God's Word effectively.

Your prayers and support continue to be invaluable to us as we strive to spread the Gospel and strengthen Kenyan Christians through our ministry efforts. We are grateful for each one of you and the part you play in God's work here in Kenya.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Exciting Updates from Kenya! 🌍🙏

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Hello from Kenya. It has been an eventful three months, covering over 5000 miles and visiting pastors, students, and church members across 8 out of the 11 counties where we have churches and Bible studies. We thank the Lord for traveling safety, especially during a couple of harrowing times, traveling with our team between Maasai villages, we ended up pulling a small car through mud and rivers; we spent the night in our vehicles with 15 men, women, and children, while listening to hyenas and other wild animals through the night because the small car we were pulling had two front flat tires and two flat spare tires. God is good! Also when coming down the mountain from that Maasai area a few evenings later, we heard a noise from one of our wheels and found that it was only being held on by one lug-nut! God is so good!  More of these stories have been posted on our Facebook page. Be sure to connect with us there. We are incredibly grateful for God's protection!

During our recent travels, we have had the privilege to witness 41 souls saved in our new outreaches, including a powerful testimony from James Mochache. We had witnessed to him through the years because one by one, his son, nephews, brother and others have come to Christ over the last 10+ years; but until recently, he was a Bishop in an African cultural religion, when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor already advanced to stage 4 and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. I visited him on Friday before going down into the Maasai villages and on the Wednesday afterwards. On that Wednesday, April 24th, James prayed to ask Christ into his heart!  After he prayed, he pulled me close and told me to tell his children that he said that they should follow the truth found in God’s Word that is preached by us, and that we must do everything that we can to get them into church. He passed away late the next night.  Praise the Lord for God working in his heart!  His salvation touched many lives, leading to 8 more receiving Christ during his hospitalization and funeral.  Please pray for the rest of his family.

Church Planting (NAROK - OLTEPESI - ILIKERIN) 

We were able to visit these church plants in the Maasai areas south of Narok almost to the Tanzanian border.  There was very good reception to the market preaching that we did and in the visits that we made in the members homes. We traveled with Bible  College students from our church in Narok, and then we added some members from our church in Oltepesi as we went to spend the weekend in the village of Ilikerin. Using flashcards and sharing the Gospel message from creation to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in their Maasai language, we witnessed over 300 adults attentively listening, we then had 3 preachers preach salvation messages, and many responded in the invitation. We are thrilled to report that 16 men and women got saved and trusted Christ as their Savior that weekend; with more individuals interested in hearing more, and who will be followed up on by the leaders of the church and Bible studies out there. The county government there has designated a plot of land for us that will be divided out officially in June. Please pray that in the next few months this Bible study can be offically started as a church in Ilikerin village.

SIX YEARS OF DISCIPLESHIP

We took this picture together after six years of discipleship in the Maasai area. Samuel started Bible college in 2018, pastored the church in Narok, and led Gideon to the Lord in 2020. The two of them led Fred to the Lord, and Fred is currently a 2nd year student in our Bible college. In January, Samuel and his family moved to the Maasai village of Oltepesi to work in the church that we started to help them continue grow and be grounded in the Word of God; and Gideon is now the pastor at the church in Narok. We met James in 2022 but only in passing, as he was at another church. Last year Samuel met David and James and began to teach them and that is when they started the Bible study in Ilikerin. The others in this story are Samuel’s pastor in Kuresoi and other teachers in the Bible college that have helped to make this possible. It is fun to have a little part in this story!

ORPHANAGE PRAYER REQUEST

We are excited to announce that Calvary Baptist Church of Sidundo and the orphanage have found a new home, thanks to your generous donations toward this urgent project. As of writing this letter, we have received $8,800, with more inquiries coming in. With these funds, we have acquired both the land and the building for just over $4,500. The new property features a 50x15 building divided into three classrooms, along with a well and an outhouse, all conveniently located on the main village road. While some rooms require renovation to accommodate the orphans, we have already dismantled the old church building, the partially completed new church building frame, and one of the orphan buildings. Our immediate focus is constructing the new church building while simultaneously working on the orphanage accommodations. Thank you for your unwavering support in making this possible.

MORE GOOD NEWS!

We received more exciting news this week: the Bible Study in Nyamiobo village has been generously donated land, and they have officially established their church, Nyamiobo Independent Baptist Church. It is inspiring to witness this group growing in their faith and actively spreading the message of Christ in their community. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for the Lord's work in Kenya. We will be visiting them next week, along with another church and Bible college branch in the vicinity.

We remain delighted about the ongoing work of God in various aspects of our ministries here in Kenya, and we are looking forward to what He has planned for the future! Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya

Urgent Prayer Needs & Exciting Updates from Kenya 🙏✨

 

Thank you for your prayers as we returned to the field. Despite mechanical delays on our flights from Little Rock, Atlanta, and New York, totaling 4 days of travel, we are grateful to be home. Please pray for Tonya's acclimation to the elevation here in Kisumu, Kenya. She has been improving a lot over the last two weeks.

Here are some specific prayer requests and updates from our ministries for 2024.

Church Planting: 

1. The Lord has opened the door for Ezekiel, a 2023 graduate, to start a Bible Study in Buyangu under a tree. I will be visiting there this weekend.
2. We have begun meeting with a group for a Bible Study in the village of Mibasi on Saturdays and some Sundays. Over 20 individuals have been saved in the last month in this village!
3. I will be visiting the new Bible Study started last year in Ilikerin Maasai village this month, staying for about a week. It's about 10 hours from home, and I'll be visiting 2 other churches along the way. Land has been donated to build a church building in Ilikerin.
4. We are discussing with the 2 other Bible Studies in Sigoti and Nyamiobo villages about when those churches will be started.

SOUTH NYANZA BAPTIST COLLEGE

We have started up our Pastoral Classes in 3 locations with 12 students who have graduated and are pastoring or looking for a place to start a church. This is a 2-year course that will ready them for any challenges they would face in the ministry.

Internship Program: We will not be able to start our internship program this year due to the prep work that needs to take place. We had two young people seriously interested in coming this year, but unfortunately, it was not possible. We are taking applications for next year. We ask those who are available to start preparing 6 months in advance. This program is geared for Bible college students who have been called to the mission field.

KENYA LEGACY FUND #501: We have received the money for the 1st phase of our College Dorm building and have started the site planning for this project. Thank you so much. Please use the account #501 for these projects. Thank you.

!!!ORPHANAGE URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!

During our furlough, the 5-acre property given by the village community has been taken control of by the County Government for rice processing. The church and orphanage will need to move, so we have been dismantling buildings and storing materials at church members' homes while we look for a new place. We are considering a plot that had a nursery school that is now closed. We would need at least $3,000 to buy the land and start using it. PLEASE PRAY!!

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya