Dear Partners,

Heaven weeps. And so do I. This morning, I opened my social media to see photo after photo and story after story of suffering in Lungalunga, Mtwapa, Kwale, Makongeni, Bungoma, and Ukunda. The drought and pain and famine continue. My family and I have many connections there. We support ministry partners, missions, and pastors there. We’re all worried about those we love. I found myself burdened by a heavy sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

But then, as I began to pray, a passage from the book of Romans rang in my heart again and again. Hope began to dawn, deep in my soul. And I’d like to take a moment to share it with you today.

In Romans chapter 5, the Apostle Paul declared: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

We have ultimate, real hope in Jesus Christ because of His work on the cross … because of His resurrection … because of the miracle of grace … because of the future we will have in heaven with Him!

All of our pain and suffering on this earth—the suffering we experience and the suffering we see others face—simply pales in comparison to the hope you and I have right now, today. And it is this hope that shapes who we are.

Through that perfect hope, Paul challenges us to endure the troubles we face with an eye on God’s ultimate purpose for our lives. He continued: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Romans 5:3-4

Ultimately, that hope will be the foundation of our spiritual growth … and even though it’s counter-intuitive, we count our sufferings as blessings because they shape us to be more like Christ.

As I continued to read these verses, I became very convicted. And I want to challenge you the same way that I will be challenging myself. Every day, I will stop and ask, “Am I truly placing my hope in Jesus?”

Will you join me? Take a minute to examine your own heart. Where are you placing your hope?

Real HOPE isn’t wishful thinking about making money, obtaining material things, getting a better job, or finding the “perfect” relationship. Real HOPE has power—the power of the presence of the Holy Spirit letting us know how much God loves us!

Look back at Paul’s teaching for another moment. He concluded: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5

Notice that HOPE is the final item on Paul’s list of spiritual accomplishments, not the first. Hope is a crucial pursuit for you and me as followers of Jesus Christ. With our hope firmly grounded in Him, we have the spiritual strength and stamina needed for any situation God allows in our lives. We can persevere. We can pray. And we will overcome together!

So finally, my prayer for you—for all those who are suffering today—is that you’ll be encouraged by Paul as he concludes, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

I’m deeply, truly, grateful for the opportunity to share faith, life, and ministry with you!

If you’re like me, reading the news can be heartbreaking. From famine and drought, terrorism and war, to the deep, seemingly insurmountable political divide in our nation and the societal issues that affect us all … the world seems to be in constant turmoil.  As followers of Jesus Christ, you and I know exactly why this is happening.

Billions of people around the world are lost and far from God. And unfortunately, this isn’t just a problem in faraway places. Out of all the countries in the world, Africa has the largest number of people groups not yet reached with the Gospel. We also have the largest unchurched population, globally.  The church in Africa is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Never in our lifetime has the need for the hope of Jesus Christ been more urgent. And we’ve never had a greater opportunity to share the life-changing, heart-transforming Gospel together!

God has given you and me—and Calvary Bible Baptist–a specific mission. He has called us to equip believers worldwide to confidently share their faith and make disciples, who will then share their faith and make other disciples.

Our Made to Multiply initiative is designed to do exactly that.  Alongside local churches, and with strong prayer and financial support from friends like you, we plan to equip thousands of Kenyan Baptist believers to confidently share their faith and help make disciples. Then, in turn, those new brothers and sisters in Christ can reach countless others for Jesus.

By God’s infinite grace, we expect to see thousands of Gospel conversations, hundreds of new believers, and hundreds of new missionaries committed to sharing the love of Jesus with people everywhere.

But we simply can’t accomplish all of this on our own. We need friends and partners like you to step forward and link arms with our team, working together to reach our broken world with the love and hope of Jesus.

That’s why I’m reaching out to you today, partners. Because you share our passion for reaching the unreached … because you believe the local church should be accessible to every individual around the world … because you are strongly committed to helping others find Christ… will you consider making a gift to Calvary Bible Baptist Church right now?

This season of giving is critical for Calvary Bible Baptist because we have lost many of our members due to lack of food and water. The drought has been so tough for two consecutive years, the pandemic COVID-19, and now the price of commodities is very, very high. We thank our partners because for the past two months, you pulled up quickly to save the situation of Calvary Bible Baptist. We need to be in the right financial position to ensure that we can, in fact, equip hundreds of people to share their faith.

Specifically, I am looking for 40 men and women to give $100 each. This will help fund several key components of the Calvary Bible Baptist Church’s Multiply initiative over the next year to help us reach our goal. Will you give? If so, please give your gift through International Gospel Missions.

I hope you’ll take time to pray and consider if and how God would have you give. Then make your generous donation.

We do request for your prayers. The Mbegani Baptist Church is in crisis and needs help quickly to save the plot. We bought the church plot on 03/08/19. The size is 50 by 80 at the agreed upon price of $2500. We paid $800 and the balance was to be paid in three installments of $1700. Then, the owner of the property decided to sell the property.

We have tried all we can to raise the amount of $1700 so we can complete the payment of the church plot and protect it from being sold to Muslims so they can build a mosque. But at last, it was sold, and we have also lost the $800 we had paid. Let’s join our hands and pray. I don’t know where to take them, but God can provide a way. It is my prayer that the 40 adult members and children not become lost to the church.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4: 4-8

Let’s reach Kenya with the Gospel, partners.

In Him,

Pastor Godfrey and Emily