So I'm back

And a decidedly horrible blogger.

Sorry for the lack of updates after my computer was stolen I found it difficult to find opportunity.

Anyway my trip was in two words wonderful & enlightening.

I will be sending out an email summary/update of my trip shortly. If you think you are not on my email list then send me one at jms0391@gmail.com

I will post pictures shortly so be looking out for those as well.

Mombasa

I arrived safe and sound in Mombasa after 19 hours of travel. A little jet lagged but I was able to attend the last day of Serve's pastors conference on Friday. Dennis, Ben, and Drew all taught throughout out the course of the week on: The Sermon on the Mount, Role of the Church, and our need to be more faithful to Scripture than people expectations. All the Pastors were very eager to be there, one man biked three hours every day to attend. It was like taking a crash course in the history of the Kenyan Church. While these pastor's are living and serving in a very different context, being interrupted by a crowing rooster or a monkey scampering across the tin roof during the sermon, their struggles and desires remain the same. They desire for their congregations to mature in Christ but struggle with the temptation to water down the message and preach on "life issues" rather than the risen Christ to fill the pews. The biggest influence within the church in Mombasa is our Television Evangelists as can be seen from one of the biggest church's in the cities banner, "Come discover your life purpose." Serve's mission is to provide pastoral and ministry training for the pastors of Kenya, so they can teach their congregations in maturity and fulfill their role in the great commission. Dennis Omondi (far right) Leads the team in Mombasa, and has an incredible heart to see his people reached with the good news of Jesus Christ.

(Ben is actually not as lively as it appears, this was taken as a joke after the conference)

I am reading a book by Graeme Goldsworthy, he describes the danger of assuming that every Christian is clear about what the gospel is, and focusing our teaching on more "relevant" issues.
He states,
"It is grossly irresponsible for a preacher to moralize on isolated texts and to convey the notion that the real issue is finding self-esteem, happiness, health, self-fulfillment, or any other desirable quality in life, as if these were valuable in themselves. All of these good qualities need to be put into perspective through the gospel."

Colossians 1:16 says, "all things were created through him, and for him." Jesus lived the life we should have lived and, died the death we should have died, in order to bring us to God. The search for relevance is very subjective when we decide it for ourselves. After all, God is most qualified to determine what is relevant for us today and has made it clear that it is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live and work today in perspective to the reality he is coming again.

I have come to Kenya as a learner and this blog will be my thoughts and observations from my time here.

Mombasa is a island off the southern coast of Kenya connected by ferries and bridges to the mainland. It is a melting pot of cultures like most port cities; Mosques, Churches, and Hindu Temples fill the streets. The beautiful white beaches have attracted many tourists. It is incredible the variety of food that can be found in restaurants and markets alike.