Pastor Nicholas
Favorite Verse(s): Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1: 8, Philippians 4:13
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done. Tell us about your ministry while you were living in Kenya.
I have been to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia,
My ministry in Kenya was reaching out and telling the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania about the only loving Father Jesus Christ who died for them on the Cross. They never heard about this Jesus before, only the ancestral god called E-Naai who they believed in their culture gave them all the Cattle in the whole World. God called me to work with the Maasai people because He knew very well that they needed HOPE. I never knew their culture and beliefs, but helped me to learn and gave me the patience and deep love for them and show them how important it is to give their lives to Jesus Christ. Even though my tribe which is Kamba from the Eastern part of Kenya was a great enemy of the Maasai People, God used me to bring these two tribes together for His Purpose and Plan. God was able to put these two tribes together and made them brothers and sisters in service for Him. God diminished the animosity between these tribes and changed their lives forever. I was able to plant Southern Baptist Churches in this region. I won many Maasai's to Christ, baptized them and
trained local Pastors who joined with me to reach out to many more of their people.
God blessed me with a loving wife(Joyce) who came in and loved the ministry God had given to me with the Maasai people. She joined me and every local Church we planted, she started a Women Missionary Union (WMU) Ministry. Both Worked with the Maasai people for 10 years before God called us to the United States.
Why did you agree to go to Kenya, Africa?
I was born and raised there, and God called me to minister to the Maasai people. I have agreed to go
and tell the Maasai and other people about Jesus.
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya? How do you think this trip to Kenya will help with that?
I want to continue having a heart for the lost people and put more effort to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. My love for the lost to persist on growing each day. And God to give me more desire to tell all His people His living Word of Truth.
What excites you the most about this trip?
The fact that I know how open these people are to the Gospel. Also knowing how much they need the Lord in their lives. I am so excited to take the word of HOPE to these people. And to see these students who are in this team that we knew them and their parents when they were all very young and now they will fly with us as short term Missionaries to tell our people about Jesus Christ. This brings tears of joy in my eyes every moment I think about this trip.
What are you the most nervous about?
Leaving our children behind, church, friends and maybe [finding out for the first time] some people who we knew [in Kenya] have passed away [since we've moved to the U.S.].
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey?
Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the people to hear His word. Pray for the team so that
God will keep us healthy. And for the parents and families who have stepped on faith to let their
children answer their call to God in missions. Also for the finances that the team needs to be able to make it to this trip. And for our children who will be left behind.
Christian (Youth Pastor)
Favorite Verse(s): Jude 3, James 1:2-4, Psalm 1:1-3, Deut. 6:4-9, Rom. 10:14-15
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done on those trips.
I’ve been to New York City, Mexico, New Mexico, South Carolina, Palestine (West Bank), Israel. Each trip had different objectives, but at the heart of each of them was introducing people of all walks of life to the God who made them, loves them, and seeks to know them personally.
Why did you agree to go to Kenya , Africa ?
Honestly, Africa has been a place that has long been on mine and my wife's hearts. I truly believe God has been preparing this trip long before I knew anything of it or began making any preparations. I did not necessarily "agree" to go, but I pray this is an act of faithfulness and willingness to join God where He is already working!
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya
The same as I am now: teaching, preaching, and living (at least trying to) the love of God and challenging believers to step out in faith and boldness at home and even to "the outer ends of the earth".
Seeing God move in ways we could have never expected or planned. Seeing the students faiths magnified as a result of this trip and the worship of their parents and families intensified! Above all, seeing the lives of the Kenyan people changed because of the hope they find in Jesus Christ.
What are you the most nervous about?
The details! Always the details. So many days I feel like Peter - "oh you of little faith!"
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey?
For the details! For the hearts of the students! The hearts of those we will be ministering to. For safety (not necessarily for my sake, but those at home depending on us - such as my children and the youths' parents/family). For my children - that their faiths would grow as a result of their mommy's and daddy's willingness to step out in faith._____________________________________________________________________
Favorite Verse(s): Proverbs 31:30
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done on those trips.
I have been to a youth mission trip to the northern part of Arizona Lake Havasu in Arizona
Why did you agree to go to Kenya , Africa ?
I agreed to go to Kenya because I have always wanted to go to Africa - whenever I see or hear news about Africa , I feel a calling to go there.
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya Kenya
After Kenya , I intend to bring back information about the Maassai people to Bethany Baptist Church Kenya
What excites you the most about this trip?
There are so many things that excite me about the trip. I am excited to go on the mission trip with my husband, because I have never been on one with him. I am excited about bringing Jesus to a culture of people that need to hear it, and showing them through messages and drama what He has done for them. I am praying that we can clear up some misconceptions that they have about life - I am excited that we can bring them hope. I am also thrilled to go to a foreign country like Kenya . On a personal note, we have things so good as Americans. We have everything we need, and we talk to Jesus as one of our friends. But on this trip, I know that I will need Jesus in a way I never have before. When I am tired, hungry, or not feeling well. When I am in a place that is not in my comfort zone, I am looking forward to needing Jesus to carry me through the trip.
What are you the most nervous about?
Honestly, I am nervous about sharing my heart with others. What if they don't understand me or my the message we share? What if my stories do not interest them? I am also worried about the physical aspect of the trip - having to eat strange foods that my body is not used to, and not having running water.
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey
People can pray that we get the funds to go. Not just that Christian and I will get the funds, but that we will get enough funds for us to go and help the youth. Please pray that spiritually I can get ready for this trip, and that the Holy Spirit will speak through me and give me the words to say to these people. I also want prayers for the safety and health of those going on the trip while we are there, and for the people who will be back here, watching my children.
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Favorite Verse(s): Matthew 5:11-12
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done on those trips.
I've been to New York City where we evangelized to the people in the community there. I've been to Mexico where we set up an AWANAS program in a church in a small village there and evangelized to the community. And I just recently went to New Mexico where I was a part of teaching VBS to younger children on an Indian Reservation and then taught a class on Biblical Leadership to teenagers.
Why did you agree to go to Kenya, Africa?
I have had foreign missions in my mind since I was a freshman in high school. The idea of going to Kenya was an excellent opportunity for me to seek because I have aspirations of becoming a missionary and I agreed to go there because it would allow me to further develop my potential of serving others and being a part of something far greater than myself.
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya? How do you think this trip to Kenya will help with that?
I am currently very involved in Bethany Baptist Church but even after the mission trip to Kenya, Africa, I will have an even greater role of spreading the importance of going on foreign missions and influencing others to take the same step that I did. This trip will help with that because it will show me a different side of the world that I am not used to and by me telling others about the impact it had on me, they may possibly take it upon themselves to go in the future.
What are you the most nervous about?
I am the most nervous about the landing and seeing a what seems like "totally different world" and then leaving again, knowing that I may not see the people there again for some time.
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey?
People can first off pray for our safe travel as for it is a long journey to get there, but before that, pray for our training and that we may learn the necessary skills to use in the community when we arrive in Kenya. Also pray that my heart is always right during the preparation, travel, stay, flight home, and even back here when sharing my experience with others.
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Samantha (Grade 12)
Favorite Verse(s): Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 16:9, Psalms 66:20, Matthew 6:24, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done on those trips.
I’ve been on two previous mission trips: I went to New York New Mexico where I worked with the Navajo Indian reservation where I helped run a Vacation Bible School
Why did you agree to go to Kenya , Africa ?
I agreed to go to Kenya because I feel like God has been slowly opening this door for me from going to New York , New Mexico
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya
After the Kenya
What excites me about his trip is just seeing God work. For this trip to happen it is totally going to be a God thing, from finances, to opening the people’s heart before we get there and after we leave. I am excited to be totally immersed in another culture.
What are you the most nervous about?
What I am most nervous about is the unknown. I’m nervous about finances coming together for this trip, the plane ride getting there, the [ability] to speak there.
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey?
I would ask people to pray for safety, for open hearts, for the people we come in contact with and their families, pray for our families as they send us overseas for 10 days.
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Sara (Grade 10)
Favorite Verse(s): Mathew 16:21-26, Psalms 9, 10, 31, 32
Tell us briefly about the Mission Trips you’ve been on and the work you’ve done.
This is my first mission trip but I assisted in [prepping] the New Mexico trip [and team].
Why did you agree to go to Kenya, Africa?
I want to be a part of Gods work I like serving others and its spreading Gods word which is what we need to do. It is a service to the God who I live to serve.
What role do you see yourself playing in the church and its global mission after Kenya? How do you think this trip to Kenya will help with that?
I believe I will be a part of children and teen ministry and do more to help serve those in the church, too. I think the trip will help me learn to lead better and understand others young or old so I can work better with people even more than I do now.
What excites you the most about this trip?
That's hard. I guess the culture and people. I can't wait to see this whole new place with whole new people. It's so exciting to think I will get to meet people who I can learn from and get to know. That makes me feel so blessed and excited.
What are you the most nervous about?
Surprisingly, talking to people. I am nervous about that I am afraid I won't say the right words, or I will get stuck on what to say.
How can people pray for you as you prepare and eventually go on this amazing journey?
Pray for me to have Wisdom and to know what to say to others there. Pray that God will guide all of us. Pray for the people to want to listen to my words not because I want them to hear me but because I want them to hear God and his words of hope.
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