-a recent prayer letter received from Jerry & Sherry Daniels, BBFI missionaries to Kenya

Thirty-nine years ago, Kenya experienced her worst drought in generations. It was horrible!  Dead animals littered the countryside.  Crops shriveled and people suffered beyond what we Americas can imagine!  The children, especially, were heartbreaking!  Well, it is happening again!

Kenyans count on the “long rains” (April-June) for most of their food.  Tragically, these rains have failed and even if it rains now, it’s too late because the planting season is already over. Experts warn that over half a million children in Kenya are now at risk of malnutrition, with food shortage expected to get worse in the coming weeks.

During our 45 years in Kenya, we have seen great spiritual fruit come out of these tragic situations!  They are opportunities to show the love of Christ, and present the Gospel.  Many of our 100 churches have been planted during times of suffering like this.  The remote “bush” areas are usually the hardest hit, and this is where our churches have been most successful in planting new churches, often where there were no churches of any kind!

One such church planter is Pastor/Evangelist Daniel Kalasinga! This amazing man was reached for Christ during the big drought 39 years ago, and he has never lost his passion for reaching others with the Gospel of Hope in Christ.  He has started over 30 churches since then! He hasn’t chosen easy access places either!  One area of his focus was over 100 miles East, over killer roads, in a drug producing area know for banditry!  Another is 150 miles into the sweltering, and hostile “Northern Frontier”.  Other distant regions are areas troubled by tribal warfare.  Someday, we should write a biography about this quiet, unassuming hero of the Faith!  But, for now, at 72 years old, he hasn’t slowed down, and feels that he has more places to reach!  He has mentored, and continues to mentor, a number of younger men (some aren’t so young any more), including several of his own sons! (His dear wife, Mariamu, just rescued a discarded baby from a ditch, and they are raising him as their own – this is just one example of their total commitment to the ministry!)

A few years ago, he managed to purchase a vehicle which enabled him and his team to get into some unreachable areas.  It was old, and cheap, and it didn’t hold up well.  The Lord has laid upon my heart to try to raise the funds for a proper bush vehicle for Pastor Kalasinga and his team.  A double-cab pickup in excellent condition costs about $20,000.  Such a vehicle would enable this faithful church-planter to travel farther, with bigger payloads, including famine relief supplies which enhance community goodwill in these often spiritually resistant areas.

I pray that many of our blessed American believers might feel touched to help this need (both the vehicle, as well as famine relief). Sherry and I ourselves, have committed $4,500 of our own funds to this project.  The Africans, also, have sacrificed greatly, and they have about $2,500.  Please pray about this investment opportunity.

May God bless you for your concern and generosity,

Jerry Daniels