Converting to Islam

Ramadan greatly affected the Korr youth and there are several Christian families mourning over their child(ren) converting to Islam. Please pray for these youth to be able to see the Truth. And pray for their parents and siblings as it’s been difficult for the families to know how to respond.

Update

Praise God for the rain that has finally come after nearly 5 years of drought. We are praying that God would use the rain to bring more people to Himself.

Tirrim is in need of English teachers. Please pray that the Lord would send the right people at the right time to work in Tirrim who grasp the mission and the vision of the school.

Please pray for peace in Marsabit. There have been killings the last few days.

Schools opening

Please pray for the opening of all the Tirrim Schools in Korr Kenya. Many students are traveling, pray for safety and that they have everything that they need. Pray for our teachers that they would shine God’s love to our students. Pray for our Muslim students, that they would meet Jesus in a powerful way this term.

Slowly Creeping In

Rendille were the last Cushitic group in North Kenya to oppose the pressure to become Islamic. But through the political class this is slowly creeping in. Please pray for the Lord of Harvest to open more avenues of spreading the gospel, and to send more workers among this group of people. Pray for them to resist embracing Islam and to embrace Jesus Christ instead.

Wells and Pastors

Lord, please guide and direct the people making decisions over the wells and give them wisdom and compassion.
Lord, please encourage and bless the pastors and translators as they minister through hardships.

Circumcision and Spiritual Emphasis

Lord! Please use circumcision time to reveal Yourself and draw people into relationship with you!
Lord! Please use Spiritual Emphasis Weekend in Tirrim Secondary School to soften hearts and allow the gospel to transform lives!!

School’s Open!

Praise God for the start of schools again! It’s so good to see the students back at Tirrim. We have new teachers, new students, and some new structure to the school. We praise God for all that He has done and is going to do here! Our prayer request is that the staff and students remain healthy, and for our new teachers who are not from Northern Kenya as they adjust to a new environment. Pray for disciples who make disciples to Jesus.

New church!

Praise God for the launch of a brand new church plant through AIC Korr! Amos, a recent Rendille graduate of NBTC (Marsabit Bible college) is planting a church in Farakoren, which is about an hour outside of Korr. We praise God for a successful launching weekend as a group from AIC Korr went to Farakoren and traveled village by village introducing Amos as the pastor of the new AIC church. We had our first church Sunday service under an acacia tree! Our group left Farakoren with agreements on where the church plot will be and now plans are being made to build a house for Amos and supply his monthly needs so he can begin. Please pray for Amos and the new church out there.

Ready to Take Action

Please pray for AIC Korr pastors and elders. May the current leaders be refreshed and ready to take action on what God is asking them to do. May the church be full of leaders who are strong in their faith, leadership skills, and who bring excitement to the church. Pray that God would raise His people up and move them to action!

Traumatized Twins

A month ago, several Rendille youth were attacked and killed. A roommate of one of those killed has moved here with his twin sister.  He’s struggling to work through the trauma and grief of losing his friend. The twins came to our home last night, we laughed, talked, prayed and got to know each other. We told them our home is always open to them, shared how God has used grief and trauma in our lives and reminded them there is HOPE. We also told them we are not counselors, but God has recently brought a Christian Rendille counselor out of Nairobi and to Korr because of Corona and we offered to take them to meet her. They agreed and tonight all of us will meet over chai, and discuss next steps. Please pray God uses the horrendous attacks that have happened in the North for His glory. That these twins would feel hope, breathe hope, and motivate them to share this Hope with others. Pray for healing.

Ongoing Multiplication and Discipleship

A Rendille graduate of the Northern Bible Training Center is waiting for his new ministry assignment. While he is waiting, he got permission from the chiefs to hold Sunday services for a small number of people, and has trained them to go to their villages and share the message he gave in the church. On Sundays, the youth in the surrounding villages share what they’ve heard, and on Mondays, the mothers meet to share what they heard.This new pastor also gained permission to hold sport events within the village. If anyone comes to play from outside the village, the game has to end, but as long as it stays within the village they can play. The new pastor is using this to share the Gospel with young men before they play. Praise God for working through the COVID19 restrictions!

The Body Of Christ Ministering

A praise for Rendille ministry is that the Rendille believers are ministering to the missionaries, who are all learning a lot about Rendille culture and how they care for the sick and injured. One family had a motorcycle accident while their fellow missionaries were sick, so the Rendille believers took care of them. Please pray that the ministry of the body of Christ will make an impact on unsaved Rendille and bring them to faith in Jesus.

Church and Students Worshiping God Together

Secondary Students at the Christian school have had after-church -service discussion questions for two weeks now and the response has been so beautiful. The students are thanking us for the opportunity to share with their classmates who don’t know Jesus. The staff are excited for a less formal opportunity to discuss Christianity. We asked an adult choir from a church nearby to come worship with us and help lead our discussion groups. The weeks have been so rich and we praise God for this time of studying God’s Word TOGETHER as church and school.

School Is Beginning

Praise the Lord! On New Years Day, 38 Rendille were baptized and publicly professed their trust in Jesus!

It’s time for another year of school at Tirrim. There was an in depth leadership meeting to discuss last year, and how to move forward this year. Goals, finances, academic and spiritual matters were all addressed and we are excited about how God will move in 2020 at Tirrim to develop the Christian leaders of the future and continue growing the church.

Breakthrough Meeting

The women of our local church held a meeting after church last Sunday. The officials of the ladies presented the year plan, told the women about conferences and seminars to prepare for financially so they can attend without stress. Right now ladies gather at church 4 times a week to meet, pray, sing, and attend church. But the most encouraging thing was that they told the women instead of continuing to gather at church to pray together on Wednesdays, they should gather in their communities. They were also told to ask women who aren’t attending AIC to join them in prayer and fellowship, and to visit widows, orphans and the sick. The goal is to be a LIGHT and to welcome others into the family of God.

Youth Camp

There have been several youth camps over the holiday. 24 youth have accepted Christ. And this week, church pastors and elders from AIC Korr/ Tirrim will lead a youth camp in a (unreached) Rendille village outside of Ilaut where our Korr Rendille have been ministering for over a year now. Pray for much fruit and many new Rendille churches to be planted in the new year.

Reaching Out

This year the Rendille church has been reaching out to the other areas where there was no church. So far we have had 4 evangelism trips to Daadabohigugudan, and there is now a church plant going on there! This month of December we had 3 youth camps and 14 students gave their lives to Christ. Pray for much more fruit in 2020 and many more churches planted among the Rendille. Praise be to God.

Waters of Life

Pray for AIC Korr, for revival, compassion and healing. Also pray for the other surrounding village churches and their pastors and elders. It’s an exciting time of baptisms and Bible translations and Satan wants to destroy all the growth. Pray against Satanic attacks!
Praise God!! Korr looks like a jungle! We even had to pay someone to slash the grass in our yard! Praise God for the rains.

Rapid Multiplication

Between 4 churches in our Rendille town, there are close to 150 people that desire to be baptized in December! Right now, pastors are hosting classes on baptism. Please pray for the pastors as this is so exciting, and yet challenging too. Some of the youth are signing up to be baptized for the certification at the end of the baptism class. Apparently, Kenyan schools look kindly upon students who have this certification. We pray that even those who only signed up for the certificate go to the classes and hear the TRUTH proclaimed and make their own proclamation to follow Jesus.

Caring for A Grieving Family

We have just lost a Rendille pastor, who was a sign language Bible translator. He was so loved and respected in the community and many are mourning the loss. The biggest prayer request is for his wife and his 3 small boys. The Rendille want to come alongside of this family, support them, and love them but they aren’t sure how to best go about doing it. We are praying God uses this experience to open our eyes to how to care for people in grief, and that God would draw more people to Himself.

Hard Times

Please pray for a Rendille pastor who is a sign language Bible translator. He has been sick for a long time now, and not seeming to improve. Please lift up his family, and the church as this is a very hard time for the community. Also, there seems to be a mumps outbreak at the Christian school. Almost an entire primary class has it. Please pray for healing and protection over those not infected.

Scriptures Cherished

Please pray for the Lord to strengthen and encourage the Christians among the Rendille who seek to share the gospel more and more widely among the Rendille. Pray that the power and lure of Islam among the Rendille will be broken. Pray that the Scriptures will be loved, cherished, read, taught and obeyed in Rendille households. Pray for the Word of God to spread rapidly and be glorified.

New Campus and a Borehole

We praise God that Tirrim Secondary School has officially moved to the new location! Students are enjoying the new classrooms, kitchen, chapel, dorms and space to walk and play sports. God is so good to bless us with this beautiful new campus.
We also praise God that we have a brand new borehole right outside the new campus! This is a huge answer to prayer, as the villages surrounding the new campus and our staff and students were all sharing one borehole. This becomes difficult during droughts, and also now a safety issue for our students. Now, the campus has its own and the community has their own. To God be the glory! Keep praying for the gospel to spread among the Rendille and for these students to each come to the true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in their faith.

A Big Move

Tirrim Secondary School is moving it’s location for second term, April 29th. This site gives us many benefits such as a better water supply, closer to the villages, and far from town so students won’t be distracted. We have come a long way with the building site and we are so thankful. But we have a long way to go. We are praying that God sends someone to Korr to be the project manager. Please pray with us that someone will come and the school will be ready for our students!

Women Learning to Teach God’s Word

Two women have been coming to learn how to create and lead a Bible study from a missionary. They’ve done this two weeks in a row now. They come to her house on Tuesday and lesson plan together, then they teach Friday. Both times the women say, ” I have never done this before!” But both have done well! Pray for them to persevere and pray for their groups to grow deep in the word and obey what it says.

Hard Times

Lately, there have been many sad things happening in the Rendille town of Korr. Many deaths, illnesses, hard marriage situations and more. Tonight a momma said,” Are we being punished? Why has 2019 been so hard? When will blessing come?” Please pray for the Rendille. Pray that they cling to Jesus- our Hope. Pray that even through these hard challenges that seem to keep coming, people see Jesus. That people would turn to the church for guidance and help and that the Church would welcome them.

More Than We Expected

We have been blessed with many Rendille students this term. We prayed for students, and God brought them! Now, we are praying for the resources needed to educate these students so that they can THRIVE. The school year has already started, and we are praying the resources come in quickly! Please pray for our staff as we navigate how to best educate in tight situations. Pray that the staff would be wise in their decision making and unified, for the glory of Christ.

A Suffering Servant

A pastor is unwell. His church is suffering. Pray for the Good Shepherd to gently lead this pastor to green pastures and allow him to rest and heal, while providing a new pastor for the church. Pray that He will have mercy on the congregation that is suffering, too. Pray for an indigenous, reproducing, Christ-centered church among the Rendille.

You prayed…He answered

On Jun 10, 2018 you prayed for this request: “Please pray for a principal for the school. Our acting principal David has done a wonderful job. Please pray God would call a man like David to replace him.” And God answered: “A Christian young man has come to be our principal. He has shown a heart for missions and a serious love for God and desire to have a solid Christian environment for the students. This is truly an answer to prayer.”

You prayed…He answered

On Jan 16, 2018 you prayed for this request: “We are sending off another new Rendille high school graduate to university and it feels a bit like sending sheep to the wolves. Pray for Somo. Pray for Dibo and Andrew, two other graduates who continue with university studies – both are staying close to God and need His protection.” And God answered: “Our university students we mentioned earlier are doing well – so far, they are staying with God and resisting the many temptations to stray. One student was asked by a professor to lie for him at a hearing. When this student hesitated, the professor threatened to lower his marks. Anyway, the student stood firm, the professor was fired, but he’s awaiting the grades and may receive an undeserved D for not doing as the professor asked. Pray for Dibo – he’s earning a reputation for being honest – may God continue to help him be a light and a testimony. How grateful we are for people who pray!”

No Movement Toward Christ Yet

We are still praying for our Muslim students at school. The interested ones have made no movement and in some ways have begun showing less interest. We keep praying that God will use the word planted in their minds and draw them to Himself. Please pray for a breakthrough soon.

Bible!

Praise God with us, this coming Saturday the Rendille will receive their New Testament. We will also give out 500 audio Bibles for the majority of the people who do not know how to read and write. The Rendille will hear God speaking their desert heart language! Pray with us that the Word will transform the Rendille people.

May Henry listen!

Please pray for a form 4 Muslim student at Tirrim Secondary School. After our Spiritual Emphasis weekend, lots of students were asking for Bibles (because we gave some out as rewards). Students were told that anyone could have a Bible if they did some memory work first. So far this past week 8 kids have said their memory work and earned a Bible. Among these 8 was this student ‘Henry’. When asked why he wanted a Bible, he said he wanted to compare it with the Koran. Pray Henry will hear God speaking as he read his Bible.

Convinced

Please pray that the Rendille people will see the lives of their Christian friends and family and be convinced that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Pray that the Rendille will not succumb to the influence of Islam, but will instead share the gospel with the Muslim teachers who have been sent to convert them.

Tirrim schools

Pray for the government to help fund the school in Tirrim. It is the best school in the district, but has need of funding and committed Christian teachers. Pray for God to provide for these needs.

Spiritual Emphasis week

Tirrim Secondary School just completed its annual Spiritual Emphasis weekend. It was a great time. Here are two highlights for which we praise God.
1. The first meeting, a student asked to accept Jesus into his life. One lost sheep brought into the fold! Then, at our closing, 8 more stood to say they wanted Jesus to be their shepherd. Please pray for these 9 – that God will truly change their hearts and give them new life – that they will see His power at work.
2. Another student gave a testimony on how he never knew what it meant to be a Christian until he came to Tirrim Secondary School. This is where he got saved and he’s so thankful.

Please pray for a principal for the school. Our acting principal David has done a wonderful job. Please pray God would call a man like David to replace him.

Acts of kindness

Pray for David Gargule, the directing manager of the Tirrim schools in Korr, and elder in the church. He has gained the respect of the Muslim community by his acts of kindness. Pray against the attacks of the Evil One and evil men and for His light to continue to shine.

One Boy With Questions, One with Answers

This is an update on Hassan, a Rendille student in our school who is now in his final year of study. He continues to show extreme interest in Bible class. His mother died recently and this has saddened him. He has not seen his father since he was a small child and has been raised by his Muslim grandparents. Recently we found out that he’s been asking a lot of questions to our head prefect. Our head prefect is a boy who seriously wants to follow God. His name is Chulayo. We praise God that Hassan is asking questions and we praise God that Chulayo is seen as someone who might have the answers! Please continue praying for these two boys – that Hassan will find the peace he’s looking for in Jesus and that Chulayo will see God’s power working through him and giving him great wisdom.