On July 23^rd, 2011, AIC Huruma (in partnership with Holy Trinity Church and the Charles Simeon Trust) will be hosting a special one-day Seminar on Biblical Exposition for over 100 pastors from the many slums scattered throughout Nairobi, Kenya.

 

Holy Trinity Church and AIC have enjoyed a ministry partnership since our exploratory visit to Huruma, a “middle-class” Nairobi slum, in 2003. On that trip, Pastor Jon Dennis, Jim White, Val Uhle and Suzanne (Morad) Lincoln visited Pastor Stanlas Ndambuki, his wife, Judith, and their two daughters in a second-story apartment at the edge of Huruma. They prayed about a possible partnership, which has since grown into an eight-year relationship.

 

 

 

 

During the “partnership-building” phase (2004 through 2007) HTC organized four ministry trips to Huruma. Each year an average of 15 HTC members and attenders raised support to minister with our brothers and sisters in Huruma. We visited hundreds of homes to enjoy fellowship over cups of chai, share the gospel, and pray for the sick. We sang, preached, or shared our testimonies at open air crusades and at Sunday worship services. Each year we hosted sporting events and brief Bible lessons at local schools, and conducted children’s Bible programs during the week. While there were a number of repeat visitors, Colleen Gallagher holds the position of honor, having served faithfully on all four trips.

 

2004 Team with friends

 

During our first year, Lindsay (Lester) Stortz worked with Judith to establish Trinity AIDS—a ministry to AIDS victims in Huruma and the Mathare Valley slums—which we continue to support.

 

Over the years we were also privileged to provide funds so that AIC could purchase a plot of land, build a basic church structure, and install electricity.

 

In 2007 we began to focus specifically on training. Pastor David Helm, along with Chicago Plan interns Kevin Schwartz and Dan Allen, conducted the first three-day Workshop on Biblical Exposition for around 100 pastors. During that visit, Dave, representing both HTC and the Charles Simeon Trust, committed to a partnership with AIC and Leadership Resources International to lead annual TNT Training Workshops, which provide intensive training to a dozen pastors over a four-year period. He has since returned each July to teach. During this phase of our partnership with AIC Huruma, HTC has also supported AIC’s Nairobi Plan, which allowed them to offer two of their interns, Paul and Robert, financial support for their college education at Scott Theological College while they continued to serve AIC on the weekends.

 

2007 Workshop on Biblical Exposition

 

As we near the end of this second phase of partnership, Dave will return to Huruma to teach another TNT workshop. Pastor Stanlas indicated that there was a demand for a one-day version of the Seminar on Biblical Exposition, and invited Dave to lead the seminar, which AIC would host. Dave asked Chicago Plan intern Jim White to make the arrangements for this seminar.

 

This July, Dave and his son Silas and Jim White and his sons, Jonah and Jeremy, will travel to Huruma to represent HTC in our ongoing partnership with AIC. Dave will be teaching at two seminars in Huruma and Mathare Valley, preaching at AIC on Sunday, and teaching at the one-day seminar. Jim will finalize the details for the seminar, making sure the hundred-plus pastors are fed and well cared for during the day. Jim will also have the opportunity to teach a couple of sessions at the different events. Silas, Jonah, and Jeremy will assist with the preparations for the workshop, and may visit church members and Trinity AIDS members in their homes to encourage them and learn more about ministry in Huruma. They also hope to contact Gasimu, the young man that the youth group has been sponsoring for the past few years through World Vision. This will be the boys’ first trip to Africa!

 

 

Pastor Dennis anticipates that the next phase of our relationship will focus more on partnering in church planting. Pastor Stanlas shares our passion for church planting and has already launched two church plants. While Dave and Jim sit with Pastor Stanlas over tea during their visit, they will try to facilitate some initial conversations between Pastor Stanlas and Pastor Jon via Skype. It will be exciting to see how God blesses our partnership over the next decade.

 

 

Please pray for our Gospel Partnership in July:

• Pray that God’s Word may be taught well, received, and embraced so that the Gospel may grow strong roots in Nairobi.
• Pray for safety for the team.
• Pray that our partnership will be strengthened and that we will explore new plans for the future.
• Pray for humility and servant hearts for team members as we partner with our friends in ministry.

 

Pray by the day:

July 16^th          Team leaves for Africa

July 17^th          Layover in London

July 18^th          Arrive in Nairobi in the morning, get settled in and get ready for the week

July 19^th -22    TNT Workshop in AIC Huruma

July 23^rd          Workshop on Biblical Exposition at AIC Huruma

July 24^th          Worship with AIC – Dave preaches

July 25^th – 26^th TNT Workshop in Mathare Valley – Dave and Silas fly home at 11 PM

July 27^th          Jim, Jonah, Jeremy fly home