Conference Begins

We all gathered for breakfast and went over our day. Joseph began his teaching on Timothy 2. He did a great job and you could feel the Lord at work. Duncan translated for him and they made a great team. One of the adjustments for the team is time. Joseph was very conscious of his time and tried to stop twice during his teaching. But, he was informed to keep going. It was not the time as 8:30-10:30am that mattered but the total of two hours teaching. Joseph learned that you teach until they say stop.

Tea time reminds us that what is important is relationships. Over tea and bread, the leaders from across Central Kenya catch up with each other. Anne, Joseph, Adrian, and I spend a lot of time shaking hands. I practiced my Swahili a little. I quickly learned that Kenyans have a little trouble with Southern Swahili. We laugh a lot as they help me. I am not sure if they do it to help me or to entertain themselves.

John, a young businessman in Nyeri, and Margaret are doing a good job of conference organization from the Nyeri Baptist side.

John, one of the pastors, from the central area of FOBOCK introduced the conference with a great illustration. He said, “At the conference, you will either be like a dog or a cow. A cow eats and holds what he eats. He chews the cudd long after eating. So, those who come to the conference can listen and take in the teaching. Then at tea time, lunch, the evening, or even after they return home they will continue to mediate and process what is said. Or, a dog eats quickly. When he has finished eating he is through and goes on his way. He is looking to eat again somewhere else. So those who come to the conference can listen and take in the teaching. Then, they will go away and not reflect or use the teaching again. Let us be like the cows.”

Adrian taught on the functions of leadership. He was translated by Peter (the small, big eater for previous teachers of the conference). He had quite a few questions all related to organization. Adrian has learned some Swahili and did a good job of engaging the leaders.

Lunch followed with a new twist. We had a choice between lentils and rice or a mixture of cabbage, beans, and corn. The size of the portions is something that we always have to adjust to—they fill a serving bowl!

Bernard taught in the afternoon on giving using Exodus 35. This was a great teaching in using our skills, materials, and finances in doing the work of the Lord. He had a lot of questions as did Adrian on church organization and local leadership relationship or lack of relationships.

We broke up into our workshop groups. Anne Davis led the children’s group and all of the children’s leaders were very excited. They remembered Anne from her previous visit. Also, some of the Koinonia Baptist Church were there and eagerly waiting for Anne’s teaching with so many handouts and teaching aids. Anne had two containers full of things for the conference to give to the leaders. Adrian led a session with the youth leaders on developing discipleship groups. Joseph found himself in a rather lively discussion on men’s issues in Kenya. Because Bonnie could not come, I met with ladies on Titus 2. I have to confess that I used material that Bonnie had given me in her preparation for the conference and in other conferences that she led. The focus was on mentoring younger women in everyday experiences. The women really like it and we had a very lively discussion which included husband and wife relationships. Knowing that I had been the representative for the women’s “panties” distribution in Tanzania and now leading the women’s ministry workshop in Kenya, Mary Kabaru (Bernard’s wife) said and started laughing, “Oh, Floyd, you are a good women’s leader.”

After the workshops we returned to the Green Hills for dinner and review of the day. For all of us it was a day of unique questions and experiences. We had to wonder what tomorrow would bring.