Monday September 10, 2012
Riverside Church
Shanzu, Kenya
ccm Cross #0035
GPS/DMS 3.9689° S, 39.7472° E
Additional pictures after the Testimony
3117 cdd Taking Gospel People
Cyber Daily Devotion by Pastor Bill
Volume 13 Number 206
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: Acts 22:6b-7
“Suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’”NKJV
My name is Reverend Festus Jumaabaya from Shanzu, Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. They call me Pastor Festus. The name of our church is Riverside Church of Shanzu. This is my testimony as how the Lord Jesus Christ has led my life and made ways for me where there were no ways.
I grew up not far from here in the town of Rabai, Kenya where with 4 brothers and sisters we had no church or religious background. When my schooling was completed I thought teaching would be a good profession. Tried it for two years and decided business would be better. Went to work as a clearing agent for ocean going freight in the port of Mombasa, Kenya.
This was a time of struggle in my life learning who I was. Married my wife and we had our first child. The friends around the docks were heavy drinkers and when not working we were drunk. The local preacher who kept tabs on me was Evans Marima. He was always talking about his Jesus and telling me the down fall of drinking. I liked him but my life was spinning out of control and I didn’t listen to him. But he was persistent and genuinely cared for me and my soul.
Evans was in and out of my life from time to time but I didn’t accept his Jesus. That is until one day when I was drunk. For several days I had been drinking heavily and a friend stopped by to see me and said, “Evans Marima” has died. I fell to my knees and began yelling at Jesus, “Why take Evans?” Then I shouted, “If you are taking Gospel People away who will share the Gospel?”
A light appeared — a very bright light and a voice spoke to me, “You are the one I am choosing to preach MY Gospel.” I was shocked and scared! For the next three years I ran as fast I could away from that voice. But it never left me.
One evening I was passing by a church and a woman — an ordinary simple woman who I did not know or never met again.
This mysterious lady explained to me the love of Jesus. It was that night — right at that place — through the words of this angelic lady I woke up and finally surrendered to Jesus and made him Lord of my life.
This was the beginning of my walk with the Lord. My wife and I started attending church and it was time to leave my drinking friends behind and take on my responsibilities as a husband and father. Over the next few years I worked hard and learned all I could about the bible and Jesus. We moved to Shanzu and bought a parcel of land where our current church stands.
I was a good student of the Bible and did my best to represent the love of Jesus. That’s when our pastor moved and went to a church in Nairobi, Kenya. Our church was in need of a Pastor. I had no formal education in the Bible but when asked to preach spent time alone with the Bible and Lord. The Holy Spirit gave me Bible revelations that were just amazing. I shared them with the people.
One of the elders had a dream of me as Pastor of the church. We held a church vote and before I could say yes or no — I was the Pastor. Being Pastor was a very big responsibility and the voice kept echoing in my head, “You are the one I am choosing to preach MY Gospel.”
Over time my natural skills as a pastor developed but it wasn’t until I had a dream that the Lord opened the doors to the things of HIM. The dream was me walking down a road with my family. We stopped to rest and have a drink of water. As we were resting the voice came back but only I could hear it, this time it said, “Your ways have been opened.”
That was the beginning of a new power gift of the Holy Spirit in my life.
As I preached the people were set free. When I prayed the Lord answered:
When people needed employment they came to me for prayer — they received employment in an economy that has always been difficult to find a job. The Lord was faithful!
When a healing was needed for malaria or anything else the people would come and ask for prayer — they were healed. The Lord was faithful!
The church began to grow and the hindrances of life seemed to melt away. The more I preached the Gospel and more favor of the Lord was on me.
Today we have seven children and together with my wife Rehema Baya and family we serve the Lord here in Shanzu, Kenya.
My favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 4:11-12:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” NKJV
For me this cross we just planted represents salvation — for without what Jesus did on the cross — we would indeed be lost. For the Shanzu area this cross will be a light that will draw people to Jesus and as they come — yes, I will preach the Gospel.
And why do I preach the Gospel — because Jesus is my best friend and helper. All should come to Jesus for direction, love and compassion — because HE cares.
Pastors Bill and Carol and all your supporters thank you for bringing this cross to us and giving me the opportunity to share what Jesus means to me.
Prayer: Father thank that today Pastor Festus heard your directions as clearly as Paul on the road to Damascus 2,000 years ago. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Pastor Festus looks on as
two beams are being assembled
Moving the Cross into position
Lining up the Cross for lifting
Hoisting the Cross
Fire in the Hole
Filling the hole with concrete
Plaque “Declaring God’s Glory”