ccm Cross 0272
Monday August 3, 2020
Brydges Centre Children’s Home
Nairobi, East Africa
ccm Cross 0272
GPS/DMS 1°38’35.2″S 36°52’22.1″E
Additional Photos After Testimony
5176 cdd Brydges for Troubled Waters
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 21 Number 163
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” NKJV
Hello, my name is Pastor Bob Brydges with Brydges Centre Children’s Home near Nairobi, Kenya. I grew up in Portage la Prairie, Canada which is 50 miles west of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the middle child of five. This is my Cross testimony of how the Lord has directed my path and set me on His road to glory!
Our dad was a lifelong railroad boilermaker while mom was a waitress. We were not a church family growing up although my older sisters occasionally took me to Sunday School. After high school and some college, I enlisted in the United States Marines. I served for four years under a green card (still a Canadian citizen) and eventually became a US citizen.
Just before the Viet Nam War burst out, my military commitment ended. It was my turn to follow in my father’s footsteps and I joined the railroad. They stationed me in and around Chicago. I began as a switchman and then my college training in computers earned me an opportunity to move into Railroad technology. I remained with Burlington Northern Railroad for the next 30 years.
While still working in Chicago I literally crashed a wedding and met Nancy. Less than a year later we were married. Church was an occasional side show in our lives until I received an invitation to McCormick Place to hear an evangelist. I responded to the invitation with, “OK, we’ll come.” I had no idea what was about to happen.
We showed up and both of us received Jesus Christ as our Savior at the Billy Graham Crusade at McCormick Place in Chicago. It was June 1970.
We began our family of three children and together we grew in love with the Lord. Burlington Northern Railroad moved us to White Bear Lake, Minnesota where we currently live. Our church background was Episcopal, so we looked for a local church to attend. We met the pastor and when I told him we were on fire for Jesus Christ having been “Born Again” at a Billy Graham crusade — he directed us to a “more appropriate church” down the road.
Our life with Christ was just beginning and the Lord would use our family in mighty ways in the ensuing years. Our purpose moving forward with Jesus is embedded in our life verse: Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” NKJV Our goal became to reach heaven and bring as many folks with us as we can.
Our journey with Christ has taken us into church leadership at most levels and bubbled over to creative Christian ministry opportunities fulfilling the great commission. We began with Mission Moving Mountains which introduced us to the destitute and homeless of Kenya, East Africa. Ultimately the Brydges Centre Children’s Home near Nairobi, Kenya was established. For the past 10 years we have dedicated our efforts to improve the lives of those we encounter. It’s not an orphanage but orphans are welcome as the Lord leads. Most children are from destitute families that cannot care for their daily needs.
The Lord has provided us with an excellent team through the years. We have seen more than 500 graduates from the Brydges Center go on to be pilots, doctors and professional people in all walks of life — rising-up for the Kingdom. All for the Glory of God.
I’ve had several dreams over the years that from Brydges Centre a future President of Kenya will step forward.
Pastors Bill and Carol thanks to you and your readers, for the Cross. We are in an area with many Muslims and this Cross will send a clear message that we are not only a bridge out of poverty, but a quality home and school representing The Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father we agree with Bob’s dream that a future president of Kenya will be a born again, blood washed, representative of The Lord Jesus Christ from Brydges Center. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!