ccm Cross 0281 Agape Fellowship Ministry Nairobi – Kamulu, Kenya

ccm Cross 0281
Saturday October 31, 2020

Agape Fellowship Ministry – Kamulu
Nairobi, Kenya
ccm Cross 0281

GPS/DMS 1.2921° S, 36.8219° E

5246 cdd Before I Was Born
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 21 Number 233

Today’s Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” NKJV

Hello, my name is Pastor Mary Thiongo with the Agape Fellowship Ministry in the Nairobi, Kenya slum of Kamulu. Last week Pastor Bill introduced you to my husband Bishop George Thiongo. This is my Cross testimony of how the Lord Jesus Christ is King of my life and leads me for His good.

I was born in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya the youngest of four children. My father left us when we were very young and mom turned to Jesus and together they raised us for His kingdom. Mom opened a small shop selling food and water. She became an anchor in the community and through her faith in Jesus received the strength to provide for us.

Growing up in a slum gives one every opportunity to find evil. Life is hard and a quick answer for relief can be stealing, popping drugs or conning people out of money. I began running with these sorts of people in my early years. But mom kept bringing me to church, many times against my will.

When I was 13 one preacher caught my attention. My rebellion was going strong when the preacher introduced me to the Love of Jesus Christ. Jesus gave His life for me on a Cross. He saved me. I gave my life to Christ that day and everything changed for this little girl. I was immediately hungry to learn all about Jesus.

When it was time for high school I was sent to an elite boarding school. Mom did not have to pay a thing. The Lord provided. I grew in love with my Lord during those high school years. I became a Christian leader even teaching Sunday School classes in church. My gift became abundantly clear. I so loved to teach.

After high school I could not afford college. That didn’t stop Jesus. He provided. I became a certified teacher while in college loving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the doors opened for Bible School. Here I met George and we married. We had three children while in school. When we graduated we were anxious to open a church with both of us Pastoring. It was not to be. Our denomination did not allow such a thing. So George and I each opened a church. Today we have five churches in our group.

My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth” NKJV The Lord does provide!

As a Pastor my favorite thing to do is Teach. It clearly is a gift the Lord gave me when I received Him as Lord. Before that moment teaching held no interest in my life. Since then I am driven by the Holy Spirit to teach about the things of the Lord.

The Lord has given me several dreams where I am leading a home for children where they are eating all their meals in the house. I am teaching and instructing them. There is an abundant amount of joy throughout the dreams.

In the visions the Lord has given me, I am again teaching. Teaching before large groups of trustworthy people. In a slum environment, you never know who you can trust. But in my visions he has certified that these are His trustworthy people, and He is instructing me to teach them. I’m awestruck that He should choose me.

Three miracles come to mind as we are speaking.
1. A young man wanted to serve the Lord and desperately wanted a good job. He came to me for prayer. We prayed together and he received a job way beyond what he could even ask for.

2. A young lady was in the throws of a miscarriage. Her doctor was left helpless. She called for prayer right then and there. The baby was saved as the Lord heard our prayers and is today strong and vibrant.

3. A young man came with a painfully withered had. Doctors did nothing. He asked for prayer. Jesus did the rest. Today his hand is perfect with no pain.

The Cross for me has meaning in that Jesus Christ carried all my burdens on that Cross, even before I was born. He carried my salvation. He carried my sickness and life challenges. My sincere belief in Jesus Christ activates what he did for me and releases what I need when I need it. Because He did it all for me.

Pastor Bill I must say your vision and dreams of planting Crosses around the world dwarf what we are doing here. They are an inspiration to us all for what Jesus Christ is doing in the midst of us. Your goals of planting Crosses globally are big but we know Jesus is bigger. Thank you for your example.

I know that those who see these Crosses will be affected in ways we are only beginning to comprehend. Just the other day a drunkard was shocked to see the Cross we all planted. There has never been such a large Cross in that area. He fell immediately to his knees as years of conviction melted from him. He was set free and released — no one said a word. Jesus did it — He did it all in his heart.

The power of the Cross — the vision of touching people and changing lives through the Cross because Jesus loves us so much He gave his life. So profound – so simple – so free for those who ask.

Prayer: Father thank you that we were known even before we were born, and accepted, as we accept Jesus Christ as Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!