AFRICA SUMMER REPORT-2011-THE YEAR OF REVOLUTIONS

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

At the beginning of summer 2011, I reflected on the political revolutions that swept across North Africa and the Arab world.  In light of these revolutions, I promised and prayed for another kind revolution to take place in Africa in the summer, a spiritual revolution, and I believe the Lord granted it. This last summer, I stayed in Africa the longest (over 5 months), travelled the furthest (10 countries), and had the most productive summer ever. I do respect your time, and thus will not attempt an exhaustive report here. Please allow me to give you just a summary of all that the Lord did through me and my teams in Africa this past summer and fall of 2011.

IN A SUMMARY, my teams and I served in ten African countries, spoke to 80, 000 students in public schools, and conducted 24 leadership conferences/forums for pastors and church workers across the region. In addition, we finished the construction of a water well (now serving 10, 000 villagers); we finished the construction of Alethia Bible School (will begin training this coming summer), and we began the construction of an orphanage (nearly completed) that will serve 300 orphans in the region of Kenya most affected with HIV/AIDS. In addition, we ministered to a number of orphanages across the region, met several needs at Thika School for the Blind, bought a motor bike for a pastor, helped a pastor start raising chickens to support himself, helped build a church building, and partnered with 100 widows in DRC in trying to help them get sewing machines, so they can make a living and support for themselves and their children. These women lost their husbands to the on-going political/ethnic wars in Congo.

I. PUBLIC SCHOOL MINISTRY – 80, 000 STUDENTS

The population of Kenya and that of many African countries is 80% under the age of 25. Thus, reaching Africa and fulfilling Great Commission in Africa MUST include reaching young people. And the good news is that God has given me an unlimited access to public schools in Kenya and beyond. In the first part of my summer, my teams (US and African) and I passionately took the gospel to public schools throughout the region, sharing the gospel of Jesus with 80, 000 students this past summer/fall. And yes, many confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior for the first time! I am convinced that this opportunity to preach in schools will soon be taken away by some secular force in the near future, so I am going to as many schools as I can every summer, as long as this door remains open. I am convinced that if we win the youth of Africa to Christ, we will have won Africa for Christ!

II. LEADERSHIP TRAINING – 21^ST CENTURY CALL

Regarding missions today, I am convinced that if the “Macedonian Call of the 1^st Century and following was “Come and rescue us,” the Macedonian Call of the 21^st Century is “Come and Train us that we may rescue our own people.” Over 90% of African pastors will never make it to any Bible College of any kind. With thousands of people coming to the Lord in Africa daily, there is even a greater need for pastors to know their Bibles, so they can ground their people in God’s Word. In addition, Africa is a target for western secularism/materialism, Islam, and Oriental religions. It is also the home of animism with its natural tendencies toward religious/spiritual syncretism. If the African Christianity is to remain vibrant and sound, and if the African church is to remain relevant and missional in the face and midst of these grave challenges and spiritual hostilities, then the African believers must be grounded in the Bible in such a way that they can both proclaim and defend their faith. Along with Alethia Bible College, plans are underway to plant a church in/for the Kosele Community sometime this year—a missional and missionary church.

III. MAJOR PROJECTS – VISIBLE SERVICE

A. WATER WELL PROJECT

In partnership with First Baptist Church of Pelham (AL), we drilled a well of water, now serving 10, 000 villagers with clean water. The positive impact of providing clean water to a community replete with waterborne diseases is immeasurable. This is a huge blessing! Please see the slides on the right side of the blog page.

B. ALETHIA BIBLE SCHOOL

As I have alluded to already, leadership training is paramount if the African church is to survive the onslaught of Islam, western materialism/secularism, Oriental religions, and the persisting influence of its own homegrown animism. In every country I went to this summer, pastors were desperate for leadership training. In partnership with Walnut Street Baptist Church, we constructed Alethia Bible School to meet this need in some small way. Please see some slides on the right sidebar.

C. TUMAINI ORPHANAGE

Southern/western Kenya is the area worst hit with HIV/AIDS. This area also happens to be rural and thus is not in the limelight. Orphans left with their old and poor grandmothers suffer in silence and many times die in silence, and no one knows about it. This orphanage targets these FORGOTTEN ORPHANS, with the goal of giving them TUMAINI (hope in Swahili). A Good Samaritan is working hard to ensure the orphanage construction is completed, which will house 300 orphans. I will share more on this in the near future.  Please see the slides on the right side.

IV. GOSPEL IN ACTION - GOOD DEEDS

In the same spirit of the preceding section, I need to report here briefly that my teams and I also met some other needs in the Name of Christ. First, we bought chapel benches for Thika School for the Blind and much more. Second, we bought a motorbike for a pastor, so he can visit his people and fulfill his pastoral work. Third, we helped one pastor start poultry business, so he can support himself in the ministry. Fourth, we helped with the construction of a church building. Fifth, we are currently paying school tuition for ten orphans in Africa. And sixth, we are helping 100 widows in Congo (DRC) get sewing machines, so they can begin small business to help support themselves and their children.

V. PICTURES- I HAVE HUNDREDS OF THEM

Just so you know, I plan to have a comprehensive website built in the course of this year that will allow me to provide you with more information that I cannot do with my current blog. With my current blog, I am not able to provide you with lots of pictures accompanying my reports. That said, feel free to ask me to send you more pictures directly. In the meantime, I have uploaded on the blog a number of photos for you from this past summer missions. I have placed them on the right side of the blog page. Please enjoy them and feel free to download them.

VI. WHAT IS IN STORE FOR SUMMER 2012?

The year 2012 just began, and my summer is already getting filled up fast. I have five US teams already, made up of various churches and individuals. This summer, my teams and I will plan to minister to 100, 000 students in public schools. A church plant building will be started this summer for the Kosele Community. It appears that leadership training will take us to, at least, 12 countries this coming summer. We will work toward training no less than 3000 leaders across northern, eastern, central, southern, and western Africa. Alethia Bible School will become operational this coming summer and will train its first students. Tumaini Orphanage will be completed sometime before this summer. There is still more to be done in order for the orphanage to become fully operational. I will keep you posted on this. A vision for a future community clinic will take place this summer. These are just a few of the 2012 summer highlights. I will give more details with time.

VII. THANK YOU! – I MEAN IT!

Until you are fully and well rewarded someday by the Lord of the harvest Himself, I wanted to say thank you! Thank you for holding the rope for me this past summer through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. I am humbled and honored that you let me go on your behalf and on behalf of heaven once again. Obviously, God used your prayers and support beyond human imagination. Both Africa and eternity will never be the same as a result of your participation and contribution this past summer. Indeed, something happened- a spiritual revolution, touching and changing lives forever in His Name.

VIII. HOW YOU MAY PRAY AND HELP

The Year 2012 offers us another unprecedented opportunity to walk and work with Christ in His mission field.  Once again, I am ready to take the love and gospel of Jesus to the remotest dark corners of the Dark Continent- just one more time. Please pray and consider how the Lord might use you again to be a part of my work in 2012. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions, ideas, thoughts, or concerns. If you have interest in any particular projects mentioned, please let me know. For any/all tax-deductible donations, please send your check to the following addressed as instructed:

(i) Make the check payable to Walnut Street Baptist Church.

(ii) Designate the check to Juma’s/Africa Missions Account (important!).

(iii) Send your contributions to the following address:

WALNUT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH (FINANCE DEPARTMENT

1143 SOUTH THIRD ST. SUITE A, LOUISVILLE, KY 40203.

For Christ and the Nations,

Charles Juma Juma

“I preached, as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” R. Baxter.

“I will give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” Isa 49:6

ANOTHER REVOLUTION— SUMMER 2011

Dear praying family and friends,

The year 2011 will probably go down in history as the year of revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East. These revolutions have shaken and even uprooted some of the longest ruling autocrats and dictators of our time. I regret the loss of human life and property due to these upheavals. But I also applaud whatever good they have produced, if any.

Yet, I believe another revolution is necessary in Africa, and I feel called to lead and be a part of one in Africa this summer—a gospel revolution. I desire to make Christ known one more time in Africa this year. Below is a brief summary:

I. PUBLIC SCHOOL EVANGELISM

My US teams, African teams, and I will take the gospel to 100, 000 students in public schools in ten African countries this summer. We will also have JJ Cup and open-air meetings.

II. LEADERSHIP TRAINING

We are targeting over 3000 church leaders for training this coming summer. We have lined up 14 leadership forums in 10 countries. In addition, two very large pastors conferences will take place in Nairobi and western Kenya. I will also work with at least two local Christian universities in Kenya.

III. ORPHANS AND BLIND STUDENTS

My part of the world and mission field (Africa) has the largest number of orphans in the world. I have a burden for them and will minister to hundreds of them again this summer. As the Lord enables us, we will share the gospel with them and meet needs such as books, clothing, mattresses, medication, desks, tuition, and food in the Name of Christ.

IV. MY USA TEAMS THIS SUMMER

So far, I have six teams (possibly seven) coming this summer— Louisville KY (Walnut Street Baptist Church), Hodgenville KY, Russell Springs KY, Alabama, Florida, and New Jersey.

V. HOPE CENTER MISSIONS PROJECT

This project is in southern Kenya and includes:

1. Community Water Well:

I am grateful to First Baptist Church of Pelham (AL) for committing to drill a well to provide clean water for this community in Christ’s Name. The local government chief tells me that revival has already broken out in the community because people know help is on the way!

2. New Church Plant – Living Water Baptist Church:

Again, I am grateful to First Baptist Church of Pelham for planning to provide this region with a biblical church— a place of worship, discipleship, and missions. To the best of my knowledge, this will be the first and only biblical church in the whole area. We have bought the land already for the projects.

3. An Orphanage – Baraka Children Center (BCC):

Southern Kenya is the most affected with HIV/AIDS in the whole country. Yet, not much has been done to address the needs of orphans in this region. One good brother in Christ is working hard to help raise funds to build this orphanage by this summer, if possible. We bought the land already. For years, I have always supported orphans. This orphanage building will allow us to serve more of them and serve them better.

4. Bible School – Alethia Bible College (ABC):

The need for pastoral training in the southern region of Kenya is incalculable. The Lord has burdened my heart to provide leadership training in various settings throughout Africa. But ABC will bring pastors three times a year for two weeks each for an intense biblical training, so they can go back to reach and teach their people. This kind of training is critical in Africa. We plan to begin this project this summer, if the Lord provides.

VI. HOW TO PRAY AND PARTICIPATE

1. Pray for God’s Move and Protection:

The spiritual revolution I am praying and going for in Africa this summer is one that only God can make happen. Here is the truth—if God does not move, I am done! Please pray for God to work mightily through us and in spite of us, one more time this summer. Pray also for God’s protection over me and my teams.

2. Pray for God to Provide and Meet Needs:

For summer ministry alone, it takes between $25, 000 and $30, 000 to do all I do in Africa every year. It is a lot of money in a bad economy. Yet, every year God has been faithful to meet my mission needs through His people, through you. I am trusting HIM to meet needs again this year. And we are not starting from scratch. As I write this letter, we have $9, 000 already (counting air ticket, received donations, and some promises). I will minister in ten countries this summer.

Any donation counts this summer. If the Lord enables you to participate in my work this summer, please send your tax-deductible donation before June 10th as directed below:

(i) Make the check payable to Walnut Street Baptist Church.

(ii) Designate the check to Juma’s Missions Account (important!).

(iii) Send your contributions to the following address before June 10th.

WALNUT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH (FINANCE DEPARTMENT)

1143 SOUTH THIRD ST. SUITE A, LOUISVILLE, KY 40203.

For Christ and the Nations,

Charles Juma Juma

“I preached, as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” R. Baxter.

“I will give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” Isa 49:6

SUMMER 2010 - SUMMARY REPORT

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

I stayed the longest, trained the largest number of leaders, travelled the furthest, and covered the largest number of countries. I intend to give details in the coming days and weeks. For now, however, I simply wanted to give you a bullet-point summary of what has happened this last summer, just so you have the big picture. If you would recall, the summer began with a bad road accident in which my driver and I almost lost our lives. But the accident spurred me more than ever to give my all toward this summer. So here is a short summary:

I. LEADERSHIP FORUMS

This time around we have trained the largest number of leaders from across Eastern Africa and beyond. My fellow pastors and I crisscrossed East African boundaries and conducted 8 forums and other leadership meetings. It was a summer of multiplication—Timothys making Timothys. Here are the forums:

A. KIGALI, RWANDA FORUM:

-The Kigali forum (initially meant for ten countries) brought leaders from six countries, namely, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, DRC. Bishops, pastors, leaders came with one goal and desire—and that is to be equipped for the ministry. It was powerful and beautiful!

B. MBARARA, UGANDA FORUM:

-Once again we launched a forum in the hometown of the Ugandan President (Yoweri Museveni). This evergreen town is both beautiful and blessed with abundant food. Yet, its natives experience a different kind of hunger- a hunger for the gospel of Christ. God met with us in this forum, and the leaders went home changed forever! The fire is still burning there!

C. TABORA, TANZANIA FORUM:

-Tabora is called the headquarters of witchcraft in Tanzania. Its natives include Arabs that remained behind when slave-trade ended. Today (many years later) darkness still lingers in the atmosphere, marked by strong presence of witchcraft practiced by the native folk Muslim Arabs and native Africans. Here the arch bishop of the African Inland Church, Tanzania and other leaders invited me to help train their pastors for the ministry. Revival broke out in the middle of this forum. The leaders went back with a renewed passion to reach and disciple their people.

C. DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA FORUM

-Dar-es-Salaam (literally a place of rest) got its name from slaves and their Arab handlers. After slaves walked a long distance from inland, they finally got some rest at the shore before being shipped, and they called it a place of rest. Spiritually speaking, today, Dar es Salaam is not a place of rest for many. It is a stronghold of Islam, only second to Zanzibar. Here, we conducted a successful leadership forum for pastors who then went back and stormed their city with the gospel of Christ. Once again, God met with us in Dar-es-Salaam and the fire is still burning.

D. MWANZA, TANZANIA FORUM

-Mwanza is simply a beautiful place on earth. It seats on the shore of Lake Victoria and its landscape is filled with hanging rocks sitting on little hills. This is also the headquarters of African Inland Church in Tanzania, and a place where I have done the most work in Africa in the last ten years. At the historic AIC Makongoro Church, two pastors from Kenya and I conducted a blessed leadership forum. The pastors had waited for two days for us to arrive and would not leave till we got there. What a forum this was! Here too God showed up in a powerful way!

E. MALINDI/MOMBASA, COASTAL KENYA FORUM

-Christianity entered East Africa through this part of Kenya. Today it is an Islamic stronghold and is also the tourist resort in Kenya. It has some of the best beaches in East Africa, but it is awash with all sorts of immorality. Here we conducted a powerful leadership forum, equipping leaders to contend for and spread their faith in the face of Islam and tourism influence.

F. NAIROBI, CENTRAL KENYA FORUM

-This is where my spiritual journey began over twenty years ago. Cosmopolitan and influential as it is, Nairobi plays a major role in shaping the rest the country and beyond in myriad ways. And here too, we conducted a powerful leadership forum for pastors, grounding leaders in the basics of the Bible and challenging them to make Christ known in every corner of this city.

G. BUNYORE, WESTERN KENYA FORUM

-Western Kenya has a strong presence of African Indigenous Churches (replete with religious syncretism of sorts). The region is simply hungry for the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. Here, our leadership forum equipped pastors in Bible knowledge and challenged them to evangelize their villages and ground their followers in the timeless truths of God’s word.

II. MISSION TEAMS

A. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PELHAM, ALABAMA

-This great church once again led a mission team which preached the gospel in Kenyan public schools, did street evangelism, ministered to orphans and blind students in Kenya and Tanzania. And once again, God used this team powerfully as they faithfully labored to share the love of their Savior with the African people. Thank you FBCP for loving Africa with me!

B. LITTLE FLOCK BAPTIST CHURCH, KENTUCKY

-My history with this great church goes along way. We have served God in Africa together for many years, and it was a great honor to have Little Flock come back to Africa with me this summer. The team labored tirelessly and faithfully all the way from Nairobi to Western Kenya. We spoke to thousands in public schools, conducted two large pastors conferences, served orphans and blind students, did street evangelism, and provided hundreds of bibles to leaders. Thank you Little Flock for loving Africa with me!

III. PUBLIC SCHOOL EVANGELISM

-The combined efforts of the US mission teams and of the pastors I work with all over East Africa saw approximately 55, 000 students hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in public schools all across the East African region. Little Flock team alone spoke to approximately 6, 800 students in Kenya. This region is 70% under the age of 25. Thus, reaching the youth is a priority for me!

III. MEETING WITH BISHOPS

-Upon completing the Mwanza, Tanzania Forum, I remained behind to meet with the bishops and other Tanzanian Church leaders. I had a fruitful meeting with the Arch Bishop and other bishops of Africa Inland Church, Tanzania. We explored many ways to help them train their leaders all over Tanzania. Africa Inland Church is one of the most thriving evangelical churches in Africa today. Their leaders desperately need training, so they can feed their flocks.

IV. NEW CHURCH PLANT and FREE WATER

-In partnership with First Baptist Church of Pelham (FBCP) from Alabama, we have secured a piece of land on which a Baptist Church will be planted and a well of water drilled for the Kosele community. Kosele Village lacks and desperately needs both waters—the Living Water and the well water. The project will begin soon, now that we have the land. Here true needs will be met!

V. MEETING WITH NAIROBI SOUTHERN BAPTISTS

-Nairobi Province has 70 Southern Baptist Churches with a number of them very influential. Leaders from these churches met with me and asked me to help train their youth leaders, a request which I could not turn down. So beginning November this year, I will begin training leaders for these churches. This is bound to be a powerful partnership, and I am excited about how God will use it for His glory and for the benefit of the 70 Baptist Churches of Nairobi.

VI. MEETING WITH THE UNIVERSITIES

-I met with Kenya Baptist University (currently Kenya Baptist Theological College) and Africa International University (currently Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology) and discussed possible academic partnerships in which I come in and teach some selected courses for them. They were truly excited at the prospect of this partnership. I am also pursuing the same with Day Star University. We will be formalizing these partnerships soon.

VII: THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SUMMER

A. SUMMER OF MULTIPLICATION

-For years now, I have trained hundreds of pastors all across East Africa, and that investment finally paid off this last summer. I mobilized these pastors across the region to do with others what I have done with them over the years. We all divided and went to work with dedication. Thus, leadership forums were conducted all over East Africa, involving a total of seven countries and hundreds of leaders. This is 2 Timothy 2:2, multiplication at work! It was powerful to watch!

B. SUMMER OF SPIRITUAL BIRTHS

-I also mobilized my fellow pastors across East Africa to step up public school evangelism in their own regions and localities. And our joint efforts (including my US mission teams) saw approximately 55, 000 students hear the gospel of Jesus Christ this summer. We also preached in churches all across East Africa this last summer. Many sons and daughters were born into God’s kingdom. And to God we give all the glory!

C. A DARK SPOT IN THE GLOBAL MAP

-There is a dark spot in the 21^st Century global map, and I think I just stepped into it this last summer. Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, DRC, and Southern Sudan have experienced some of the worst human suffering in this century. Taking the gospel (directly and indirectly) to these areas this last summer only served to remind me that the mission of preaching the gospel in Africa is far from over! I saw this naked need with my own eyes, something akin to Matthew 9:35-38.

D. SUMMER OF EXPANSION

- We served 7 countries this last summer

- I entered into new partnership with various Tanzanian Church leaders.

- Southern Baptists of Nairobi invite me to train their youth leaders.

- A number of Kenyan Christian universities open up their doors for me to help.

- We secured land for a new church plant and for free water for Kosele Village.

VIII. MANY THANKS

1. INDIVIDUAL FRIENDS: I want to thank my individual friends (and churches not mentioned below) who stood with me, ensuring that I was covered in prayer and that my needs were met as I labored for souls in Africa. We did it together. Thank you friends!
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2. ASHLAND AVENUE BAPTIST: I am truly grateful to Ashland Avenue Baptist Church for its continued support with my tuition, so that I can be free to serve God in Africa during the summer holidays. Your investment in me is paying off greatly in Africa and beyond!

3. WALNUT STREET BAPTIST: I am very grateful to Walnut Street Baptist Church for supplementing my tuition needs, helping with my visa issues, and for sending part of the funds to ensure that I had money to rent a vehicle for the ministry this last summer.

4. MIDDLE CREEK BAPTIST: I am equally grateful to this small church for sending part of the money to rent a car and for providing its parsonage for my use so that I have a place to return to after a long summer in Africa.

5. SOUTHERN SEMINARY: I am very grateful to my professors at Southern Seminary for their faithful and longtime support. My professors have worked with me as I do a delicate balancing between being a fulltime PhD student and a missionary back in Africa. I am truly grateful for your support and mentorship.

In the coming days and weeks, I will address various parts of my summer in detail, but I will do so in various emails, so it is not overwhelming. I just wanted to paint the picture for you in this email. Pictures from this summer will also come later. Once again, thank y’all!

For Christ and the Nations,

Charles Juma Juma

“I preached, as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” Richard Baxter.

“I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should bring my salvation to the ends of the earth”

(Isaiah 49:6)