The retreat’s theme centered on exploring the righteousness of God and the Kingdom of God through the books of Romans and Matthew 13. Missionary James shared that God’s righteousness is revealed in the Gospel, and that a beautiful world begins with His righteousness. He also mentioned the prophet Amos’s vision, where justice and righteousness overflow like a river in this world.

On this first day, participants studied Romans 1 and 2, focusing on the righteousness of God. They took time to meditate on “sowing the seed in their hearts” with faith and knowledge, allowing it to grow and bear fruit. Additionally, they delved into a lesson on prayer, which sparked a vibrant discussion. Members eagerly asked numerous questions about prayer, seeking a deeper understanding of how to connect with God and align themselves with His will through sincere and heartfelt communication.

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Olivet Assembly (OA) Africa churches celebrated Pentecost Sunday with great grace, retreats and training sessions were held in different churches. Here are photos from the gatherings.

Led by Pastor Caleb, the meeting resonated with a palpable sense of grace and reverence. Pastor Caleb tenderly elucidated the profound significance of the forthcoming 40-day journey towards Lent, urging participants to delve deeper into the essence of Jesus’ life, death, crucifixion, resurrection, and boundless love.

Unified in purpose, the attendees collectively set a standard—a beacon to illuminate their aspirations for the Lenten season. Central to their mission is the earnest desire to intimately acquaint themselves with the facets of Jesus’ life and teachings, particularly his ultimate sacrifice and resurrection.

Following the establishment of their spiritual compass, the assembly lifted their hearts in prayer, beseeching the Holy Spirit for guidance and fortitude to uphold the set standards throughout the 40-day odyssey. Their supplications were imbued with a fervent longing to experience spiritual rebirth, to journey from the shadow of death into the light of new life, and to bask in the boundless embrace of God’s love.

As the meeting concluded, gratitude enveloped the room as participants offered thanks to the Almighty for the precious opportunity to meditate deeply on His love. Their collective aspiration echoes a prayer—a hope that each soul embarking on this journey may traverse the path of Jesus’ sacrifice and triumph, emerging united in the celebration of his resurrection.

Nairobi Emmanuel Church Sunday Service Focuses on Overcoming Temptations and Upholding Holiness

On February 4th, the Nairobi Emmanuel Church congregated for their Sunday Service at the Olivet Center in Kenya, welcoming 15 adults alongside trainees from neighboring countries and a visiting guest.

The service commenced with Missionary Faith delivering a compelling sermon rooted in Matthew 4:1-11, illuminating the three temptations Jesus conquered in the wilderness. Drawing parallels to contemporary struggles, attendees were encouraged to confront similar temptations armed with the Word of God and unwavering faith.

Central to the message was the power of Scripture in overcoming life’s trials, echoing Christ’s example in thwarting Satan’s allurements. Through a deep understanding of these temptations, congregants were reminded of their capacity for victory and resilience in their spiritual journey.

In the afternoon session, Pastor Caleb engaged with the trainees, elucidating key principles vital for Christian growth:

Upholding the sanctity of services through meticulous preparation, encompassing worship, appropriate attire, punctuality, and, above all, a sincere heart.

Embracing the imperative of evangelism, humbly proclaiming the Gospel to lead others to Christ while eschewing self-glorification.

Exercising prudence in managing technological distractions, particularly mobile phones, to safeguard against worldly enticements and time wastage.

Cultivating a strong sense of identity as cherished children of God, firmly rooted in His love and empowered to overcome habitual sins.

By reinforcing these foundational tenets, the Nairobi Emmanuel Church endeavors to equip its members with the spiritual tools necessary for steadfastness in the face of temptation and the pursuit of holiness in all aspects of life.

The jubilant occasion commenced with a heartfelt mass featuring songs of praise and worship, setting the tone for a day filled with gratitude. The congregation then delved into the teachings of the Bible, specifically reflecting on the call of God as outlined in Matthew 4:17-23. Following this enlightening session, the atmosphere resonated with grace during a period of sharing testimonies and recounting the rich history of the Church.

Emmanuel Church of Burundi had its humble beginnings on January 15, 2023, under the guidance of missionary Hope An. The church’s inception involved fervent evangelism directed towards students at Burundi University. Through the abundant grace of God, numerous students actively engaged in Bible studies, and some eventually became dedicated members of the church.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church has experienced significant growth. Presently, two churches, namely Emmanuel Church and Revival Church, stand proudly in the capital of Burundi. Additionally, one member from Burundi answered the call and ventured to the West African country of Benin to pioneer a new branch. The enthusiasm for spreading the teachings of the Bible continues to grow, with an increasing number of Bible students expressing their desire to devote themselves to expanding the kingdom of God.

As we reflect on this momentous day, may God’s continued calling inspire and mobilize more servants to venture into His fields. May the memory of this unforgettable anniversary instill in the hearts of the Emmanuel Church of Burundi members a profound sense of love and humility. Let them carry the spirit of Jesus, who sacrificed himself by shedding precious blood on the cross for the salvation of the world, as they continue to steward and nurture their growing community.

They worship and praise God for His grace and guidance in their lives, and meditated the Word from Matthew 9:9-13 “The Calling of Matthew”.

Jesus came to the world to call the sinners, not righteous. Matthew was a tax collector who was hated by people, regarded as an ugly sinner, but as he recognized that he needs a savior he could follow Jesus immediately and became a disciple of Jesus. To recognize that I am a sinner is very important for our salvation. God is willing to come and save us when we are asking His mercy and forgiveness.

Brother Oscar joined Sunday service as his second time of joining Sunday service after some weeks. He is a neighbor of the church and a college student and he joined the church through joining a mini retreat a few months ago.

After the service, the leaders of the church gathered for a mission conference. They discussed the mission work in Kenya, and Missionary Caleb shared the plan and goal for Kenya mission in the second half of 2023. They hope to co-work together and achieve the goal of 24 leader and pioneering 3 major cities in Kenya in this year.

May God give them the heart of God and wisdom and bring the revival in Kenya!

The Acts of the Apostles was written by a man named Luke. In the opening passage, Luke suggests that he is writing yet another book for a person named Theophilus. However, we may wonder who this mysterious person is? The name “Theo” and Philus mean God and the verb to love. It carries this deep meaning of loving God. The passage may appear as if Luke is writing this book for a specific person. However, it is truly dedicated to the person who loves God. He is leaving this precious record of the Acts of the Apostles for you and me and anyone who loves God.

If we never act on the truth and follow the Word of God in our lives, then nothing will change. We should not be Christians who only sit and wait for the coming of Jesus to take place. However, we should be busy with the work of saving souls. Apostle Paul also encourages that we work. He writes about busybodies that didn’t evangelize or serve in any way. But we should entrust all things to God and follow the commission He has entrusted to us.

Anyone who asks can receive the Holy Spirit. Peter explains that anyone who has obedience towards the truth can receive the Spirit of Truth in their life. He also explains that we must long for it. As disciples of Christ, we must have a deep longing for this grace in our lives.

(Written By Matthews)

There is this man named Theophilus, and the name “Theo ” and “Philus” means God and the verb to love, it is truly dedicated to the person who loves God. Before Jesus ascended, he instructed the disciples to remain in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit, a gift that would come from the Father. Jesus goes on to cite that John baptized with water, but another baptism would come on that is of the spirit.

Jesus ascends into heaven. This moment becomes the second greatest event that impacted the disciples and the early church. The first event was the resurrection of Christ and the second becomes His Ascension back to the Father.

We should come to know what our true focus must be, we should give our lives for the building of the Kingdom of God. This is the Great role of salvation. Therefore Christians must continue this great history of God and continue the work of salvation in the life of even one more hungry soul.

(Written By Mary)

Some people think that a person who has died cannot rise again because his body has submitted to the ground, these are unbelievers, but the believers have faith and believed in it that Jesus Christ has raised from the tomb.

When Jesus was in the tomb and his time came for him to be raised from death through God our Father in heaven, Mary Magdalene visited the tomb and she find that there is nobody of Jesus Christ, then she go back and told the disciples there is nobody of Jesus Christ in the tomb.

When Peter heard that, he runs to find out and he finds nothing there for Jesus was raised. We need to believe in Jesus’ resurrection and we will have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Written By Matthews)

Paul is explaining the Gospel here in a very simple way, the very basic, and in a very important way to show how we are saved through the Gospel. Starting from this chapter, everything that Paul is talking about only applies to Christians.

Paul talked about the great work that Jesus has done carrying our sin and giving us His righteousness. We were sinners. In Romans chapter 3, Paul explains that the whole world is polluted with sin. We’re corrupt with sin, and there is nothing that anybody can do about it. We were rotting in our sin.

But then, from the end of chapter 3, he explains that righteousness has been made known through Jesus, there is hope in Jesus, And so once we accept that love of God, then everything inside of us changes. Our whole life completely changes. Our sin is being accounted for. We are justified.

All the sins we committed were like a debt, our sin was just piling up, and we were to continue to live with this guilt, and with this burden of sin. But when we become justified, when we receive God’s love in our hearts, then all of that debt is canceled. All of our debts go back to zero. God blesses us abundantly. This is everything that God has done for us and the blessing that we have through Jesus.

Paul says that Jesus came and preached peace to us. It means that peace has been made for everyone. Both the Jews and the Gentiles, whoever you are, peace has been made. Making peace is not simple. If you have a conflict with someone, or if you think about conflicts between countries, it’s very complicated, it’s not simple, but through Jesus, peace has been made.

It says the dividing wall has been destroyed, that wall that separated man from God because of our rebellion has been destroyed, and the two have become one. Through Jesus, we have this good news, this good news of the Gospel.

(Written By Matthews)