Things Still Unresolved in Kenya

According to a report from Mission Network News, there is still no actual resolution to the crisis in Kenya. The violence and economic instability is greatly hindering the ministry of many organizations. If a power sharing agreement is not reached soon, it is very possible the violence will resume.

With all of the focus on Darfur and Kenya, it is easy to miss what is going on in other parts of Africa. Sunday's Parade Magazine had a short article about the genocide occurring in Congo (look under the heading "World: The Other African Genocide").

It is sobering to realize that a hundred plus years of missions work has not stopped these atrocities. I don't fault the missionaries and mission agencies. There are a lot of political and economic factors beyond their control. Rather, I think it is important for us to step back and realistically assess what we are doing in Africa and what adjustments might be needed.

Pray for peace. Pray for revival. And pray for God's guidance for the many missions agencies working in Africa.

Kenya Rivals Make Deal

It appears there may be hope for calm to return to Kenya. In a news story today, it is reported that the rival factions are willing to write a new constitution which would allow a power-sharing arrangement. While this is welcome news, pray for the deeper reconciliation that still must happen for true peace and revival to come to this country. Many have lost their homes, businesses and even loved ones in the violence. Their economy has suffered greatly, and with many businesses damaged or destroyed, finding jobs may be difficult. It will take a while for Kenya to recover from the last few weeks and months.

Poland Team Safely Home

The Poland Team arrived safely back in Cedar Rapids this evening. For anyone interested, they will be sharing about their trip this Sunday night, February 10 at 6:30 PM down in the Senior High room at New Covenant.

30-Day Challenge

Today is the launch of our Embracing Faith 30-Day Challenge at New Covenant where we are inviting everyone to spend time daily meditating on the selected passage and in prayer. If you are not already doing so, I invite you to take part. Here is how you can join the challenge: Pick up your Journey Guide from church on Sunday and turn to the Reading Journal section in the guide. There is a selected passage and a place to journal your thoughts for 6 days each week, and a prayer and memory verse for the week.

To complement the journal, you can also go to our Embracing Faith 30-Day Challenge blog. You will find a devotional to go along with each day's challenge and a place to share your comments and thoughts with others on the journey. Pastor Bob's devotional to kick off this journey is already posted.

Being a Kingdom Partner is all about embracing faith. Our goal with this Embracing Faith Campaign is not focused on raising funds for a facility but on finding a way to allow us to continue to make disciples both here in Cedar Rapids and around the world. That focus has led us to grow by an average of 10 percent each year, and that growth has helped give us added resources to support four new kingdom partners. So Embracing Faith is truly about Kingdom work. I can't wait to see what God will do in the future to build his kingdom as we remain obedient to Jesus' command to make disciples of all people groups.

Poland Team In USA

According to the United Airlines Website, the plane with the Poland Team has arrived in Chicago. Their flight to here is still scheduled to arrive at 5:49 PM.

To check on the status, look up United Flight #5858 on the United website.

Poland Team Return Info

The Poland Team will be returning on Saturday, February 9 at 5:49 PM on United FL# 5858. If you want to greet them, join us at 5:30 PM at the Eastern Iowa Airport.

Pray for Kenya on Friday

I know many of you have been praying for peace in Kenya. Empowering Lives International suggests it would be good for all of us to join together in a united time of prayer. Their staff in California will be praying on Friday, February 8. They ask people all over the country -- or even the world -- to join together at Noon California time (2 PM Iowa time).

For more information and specific prayer requests, go to the Empowering Lives International blog.

Poland Team Tuesday Update and Video

Here is an update from the Poland Team:

To the 216 people on our Poland Prayer Team,

I've tapped into Gina's "Poland Team" Distribution List to send out this email update. I didn't realize how many we had praying, so thank you all so very much!

I believe only about 6 of the 40 people here avoided getting sick to some degree or another. The only one on our American team who never got sick was Ben Struik. Thankfully most of the sick ones have started recovering now.

The three right now who remain pretty sick are Lexi Forstrom, Ben Ziegler and Allyson Male. Keep them in your prayers. They had to miss classes today and stay in bed. Chills, sore throats, headaches, coughing etc. are their symptoms. We're giving them Theraflu, sore throat lozenges, clementines (for vitamin C) and chicken soup. Hopefully tomorrow will be better for them. It has been a real disappointment to all three of them to be sidelined this way. Prayer for healing and encouragement.

As for my knee, it is a bit better. I can walk on it without much pain, so I doubt that anything is torn or severely damaged. It's still tender to the touch, but I think I'll be ok. I was even able to play a round or two of "Dance Dance Praise" yesterday!

Thanks, everyone for the prayers.

Tomorrow (Wed) is our final full day, ending with our awards banquet. We've really bonded with these Polish students and it will be sad to say goodbye.

We should leave Czchow after breakfast on Thursday and return to Krakow. We plan to go visit Auschwitz, the concentration camp, on Friday and fly out first thing Saturday morning, arriving in CR the same day. Weather permitting of course. Sounds like Cedar Rapids has a lot of snowy weather coming for the rest of the week.

Thanks again for the prayers,

For the team, Mark

Be sure to go to YouTube to check out their videos. Here is a recent one they posted:

Saturday Poland Team Update

Hello prayer warriors. We need some heavy duty prayer!

The most important need is physical health! There are only three on the team who are not sick: Ben, Ben, and Lexi. Everyone else has something, each one different, ranging from coughs (some dry, some wet), chills, lack of energy, running noses, or fever. Could this indicate a spiritual attack? Quite possibly. Pray that Satan would not deter us from reaching these Polish students in any way. Could it be that God is making us weak so that his strength is made perfect in our weakness? Quite Possibly. Pray that God's will be done and that we fully experience what He has for us.

We had a great day in Krynica (ker neet sa) yesterday. Some went shopping and tasted the famous stinky Zuber water. Others of us went skiing. The mountain was 4,000 meters (13,000 ft), so it was just like Colorado. Ben S, Bree, Ethan, Charlie and I had gone before and Allyson and Lexi got to ski for the first time! They did great (the bunny hill kept them near the top, don't worry parents!)

Thankfully the only injury happened to me. I wrenched my knee the last time down the big mountain--it was a glorious wipeout! You could pray that this would not inhibit my ministry to these kids and that I would enjoy fellowship with Jesus to a tiny degree as I hobble around a bit while it heals. I'm sure nothing is broken, but it is tender--on stairs especially. I'm so glad it was me and not anyone else!

Mark

The Church in Kenya

Christianity Today Magazine has a thought provoking story called "Post-Mayhem Woes." It points out that 80 percent of the people in Kenya consider themselves Christian. Even more shocking, many churches failed to speak out against the violence when it first started.

Should we be surprised? Perhaps not. While it may seem unthinkable to us here in America, I am not so sure we are that far removed. Jesus' command is to make disciples. While many called themselves Christians, I am not so confident they were all his disciples. That is equally true here.

I am not judging anyone, nor claiming I am superior. My point is that "the proof is in the pudding." A true disciple will be so clearly different he or she will stand out as a follower of Christ. A disciple might make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but the true disciples will step forward in the weeks and months ahead to demonstrate the love of Christ and what it means to bear the cross of Christ. I pray that I will be such a disciple.