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Keith Underhill writes: Mumias is located in west Kenya, north-west of Kisumu. The main purpose of my visit was to be one of the speakers at the Annual Reformation Conference, 11 sessions over 3 days. Elly Achok, together with his slightly older brother Barnabas who leads GMA in Mombasa, was immersed in the Word of Faith movement until the Lord graciously transformed his life in 2008. I gave you links in the previous Newsletter so that you could read about this from themselves. Elly (2010-2) and Barnabas (2012-4) studied at the TPC that grounded them in the teaching they are seeking to promote today. Barnabas was the other main speaker. Their first task was to reform the local church, a slow process needing much wisdom. You can imagine that many members did not like the changes and left. But now the church is conducted in ways that I find comfortable and thank the Lord for this great change according to His word. The task Elly set himself was much wider than the local church. There were the multitudes of leaders and churches that needed to be reached because they had been led into grave error by him. The method has been to arrange this aptly named Reformation Conference and to advertise it widely. Hundreds have been coming, and this year 400 were registered. At the Conference they promote the Biblical teaching of the Wisdom Training Centre (now many centres). On the Saturday more than 70 graduated from the Certificate one year course which is basically a study in the doctrines of grace. 15 graduated from the Diploma two year course which is more designed for those interested in ministry. Many are changed in their doctrine, and some profess conversion! They look to influence their local church, and even to start new churches based on Biblical truth. [Remember so many churches have been deeply influenced by the Word of Faith movement.]

Ibrahim Katana is planting Utakaso (= sanctification) Bible Church in a suburb of Mombasa. He and his ministry were totally transformed by attending the Wisdom Training Centre in Mombasa under Barnabas Olare, pastor at the Gospel Missions Agency Church.

This is what he wrote at the end of February. “Our process of interviews happened on date 12 and 13 of February. Pastor Barnabas and brother Ben did the interviews and 18 people including myself were interviewed. 15 people including myself out of the 18 had credible testimonies. The remaining three also had credible testimonies but some how were not stable. As a result, Pastor Barnabas decided to re-interview them to affirm their stand. After that, then he will continue with the process of baptizing and final constitute the church. Therefore, my desire and prayer to God is to continue helping us in the process and give us a genuine biblical church. In the same way I kindly and humble request you to unceasingly be praying for us in this process and the church projects, as we seek to start building/constructing God willing.”

Ibrahim completed his studies at the Trinity Pastors College in Nairobi several years ago. One of our trustees, Oliver Allmand-Smith, was privileged to teach some of those courses. The picture shows the two of them together outside Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi.