Entering a new year is always the time you see plenty of
commercials advertising weight loss programs. It’s a time when personal resolutions are made, normally lasting for a
good quarter of the year. It is a time
when happiness and generosity are worn as clothing. It is a time when whether superstitious or
not, you eat certain foods and practice certain traditions just in case that
superstition is true. More than
anything, it’s a time when families choose to be together.
This New Years I chose not to practice my normal
traditions. I chose to bring in the New
Year in a different way. I chose
Kenya. Though I have served in fourteen
countries, I have never revisited any of them until now. This New Year was special to me. See, one of those adages I love is: the one you’re with bringing in the New Year is the one you will be with
throughout year. While there isn’t one
particular person I want to be with throughout 2012, there is one country:
Kenya. In fact I’ll be leading a team to
Kenya December of 2012. Being here this
December in January has really paved the way for future mission work here.
Year’s Eve. It was a night I could never
forget. The entire compound was pitch-black
but people in the community were being drawn to our LIGHT. We were praising the Lord like never
before. These Christians in Kenya may
not go out dancing, but they sure dance in God’s house – giving their all to
Him. I felt as if I were watching a
cultural event on television.
team ushered us right into God’s presence. We sang for nearly two hours just worshipping the Lord. Tears streamed down my cheeks. My hands couldn’t help but raise in the
air. My feet couldn’t help but tap the
dirt/concrete floor. My hips were forced
to swing as the beat of the synthetic drum from the keyboard grew faster and
faster. The soloists weren’t
entertaining but surrendering to their maker. Songs were sung in KiSwahili, Luo and Luyhia. I felt the fire from the pit and heard as
chiefs beat their drums and women called out in their languages. Children, teens, young adults, middle adults
and elderly worshipped the Lord. Not one
was sitting. We all had been given a
supernatural strength. Prayers went out
for at least an hour and a half. These
were silent prayers but everyone praying out loud to the Lord at once. Prayers
for Kenya, the nation, the continent, and the world. Prayers for government officials, school
officials, work supervisors. Prayers for
families, girls, boys. Prayers for the
church building project – well needed funds. We called out to the Lord before the clock struck midnight. When midnight came we stood silent before His
throne, hearing from Him and then the countdown began and we all screamed at
the top of our lungs prayers of gratitude to our Father. There was crying, dancing, shouting,
laughing, singing, words. It was 2am
before the service had finished.
On New Year’s Day we were back in church by 9:30 to worship
the Lord again. There was a beautiful
service of prayers and dedication of the young people who were transitioning
into the Young Adults group. 
The young
adults were asked to stand up and welcome their younger brothers and sisters,
embrace them with hugs. The younger ones
were given expectations from Baba and reminded who they are in Christ and that
Deliverance Church will not let them fall by the wayside.
To complete our service, delicious cake was passed out toeach and every person in the congregation. We all celebrated the New Year together and closed our service in mor
e prayer. 
