If you would have told me a year ago that Dustin and I would be setting up shop in the middle of an African street with speakers, a keyboard, and two amped up microphones to preach the Gospel, I would have said you’re out of your mind. But that is what we are doing, and it’s actually pretty fun. We started setting up all of our equipment with the associate pastor, Pastor Zechariah, and people starting milling around, wondering what these ‘mzungus’ would do next. We started out by Pastor shouting and calling people to come and hear from the Americans tell about Jesus. Then we had some upbeat music that had kids running to join and adults dancing in the streets. Dustin got up next to tell his testimony and talk about just how much Jesus loves each of us. I got up after him and preached out of John 10.
Where we are in Nakuru, there are many flocks of sheep, goats, and cows. So I talked about the Lord being our Shepherd and how when we are a part of His ‘flock,’ we know what His voice sounds like. We know that He gives us eternal life, and that we can never be snatched out of His hands (John 10:27-30). We can take comfort in the promises He gives us in the Bible, and we should live our lives with the assurance of eternal life with Him. I also talked about how some people still don’t know Jesus, so it is our responsibility to share His love with them. What we have is not something to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared with everyone we know. I finished by sharing John 10:10 with them, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” That’s how we should live our lives, not just surviving, but living abundantly.
After we spoke, we ended the event with more dancing, African style!! We were able to talk to many people and encourage them as they left, praying that in something that was said, a seed would be planted. We also prayed that all those children who came and stood for the whole thing would go home to tell their parents what they saw in the street.
So I would say that the first open air meeting was a success! I also want to encourage all of you to read through John 10 and see how you can allow God to be the Shepherd in your life. And remember…if you are a part of His ‘flock’ no one can EVER snatch you out of His hands. We love you!!
