August Newsletter; Its Been Almost a Month Now since I Left the UK and THis is What God is Doing

Hope you are doing well

It’s my pleasure to take this opportunity to say Hi and to give you some updates and news about what has been and is happening in my life since I left England early this month. I first want to apologise for doing this late, as I remember having promised that I would communicate as soon as I arrive back home in Africa. I couldn’t keep my promise because I was very poorly when I landed in Kenya. Just a week before I flew back home, I was in Stafford for a wonderful Christian Summer Camp Festival Called Soul Survivor. A few days before the camp ended, I got infected with a flu which I later found out was Swine Flu. The flu put me down for two weeks on my arrival to Kenya; I think it was made worse by the fatigue from the long flight and climate change also. Otherwise I thank God that I have now fully recovered and slowly getting back to the Kenyan lifestyle once again. And it’s great to be back home and meet with old friends and family again.

Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed your summer and holiday whether you went abroad or not. I also hope that you had some restful time and you are now a bit refreshed and strong, if not fully.

Am Great full

May I please take this special opportunity to thank you very much making my stay in The UK very special and fun. It would have not have been that way if it were not for your genuine friendship, prayer, emotional and physical support. All of you did made me feel welcomed and appreciated in the UK. Thank you so very much and may God bless you mightily.

The Call to Full Time Christian Service

It’s my honour to inform and let you know that after several years of praying and asking God where He wants me to serve Him, He has finally revealed and confirmed to me thru different people and opportunities that my calling is in full time Christian service and specifically to the young people. I felt God confirming this during my 6 months work experience with Sorted Youth Groups in Bradford, where I had the opportunity to work with and learn loads of stuff from Andy and Tracy Milne together with their team of volunteers and young people. At this time I had God put a great passion for young people and especially the orphans and the street children.

I therefore saw the need of having further training as youth worker so that I can gain more knowledge and ideas of doing this kind of ministry. My heart really felt like doing the training in Chester University or with Church Army UK, but it seems like God had His plans which are different from mine.

 

Wilson Carlile College Church Army Africa

After talking to different people and praying more to God and weighing the different options available, I have settled for Carlile College to do Higher Diploma in Theology (Cross Cultural Ministry). And later planning to do Urban Mission, which is like youth work training here in Kenya.

I am officially starting this course on Monday the 31^st August 2009. The course will take three years and then I may be ordained as a reverend. I am so happy and thank God for His goodness and far He has brought me.

Financial Aid/Sponsorship

Due to the financial hardships I am in right now, and the current situation in Kenya, I am not able to raise the amount of College fees required. The college agreed to have me in class for two weeks without fees starting Monday the 31^{st August 2009} till the 11^th August 2009, as I look for this year’s fees. After the two weeks, I won’t be allowed in the college if I have not paid at least half the fee that is required for this year.

The total amount of fee for this year is Kenya Shillings (Ksh). 116,300 (GB £1,150).

I am therefore kindly requesting for your genuine prayers and financial support. I will be very much great full for any assistance that the Lord will lead you in your heart to offer towards this.

If you are feeling challenged to support me and the ministry that God is calling me in you can contact me through my email address. bantuphyology@yahoo.com

 

Short Terms Plans

Having mentioned that God has put a great passion for the young people and the orphans and those children on the streets in my heart;

1.      I feel called to get involved with some of the children homes and centers in some of the most deprived slums of Kenya. I have in recent years worked with one of such homes by mobilizing young people and helping with some financial, material and physical support.

2.      I am also working on how to start some school work in the schools in the inner urban cities to create awareness on bullying and anti-social behaviors. Bullying is one of the most mental torture that most students in Kenya go through but have never been addressed properly by the school administrations and the ministry of education, even though there is no year that has ever gone without a student losing his or her life because of bullying or some other kind of anti-social behavior from their seniors or when victims try to revenge.

Because of this, I feel really convicted in my heart to do this as part of my ministry to schools, apart from telling people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer request

I would like to kindly as for your genuine prayer support especially concerning the following;

· That God will continue to use me to reach out the Least, the Last and the Lost in the society.

· That God will open more opportunities for ministry and give me all that I need for the ministry especially the finances.

· That God will open a way for me for a job that will enable get some time for ministry.

· That God will help me thru the 3 year College time and help me find the people to partner with me and assist me spiritually, emotionally and physically.

· That God will prepare the hearts of the people I will be reaching so that they can accept the Gospel and experience Christ’s love.

· That God will bring my parents back together and res unite my family.

Pray for my country, we are currently going a very hard time economically and a lot of guys are starving.

Finally

I want to thank you so much once again for taking your precious time to read this News letter and for considering praying with and for me and also assisting me in any way. May our good Lord keep you and bless, and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding and wisdom.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

With YOUth in my mind,

Moses Bantu,

Nairobi Kenya (Africa)

 

THE BIG DAY

This was probably the most interesting part of the Xplore Global Gap year programme after coming back from our placements. The two weeks saw us having massive fun, listening to different stories from all around the world and attending the ordination of 6 new Church Army officers at the Sheffield Cathedral and then a party-like celebration at the Church Army's Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism.

After this ceremony, my mind started hitting on our big day which I thought was going to be fun and emotional. How do you handle joy and sadness at the same time? Joy had to come in and be felt as we had taken a whole 11 months away from our, families, homes and countries, stayed with total 'strangers', and became really good friends, actually, Xplore was a family. (This is my popular word for a group of people that understand and care for each other well). This is what Xplore was; Honesty, working as a team, being crazy together, crying together and laughing together. We had been a great bunch of people, with a passion for God and young people, people with big dreams ahead of us.

Sadness had his part too. We weren't going to be all that i've above anymore! Friday was going to be our last day to be happy together again. Jon was going back to the United States. Gemma was going back to Sheffield, Sam was going back to St. Al bans, Billy was going back to South Port, and of course, Betty and I was going back to Kenya after some time. Anyway.

Friday was the big day. We started the day by having a meeting and talking about our future plans. Everyone of us telling what they intend to do after Xplore. For some, the programme has messed and changed their plans, (all for a worthy cause), for example, Billy is no longer going to Uni to study software development but to study Christian Youth Work. Jon isn't just going to study Chemistry now, but is going to add Youth work and major in that. Gemma isn't going to study Psychology any more. She is going to Study Youth Work. Well for a few, they are still determined to study what they like most. Sam was planning to go to Uni to study Physics until he was offered a job with Church Army. Betty is still planning to go to Uni and study International Relations and be doing some part time Christian Youth work. Myself, my dream and call is still the same. Going into full time Christian Ministry. The only infection that I've got from Xplore is that now I know where exactly God is calling me to serve Him in, and that's youth work. So what are my plans then? Well, find a job first. Then, save for a college and then study Christian Youth or something related to that if I don't the opportunity of coming back to the UK.

Anyway, a long story. On Friday the 17th of July 2009, we had our last day together as Xplore 08/09. The occasion was marked with a lot of fun. Ladies dressed up in decent beautiful dresses, men in suits and ties, we told jokes, we listened to speeches and encouragement, we received cerificates, we had food and we took loads of photos, we shared stories and the end was the last hugging and blessings upon each other. This was where I almost cried. I wasn't going to see Jon again and have some serious talk about our future plans, if i will, it might be after ages. I wasn't going to make funny noises with Billy, no more jokes with Gemma, no more admiring Sam on the guitar. No more Monie and Phil teaching us and agreeing to disagree. And of course there was going to be no more Trinity palls to hung around with. :(.

The one thing that still remains is that we all grew in different ways. Spiritually, emotionally, physically etc. Personally, my confidence and creativity has grown massively. I have also grown physically, having come to the UK without beards and now I have. I am one year older! What a growth! And I learnt to trust in God more. Learnt to be more orderly and punctual.

I want to thank Church Army for the wonderful opportunity that I had to come over the UK and learning all these tonnes of stuff.

I want to thank Monika and Phil Clark for being like my parents, very caring and understanding in every way. I liked their honesty and dedication. Them two are Legends. And Emily and Mike, you are a great people.

I want to thank all the Xplore mates. They were a great bunch of people. Fun, honest, caring and and easy to be and work with.

I want to thank everyone from Trinity Church Page moss; PST John Crawford, Dave Collier, Adrian, Collin Prescott, Linda and Len White, Nancy and her friend, Pat, Peter Mack and Anne, Jay, Phil Owen, Andrew and Heather Heaton, Leanne, Natalie, Emma, Martin, Holly, Ste Prescott, Rob Brown, The late Ivor. Rest in peace. I cant mention you all in these piece. But God bless you.

I am honestly going to miss every minute I spent with you guys. God bless you big time in whatever you do next. May our good Lord guide you and keep you and make His light shine upon you and make your ways straight.

I believe that now the Vision has been officially launched. Am on the move, no holding back. A revolution has started. With God's strength and guidance, I am stepping out.

Amen.

Moses

FROM YORKSHIRE (BRADFORD) BACK TO THE SCOUSE LAND (LIVERPOOL)

It's been quiet a long time since I left Liverpool for Bradford to start my placement with Sorted youth group. The most memorable moments about Liverpool was the many times I had to say the words 'pardon, sorry come up again, i didn't hear that could you please repeat?' etc. I did this so many times that I became tired of those words before the people got tired of repeating themselves for me. I thought I was an African and couldn't understand 'real' English. This actually made me so frustrated that I tend to keep to keep to myself most of the time.
Well, later when I visited Swan wick, I realised that I was well good in English,and that the Liverpool accent was actually not 'proper' English. But it was called scouse, which even the other English people from places like Yorkshire or London couldn't hear properly! Okay, enough of the introduction.

Anyway, I finished my placement with Sorted on the 6th of July, in ceremony that drew about 100 people! I didn't know I was that popular :) Well, am not bragging, cos i was only in Bradford for about 6 months, and to be honest, I didn't expect such a big number of people to turn up for my farewell party! Thanks to Tracey and Andy, who fed everyone and made the day a big one.

On the 7th of July, Andy and I left 38 Wood lane 2, slightly a few minutes after 9.10 pm. With my baggage in Andy's 6 seater car, we drove down the Leeds road. Traffic moving fairly fast as we approached the Leeds train station, where I was to get my train to Liverpool Lime stret. We pulled at Leeds train station a few minutes to 10.20 am, the time my train was scheduled to depart. We tried to rush to the plat forms walking quiet first with all these baggage I had. When we finally reached the platform where we thought was where my train was packing, we realised that we were on the wrong platform and that one train that was departing on the other platform, was actually my train! Looking frustrated and tired, Andy tried to ask for assistance for me and asking me what we could do; if am willing to board a train fro Leeds and change in Manchester Piccadilly. It couldn't be possible. I had six things to carry for myself, how could I do it? Even if I had to look for a trolley, it would take long and i would probably miss the next train again, as am not even familiar with Manchester Piccadilly. So I kindly refused to take that option. The other option which would be tiresome and risky was to wait for an hour before a direct train from Leeds to Liverpool Lime street could come. the risk was that, my ticket was an advance on and I had just missed my reservation, and it would only be safe to buy another ticket which was going to cost a good fortune, how ever one lad tells us that we can still go and say that i missed the train cos I didn't know the right platform, that's if I was asked why I did have an expired ticket. so this sounded much easier, cos they wouldn't throw me out of a moving train even if they weren't satisfied with my defence. Maybe they would if it were my beloved Kenya where people don't laugh when it comes to money.
Anyway, i waited and for one hour for the next train, as i waited, I wondered how I was going to get all my six baggage into the train before it started off! Everyone had at most two bags, which they could easily carry or pull in to the train at once, mine needed at least three rounds. Well, finally the train came and this attendant who seemed not interested in helping me at first asked me if I wanted some help! It was really good and easy than i expected.

The train departed at 11.08 am, and to make things good, this lady who checked the tickets, actually, didn't even ask me anything! She just stamped my tickets and said thanks to me! The train took two hours, calling at Huddersfield, Dewberry, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford, Warrington Central Quay, and Liverpool Lime street. When I reached, Lime street, everything looked different to me. I left my baggage on the pathway, and found a trolley. Came back, loaded it, found where to buy the Roby tickets, and then went into the train, got a space for my baggage and returned the trolley with the hopes to get my quid back but I got disappointed when the train was about to live and I could get my quid back so I left it with some rail workers, whom I think got it for themselves.

The train took about 15 minutes to reach Roby. I kind of got confused through the journey as most of the things looked different and I actually got off at Robby and looked even confused cos I thought I gad alighted at the wrong station, and this lady, who works in the train tried to be friendly, asking me how I manged to move all the baggage by self, but I seemed not interested in her questions I was not sure where I was! It took me a few minutes to familiarize myself with the place, and when I was just about to call Phil Clark and tell him that I had arrived at Robby, I saw him coming and we hugged and he helped me carry my stuff to the car. He dropped me at the girls house, where I happen to live with the ladies! I realise that I was actually the first to arrive back from placement. I Feeling tired and I laid in my bed and fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was around 3 pm, that's like an hour later.

Gemma arrived later at around 5 pm and then we went to Phil Clark's for some snacks. Sam arrived later at around 6 pm, then Jon a few minutes later. Betty was the last one to be picked from the Liverpool dock,as she travelled by ship.

On the Way Moving On

Well well, good people. For the last six months I have been doing some work with Sorted, a youth group in Bradford that started a few years ago as a skating club.

Sorted

Sorted has since then grown into a youth congregation, a Christian night club and a Bible study group. The most recent achievement of Sorted is the birth of Sorted two, two months ago. Sorted now serves the young people from areas of Wrose, Swain House and the Hanson School, which is the second largest High School in population in the whole of England. Sorted two works with a total of four churches which are within that area.

This project is still just an after school club happening every Friday from 7pm to 9pm, but the vision is that it will turn into a youth congregation and a youth Bible study in a few years to come. The group currently has an average of 20 young people attending every Friday, and playing snooker, Wii games and play stations, soft balls, football, hockey and also skate boarding.

Back to the point; Anyway, as my title may suggest, and as I said earlier, I have been working in these Sorted projects, both in the groups and in the schools. And now my time has come to an end, and it's time to move on and see where God is leading me next. It's been a really fantastic time of massive growth for me and for some of the young people I have worked with. And leaving Bradford for Liverpool, feels like such a big loss to me. This is because I have seen potential in Sorted, and a people that God are using to reach out to the hurting and the desperate.I have met young people who are looking for somewhere to belong, young people who are searching for acceptance and people who can truly trust them and give them an affirmation that they can and that all is possible. Some of the young people who are yearning for God. I have seen and met young people who are from dysfunctional families like me, some of which have a little hope remaining as I once was. Some of which are in gangs as I once was. This is where my heart is. These are the kind of people I have always wanted to work with, because I understand a bit of everything they are going thru, if not all, because I have been there before, and I know what God can do.

Well, if it were my choice I would have chosen to stay, but somehow I can't help it! And probably God has somewhere else in place for me, I don't know where, but He knows, because He always knows. The best I can do now is to say, ''Goodbye guys. I love you. It's been good you having me around and making me feel like one of you. All I can tell you is that God loves you, remain in His Love, respect Him and respect each other, and you'll experience more of His goodness. I am gonna miss you big time. If God wills, I'll comeback to visit you sooner or later, or you may come to visit me home. Thank you very much. God bless.''I can't say more than these words really, can I? So, on Monday, the 6th of July, Sorted has organised for me a send off party or should I call it a farewell party? Yes, and this will be my last time or day with Sorted and in Bradford, probably. Everything is now packed, wardrobe's clear, bags are full. I am ready to set my feet on the way and make a move. First destination is Liverpool, Merseyside. After a month, I will be going back to Africa. I am not sure what I am gonna do, but as I am saying, God always knows, He definitely gonna show me another open door.

Well, guys, I'll keep you posted. God bless you all and take care. Love.

Bye Bye to Sorted

Bradford, Yorkshire; God's Own County

Phil & Faith Lewis:
My hosts in Heaton
Well,I said that loads has been happening for the last six months. Just to start with, I am currently in Bradford, West Yorkshire; so am staying with God. Well, they say Yorkshire is God's own home or is where God lives, cos of it's beauty and lovely natural and unnatural cites.

Anyway, I moved from Liverpool to Bradford on the 14th of January 2009 to start my placement with Andy Milne and the Sorted Group. I first stayed in a place called Heaton, and my 'house' was right opposite the Yorkshire rippers house. If you don't know what am talking about, the Yorkshire ripper is a man who killed about 13 women in his garage about 20 years ago. Anyway, you can imagine what is likely to be happening in the area; ghosts screaming or laughing around,maybe at night!!! Scary!! Oh nah, I stayed their for two months, but never heard anything unusual really.

I would commute daily from Heaton to Idle where Sorted is run from and where most of the Sorted projects are. I used two busses daily. The first day I went home alone, I got lost and took about an hour and a half wandering in the neighbourhood looking for 9 Garden Lane, which was just a few metres from where I got off the bus. (It made remember of the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years, while the land was just a few miles away from them). It was really cold and this lad made me get lost even more by sending me to the opposite direction. I called a taxi and it took ages, so I decided to just continue walking and finally I found this old man who knew where I was looking for. The old are really wise and they are gold.

At Heaton, I lived with a really nice family of four, so I became the third, and a black for that matter, a man of his own. Hehehe. Phil, Faith, Tim and Naomi. Wonderful family. Am nolonger in Heaton, I moved again. I once heard a sermon from a guy called Craig, who said that a God's servant is not meant to be settling, cos God is always on the move and at work, and He can send you anywhere anytime. So, am moving, still moving, am currently living with another family in Swain House area.

A Lot is Happening...

Hey Guys, hope you are all well.
Well, it's taken ages before I updated this blog. A lot of stuff has been happening really and soon i'll be filling you in with what I have been upto; from my visit to St. James Palace, to my progress at Sorted, to my confusions and worries and to my conversation with God. Lots has happened this year as I said before and you gonna get loads of stuff that God is doing in my life and you gonna get encouraged I believed.
Keep it in here for all these news. Thanks for being my prayer partner, I appreciate very much.
We are still in this walk to see our generation turn to God and having a strong link with the King of kings and The Lord of lords.

I love you all.

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Bantu and the Vision

ITS EITHER BLACK OR WHITE; NO GRAYS

Follow the crowd or...
Being in between a rock and a hard place is not a comfortable spot to be in. What is a youth in college or uni, or even an adult to do? Peer pressure affects "all" ages, not just the youth. Here you are, a Christian, and yet you think some of the things that other people are doing in school or in the workplace, seem completely harmless. It sort of seems it could be borderline as to what Jesus would accept.
Ever think to yourself, "Oh man, what am I gonna do? I don't want to seem like a nerd? A holy-roller? I don't want to be THAT different. I want to be accepted and yet I want people to like me just the way I am. A Christian."
The Rock is Jesus Christ, and the hard place is the world with its pressure. Many Christians today try to straddle that fence between the two, and end up falling off. . .on the wrong side of the fence, the "hard place". Straddling the fence is dangerous in itself, because we "compromise." We try to keep peace. But, in reality, we can only serve ONE master. Either Jesus Christ or (our old master) Satan.
My godly wisdom tells me to offer this advice. KEEP, in God's Word every day. I suggest getting yourself a One Year Bible that disciplines you in your reading commitment to Christ. Meditate on what you have read. Joshua gives us an advice ‘do not let this Book of the Law (BIBLE) depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night.’ Look for things that God wants you to apply in your own life, and then do it. The "closer" your walk is with Jesus every day the easier it will become to make the "right" decisions and avoid pressure.


Know who you are in Jesus Christ. Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential for your success at living a victorious Christian life. Its either black or white, no grays in between if you want to challenge the challenges you face. I have friends whom would not understand me at first but they have come to appreciate me for who I am and respect my values and belies.
One thing I have learnt over several years and still trying hard to do is to set the truth free. How do I do this? By letting people know what I believe in as the truth. By doing this I give the truth an opportunity to lead me. I have never believed that my identity comes from what the majority think and say about me. This is what I believe in and what makes me unique, my identity as a Christian comes from what God has done for me.

Carry these following questions around with you on a piece of paper and when/if you get cornered with a difficult decision ask yourself before you do or say anything:

1. Is it the Godly norm? (Whatever is True)
2. Is it worthy of trust? (Whatever is Honest)
3. Does it conform to holiness? (Whatever is Just)
4. Could it corrupt spirituality? (Whatever is Pure)
5. Would Jesus embrace it? (Whatever is Lovely)
6. Would it attract others to Christ? (Whatever is of a Good Report). . .
. . .think on these things. . .and do. . .and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

This also means Christian think about who you are in Christ. You are an Ambassador for Christ. He has chosen you to be His messenger; to represent Him. What an honor!

You are employed by the Creator of the universe, Jesus Christ, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 days a month, 365 days a year. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that in the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

One day, when you leave this temporary world, and cross over onto God's eternal celestial shores of. . .Home, wouldn't it be awesome to see the glory of Jesus' face look upon you and say, "'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.'" (Matthew 25:23)

Jesus never said this life would be easy my dear brothers and sisters, but He did say, it will be worth it all. Christ is your rock; the hard place is the world. Satan and his demonic wrecking crew rule this earth trying to lure you with all sorts of ‘good and cool stuff’. Which one do you want to hang out with?

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

Here is the crowd I recommend all Christians to hang out with, and they are:
Joshua, Ruth, Samuel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Paul, Kind David, King Solomon, Timothy, Joshua, etc. etc. I'm sure you'll enjoy hanging out with this crowd as much as I do. And we can all benefit from all of them, don't you agree?

Bantu and the Vision: The Vision

Bantu and the Vision: The Vision