I spent three days at the Kimaeti church. When I arrived at the home where I would be staying, which was near the church, I was greeted by about ten pastors. They were all excited to see me. We met in the living room and shared hearts with one another. I shared about why I was in Kenya and the vision our Lord Jesus Christ had given me that I was responding to.
Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s masterpiece. That He created each of us in Christ Jesus with the purpose that we would perform good works. Furthermore, that verse says that God has already prepared for us to walk in those good works.
I have been teaching on many different topics at the different churches in Kenya, as I have been inspired by our Lord. I have been given a LOT of teaching time. Throughout it all, one topic in particular that I have been putting much emphasis on wherever I went was to let each individual person know how very special they are. That God loves them so much, and if they will dedicate their life to our Lord Jesus Christ, God will help them discover their unique talents and abilities and cause great and wonderful things to happen. That God has prepared for them to perform a very important ministry. And their ministry is just as important as mine.
When I spoke to a body that contained mostly church members, that is what I would teach. If I was in a group that contained mostly church leaders, I would teach the leaders that the people within their church fellowship have an important ministry and that, as their leader, it was their job to help and encourage everyone in their congregation to perform their function.
1 Corinthians 12:18-27 tells us that everyone’s part in the body of Christ is important. And Ephesians 4:11-15 instructs those who have gift ministries of an apostle, teacher, pastor, etc. to use that ministry to build up the body of Christ. I would lay these truths as the foundation, and then teach details from the scriptures on that subject to build their faith, with the purpose of making these verses living and real.
However, my first teaching at Kimaeti was on “The Race Set Before Us.” In this teaching, I share that it takes discipline, commitment and sacrifice to answer the call that God has given us. I explain how the discipline in athletic sports will bring us temporary victories when discipline is applied. And the athletes celebrate and rejoice when those victories are won. But they are only temporary celebrations.
If we will apply that same discipline and commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ, serving him, we will reap eternal rewards. I talked to them about the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom that will take place here on earth, when Jesus Christ will reign. We who are a part of the body of Christ are all going to be joining him at that time. The only question is, what responsibilities will we be given? Jesus Christ will be handing out positions of service and responsibility during that 1,000-year period, based on our faithfulness to serve him now.
I wasn’t planning on teaching about “The Race…” until Sunday. It is about our hope and so it made logical sense to me that I should teach it last. But I kept getting thoughts to teach it on Friday instead of Sunday. But why?
I kept fighting those thoughts in my mind. I was thinking that it would be a great message to wrap up my three days in Kimaeti. But the Lord kept making it clear to me that I was to teach it Friday morning. I finally gave in. It wouldn’t be until after I taught it that I knew why it was so important to teach it on Friday instead of Sunday.
I sponsored a bicycle race. It required $500 of my money. I was trusting Isaac on this, who would serve as my host for the majority of my stay in Kenya. He really wanted this race to take place, saying it would bring great outreach for the 
community. With everything else going on, I had somewhat forgotten about it. Now it was here. Bicycle racers had traveled from all over the place in Kenya to participate. Prior to the start of the race, many of them attended our church service and had heard me teach. My message on Friday was “The Race Set Before Us.” Now it made perfect sense.
The bike races took place in the early afternoon. It was HUGE. Some of the competitors traveled here from 30 to 35 miles away. Not only were there 
competitors from all over. Both sides of the street were lined up with fans, anxious to cheer on the racers. It reminded me of a parade. The people were so excited. They shouted and cheered when the riders went by.
There were actually a lot of races that took place. Different age groups. The streets were blocked off as needed. They had designated men who were assigned to block the traffic at the appropriate time. The age groups included junior, senior and those in-between. Within these groups, there were separate races for boys and girls. It took all afternoon for the races to finish.
Afterwards, I was headed with Bishop Isaac to the police station, to talk to the police chief of this area. The race had caused a lot of commotion and someone had complained to the police. As I walked up to the police chief, he smiled at me and shook my hand. EVERYONE in Kenya smiles. I had not yet met anyone who did not warmly welcome me into their country. I was pleasantly surprised to experience that even security guards were quite friendly towards me.
I shared my heart with the police chief as to why we had sponsored this race. He smiled again and responded by saying everything was fine. But next time we would need to get a permit to have such a race. We shook hands again, gave shoulder taps to each other, and departed. The opposite shoulder taps are done in addition to the handshake when you especially are wanting to show your favor towards that person.
Shortly after each race, I shook hands with each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from all of the age groups and then had my picture taken with them. That evening, we gave out the awards. It was envelopes with money in it. In the Kenyan culture, when they give gifts during any kind of event, even weddings, it is usually money that is given. That’s what they are most happy to receive because money is so difficult to come by. The unemployment rate is very high. If we would have given the bicycle winners a trophy instead of money, they would have been disappointed or upset.
After the races finished, it was time for the crusade. Standing just to the left of the church was a huge stage. The talent of these Kenyans has amazed me. They can do so much with so little. It is a square stage, about 12 feet long by 12 feet wide and standing 4 feet off the ground. Steps were built to climb up to it. Three men had built it by hand in less than two days. The only tools they had were a hammer, some nails and a hand saw. One of the men I had met on Thursday night. He was a pastor who was also a construction worker.
So much occurred during my 3-day stay at Kimaeti that I have decided to break it up into 3 separate episodes with this being the first. I am crying as I share this. I have now been in Kenya for 8 days. And every single day I have been here, I have seen God work in a mighty way, totally blowing away all of my expectations regarding what I thought could happen. You will see as you read about it in the upcoming episodes.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? So run in such a way that you attain it.
And everyone who is competing in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
Therefore, I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air,
but I treat my body harshly and make it my slave, lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthi
ans 9:24-27 REV