2025 Kenya Mission Trip
L to R Rainy and Bill Schuhmacher, Nate and Tara Johnson, Jamin Jones, Tom and Karen Jones, Todd Jones
The mission team is back and it was a great success. The goal of the trip was to reach lost souls, build relationships by sharing God’s love with everyone we encountered, and provide a service of teaching to pastors, teachers, and the teens. A bonus group of 9–12-year-olds showed up ready to participate.
This banner was displayed in front of the new training center in Kambusu to announce the event. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. TM has conducted workshops for pastors and teachers over the years, but this was the first time the teens had been directly addressed. The teens responded in a big way with about 100 in attendance.
The pastors begin to gather on the first day. The pastors were asked for topics they were most concerned about, and the trainers focused on topics the pastors highlighted. Pastor Todd Jones and Pastor Bill Schuhmacher were elated to hear the pastors talk about how many things they planned to implement that they learned in the training.
Most of the teachers were Sunday school teachers with little formal training. Jamin Jones and Rainy Schuhmacher adjusted their lesson plans accordingly. The topics covered were as follows, different activities to create an environment of learning, ways to keep students engaged, addressing students with disabilities, and lesson planning through backwards planning. The teachers were engaged and enjoyed the training.
TM Ministry had not ever addressed the teens specifically. We were excited to see nearly 100 teens attend. Nate and Tara Johnson covered a wide range of topics that directly impact the teens in their daily lives.
Topics covered with teens
- Our Identity and Value in Christ
- Living a Life Dedicated to Jesus
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Hit on this every day!)
- Being Born Again / Becoming a New Creation
- Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse
- Premarital Sex and Healthy Romantic Relationships
The first day there were thirty-three 9–12-year-olds that showed up for training. We were caught totally by surprise!! Luckily, we had James for our interpreter. He was great. We started each day with some energetic singing. Then Tom and Karen Jones read Bible stories from a book that Karen found in the library, The Jesus Storybook Bible. We asked questions and highlighted teachable moments in the stories. The kids were eager to participate. After story time we sang a couple more songs of their choosing then we went downstairs and played relay games with two beach balls. The format was repeated in the afternoon. We connected with the kids on a personal level and we all had a good time together.
On Thursday everyone came together and met in the church. Pastor Elly was the emcee of the service, and he was great. Tom did a short talk thanking everyone on behalf of TM-Ministry and Radiant Church. Bill delivered a passionate message about encouraging people to let go of any shame they may feel from past actions. At the end nearly everyone stood with a commitment to lay their shame at Jesus feet. After the service there was some time for fellowship, followed by hugs and heartfelt goodbyes.
On Saturday, before the training seminars began, we dedicated the well in Kambusu funded by Radiant Church. The well was equipped with the MPesa dispensing system. A very small fee is charged to draw water. The money goes directly into a ‘well maintenance’ bank account. This ensures the well can be kept in continuous working order. This system is widely used in Kenya and has proven to be reliable and effective. Finding clean water to drink in this area is almost impossible. Dysentery is the number one cause of death affecting children the most. The well eliminates the dysentery problem.
Sunday, we attended church at the TM church plant in Ngunyumu. The attenders were mostly younger people. They were engaged and
energetic. It was a pleasure to meet Elly the new pastor. He was very personable and a good fit for the new church. Pastor Todd delivered a unifying message, "We are one people in the Kingdom of God." Since our citizenship is in heaven, we are ambassadors for heaven here
on Earth. This makes us more alike than different! Ruth interpreted the message.
Building relationships is always a key focus of our mission trips. Here are a few pics of relationships being forged.
