Letter to Maasai Project Partners

To those of you who've been following the Maasai Project, this letter below from the Bizman (Caleb Bislow) is a must read.


Allies in Christ,

The Maasai Project blew my expectations away. I find it hard to put into words what exactly happened because SO MANY things took place among the 30 groups and I am still processing them.

Here are some bullet points of what God did and is doing:

* 31 teams were successfully sent out to the bush
* 1,475 people received Christ
* numerous villages heard of Christ for the first time
* one team went back to the bush to start a disciple movement immediately after the conference
* According to Simon there are nearly 34 places that granted the teams permission to start a new churches (to begin disciple making movements)
* One team got to sit in on a meeting of 6 witchdoctors and shared the love of Christ with them
* Numerous miracles and healings took place among the groups
* One team slept at a place where there was a cattle raid. Later that night God opened up a door to share Christ to variety of people from different villages at a circumcision ceremony.
* Some entire villages responded to the gospel.
* 11 denominations were a part of the EXODUS! This was the first time these denominations had ever linked hands with a common cause. At the celebration numerous people from more denominations came expressing their desire to join the movement of reaching the unreached.
* High elected Maasai officials came to the celebration
* The representative of indiginous people for the UNITED NATIONS made my aquaintence on my last few days in Africa. He was a man of great influence. We laughed alot and I planted many seeds about Christ in his heart, but he was not ready to make a decision for Christ.
* A man in the deep jungle gave his heart to Christ, changed his name to Joshua, and was given money (as test) to receive an education at a Christian school (trick move to disciple). On the day we were leaving he called to say that he was at the school and ready to go! The man also gave me (Caleb) his spear that had killed buffalo, lion, and elephant in exchange for his education. It is a spear that I will undoubtedly treasure.

Some of the challenges the groups faced:

* A rebel sect of the Kikuyu tribe dug a trench across the road that led to Simon's village. They burned vehicles and killed 12 people the day before we left to go to Simon's boma for the conference. Our hostel warned everyone not to travel that direction. However the next day opposition had ceased and we had no option but to go in that direction.
* A demon possessed man opposed one of the Christian teams
* One group got chased by aggressive Elephants
* A close friend of Simon's had a baby that died at a hospital (a place Simon recommended to the family) the day before the conference.
* One man beat his family for accepting Christ. Later that night they snuck out of their boma while he was sleeping to hear more about Christ!
* Numerous breakdowns and issues in the mud (rivers)
* Simon's father got a strong illness while we were on the Exodus
* One witch doctor drowned the day after he chose not to receive Christ
* Simon (my translater) was in a taxi that got shot at and almost got robbed. The man sitting in front of him got shot in the head and was rushed to the hospital immediately.
* Caleb's taxi nearly ran over a dead body in the middle of the road on his way to the airport.

What a God Adventure with many ups and downs. Thank you for all of your support and prayers. These are as much your GOD stories as they are ours. But most importantly they are HIS stories. Because without Him there would be no story. I can't wait to see what God has waiting for us in the future.

ADVANCING THE KINGDOM TOGETHER!

Biz, Jess, Trace
"this exodus has shaken all of maasailand"- Simon Saitoti


The Maasai Project is really only beginning as lives continue to be changed by the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Let's continue to be faithful in prayer.

For more updates, check out Biz's blog.

A Big Dream

This morning as I woke up to pray for the Maasai, there was one phrase that was burning on my mind..."that none may go unreached".

I hear often about the need to have a heart for the nations and to pray for the nations, and as the reality of what this Exodus Conference is all about has set in...I'm encouraged and excited about crying out for the nations!

What if this conference began a ripple effect to reach the unreached... not just in Kenya but throughout every nation of Africa?! It's a big dream, but we have a BIG GOD...and I think too often we forget that!

So my prayer is that none may go unreached and that the LORD alone will be exalted! (Is 2:11, 17)

Maasai Monday: Day Before

That's right...this is the day before the team officially leaves for the Exodus Conference, April 15-24. If you haven't already, go to the Exodus 24/7 prayer site & sign up to be praying around the clock for the team...go here.

As far as today's prayer focus...this one is taken straight from an email I sent myself this morning. That's right, I sent myself an email reminder to pray for the Maasai. It's something I set up about a year ago through this website called Echo Prayer. You can create an account for free and enter in different stuff you're praying for. Then you can set up a calendar of when you want prayer emails sent to you. It's totally helped my prayer life! You can try it here.

So, today's prayer focus...

• Pray for revival among the people.
• Pray for Christian leaders to be raised up.
• Pray for hearts to be softened toward the Good News of Christ.
• Pray for God to send out the workers into the harvest field.
• Pray for Caleb & his burden & passion for these people.
• Pray for the training conference for raising up Christian leaders to come together.
• Pray for the unreached & unheard of groups- that they will be found & that they will hear about the awesome love of Jesus Christ.

Maasai Monday: The Team

http://themaasaiproject.blogspot.com/2008/03/pray-for-team-by-picture.html

Today's focus is praying for the team. Just follow the link above to view pics of the team & their families.

Things to be praying for...

• Safety- for the team that will be leaving and for their families that they will be leaving here at home.
• Strength- traveling long distances followed by long days of ministry can really take a toll on you...so be praying that this team would daily be reminded of and trust in Philippians 4:13.
• Freedom- pray that God's Spirit would be free to move among the team, among the 30 groups, and among the unreached areas that these leaders will be heading back out into.
• Flexibility- things don't always go as planned (well, as we have planned) so pray that the team would be flexible and allow for God to move how He needs to!
• Prayer- I know it sounds funny to pray for prayer, but be praying that God would continue to stir in hearts and raise up more prayer warriors for this team, their families, and those who will be impacted by this Exodus Conference.
  

Maasai Monday: 30 Groups

"Therefore, GO and make disciples of all nations..." -Matthew 28:19

The ultimate goal of this Maasai Project is not that they can have a great conference and Caleb & his team can reach more Maasai. The Exodus Conference that will be happening from April 17-24th, is designed to be a MOVEMENT to train and equip pastors from over 30 denominations to then be SENT out to share Christ with their distant brothers and sisters.

It's a great picture of what Jesus' ministry here on earth was all about...He invested into 12 who He called to "COME" and follow Him. He poured into their lives, trained them, challenged them, and then told them to "GO and make disciples".

So, today's prayer focus is for the 30 groups that will be represented at the Exodus Conference.

Pray for safety as they travel long distances to get to the conference.
Pray for open hearts and minds to where God may be calling them.
Pray for the safety of their families as they're away.
Pray against any distractions that might keep them from fulling being able to engage with God.
Pray for new vision among these groups and for boldness as they take their next step.
Pray for the hearts of those in the villages represented by these 30 groups...that God would begin the process of breaking down barriers and drawing hearts unto Himself.
Pray that God would use the obedience of these 30 groups to begin an unstoppable force that will continue to GO and share the love of Christ to all nations.
Pray that the Lord would add to their number daily those who are being saved (Acts 2:47).

Maasai Monday: Refugees

Imagine being forced to leave the only home you've ever known. Imagine having to leave behind everything to ensure that you would live. Imagine trying to start a new life in a strange place away from the people and places you're most familiar with.

Over 250,000 people have been displaced since the uproar that took place in Kenya over the December elections. Many refugees have fled to Simon's village (Caleb's brother on this project & translator). Many refugees have lost their fathers, mothers, and children. Most are relying on the kindness of strangers to provide them with food, water, shelter, and comfort. So today's prayer focus is on the refugees...

• Pray for God's provision through the generosity of His people.
• Pray for believers to continue to step up and show unconditional love to these refugees that have lost it all!
• Pray for wisdom for Simon on how to best use the resources he's been given.
• Pray for the hearts of these many refugees to be drawn to the One who gives abundant life.
• Continue to pray for a spirit of peace to flood the hearts of those at the center of all the violence.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Rm 12:12

Maasai Monday: Unrest

Just because it's not always front lining the news, doesn't mean it's not still happening! Today's prayer focus is on the unrest in Kenya. Over 1,000 people have been killed and over 250,000 people have been displaced from their homes since the outbreak of violence following the December 2007 elections. This battle is not just political...it's tribal.

Section of Kibera (slums in Nairobi) that was burned in the violence.

"The fighting is so intense that it is not only threatening the safety of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans, but it is debilitating various other aspects of daily life, including economic transactions, education, and health. Indeed, the economy has reached a near standstill as the movement of people and goods is severely restricted; teachers are fleeing and children are unable to attend school in affected areas of the country; and violence against women has skyrocketed, with one women's hospital in Nairobi registering unheard of numbers of rape victims." (OneWorld.net)


What can we do?

We are called to be people of prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Jude 1:20) So...let's be that!

Pray for this unrest in Kenya.
Pray for the peace of Christ to dwell in the hearts of His people (Col 3:15).
Pray for reconciliation between these tribes at war.
Pray for godly men and women to rise up and stand for Christ.
Pray for those who have lost everything, that they would find their hope in Christ.
Pray for an outpouring of love from the believers to those who are hurting.

40 Days

Tomorrow starts 40 days of prayer & fasting for Caleb Bislow as he prepares to head back to Kenya as part of the Exodus Project. If you haven't already caught onto this vision and joined the prayer army...do it now by going here!

If you've ever wondered what you can do to make a change in this world...here's your opportunity!
James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Imagine what can God wants to unleash not only among the Maasai of Kenya but around the world...but He's looking for people who will ask Him to do it! He's looking for people who desire to partner with Him through prayer! He's looking for an army...an army to unleash the power of the King all over this world!

Prayer must be important to God if He took time teaching us how to do it!

If we get one thing right this year...it will be prayer.

Kenya Night Continued...

Last night, NMC Student Ministries took part in a student-led night that centered around two ministries in Kenya, the AGC Abandoned Baby Center & the Maasai Project. The night was filled with all kinds of activities ranging from a bake sale, talent show, silent auction, and time spent in prayer for the ministries.

Thoughts from the night...

• We have some incredibly talented students! Lots of small groups put together items for the bake sale...that looked amazing! Several students were involved in the talent show, ranging from a Preteen Dance & Sign Language Workshop to a Junior High drama to some hilarious skits and great vocal performances from the Senior High. Overall, it was incredible!
• People know how to give! Earlier in the day, we updated the prices for the silent auction items. By the end of the night, I was floored by some of the bids that had come in!!! There's still 3 days left to get involved there! So check out the Kenya Night site and bid like crazy!!!
• Prayer is still the key! The close of the night was probably my favorite part. Why? Because everyone took time to pray for these two ministries! There were pictures up all along the walls of the Maasai and babies from the Baby Center, and so, people gathered around them and just began to pray. If there's one thing we're going to get right...it will be prayer! The Prayer Army is growing. God is up to something big! Consider how you might get involved!

Kenya Night was certainly not just about one night. It's a movement that is continuing to charge forward calling all Christ-Followers to MOVE. It's a chance for each of us to look beyond ourselves and recognize that "we are not our own." We have been given an incredible invitation to jump onboard with what God is already doing!

Are you ready to MOVE?

Maasai Monday: Get Involved!

For anyone wondering how they get can onboard with the Maasai Project in Kenya, definitely a key way is through prayer.

1. Prayer for the leaders of the villages, that their hearts would be open to the message of Jesus Christ.

2. Prayer for missionaries to rise up from the Maasai, that they may grab hold of all that God is doing and unashamedly share it with others.

3. Prayer for the many other unreached and undiscovered villages, that God would open a door for them to hear of His unconditional love for them.


Another way to get involved is to give. You may be asking...how? Where do I start?

Well, here at NMC, students have caught onto this vision of "Move in our World". They're getting this whole concept of taking what they have (time, treasures, talents) and leveraging them for the Kingdom. Out of this has come, Kenya Night. This is a night 100% dedicated to raising prayer support, awareness, and financial support for two different ministries in Kenya, the Maasai Project and the AGC Abandoned Baby Center.

What are students doing?


So, how can you get involved?
PRAY. PRAY. PRAY.
Go to the Kenya Night website and bid like crazy!
Spread the word!

Maasai Monday: Simon

“What man can not do God can do.” -Simon Saitoti


Simon Saitoti is Caleb's translator/partner in ministry in this vision to reach the Maasai. Before Caleb ever physically stepped into the picture, Simon's heart was focused on the Maasai.





So, today's prayer focus is for Simon. Let's pray that God would continue to stir in his heart as he & Caleb partner to reach the Maasai. Let's pray for continued vision and discernment in the midst of all the turmoil happening in Kenya.

During my extended time alone with God this weekend, I was reminded and encouraged as I read through the following verse...

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon thos who sit in darkness." -Isaiah 42:6-7

This has become my prayer for Simon, Caleb, and their team. God has definitely called each one of them. I'm excited to see how His plan continues to unfold!

Maasai Monday: Intro

Every Monday I'm going to start taking some time to focus on the Maasai of Africa, giving info about them & how we can be in prayer for them.






Probably among the best known and most easily recognized of Kenya's people, the Maasai are a pastoral people whose name was derived from their language, Maa. Actually a combination of Nilotic and Cushitic peoples, the Maasai originated northwest of Lake Turkana. They spread down through the Rift Valley, which provided fertile grasslands for their cattle. By the 19th century they had established themselves as warriors and were feared for raids deep into the territory of neighboring tribes. By the end of the 19th century, however, the Maasai were divided by internal conflict and further weakened by huge losses of cattle to rinderpest and drought.



Today it is estimated that there are over 880,000 Maasai in Africa, residing along the Great Rift Valley (621,000 in Kenya; 262,000 in Tanzania, est 2007). Many villages in Maasailand have never heard about the love of God. The name of Jesus is foreign to them as is the message of His great love for them.


"And to the ends of the earth."

This morning I'm reminded of Jesus' final message to His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The message of His love is not bound by ethnicity, by language, by culture, by land, by anything! His message is universal and is something we are called to share with all people everywhere!

Caleb Bislow (Biz) is an ordinary guy with an extraordinary dream...a vision to save a nation.


What can we possibly do to make that dream a reality? PRAY.

• Pray for Caleb, Simon and his team as they prepare to go back to Kenya
• Pray for God's Spirit to go before them and begin preparing the way
• Pray for the current violence taking place in Kenya...that the peace of Christ would rule in the hearts of the people...not hatred, anger, and revenge (Col 3:15)

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27).