Pauline Baptist Church

“Our vision is to be a ministry of eternal significance that impacts the cause of Christ through the advancement and multiplication of His churches.”

September 2009 Report

Greece Retreat

Cross Cultural International Missionary Retreat

     This month our family had a great opportunity to fellowship with missionaries from all over the world in Greece! The Cross Cultural International Missionary Retreat has been going on for several years and this year God opened the door for our family to attend through the generosity of Magnolia Springs MBC, Theodore, AL and our sending church Pauline BC.

      I cannot put into words what this trip meant to our family. It was a time of refreshment and indeed a time to retreat and refocus. The classes were great, the services were awesome, the VBS for the kids was incredible, and the sense of belonging and family priceless. We have already requested our church to allow us to attend yearly. I feel there is immense value in this retreat for our spiritual well being and growth.

     We appreciate the ladies of Faith BC, North Little Rock, Shawn and Crane, Jack and Pat Story, and Lynn and Brenda Raburn for facilitating and organizing everything. Our kids still are talking about the trip and the VBS. Josiah said it was the best trip he had ever been on. That says a lot because his whole life pretty much he has been on a trip.   

Doors Opening 

          I was eager to get out to Singuaya once we returned from Greece. Just before we left we met with a man who was leading a Bible study in Kwandezi and also with William Karisa. The second Sunday back Godfry and I headed out to visit with both groups to see how they were doing and if we could help them.

 The group meeting in Gandini is meeting on William Karisa’s plot. William is a member of our church here in Malindi but has returned home to his family to farm. There was a good little group meeting. We had a Bible study and visited awhile about how to continue.

     Immediately after the Bible study in Gandini ended we hoofed it across the valley to Kwandezi to meet with the group there for the first time. We found a good group of folks meeting together under a tree. We spent several hours together discussing what their intentions were and what their needs were. We gave them some instruction on what to do to continue with promise to return and continue to help them with teachings and leadership.

     It is so amazing to watch God continue to open doors of opportunity for the gospel to be preached. The area in Singuaya that God has opened is a great opportunity. Pray for God’s leadership as we continue working with both groups.

Highlights

*     Since we started the church in Manganganil Brother Mbuvi has baptized another nine people! Praise the Lord for the growth and for the continued work.

*     Moses led Beatrice to the Lord this month and she is ready to be baptized  and wants to join the church.

*     William’s brother Jonathan has been coming faithfully to the church in Malindi and has submitted himself for baptism.

*     We had a meeting concerning starting Landmark Baptist Bible Institute Pwani and we had 10 in attendance. Lord willing we start classes in January with at least these ten, maybe more.

*     There is a family that has contacted us that feel God may be calling them to Kenya to work alongside of us. Pray for this family as we seek the Lord’s will.

*     First time I had to go “grease monkey” this term. Yes, that is a highlight since we have been here over a year and our vehicles have held up great! Praise the Lord!

Contact Information

  Sending Church: Pauline Baptist Church PO

Missionary:  James Taylor PO Box 8 1 1 Malindi, Kenya 80200 Phone 0 1 1-254-736649257  missionarytaylor@gmail.com

Family News

The trip to Greece was such a great opportunity for our family.  I have to say it’s the first time since we came to Kenya that I have been completely relaxed and refreshed.  I enjoyed the sweet fellowship so much.  The classes with Lynn and Brenda were of great encouragement.  I am very thankful for their heart and ministry.  I would say though the highlight for me was watching the kids.  They might have needed this more than us.  The ladies of Faith did such a great job ministering to our kids.  Our kids’ social activities have been very limited and the ones they do have are in Swahili.  So I am grateful to the ladies of Faith for ministering to our children in their heart language.  I feel like our kids truly benefited from the special attention they received and from the refreshment they enjoyed while in Greece.  And being able to stand where Paul stood and teach our kids about it was truly amazing.  How many parents get to bring the Bible to life like that for their children?  Thank you so much Magnolia Springs and Pauline.  We love and appreciate you all. 

Upon return from Greece it was full swing in school.  The kids are off to a good start.   And Abigail is doing so well this year.  I’m so happy.  Her reading has significantly improved over the “summer” break.  We did a reading club for the summer where they received prizes for reading and it did wonders for Abigail.  Her confidence has really climbed.  Lydia loves school and wants to work ahead every day.  She is so smart.  Josiah has a strong self-motivated personality.  So all I have to do is give him the assignments and he could do nearly everything himself.  Sarah has two preschool books we are doing.  She feels a part of the “class.”  So she is happy.  Samuel on the other hand is still adjusting to his lack of freedom.  I have set up a desk for him so that he can sit with us from time to time. 

The ladies had a special fellowship day in Mombassa.  None of these ladies have the opportunity to go there, so we planned this day several months back.  Six of us met in the morning and went to Mombassa.  It was a nice day of fellowship.  There were two second-hand shops there and a couple of other shops we wanted to go to.  When we got to the first one, it was gone.  But after asking around, we found out it had moved; and they had converged the two shops together downtown.  So we headed downtown and found the shop.  All the ladies enjoyed shopping.  Each came out with a few treasures.  Then we went to another shop in town called Tusky’s, kind of like a Fred’s.  We then ate at a little restaurant downtown.  It’s funny because Africans don’t really talk while they are eating.  But they talked on Saturday because I asked each of them questions about themselves in order to get to know each other better.  I found out that Mama Derrick went to tailoring school and finished with a certificate.  Mama Esther never wanted to get married; she wanted to be a nun.  Obviously her husband converted her haha.  Mama Cedrick only ever wanted to be a mom.  Beatrice just graduated and wants to go to tailoring school.  And Margaret wants to be a doctor after she graduates in December.  On the way home we stopped at an open market in Kilifi.  Each of us found a few things and then headed home.  It was a good day.  Also along the way we discussed our ladies meetings and decided that we are going to start having them at a different lady’s house each time and make them more of fellowship and a devotion time and then have special seminar days where we teach a certain subject.  I’m really looking forward to this. 

Thanks for reading and praying.