| Kenyan experience of the 20th Reformed Conference |
| Conference Ministry |
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My experience of 20th Zambia Annual Reformed Conference from a Kenyan brother studying in Kitwe, Zambia. It seems my excitement about the conference is not ending. I now get an opportunity to write a review. I shared a testimony in church that I was still recovering from the "shock" of attending the conference. Once again thank you so much for making it possible for me to be there.This was my first time to fellowship with reformed brethren at that level (I am from an Independent Baptist background). I came out of there challenged, rebuked and encouraged by God's Word and the people He was using that week. The fellowship was so nice you could feel the atmosphere of God's people who love one another. I came back to Kitwe and I felt like I had been away for so long. That tells you how much I enjoyed myself there. I could tell that a lot of prayer and organization had taken place. From the registration table to the sessions, everyone seemed to know what they were doing. I could also see that those who were serving us were there when we needed them. Three things stood out for me: Firstly, the singing was awesome. Every word blessed my heart. Everyone was singing with a lot of enthusiasm and conviction. That we need to sing to our God well was evidenced.Secondly, the fellowship with the brethren left an indelible mark in my heart. Everyone seemed to have time for everyone. Lastly, the emphasis on missions totally made my day. This was my first time in my entire life to be in the midst of indigenous people who not only love and plan for missions but who actually do it. The amazing thing was that the theme of the conference was not missions. But the brethren could not help but just talk and exhort one another on taking the Gospel to the World. As one preparing for the ministry, my time there helped me to rethink missions. It is very easy for a church to live for itself. To pamper itself and furnish itself. While people are perishing out there who have not heard the Gospel or have been carried away by false doctrines. I saw a people who have been equipped for the ministry (Eph. 4:12) and are pouring out their lives and resources for Christ. The history of how the conference began 20 years ago really built my heart and I knew that there was hope for our country as well. The conference also taught me something else: pastoral theology. Listening to the speakers and how they work it out was such a great blessing. And what encouraged me more was that these were not speakers from U.K. or the rest of the West. That our own are doing the work on our own land brought great hope as my heart bleeds for Kenya. I think I received more than I expected or deserved. May be one week is not enough to objectively evaluate something. But if this is what goes on at the conferences, then there is reason to thank God and everyone who was involved. The desire to be part of the conference again remained in my heart. Glory to God for using it in such a big way in my life. He indeed knew that I needed this at such a time in my life.
Yours in Christ, Andy Matoke |
As a fellow Kenyan who is overseas I am blessed to hear of God's church ministering to Kenyans of reformed convictions.
How can I make contact with Andy Matoke. My email contact is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
In Christ,
Mwaniki