By now, you know that I always put the "bottom line" first, so you all can quickly see what's going on during a mission trip. If at all possible, please also read the prayer requests and pray. Then, if you'd like to know more and have the time, read on for more details.
Thursday's Bottom Line:
Our two U.S. missionaries have wrapped up their various separate seminars and summits, and all have gone well, praise God! Now Mark and Scott are both back at Hillary's house near Nairobi, where they are resting and gathering steam for leading the Better Together marriage seminar on Saturday. Scott is not feeling well and is looking forward to some extra sleep and better health.
Thursday's Prayer Requests:
Restorative rest and great health for both Mark and Scott, as well as for James and Hillary.
Many existing DM leaders - and especially those eager to start leading - to "take the challenge" to organize and begin their new groups by August 9th.
Absolutely nothing (spiritual, logistical, financial, relational, etc.) to keep the ministry couples God wants at Saturday's Better Together marriage seminar from coming; the Holy Spirit to clearly direct our team's specific preparations for that event.
Thursday's Details:
Here's Scott at his DM summit at Hillary's church in Juja...
What a happy preacher!
... Scott said, "36 people currently in DM groups who are not DM Coaches signed up to become coaches today. Only two came who are not in a DM group. Here are the ones requesting to start groups."
He continued, "Notice the one(s) with the white turban(s). They are called Akurinu. The one [on the left of the screen] is a pastor. According to their tradition, they are not to fellowship with any outside their church, but through the DM process, they have found many new friends in the family of God. Hillary will be holding a vision-casting in one of their churches a few weeks after our mission. God is bringing His body together!"
Scott also sent us some kitchen-ish pictures.
Crockpot in the carport
And here's a close-up of the features and controls of such an appliance.
"African crockpot"
Whether or not it's been simmering in your garage, may your dinner tonight be as tasty as theirs was, and may God bless you and your family bigtime as you keep praying for Our Heroes during this mission trip!
Surprisingly, the pastor at the church where Scott preached Sunday morning took up an offering for him! That, plus the registrations paid by the DM group members at Monday's DM summit in Kirinyaga covered 20% of the cost of the summit. That may not sound like a big deal, but trust me, it was. Following that powerful Monday summit led by Hillary and Scott, those who attended are now strategizing about how they can start new groups to "pay forward" what they have experienced through the disciple-making process. What encouraging news!
Mark and James flew (and did not drive six hours!) to Eldoret to hold a DM seminar there on Monday (great), and a wonderful DM summit the following day in Niavasha.
Tuesday's Prayer Requests:
God to bring healing and significant change to ministry marriages through the upcoming Better Together marriage seminar on Saturday.
Grace and insight as our team plans for the three DM summits next week.
Our leaders (at all levels) to thrive in the midst of the growing pains associated with setting things in order.
Plenty of restful sleep for our team members; healing for Scott's sore throat.
Recent and Upcoming Details:
The word God gave Scott for TTC in 2025 is "sustainability," and Scott, the TTC board, and a number of our wonderful partners have been laser-focused on making the ministry sustainable in many ways. This includes adding personnel, establishing reproducible procedures, improving communication and documentation, upgrading and expanding TTC's website and social media presence, and strengthening its financial foundation.
That latter one is why Scott was so pleased to see so many people register and pay to come to the DM summit in Kirinyaga ("kee-rin-YAH-guh"). Although the financial cost of that summit far outweighed the monies that came in, the fact that monies did come in(!!!) represents a mental shift among many of those who are being discipled. Scott said, "... it is a great start. In all my years ministering in Kenya (and India), we have never had registration like this. Hillary also shared about the need for Kenyans to support this Kenya DM movement. He spoke in their native vernacular and then it was translated to Swahili. I couldn't understand it at all." = )
Hillary speaking the truth in love
But Hillary's words obviously made an impact. Scott said, "There were 90 attendees, and 14 signed up to join DM groups. Many of those currently in groups set a goal to start new groups by Dec 31, 2025. They understood that although they have received freely of the DM process, it wasn't truly free. Their coach had to pay the cost. Now it is their turn to fall to the ground and die like a seed, so they can multiply."
Planning how they can start new groups
While Hillary and Mark were leading this DM summit, James and Mark were leading a DM seminar some 200 miles away in Eldoret. Mark said, "James and I flew on Monday from Nairobi to Eldoret at around 6:00 AM and then had our disciple-makers seminar starting at 9:00 AM that same day. About 43 attended, and over 20 of them are eager to join DM groups."
James telling it like it is
All these folks were at the Eldoret Disciple-Makers seminar!
Mark continued, "Then we had a disciple-makers summit today in Niavasha ("nee-uh-VAH-shuh"), and that took a 5-hour matatu ride, and that was exciting. [The summit] ended very well with all 70 that came being very energized and focused on wanting to start and raise more disciples out of the groups that they've already created." (In this picture, James is grinning third from the left on the front row, and Mark is grinning on the back row.)
What a great crowd at the Niavasha summit!
James and Mark and Hillary and Scott will all wrap up their various regional seminars and summits on Wednesday. Then the four of them will have some down time together (down time? what is that?!?) back in Nairobi on Thursday and Friday to rest and plan before Saturday's "Better Together" marriage seminar and next week's much-anticipated summits.
For clarification, here's a friendly review of terms: Unlike our DM seminars that introduce new pastors and church leaders to the disciple-making process, DM summits are special all-day meetings designed to encourage and further train people who are already involved in disciple-making at some level. The first summit next week will be for the many coaches who are leading groups. The next summit will host our regional "pillars" (leaders) who are discipling numerous coaches in a given area, and the third summit will minister to our national "pillars" who are spearheading the expansion of disciple-making throughout all of Kenya and in the surrounding nations.
In TTC's organizational framework, we have many coaches, fewer regional pillars, and an even smaller handful of national pillars; I like to think of TTC's levels of servant-leadership kind of like Jesus, who had his 70, his 12, and his 3. = )
Let's close today with an exciting testimony Scott shared. Since we all know DM summits are designed for anybody who is "already involved in disciple-making at some level," that could include any member of a disciple-makers group, a coach, a regional pillar, or a national pillar, right?
Well, two 20-something young men came to Hilary and Scott's summit yesterday. They have each had rough lives, including alienation from their families, addictions, and living for years on the streets. A local church member has provided them a place to stay and got them involved in a disciple-makers group. Scott said, "Alex, in red, lived on the streets from age 9 to 25." Can you believe that?!? "He has been greatly changed by the DM group, which he started attending 2 months ago. He said he has learned so much through the DM process, including forgiving his mom, and getting free from drugs. The other man, Edwin, has experienced similar growth."
Edwin and Alex with Scott
Edwin and Alex were coming to a DM group and didn't even have Bibles, but thanks to Hillary they do now. They are both so glad to be involved and are asking all kinds of questions as they grow in their faith. Praise God!
These are the kinds of results God is doing as YOU pray for our TTC team. Thank you for once again taking time to bring today's prayer requests to him in faith!
I'm writing this on Sunday afternoon, and relative to Sunday, here's a three-day version of Before, During, and After.
Saturday was a travel/tourist day for Mark and Hillary and a DM seminar day for Scott and James, at the end of which they all convened at Hillary and Joyce's home near Nairobi, Kenya for a birthday party.
Sunday's schedule had Scott preaching at a church an hour or so away in Kirinyaga, while Mark preached at Hillary's church in Nairobi.
On Monday, Mark will drive with James to Eldoret to hold a DM seminar there, while Scott drives back to Kirinyaga with Hillary to hold a DM summit for group members and coaches in that region.
Sunday's Prayer Requests:
Safe travel for all our missionaries.
Folks who heard Mark's and Scott's Sunday morning messages to remember and apply what the Holy Spirit spoke them in those services.
Receptive hearts and minds at the Eldoret DM seminar on Monday; no strife or distractions.
Refreshing, rejoicing, and refinement of processes at the Monday DM summit in Kirinyaga.
Sunday's Details:
This trip is involving many hours of "ground transportation" which can be draining both physically and mentally, and all the moving of people and supplies from place to place can increase opportunities for things to be misplaced or forgotten. Thanks to God, our guys' good planning, and your prayers, so far, so good. = )
Scott said his and James' DM seminar in Mtito Andei "went really well" with 95 attending and a total of 44 registering to join disciple-makers groups!
[NOTE: Any believer in the U.S. or overseas can join a DM group and be trained in several months to lead his or her own group, but our preference is for church leaders and especially pastors to join DM groups because the pastor sets the direction and pattern for the whole church. Raising disciple-makers happens most effectively when the pastor has the vision for it and has personally experienced the process. That's why Scott is always so jazzed to see how many pastors are registering to join DM groups.]
Scott said, "All of these [pictured below] are pastors, and they committed to join DM groups. Pastor Steve [of Disciple-Maker Indeed fame a few days ago] will travel with 3 of his coaches the 1.25 hours every week to lead these pastors in in-person groups."
Many pastors who want to experience the disciple-making process
This weekend, our missionaries are trading partners, much like what happens in a square dance: you dance with one partner for a while and then you swing to a different partner. Last week, Mark and Hillary were working (dancing?!?) together to lead DM seminars for new people in Uganda and Rwanda, while Scott and James were doing their DM summit "dance" for DM group members and coaches in Kenya.
This coming week, all our folks will be in one country: Kenya. Mark will be partnered with James, both in Eldoret (some six hours from Nairobi) and other locations, and Scott will be traveling with Hillary to several additional places, generally closer to Nairobi.
I do realize all this travel information can be hard to follow and keep up with, and I/we very much appreciate your reading these updates and praying for these four missionary men and the many others who are helping them do so much ministry work. But thankfully it's not all work and no play. = )
Saturday was Mark's birthday, and his wish came true.
He got to tour a coffee plantation!
That evening, everyone gathered at Hillary and Joyce's home to celebrate Mark's birthday. (Hillary is taking the picture, and his wife, Joyce, is on the left in red.)
Birthday boy with cake and happy friends!
A good time was had by all, and Scott captioned the following two pictures, "Birthday celebration, African style!"
The cake has been cut...
And Mark is "serving" Hillary
Happy birthday, Mark!
And happy Sunday, praying TTC partners. We really appreciate you!
Both of our U.S. missionaries are having good meetings in their respective locations, with numerous people requesting to join DM groups and current disciple-makers being warmly appreciated and strongly challenged to lead more groups and raise more disciple-makers. Scott and James are holding their 2nd DM summit in Makindu, Kenya, while Mark and Hillary, after a spontaneous additional opportunity(!), are holding their 2nd DM seminar in Nyamata, Rwanda.
Friday's Prayer Requests:
God to protect and help Scott with some 7 hours of challenging driving today and tomorrow.
Good health and physical stamina for Hillary, James, Mark, and Scott as they travel from place to place and lead many meetings.
The disciples who have been raised up and trained as DM coaches to promptly organize and effectively lead the many new DM groups now being formed in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya.
Friday's Details:
First, here's the latest news from Mark. He and Hillary have led two DM seminars in the Kigali, Rwanda area (2 red map pins in lower left corner below). On Saturday they'll fly back to Nairobi; no super-long bus ride this time!
Yesterday in Kanombe, Hillary and Mark had about 45 people attending the DM seminar; 14 want to join online groups, and 3 want to join in-person groups.
Mark teaching during Rwandan DM seminar #1 in Kanombe
Answering a question; what eye contact!
Mark said, "We were also invited to teach the youth that night. Hillary volunteered me! It was good. About 100 youth were there, and I shared with them how the refiner wants to transform them into his design to make them useful in the kingdom."
Lots of Kanombe youth listening attentively
Mark says, "We are now heading to Nyamata about an hour away. After the seminar, Bishop Podo is going to take me to the genocide site. [Readers may recall the horrific slaughter of tens of thousands of Rwanda's ethnic Tutsi minority population in 1994.] I am deeply honored to witness this. Lastly he will be taking me to get something very important. Real Rwandan coffee beans!!!!!!!! Thank you, Jesus. 😉" On Saturday Mark and Hillary will FLY back to Nairobi; no all-day bus ride this time!
Dinner is served!
And last, but definitely not least, here's the latest news from Scott about his 2nd Kenya DM summit (for current DM group attendees and leaders) in Makindu, Kenya.
He says, "Pastor Steve has raised up 8 coaches that have now [raised up] over 50 disciple-makers. He was my interpreter into Swahili."
Pastor Steve interpreting for Scott
We acknowledged him as a Disciple-maker Indeed." [Note: A Disciple-Maker Indeed is one who has raised up disciples who are making more disciples; that is, he or she is a spiritual "grandparent."]
James and Scott recognizing Pastor Steve as a Disciple-Maker Indeed!
"At today's Makindu DM summit, we had around 80, with 63 paying the 100 KES registration. That was a big win!"
NOTE: In some nations/cultures/places, there exists the idea that when a missionary, especially from the west, comes to lead a seminar, the missionary should pay the expenses for local people to attend. While we are definitely willing to help when necessary, TTC generally believes that people (anywhere) tend to benefit more from a meeting when it costs them something - even a small amount - to participate. Exchange rates always vary, but today 100 KES (Kenya Shillings) $0.77 USD. For comparison, the average daily wage across all jobs in the U.S. is $256. The average daily wage across all jobs in Kenya is $22.
Scott said, "About 18 signed up to join DM groups, and about a dozen current group members committed to lead additional new groups. One will start this Sunday! We held the meeting at Pastor Steve's bishop's church. He (Bishop Dr. Japheth Munyao) attended some of the sessions, and what I was saying resonated with him. He asked one of his regional overseers to talk to Steve about how to implement the process in his churches. He has 400 churches, all in Mukueni County. 🤠" Mukueni ("muh-KWAY-nee") County is about the size of the state of Delaware.
Scott continued, "It is about 1.25 hours to Mitito Andei for tomorrow's DM Seminar and 4.5 hours home. 😳 I have to drive on a two-lane road with trucks like interstate 44. Prayer please!"
James and Scott have now wrapped up their time in Makindu (red map pin near bottom center of this map). On Saturday morning (about 11:00 PM Friday MO time), they will do the 1.25 hour drive to Mtito Andei (no, I can't pronounce that!), lead a several-hour DM seminar, and drive back to Hillary's home near Nairobi (red map pin at left center of the map, just below large green "25th JUL" leaf), where they will eventually meet up with Hillary and Mark. It will be a very long, full day; hence prayer request #1 above.
Finally, Scott said, following his time in Makindu, "There is a school at the church. I had to get a picture!"
Aren't these girls adorable? = )
We hope you are encouraged as you follow along during this mission trip and pray for our guys today!
While Mark and Hillary were leading a DM seminar in Rwanda on Thursday to introduce the disciple-making concept, Scott and James were leading a DM summit in Kenya to encourage, equip, and challenge many current DM group members to reach out and lead groups. On Friday, each of our missionary pairs will follow the same pattern, repeating what they did today in other relatively nearby areas.
Thursday's Prayer Requests:
Those who have attended Hillary and Mark's past three DM seminars in Uganda and Rwanda to follow through to join DM groups ASAP; strong connections among group members to form quickly.
Those who were at James and Scott's DM summit on Thursday and who committed to lead groups to be Spirit-led in connecting with people to invite; that their enthusiasm would be contagious.
God to watch over Scott and Mark, keeping them healthy, strong, and focused, despite their full schedules and almost daily travels.
Thursday's Details:
Scott said, "Great meeting today. All of these [pictured below] are in groups and have committed to start their own groups!"
Ready to lead their own DM groups!
He continued, "72 attended, and 10 [actually] signed up to lead a group, and many more committed to lead. The host pastor, Pastor Joseph, has committed to go to Basil, about 20 miles away, to raise up a group there. He knows the pastors fellowship there." It is amazing to me that from a handful of "seeds" (those pastors Scott has been actively discipling for a number of years), God has brought forth such a great harvest of disciple-makers here in Kenya.
Below, James is seated to the right of Scott. In appreciation for their service and leadership, they have both been "hooded" with honorary plaid shawls.
72 DM summit attendees in Kajiado
I'll close today's update with a true "small world" event.
Scott and I have very dear friends we met in Little Rock over 30 years ago. Neal and Danette Childs live in Niger, West Africa where they have a truly incredible church planting and discipleship ministry that is transforming that nation and reaching into many other nations of the world.
Today, I received this picture from Mark, who as you well know, is currently leading DM seminars with Hillary in Rwanda. Note the comment he included with this photo.
"Ran into a friend of Scott and Patty Roberts: Pastor Neal Childs"
Absolutely astounding!!!
Now, let's think about this. One pastoral friend of ours, Mark, is 7,000 miles from his home in southwest Missouri, another pastoral friend of ours, Neal, is 2,000 miles from his home in Niamey, Niger, and these two men (who both know us) just "happen" to meet?!? In Kigali, Rwanda?!?!?!? To quote a classic line from The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie, "I don't think that's possible!" But we do have the picture to prove it. = ) WOW!
I am quite sure that the God who put that "chance" meeting together is big enough and strong enough and creative enough to handle any challenges our teams may face today! Thank you for joining your faith with theirs and praying for good success in all their activities during this trip.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
