Celebrating the Fruit of Partnership

Dr. Gary Nelson, Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Ngumo, and Dr. Malcolm Card.

On Sunday, we welcomed past CBM General Secretaries Gary & Carla Nelson and Malcolm & Patricia Card as they returned to Kenya to join us for partnership gatherings and the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the partnership between CBM and the Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC) this coming weekend.

We are so thankful for the impact that these two couples have had upon our lives. Without question, God used Gary and Carla to bring us into Canadian Baptist Ministries and the work in Africa that has defined the past thirteen years of our lives. From our days together at Acadia Divinity College to Erica's first visit to Nairobi during the Certificate of Ministry program, Gary has been a mentor and friend. In the years since he and Carla have been close friends and sources of wisdom and encouragement.

Malcolm and Patty have served with CBM since their days in Indonesia throughout the 1970s, but we only came to know them during their years as the Africa team leaders from 2004 until 2010. After returning to Canada, Malcolm served as the interim General Secretary of CBM and most recently the CBM board president. Both he and Patty have been among our dearest friends and a part of our family. 

CBM and ACC&S Leaders:

Carla Nelson, Elijah, Aaron, Erica, Luka, Patty, 

Malcolm, Julius, Gary, Jeremiah, and David

Today, we traveled to Thika to visit with the leadership of the African Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S), CBM's longest continuous partnership in Africa.

It was uplifting to hear about the progress that the new leadership has made over the past eighteen months strengthening the life and outreach of the denomination which has expanded into eight new areas of church planting, expanded its theological education program, recruited forty new pastors, and for the first time fully ordained a woman as a reverend.

It was also exciting to realize that both the Cards and the Nelsons were teachers and mentors for many of the new emerging leaders of the ACC&S. 

Erica, Patty, and Gary chatting at the Blue Post Hotel, Thika

The Nelson's grandson, Garrett, watching the torrent 

of flood waters crashing over the Chania Falls, Thika. 

Checking out the giraffe in Karen, Nairobi

Along with our official partner visits, we have had some fun enjoying the company of the Cards and Nelson's who are sharing this experience with their grandson.

After tomorrow's trip to meet with Ruth Munyao and the food security team in Embu, we will travel with the team to Ukambani to being our time with the ABC. We pray that these celebrations will bring glory to God and encouragement to the local churches that have been at the heart of these four decades of ministry. 

We recognize that the partnership with the ABC is such a rich story with the contribution of hundreds of Canadian missionaries, volunteers, and contributors. We look forward to sharing more about the fruit of this partnership in the coming days.

Aaron and Malcolm being photo-bombed in Nairobi