Michael Gowen's Review of October 2010 Trip to Kenya & Uganda

“Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

I was blessed to accompany Elder Vernon Johnson on a trip to Kenya & Uganda, 10/11/10 to 10/29/10. Our purpose in making the trip was to strengthen the brethren and to spend some time studying the doctrines of grace with several who are “asking the way to Zion”.

On our last night in Uganda, Elders Johnson, Martin and I were joined for dinner by the only American we had seen in two and one-half weeks. The subsequent conversation we had provides a good context in which to summarize my experience in Kenya and Uganda.

This 35 year-old veterinarian from Wisconsin was working for the United Nations on a humanitarian aid project. Her husband had returned to the States two weeks prior to attend to business and she was anxious for conversation with someone from home. After she asked a couple of leading questions about the menu, we asked if she would like to join us at our table.

She explained to us that her particular U.N. position involved both animal & plant husbandry. Together with her husband, she helped to “set up” poor Ugandan communities with poultry farms and row crops. She also bought cattle from various places for the U.N. World Food Program, which activity explained her visit to Mbale on this occasion.

We learned that she was a graduate of Dartmouth University, a prestigious Ivy League institution. Whatever her views might have been when she finished school, a decade of real-life experience on the ground, some of it in Africa, had taught her to appreciate the blessings we enjoy in America and to appreciate the impact Christianity has had on Western civilization. She talked freely about the blessings of living in a free republic, her concerns for the overtures toward a collectivist and socialist political paradigm in America over the past several years, and her faith in God.

The conversation soon turned to us. Br. Vernon explained that we were Primitive Baptist ministers and that we were here to visit some of our Primitive Baptist brethren and to instruct several inquirers in “the way of the Lord more perfectly”. She asked about the difference between Primitive and Southern Baptists and we explained our concern to emulate the simplicity and content of apostolic Christianity and to be as thoroughly Biblical in doctrine and practice as possible. Br Vernon added that we believe in the doctrines of grace. She nodded in understanding and inquired if we were similar to Orthodox Presbyterians. We explained that we do, in fact, affirm Total Depravity, Unconditional Election and other doctrines popularly associated with Calvinistic traditions, but were not “Calvinists”. Br. Vernon clearly defined that we do not believe in “Gospel Regeneration” like Calvinists do, but that the Gospel is for God’s people who have already been born again. She seemed to understand the explanation.

Her next comment surprised me. She said, “I wish you could come to my area. Truth is what these people need.” She went on to explain how superstition was keeping tribal people in bondage. She told how one man’s cow would die and instead of tracing the event to some disease or contaminant, he would explain it in terms of a neighbor’s hex. She talked about the cheap value many of them place on human life, the fact that many women tend to measure a husband’s love by how frequently they are beaten, the prevalence of polygamy, and the habit of measuring a man’s importance by how many wives and children he has. Personal superstition and government corruption keeps these people locked in a vicious cycle of poverty. She said “Truth is what these people need.”

I wonder how many modern people would agree with her perspective. I get the feeling sometimes that folks today place a higher premium on humanitarian efforts to feed the hungry, care for orphans, provide medical care, build houses, and attempt to eliminate poverty than they do the preaching and teaching of the word of God. The popular attitude seems to be that the person who has only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to give is not really providing much real help.

Indeed, the church of God should do all that it can to relieve human misery and alleviate human suffering. But that sort of humanitarian aid is not the primary business of the church. The main business of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ is to proclaim gospel truth, not to provide relief for economic and social ills. Our message is “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

You see, it is only the gospel of grace that truly explains the condition of the world and the cause of every societal ill. The gospel message begins with the premise that man is hopelessly fallen and inherently depraved. Because of Adam’s transgression, the world in which we live is under the curse of sin. Poverty, disease, war, crime, violence, human exploitation and every other problem may only be explained in terms of the native sinfulness of fallen human nature. Perplexity over the cause of suffering and pain vanishes in light of the clear Biblical doctrine of total depravity.

Further, the gospel points to the only solution for the miseries spawned by sin – the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. It affirms that man cannot save himself from the curse of sin and that his only hope is in a covenant-keeping God. How wonderful it is to see the light turn on in someone’s mind as they begin to see themselves in terms of the big picture of God’s covenant plan of redemption! How encouraging to see a person discover the rest that remains for the people of God in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Many of God’s children in this world are in the same condition as the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:2). Crippled by the carnal nature with which they were born, they have no strength to walk a godly walk. Indeed, like this lame man, they possess life, but have not yet found the strength to “Walk in the Spirit” so that they do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:19).

Like this lame man, again, many of the Lord’s born-again people have settled for a beggar’s pension in life (Acts 3:2, 5). They do not even realize that a better life is available. They expect and hope for nothing more than a nickel of entertainment here and a dime of recreation there to go along with the dollar of material possessions they have managed to accumulate. They are children of the King but live like panhandlers and beggars in this world (Is. 55:1-2; Jno. 10:10).

Furthermore, like this lame man, they are oblivious to their real need. They think that they need a handout, but what they really need is to be turned toward the Lord and taught how to walk. They need to be saved from ignorance (Rom. 10:1-3).

It is to such people that we bring a gospel message that may initially disappoint them: “Silver and gold have I none.” The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is not primarily a charitable institution, but a herald of the name of Jesus. We traffic in real remedies, not mere band-aids—in real-life, long-term help, not mere temporary assistance. We are interested first and foremost not to remedy the poverty in someone’s pockets, but the poverty of understanding in his mind, the poverty of emptiness in his soul, and the poverty of aimlessness in his life.

Whether or not a child of God is conscious of the fact, his greatest need is the truth of the gospel, not an extra coin or two in his pensioner’s cup. So our message is, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” To give a man the truth of the gospel of grace is true humanitarian aid. Never underestimate the profound effect that an understanding of the truth may have on a person’s entire lifestyle.

It is important to note that the truth of the gospel will only help the child of God who believes it (Acts 3:16). Gospel seed that falls by the wayside where the devil can snatch it quickly away (the prejudicial hearer), on shallow ground where elation is only momentary (the emotional hearer), or on briar-infested ground where the cares of this world choke the benefit of the word (the distracted hearer) will bring forth no fruit unto perfection (cf. Mt. 13). I have no doubt that some of the gospel seed sown in Africa fell into one of these categories. Some had preconceived ideas that made them reluctant to embrace the true gospel of grace. Others were caught up in the emotion of the moment but later reassessed their decision to unite with our people. And some were too involved in the affairs of this life to really concentrate on the truths we proclaimed.

Nevertheless, some gospel seed will fall on the good ground of a receptive and responsive heart. In Africa, only God’s born-again people who believed and embraced the message experienced the humanitarian assistance we had to give. I pray that it will truly help them to walk in the old paths, to walk humbly with the Lord, to walk in the light as He is in the light, and to walk in close fellowship with Christ.

How does the truth of the gospel help God’s children that believe it? Like the lame man, it tends to transform a person’s entire attitude toward life. It fills him with joy, peace & hope (Acts 3:8; Rom. 15:13). It opens wide the door to new opportunities. He now realizes that he is not predestined to subsist on a beggar’s pension, but has the resources necessary to live victoriously, like his Savior, overcoming the world (1 Jno. 5:4; Jno. 16:33). His heart is now filled with gratitude and love for the brethren (Acts 3:11). He treats his wife and children better; he becomes a more diligent employee; he practices honesty in his business dealings; in every sense, the truth he embraces has the potential to transform his daily walk.

Also, the transformation in one person’s life opens doors of opportunity to a larger audience (Acts 3:9-12). That prospect, in turn, has potential for doing even wider good in an entire community and culture.

Contrary to the secular idea that those who preach and teach the truth of the gospel are providing no real help to poverty-stricken people, I claim that they are the only ones who actually do something to remedy the malady. The gospel enables the born-again children of God who believes it to walk a truly Christian walk. It is true humanitarian aid! The old adage puts it well: “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”

It was the eagerness with which our African brethren wanted Gospel truth that impressed me. I didn’t get the impression that these good men were motivated by material concerns. Though there are exceptions to every rule, the overwhelming majority of these folks are sincere seekers of the true Gospel, not demagogues using religion to line their pockets. They value truth more than silver and gold. I’m thankful we have ministers and faithful church members who are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make sure that those who value truth so highly might have the opportunity to be exposed to it.

May God bless Elders Johnson, Bryant, Ivey, Kitchens, Blair, McCool, Crawford, Hasenmyer and others who carry and broadcast the precious seed of the Gospel of grace to come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. Such truth to inquiring children of God is, indeed, what people really need.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, encouraged, and assisted me to be able to make this journey. May the Lord abundantly bless you, each and every one.

For His Glory,

Elder Michael Gowens
Lexington, Kentucky
11/1/10

Vernon Johnson's Journal: October 2010 Trip to Kenya & Uganda

On Monday, 11 October, 2010, I was accompanied to DFW airport by my loving wife, Hazel, and my granddaughter Rebecca and her boyfriend, Bradley White. We said our goodbyes and I boarded the plane for Amsterdam around 2:30 P.M. After an uneventful flight, we arrived in Amsterdam around 7:00 A.M. Netherlands time. At the airport I met with Elder Michael Gowens who had arrived from Detroit about the same time.
We boarded a 10:30 A.M. flight to Nairobi and after another uneventful flight (the best kind) we arrived in Nairobi around 7:30 P.M. We checked through customs and then gathered our bags and met the following brethren who had come to meet us at the Nairobi airport:
1. Elder Martin Onyoni
2. Bro. Wycliffe Omari (Our driver)
3. Bro. Aikins Doh from Ghana
4. Bro. Samson Nyameri – an attorney from Nairobi.
We had a good evening meal and retired to a good clean hotel in Nairobi to get some rest.
On Wednesday, 13 October, 2010 we had breakfast and began our journey to the Nairobi fellowship. We were met by about a dozen to fourteen men and women (Many of the fellowship had to work and could not come to the meeting.
We had a spirit filled song service that truly was heart-felt. Next we had prayer followed by the preaching services.
A young brother Richard from the fellowship spoke first on the subject of justification by grace using Rom. 3:23 and Rom. 9:15, 16 as his texts. In summary, his sermon stressed that the elect are justified by grace through the blood of Christ according to the covenant of redemption.
Next, Bro. Aikins Doh of Ghana spoke to us about some of the benefits of the word using 2 Tim. 3:16, 17 as his text. He spoke to us about the need for good sound doctrine and reproof from the scriptures and that we, as children of God, need to study and meditate upon the word daily. The Lord blessed him in his message and delivery. The Lord blessed him in his message and delivery. This was the first time that I had gotten to hear him preach as he did all the interpreting for us in Ghana. I was very pleased with his efforts.
Next, I spoke using Luke 16:16 as my test which reads, "The law and the prophets were until John, since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it." I tried to develop each part of this text.
Finally, Elder Michael spoke to us using John 17:1-5 as his text. He pointed out that John chapter 17 was the Lord's prayer and that this is followed in chapter 18 by a discussion of the trials of Jesus and chapter 19 by the crucifixion of Jesus. He also pointed out that the 17th chapter of John is divided into three parts:
1. v. 1-5 discusses the eternal salvation of His people.
2. v. 6-21 shows Jesus praying for the ongoing life of his disciples in this world.
3. v. 22-24 Jesus concludes with the future of his people in heaven.
Elder Michael also pointed out that this corresponds to the salvation, sanctification, and glorification of the Lord's people.
In summation, Bro. Mike spoke concerning Christ as the Great Intercessor for his people and that he continues his intercession for us today.
The messages seemed to be well received by the members of the fellowship which consist primarily of young adults.
We said our goodbyes and drove about 2 hours to Naivasha. After an afternoon of relaxation at our hotel we made our way to have a service with the fellowship at Navaisha in the late afternoon. The fellowship generally consists of young adults who have come to Navaisha for work. The jobs generally are service type jobs with very low pay. Subsequently the people work hard to obtain funds for food and shelter for their families.
Because of their job requirements al the adults but one were working at the time of our services. We had the one adult – a young man who leads the fellowship and about 12-14 children ages I would guess ranging from 2-16.
We had a very spirit filled song service with the most of the children joining in the singing of praises to God. After song service and prayer Elder Michael spoke on the battle between David and Goliath. I followed speaking about Jesus as our champion fighting against our enemy and great giant of sin. The messages seemed to be well received.
On Wednesday, 14 October 2010, after breakfast we began our long journey to Kisii from Naivasha. The road had been greatly improved and travelling was much more comfortable than from my previous trips. Around 2:00 P.M. we arrived in Kisii and checked into the Mash Park hotel. Around 4:00 P.M. we left the hotel to go to a new fellowship in Omogonchero headed by a Bro. Peter Ongero. Bro Peter is a very delightful young man who seems to have a very good heart. The group consisted of about 35-40 people. Elder Charles is helping them to understand the doctrines of grace. Bro. Aikins Doh of Ghana spoke first and his text was 2 Cor. 6:14-16. He admonished the congregation to live separate lives from the world and ungodliness. He also admonished them to not mix the biblical beliefs of grace and biblical practices with false doctrines and false teachings.
I followed Bro. Aikins and spoke on Matt. 1:21 "He shall save his people from their sins." I spoke on who are "His people" and how we identify ourselves as being a part of His people. I also spoke on how Jesus does "all" the saving from sins.
Elder Michael followed and spoke from Jonas 2:9 on "Salvation is of the Lord" and was richly blessed to show how the Lord alone has wrought our eternal salvation.
On Thursday, 15 October, 2010 the morning service was held at a new fellowship lead by a Bro. Peterson Mbegera. When we arrived the congregation was singing. Since they were singing in Swahili and the tunes weren't familiar, I did not know what they were singing. However, it was apparent they were singing with much joy in their hearts. Elder Michael later asked on of the sisters what they were singing and she replied they were singing songs of praise to God. She then added, we want to sing the truth.
After introductions and prayer I lead off preaching on Matt. 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6, 7. I compared the very little value that the sparrows have with the absolutely morally worthless condition of man in his fallen fleshly nature. Then I compared the great value we possess because of what Christ has done for us in redeeming us and causing us to be born of the Spirit.
Elder Michael followed and spoke on John 1:29, "Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." He pointed out the significance of each word in that verse.
Finally, Bro. Aikins spoke on the "elect" using Matt. 6:25; Rom. 8:37 and Rom. 8:28-30. He pointed out the "all things" in v. 28 and 37 referred to the 5 things in verses 29 and 30. He spoke of all five things pointing out that it is God alone who performs all five things. He also made a point of what a blessing it is to be one of God's elect.
At the close of services an opportunity was given for membership through water baptism and the leader (Bro. Peterson Mbegera came forward requesting membership through water baptism.
There were about 35-40 people in this congregation. I expect many of them to join the PB church when they observe their leader being baptized. These people are coming from another order and have a lot they will need to unlearn and learn. I am confident the elders in Kisii area will be able to teach them.
The afternoon service was to be at one of the two fellowships led by Bro. Chris Nyangoto who is awaiting baptism. However, we received word that a funeral service was taking place at the time of our meeting and the worship service was cancelled in deference to the funeral service. We proceeded to Tabaka where Elder Michael and I bought some soapstone gifts for our family members. Then we visited in the home of Elder Martin and his wife Annah. We enjoyed a very sweet fellowship there.
In the morning of 16 October 2010, we travelled to Kisumu, about a 2 hour journey to meet with the Kisumu fellowship. After song service and prayer, Bro. Aikins Doh spoke on the new birth using John 3:1-8 as his text. Elder Michael followed by speaking on 2 Sam. 14:14, "For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him." Bro. Mike pointed out that death awaits all of us and yet God in his covenant of redemption has devised the means whereby the elect will not be eternally banished from him. I followed speaking on the waters of Marah and how Christ is the tree cast into God's judgmental waters poisoned by our sins. I pointed out how Christ was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
In the afternoon we travelled to a new fellowship led by Bro. Chris Nyangoto. After song service and prayer, Bro. Aikins Doh spoke on the covenant of redemption using 2 Sam. 23:1-7 as his text. He was richly blessed in his delivery and handling of the subject matter. I followed Bro. Aikins by speaking on the blessings of being in Christ using Ephesians chapter 1 as my text. Elder Michael closed out by speaking on the eternal security of the elect using John 10:27-30 as his text.
The congregation was very enthusiastic and attentive to the messages that were delivered.
On Sunday, October 17, 2010, we had a joint meeting with four of the churches in the Kisii area. We arrived at the grounds near the location of the Bombure PBC and over 100 people were already gathered and were singing. We continued in singing and prayer and took questions while the vans brought people from the other churches. In all about 200-250 people gathered for worship services. Elder William Asugo and the Bombure PBC were our host. After song service and prayer a young Bro. Thomas was first asked to speak. He spoke on timely salvation including salvation from ignorance and trying to get right with God. He read and spoke from the following verses: Matt. 1:21; 2 Tim. 2:10; Rom. 10:1-4; 2 Tim. 1:9, 10; Matt. 11:28; and Phil. 2:12, 13. I felt the message was richly blessed and according to sound doctrine.
Next, Bro. Aikins Doh of Ghana delivered a message of timely admonition to "Look forward, not back." He used the following verses in delivering the message: Phil. 3:13, 14; Is. 43:18, 19; Ex. 14:15; Gen. 19:26. This young man seems to be very sound in the doctrine and is growing every day.
Afterwards, I spoke about Cornelius in Acts chapter 10. I tried to show that the new birth of Cornelius took place before the gospel was preached to him.
Finally, Elder Michael spoke on John 6:60, 66-68. He contrasted the different reactions of the multitude to which Jesus taught with the reactions of the few disciples.
John 6:60 – "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying, who can hear it?"
John 6:68 – "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."
Elder Gowens made the following points among others:
1. The Lord spoke about total depravity; election; the sovereignty of God in the new birth and redemption from sin; eternal security of the saints; and the final resurrection of the elect unto glory.
2. The true gospel has the same affect upon the multitudes today – This is an hard saying, who can hear it.
3. There are a few true disciples who have come to believe as Peter: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
At the close of services an invitation for membership was given and three came forward requesting membership through water baptism.
Following services, we were invited to Elder Williams' home where we had sweet fellowship and were served a delicious lunch.
When we began our journey to the evening services a deluge of rain accompanied us. The road was very rough and nearly impassable and we actually became stuck in the mud, but some of the members came down and helped us to get out of the bog. We got within about 300-400 meters of the meeting place where we had to get out of the car and climb a steep muddy terrain. We all arrived safely, though wet, and muddy, and tired. There were about 20 of the saints who had gathered with us at the Nyarenda PBC pastored by Elder Richard Onounga. We had an uplifting song service followed by prayer.
Bro. Aikins Doh spoke on the subject of salvation by grace and not by our works. He used the following texts: Eph. 2:8, 9; Tit. 3:5; and Gal. 3:1. Again he has blessed to speak the truth and in his delivery.
Next, Elder Michael spoke on the three appearances of Christ using Heb. 9:24-28.
Finally, I spoke on the love of God contrasting God's love with our love.
After services, we made our way down the hill and Elder Michael fell down due to the slick conditions. We both agreed that it looked like we would be bringing a good bit of Kenya back to the U.S. on our shoes.
On Monday, 18 October 2010, we arose, had breakfast, checked out of the Mash Park hotel in Kisii, Kenya and began our journey to Uganda around 7:45 A.M. Those travelling include myself, Elder Michael, Elder Martin, Elder Charles, and Bro. Wycliffe Omari, the driver. We stopped in Kisumu to get a few goods for our journey. Next, we arrived at the Uganda border around noon and checked through Kenya customs to leave Kenya, then Uganda customs to enter Uganda. We continued on our journey and arrived at Mbale (pronounced Ba-Lee) around 3:15 P.M. We proceeded to Bro. Boaz Munga's house where we met him, his wife, and two of his children.
As a note, the trip was over rough roads with many potholes. The countryside along the way consisted of rolling hills and the main occupation we observed was farming. The land appeared to be very fertile. The people in the rural countryside appeared to be very poor of this world's goods. Most of the dwellings were small mud huts with thatch roofs. Cattle and crops seemed to be main farming activities with corn (they call it maize) being the chief crop. We had not travelled very farm within Uganda until we observed several baboons in the road. Elder Michael whom I had observed is very good at communicating with birds (they actually answer him) tried communicating with the baboons. However, they seemed somewhat irritated with his attempts. I suggest he be satisfied with talking to the birds and leave the baboons alone!
We arrived at the hotel where we are staying around 6 P.M. The hotel is very nice, clean, and appears very modern. The rooms are nice and large and comfortable, except the bed which was too firm for my back.
During the next several days we had discussions on various bible subjects with the brethren from three groups. These groups are headed by a Bro. Boaz Munga, Bro. Jonathan Mande, and a Bro. Masaba. Altogether there were about 30 people who attended our discussions and worship services.
The bible subjects discussed and the leader of those discussions are as follows:
1. Total Depravity – myself
2. New Birth – Elder Michael Gowens
3. Limited Atonement – Elder Gowens
4. Eternal Preservation of the Saints – myself
5. Types of God's covenants – myself
6. Rom. 8:28 "Contextual all" and "work together" – myself
7. Foreknow or elect – Elder Charles Kenyanjui
8. Predestination – Elder Martin Onyoni
9. Effectual Calling – Elder Gowens
10. Justification – myself
11. Glorificaiton – Elder Martin Onyoni
12. Two Salvations – myself
13. 3 Types of Justification – Elder Gowens
14. 4 callings in the scriptures – myself
15. Different elections taught in the scriptues – myself
16. Purposes & Benefits of the gospel – Elder Gowens

In addition, we had worship services on the following days:
1. October 21, 2010. Elder Michael spoke using as his text Luke 18:9-14. I spoke on Rom. 10:1-10; and Elder Charles spoke on Rom. 8:2.
2. October 22, 2010. Elder Martin spoke on the subject of Bondage under false doctrines. This was followed by Elder Michael speaking on Heb. 4:9 on the subject of "rest in the Lord."
3. October 23, 2010. Elder Michael spoke on the subject of "Rejoicing in the Lord" using Heb. 3:17, 18 as his text. I then spoke on the courtroom of the heart and mind using Rom. 2:14, 15 and Isaiah chapter 6 as my texts. Elder Charles concluded the worship service by speaking on the "Sheep & Goats" in Matt. 25:31-46.
4. October 24, 2010. Elder Michael spoke on Ps. 115:1-3. Elder Martin followed by speaking on John 10:27-31. I concluded by speaking on the entrance to the Kingdom of God.
5. October 26, 2010. I spoke on Cain and Abel and the covenant respect of persons. Elder Martin spoke on John 14:1-4. Elder Michael concluded by speaking on 2 Cor. 1:8-10.
In the early morning of Sunday, 24 October, 2010 prior to morning worship services a baptismal service was conducted at a nearby hotel swimming pool. There were ten brethren who were baptized. The names of these ten brethren are as follows:
1. Jonathan Mande 2. Boaz Munga 3. Dauson Were 4. Elisa Wotti 5. Nathan Magala 6. Moses Mogesi 7. Derrick Gidongo 8. Moses Samanya 9. Jonathan Wasubini 10. Samson Nyaberi
Following the Sunday morning worship service an additional ten men and women came forward requesting to join the church through water baptism. These will be baptized when Elder Charles comes back to Uganda in November.
The work in Uganda is still in its infancy and will require a lot of teaching. Please pray for Elder Charles Kenyanjui as he endeavors to teach the brethren and sisters there. He will be going to Uganda each month and spend approximately a week at a time preaching and teaching the brethren there.

Elder Vernon Johnson
2 November 2010

My email address is vernon@dentonpbc.org
Our church website is www.dentonpbc.org