Day Four - The Lords Day at Trinity Baptist Church

This day was again another fascinating day - spent solely with the Kenyan people. The Underhills pastor a church called Trinity Baptist Church and this is where we went for the bible class, morning service, communion and evening service. They also provided lunch on the premises for us.

It began at 9.30 in the morning with Bible Class. Nigel and I went in the Youth class which is basically for anyone that is still single from teenage years and up. A man called Sukesh talked on John 7 v 37-39 concerning Jesus teaching on Salvation. It was really helpful in that he brought out four main points:

1. Jesus was passionate about salvation - in that he spoke with a loud voice which is one of the only times he did that (it wasn't a cultural thing to do)
2. Salvation satisfies - as the image of water tells us, Jesus's salvation is completely fulfilling, far more than anything in the world could give us
3. Salvation is by faith in Jesus - not by our own works
4. Salvation means a radical change in peoples lives - this is as the Spirit comes and lives in you and bears fruit to show this change.

We then had the main sermon which Keith Underhill took on Acts 7 v 47. We were able to witness the baptism of three people who were subsequently then brought into membership. Two where from the Rendilli tribe in the north and as of a year ago had never heard the gospel. The sermon was based on this theme of baptism. Pastor Underhill spoke on Cornelius baptism and how Peter commanded that they be baptised but also interestingly enough that he didn't do it himself. Apparently in Kenya the obsession with baptism is in who performs it and "how high up they are". The higher up they are the more they can give you some sort of blessing when they baptise you. So Keith was trying to prove that this point was unbiblical. He also empahsed avoiding extremses in baptism - the one where you say that baptism saves you and the other where you say that it is not necessary, you only have to believe. He urged those who had made a profession of faith to take up the command to be baptised and for those who had not made a profession of faith to seriously consider their position before God.

After the morning service we all had lunch at the church which was absolutely delicious. We had rice, beans, and beef stew. At 3 pm was the communion service where we and a few others gave a condensed testimony of how the Lord saved us, so that the members of the congregation would be satisfied. Then in the evening a visiting pastor preached, a guy called Geoff Oliver from the US. His passage was 1 Peter 1 v 6 & 7 where it talks about the Christians suffering all kinds of trials. He brought out several points namely that the trials will be for a short while whilst we pilgrim on towards heaven, that we have a great inheritance waiting for us when we get there and that all these trials are God's will for us (although we may not see it at the time) and he will help us get through them. He also mentioned the reason for our trials which is that our faith will be proved genuine as gold refined in the fire.

Reflections on the day - very good teaching and very good fellowship. Througout the day inbetween services we had so many people come up to use and greet us and want to know things about us, that I've lost count. The people were so friendly, even the little children wanting to come up and greet you. I don't think there is such a friendlier people as these and it was quite overwhleming to be in their company. We have lots of photos to show everyone when we get back. Again hoping that everyone is well back home and we are remembering you all with fondness.