Jack Fortenberry's Page

Dear brother Jack,

Oh thank you so much. This will thrill brother Jimmy. Here is his email.
JIM NDURUCHI ;

Rather than going through me, I know Jimmy would love to hear from you and this will "bless his sox off." And thank you brother from the bottom of my heart. This kind of encouragement means much to him.

In HIM,

Clark

Brother Jack,
You believe in foreordination, am sure! If you do, you also believe in predestination (may be it means the same, I know not!). If my assumptions are true, you then believe that most of the people we come across in life were actually destined to cross our paths at some point. Among these were the Judases and the Jonathans, and you need both of them to move to the next level. Jack, I feel peace as I write you this post. Dear brother, you may never have imagined in your life, that you’d write a book and send it to a stranger in Africa, and that it would bless so many, and give so many souls the direction they so dearly need. The “Corinthian Elders” is a ‘simple’ book that’s opening eyes blinded for too long. You wrote that book for us, brother! For this I shake with heavenly love to see your friendship pledge to me in simple church. To many, it’s routine to accept “friendship” on this site because there’s this provision there. But to me this is a serious thing, man of God. These “friends” that the Lord brings into my life; all of them, have an assignment from the Lord to bless me. And to all of them, I am very much obligated; I have to be a blessing in their lives! This is how Christ designed it; that we may love one another regardless distance, culture, race and all other factors. Those that honor this are the few that understand that this world is not our home; that we’re heading somewhere, where we shall live as brothers, not for 70 years or more, but forever. Brother Jack Fortenberry, please purpose to be there! I send my greetings to you and your entire family.
Brother in Christ,
Jim.

Jack Fortenberry,
Am Dr. Olang and teach Engineering at several colleges and universities in Kenya. My wife and I stopped going to church since the year 2000 because our huge spiritual vacuum wouldn’t be filled even with our exodus into different churches. Since then we’ve been out of church and I backslid and got into heavy drinking and other things that I know to be wrong. Last Saturday, we had a simple gathering at our university and a man known as Jimmy Nduruchi (your friend on a simple church site) shared so strongly, with precision and love, about the church that Jesus Christ is pleased with. I was moved by his ability to convey the message in a very interesting way and let the Spirit move in people as he sang and played an accordion. After the meeting we had a discussion where I wanted to get some clarifications and instead of speaking, he gave me a small book titled “Corinthian Elders” written by you. I’ve just finished reading the book. May I thank you for this thought-provoking work that’s so viable and on time in our Kenyan context. Some questions that have lingered so long have somehow found answers in reading this book. Thank you for this contribution.
Dr. Olang

Brother,

I received your "signed" copy of "Corinthian Elders" today and it was such a blessing, especially as my other copy is loaned out. Thank you so much brother. I'm going to be reading it "again." And it's such a blessing to see how this has blest the brothers in Kenya.

And you WILL be one of the first I will let know when HoCF get published.

Your brother in Christ's love,

Clark

Friends,
One glaring difference between ministers in the institutional church in Africa and the West is that in the West the clergy receives formal training in seminaries but here someone simply wakes up one morning and claims whatever title they admire, with most claiming “pastor”. A good number don't have an elaborate formal education, therefore understanding of scripture is sometimes misplaced. To this group belongs the less educated and poorest Africans mainly dwelling in slums of urban areas and rural places.
Last evening, over 30 pastors heeded my invitation at the hotel foyer, and we had a rather heated time together. I chose to use the Corinthian Elders written by Jack Fortenberry because it seeks to address the clergy. We all agreed that there's a problem in the church; that something is not quite right. Indeed this is true because they had attended the National repentance crusade. But things went sour when I read “If we say we're not able to teach one another we deny God's Spirit in us-1John 2:27.” (pg.30). They were not amused when the book, concerning teachers, read, “This favoritism in the assembly may reveal a lack of interest in the brother seated in the pew behind us...”. Our meeting ended with 13 only pastors, who exchanged contacts with me, and I shall be visiting their homes soon. The seed has been planted, glory be to God, for He shall bring the rain to water the fields.
Jimmy

ok. thanks alot!