The fire has begun in Kenya.
Once again I want to sincerely thank you for standing with us in prayer last week when I requested for the same. I had no idea how our first Simple Church experience would be like. I’m so humbled as I report that your prayer for us was answered. Twenty people had agreed to attend; thirty six came! My living room was filled to capacity, with some standing by the door. I had asked the Holy Spirit to lead and He was so faithful. I bear witness to His almost tangible presence that nostalgic evening. Those two hours! Most of the people present were, like me, born and raised in church, while others gave their lives to Christ in high school or college. Sometimes back they stopped fellowshipping at their respective ‘churches’ because they found not what they were looking for. It’s worse when one is working or in business and gets regular income! Some backslid as others remained in their homes, wounded and confused.
I had asked favor from the Holy Spirit to help me not speak against the established church or going personal on any issue in this very important meeting. The Spirit led us! When we sang “Amazing Grace”, (which to me now is an anthem for sinners) everybody just stood and then knelt. We all wept so bitterly without anyone’s influence but the Holy Ghost Himself. He convicted us without any man’s or woman’s hand. This went on for over 45 minutes. We then held each other’s hands and just prayed for one another! It was so enriching. My goodness, this is what we had been looking for, some of us for so many years! There wasn’t any interruption. After this, Madam Priscah (a colleague) stood and read this scripture-2Cor 11:20-21 “In fact you put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that.”
This part of scripture came with so much force; the voice so clear, that the Lord had started a movement in this house, that will lead to a Revolution in the body of Christ in Kenya and Africa. We parted ways so lifted up, refreshed and enlightened.
Since schools had closed for the August holidays, I traveled to Kitui via Nairobi on Monday (the following day), on my way to visit my wife, Roseline, who is an accountant and works in the Eastern Province. Tuesday night we had a gathering in Nairobi city. I had phoned informing some friends about the simple church and my intention that we meet at one of my friends’ house. Twenty four people attended, among them two pastors. Unlike the meeting at my house, this had some challenges that I know the Spirit wanted me to be aware of. It almost became a bickering contest and I found myself engulfed in this morass. This group will be meeting Friday nights at a restaurant. I’m worried because I see narrow agenda within the group. This is why I think we need to training. We need to know how to handle simple church, being religious and artistic we are. We’re people that take things to the extreme; wrong things or right things. If the beginning/foundation be right, the right extremes will resound in every corner of this globe. As I prepare to host another meeting tomorrow down here in Kitui town, I’m praying for partnership with other parts of the world- brothers and sisters with experience in the simple church. I want them to come forth and help us.
I read about two young people staying with Jon Dale in the US, to learn and bring us what they’ve got. That’s great. It sounds wonderful coming to the West for training. People in Africa would love that! But I feel it would be more thoughtful if the West came to Africa and met us and talked to us in our homes, villages and cities. The impact would be more profound, am sure! These pioneers would go into annuls of history as people who wrought a new beginning in the body of Christ in Africa. This is what the Lord has put on my mind, and I know it’s the right path.
Jim.
Simple Church hits Kitui town
This was the third fellowship we’re opening in just one week. Each one them is unique in her own way. Here in Kitui, we had two meetings- Saturday and Sunday night. The first one was attended mainly by Roseline’s (my wife) colleagues and three locals. Thirteen people attended. They came expecting a preaching from me because last December I was invited and ministered at the Deliverance church on Christmas day and many were blessed. The Spirit has told me to be very careful in simple church fellowships because there’s tendency for religion cropping up and people idolizing the speaking that has a tint of charisma (I have some of that), which in turn manifests the inordinate and dangerous favoritism that many Christians bestow upon teachers in so many churches today, with characteristic imminent dangers of trusting themselves and their teachers over Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
I had thought my wife had understood the right church dynamics as revealed in and practiced by the simple church movement, after the many emails and lengthy conversations over phone, but I’ve never been so wrong! It was expedient to rise up and explain the Christian Manifesto of proper church protocol, which entails the headship of Christ Himself under directorship of the Holy Spirit, proper use of money, no salaried elders, proper giving, governance under consensus and understanding of God’s direction through the Spirit etc, as opposed to the lip-service that the traditional church has largely paid to Jesus for nearly two thousand years. Without emotions and personalized gait that I normally command in my speeches, and in a low composed tone, expressly given by the Spirit for that particular gathering, I laid down what the Lord expects of our fellowship with Him. I could feel the still small voice speaking to each one that was in that place, followed by a look of conviction on their brows. As I started humming “All to Jesus I Surrender” people started worshipping the Lord but unlike in the first meeting at my house in Khasoko, where there was crying, here there was that quiet, calm serenity in the room. Without much more, they accepted to come back the following day (Sunday) for more.
Now, let me briefly explain about this town known as Kitui (which you can also find on googleearth.com). It has a population of about 50,000 people and is located in a semi-arid area. No meaningful economic activity goes on here except some irrigation agriculture sponsored by NGOs and government. There a lot of suffering amongst people and this is exacerbated by the ongoing prolonged droughts in the country. The conditions that people live in have humbled them to the floor. Talk about living by faith- many people here need that faith to live for another day!
So on Sunday (yesterday) thirty one people came. I could read a yearning to be told some more from a ‘teacher’, and following a given church program, the trend they’re used to in their respective “churches”. I had to be helped by the Spirit of God! Among attendants was a pastor from a small church in town, who kept referring to me as ‘pastor’. Well, I didn’t rise to talk again as expected. Those that had attended the previous night’s fellowship stood and bore witness to the truth, that the body of Christ in Africa has done so much work for the Lord and long forgot Lord of the work! The spirit of conviction held all captive, and the pastor stood at started repenting on behalf of the clergy, for preaching the gospel of manipulation. His was worse; he consented, because he has no ‘elders’ in his congregation and runs all programs with his wife (who was also present). He blames it all on ‘poverty that makes desperate people do desperate things to survive.” That fellowship never ended. We move on tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Definitely, these are seminal times in the history of the body of Christ in Africa and the world at large. “Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35). I feel in the Spirit that this anointing is all over the world. The Lord is reclaiming His headship over His body. Oh our responsibility! The mighty tide of God's Spirit is sweeping by us, in its prayer-directed course. There is a river (of salvation) the streams whereof make glad the city of God (Psalm 46:4). It is time to "get together," and plunge in, individually and collectively. Fly to the rescue of God’s people from the claws of religion, clergy, cults and dogma. Do not fear! I pray for you. Let the fire that’s consuming here consume the whole earth; and let the truth reign. For our God is a consuming fire! Arise O LORD and let your enemies be scattered, in the Name of Jesus Christ.Amen!
With love,
Bro Jim Nduruchi.
Dear Bill,
I’ve listened to Dr. Miles Monroe of Bahamas teaching about the “Kingdom Perspective” with keenness but he left me hanging somewhere because he finished with the Kingdom that’s having humans taking centre stage. I had questions that couldn’t even be asked, and I’m thankful to God for you, Brother Bill- you answered them in the article “The kingdom established by bringing grace and truth.” You describe it as the kingdom not of the law or the sword, but ruled by grace, which gives righteousness; with Christ Himself keeping us from stumbling, to finally stand in His presence blameless and with great joy. In the Kingdom where Truth sets us free as we worship the Father in spirit and truth. This is one great answer to the question: what’s the greatest role of the citizens in the Kingdom?
Then how do we know we’re partakers of such incredible things? By putting our love into action as a sign that we’ve come from death into life, Christ Himself being our chief example- for He gave His life for us. Our conscience won’t therefore condemn us, so we can talk boldly to our heavenly Father and get anything we ask, because we obey His orders and do what He had ordered us to do. Oh glory to our God! As if this is not enough, we come to God’s throne to get mercy and find love to help us in time of need.
This is another answer to the Question- when does this Kingdom begin?
Brother, thanks for being sensitive to the Spirit in allowing Him to use you as a conduit for knowledge. I’m in the training process and events that are going on here are too fast to even stop and reason. I think the Holy Spirit is doing it like He did to Gideon, so that glory would be attributed to the LORD OF HOSTS and not human organization under Gideon and the great multitude of army men. Honestly speaking without faithful people putting us in prayer, we couldn’t have moved. More calls are coming for more work in other towns in Kenya; more brethren are coming forth to support the simple church initiative. Pastors are beginning to shake (this morning I received another call from a pastor ‘advising’ me to start a ministry if I felt called and not talk about organic church, which “he has been to America and knows it as an association of selfish misfits in the church, with queer behavior.”) Luckily, this war has been anticipated and much more is expected, but I have peace knowing there’s an army of prayer warriors on my side, and Bill Bremer one of the field Marshals. O lucky and blessed!
Thanks again, dear servant of the Most High. Thanks for using your intelligence for edification in the Kingdom. Keep doing it! Keep writing it. Keep training us!
Love,
Jimmy
Hii Bill
Iwas greetfull for your massege to our brow Jim who is dong good job in bugembe and iknow God is doing his work and there s reword foryhe good labour ofthe fruit of your hands. Thanks
Pst Omega
BILL BREMER,
Hii Bill Bremer
Thanks for your massege pray with me Ihave new church and we are looking for afriend who can starnd with us to eneble us purchase church plot Iknow God is faith full to Him all things are possible tohim.IM requesting for brotherly prayers.thankyou
Pst Omega
HI BILL,
Wegive To God the glory to what is being done.since our almight is faithfull we should praise Him for eachfor the chance.atually let join in his happyness. Thanks
Pst Omega
Hi Bill,
Thanks for befriending me. Have you seen my article about the Millennium? If not, it's at www.bibleone.net/TheMillennium.htm. I see you have a discussion about the gospel of the kingdom I'll take a look . . .
Your brother in Christ,
Edgardo
At 10:23am on September 3, 2009, Romal Gengaya said…
Hello Bill,
It is truly an honour to be a friend of yours. I percieve this to be a fruitful relationship. Looking for to building wisely with you in this current season with what God is saying.
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
Amen.
Hi Bill, I recognized your name from the conference when my friend Harold Smith told me you requested a link to his most recent article on Communion. I just thought I'd say 'Shalom' and let you know what a close knit body our Father has.
Shine brilliantly.
B
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Comment Wall (15 comments)
Once again I want to sincerely thank you for standing with us in prayer last week when I requested for the same. I had no idea how our first Simple Church experience would be like. I’m so humbled as I report that your prayer for us was answered. Twenty people had agreed to attend; thirty six came! My living room was filled to capacity, with some standing by the door. I had asked the Holy Spirit to lead and He was so faithful. I bear witness to His almost tangible presence that nostalgic evening. Those two hours! Most of the people present were, like me, born and raised in church, while others gave their lives to Christ in high school or college. Sometimes back they stopped fellowshipping at their respective ‘churches’ because they found not what they were looking for. It’s worse when one is working or in business and gets regular income! Some backslid as others remained in their homes, wounded and confused.
I had asked favor from the Holy Spirit to help me not speak against the established church or going personal on any issue in this very important meeting. The Spirit led us! When we sang “Amazing Grace”, (which to me now is an anthem for sinners) everybody just stood and then knelt. We all wept so bitterly without anyone’s influence but the Holy Ghost Himself. He convicted us without any man’s or woman’s hand. This went on for over 45 minutes. We then held each other’s hands and just prayed for one another! It was so enriching. My goodness, this is what we had been looking for, some of us for so many years! There wasn’t any interruption. After this, Madam Priscah (a colleague) stood and read this scripture-2Cor 11:20-21 “In fact you put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that.”
This part of scripture came with so much force; the voice so clear, that the Lord had started a movement in this house, that will lead to a Revolution in the body of Christ in Kenya and Africa. We parted ways so lifted up, refreshed and enlightened.
Since schools had closed for the August holidays, I traveled to Kitui via Nairobi on Monday (the following day), on my way to visit my wife, Roseline, who is an accountant and works in the Eastern Province. Tuesday night we had a gathering in Nairobi city. I had phoned informing some friends about the simple church and my intention that we meet at one of my friends’ house. Twenty four people attended, among them two pastors. Unlike the meeting at my house, this had some challenges that I know the Spirit wanted me to be aware of. It almost became a bickering contest and I found myself engulfed in this morass. This group will be meeting Friday nights at a restaurant. I’m worried because I see narrow agenda within the group. This is why I think we need to training. We need to know how to handle simple church, being religious and artistic we are. We’re people that take things to the extreme; wrong things or right things. If the beginning/foundation be right, the right extremes will resound in every corner of this globe. As I prepare to host another meeting tomorrow down here in Kitui town, I’m praying for partnership with other parts of the world- brothers and sisters with experience in the simple church. I want them to come forth and help us.
I read about two young people staying with Jon Dale in the US, to learn and bring us what they’ve got. That’s great. It sounds wonderful coming to the West for training. People in Africa would love that! But I feel it would be more thoughtful if the West came to Africa and met us and talked to us in our homes, villages and cities. The impact would be more profound, am sure! These pioneers would go into annuls of history as people who wrought a new beginning in the body of Christ in Africa. This is what the Lord has put on my mind, and I know it’s the right path.
Jim.
This was the third fellowship we’re opening in just one week. Each one them is unique in her own way. Here in Kitui, we had two meetings- Saturday and Sunday night. The first one was attended mainly by Roseline’s (my wife) colleagues and three locals. Thirteen people attended. They came expecting a preaching from me because last December I was invited and ministered at the Deliverance church on Christmas day and many were blessed. The Spirit has told me to be very careful in simple church fellowships because there’s tendency for religion cropping up and people idolizing the speaking that has a tint of charisma (I have some of that), which in turn manifests the inordinate and dangerous favoritism that many Christians bestow upon teachers in so many churches today, with characteristic imminent dangers of trusting themselves and their teachers over Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
I had thought my wife had understood the right church dynamics as revealed in and practiced by the simple church movement, after the many emails and lengthy conversations over phone, but I’ve never been so wrong! It was expedient to rise up and explain the Christian Manifesto of proper church protocol, which entails the headship of Christ Himself under directorship of the Holy Spirit, proper use of money, no salaried elders, proper giving, governance under consensus and understanding of God’s direction through the Spirit etc, as opposed to the lip-service that the traditional church has largely paid to Jesus for nearly two thousand years. Without emotions and personalized gait that I normally command in my speeches, and in a low composed tone, expressly given by the Spirit for that particular gathering, I laid down what the Lord expects of our fellowship with Him. I could feel the still small voice speaking to each one that was in that place, followed by a look of conviction on their brows. As I started humming “All to Jesus I Surrender” people started worshipping the Lord but unlike in the first meeting at my house in Khasoko, where there was crying, here there was that quiet, calm serenity in the room. Without much more, they accepted to come back the following day (Sunday) for more.
Now, let me briefly explain about this town known as Kitui (which you can also find on googleearth.com). It has a population of about 50,000 people and is located in a semi-arid area. No meaningful economic activity goes on here except some irrigation agriculture sponsored by NGOs and government. There a lot of suffering amongst people and this is exacerbated by the ongoing prolonged droughts in the country. The conditions that people live in have humbled them to the floor. Talk about living by faith- many people here need that faith to live for another day!
So on Sunday (yesterday) thirty one people came. I could read a yearning to be told some more from a ‘teacher’, and following a given church program, the trend they’re used to in their respective “churches”. I had to be helped by the Spirit of God! Among attendants was a pastor from a small church in town, who kept referring to me as ‘pastor’. Well, I didn’t rise to talk again as expected. Those that had attended the previous night’s fellowship stood and bore witness to the truth, that the body of Christ in Africa has done so much work for the Lord and long forgot Lord of the work! The spirit of conviction held all captive, and the pastor stood at started repenting on behalf of the clergy, for preaching the gospel of manipulation. His was worse; he consented, because he has no ‘elders’ in his congregation and runs all programs with his wife (who was also present). He blames it all on ‘poverty that makes desperate people do desperate things to survive.” That fellowship never ended. We move on tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Definitely, these are seminal times in the history of the body of Christ in Africa and the world at large. “Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35). I feel in the Spirit that this anointing is all over the world. The Lord is reclaiming His headship over His body. Oh our responsibility! The mighty tide of God's Spirit is sweeping by us, in its prayer-directed course. There is a river (of salvation) the streams whereof make glad the city of God (Psalm 46:4). It is time to "get together," and plunge in, individually and collectively. Fly to the rescue of God’s people from the claws of religion, clergy, cults and dogma. Do not fear! I pray for you. Let the fire that’s consuming here consume the whole earth; and let the truth reign. For our God is a consuming fire! Arise O LORD and let your enemies be scattered, in the Name of Jesus Christ.Amen!
With love,
Bro Jim Nduruchi.
I’ve listened to Dr. Miles Monroe of Bahamas teaching about the “Kingdom Perspective” with keenness but he left me hanging somewhere because he finished with the Kingdom that’s having humans taking centre stage. I had questions that couldn’t even be asked, and I’m thankful to God for you, Brother Bill- you answered them in the article “The kingdom established by bringing grace and truth.” You describe it as the kingdom not of the law or the sword, but ruled by grace, which gives righteousness; with Christ Himself keeping us from stumbling, to finally stand in His presence blameless and with great joy. In the Kingdom where Truth sets us free as we worship the Father in spirit and truth. This is one great answer to the question: what’s the greatest role of the citizens in the Kingdom?
Then how do we know we’re partakers of such incredible things? By putting our love into action as a sign that we’ve come from death into life, Christ Himself being our chief example- for He gave His life for us. Our conscience won’t therefore condemn us, so we can talk boldly to our heavenly Father and get anything we ask, because we obey His orders and do what He had ordered us to do. Oh glory to our God! As if this is not enough, we come to God’s throne to get mercy and find love to help us in time of need.
This is another answer to the Question- when does this Kingdom begin?
Brother, thanks for being sensitive to the Spirit in allowing Him to use you as a conduit for knowledge. I’m in the training process and events that are going on here are too fast to even stop and reason. I think the Holy Spirit is doing it like He did to Gideon, so that glory would be attributed to the LORD OF HOSTS and not human organization under Gideon and the great multitude of army men. Honestly speaking without faithful people putting us in prayer, we couldn’t have moved. More calls are coming for more work in other towns in Kenya; more brethren are coming forth to support the simple church initiative. Pastors are beginning to shake (this morning I received another call from a pastor ‘advising’ me to start a ministry if I felt called and not talk about organic church, which “he has been to America and knows it as an association of selfish misfits in the church, with queer behavior.”) Luckily, this war has been anticipated and much more is expected, but I have peace knowing there’s an army of prayer warriors on my side, and Bill Bremer one of the field Marshals. O lucky and blessed!
Thanks again, dear servant of the Most High. Thanks for using your intelligence for edification in the Kingdom. Keep doing it! Keep writing it. Keep training us!
Love,
Jimmy
You've asked me to give you email so you can email me your book. Here is it: jimnduruchi@yahoo.com
Iwas greetfull for your massege to our brow Jim who is dong good job in bugembe and iknow God is doing his work and there s reword foryhe good labour ofthe fruit of your hands. Thanks
Pst Omega
Hii Bill Bremer
Thanks for your massege pray with me Ihave new church and we are looking for afriend who can starnd with us to eneble us purchase church plot Iknow God is faith full to Him all things are possible tohim.IM requesting for brotherly prayers.thankyou
Pst Omega
Wegive To God the glory to what is being done.since our almight is faithfull we should praise Him for eachfor the chance.atually let join in his happyness. Thanks
Pst Omega
Thanks for befriending me. Have you seen my article about the Millennium? If not, it's at www.bibleone.net/TheMillennium.htm. I see you have a discussion about the gospel of the kingdom I'll take a look . . .
Your brother in Christ,
Edgardo
It is truly an honour to be a friend of yours. I percieve this to be a fruitful relationship. Looking for to building wisely with you in this current season with what God is saying.
Be Blessed,
Romal
Shalom, Dena
Shalom brother nice to meet you ! Thanks for the friend request.
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
Hi Bill, I recognized your name from the conference when my friend Harold Smith told me you requested a link to his most recent article on Communion. I just thought I'd say 'Shalom' and let you know what a close knit body our Father has.
Shine brilliantly.
B
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