matluce

02/28/2025

[The Joy of The Lord]

Each time I go abroad, and especially when I come to Olderkesi Development Project, we work most days from sun up to sun down, in a steady, constant rhythm. It is a necessity, so that we are able to maximize the few moments we have in any one country working with our ministry partners wherever we are.

This trip, however, has felt as though our time has truly been pressed in at all sides. Not only working throughout this past week to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for Olderkesi Development Project for 2025, but I was also working with a team each day back in the States to implement a new giving platform, which we will be rolling out soon on Beehives website. Furthermore, I have been making all final plans for my upcoming trip to SE Asia and Mongolia, on which I will depart eight days after returning home from Kenya.

I have found myself lamenting the absence of our afternoon tea times, when our team here takes a much needed pause in the afternoon to gather together and relax.

I was reminded this morning of the passage from Nehemiah, the Joy of the Lord is your strength! Imagine the scene, the remnant exiles have returned from Babylon to find Jerusalem in ruins, and as the work of rebuilding begins, Ezra and Nehemiah gather the people and begin by teaching from Torah. We read that the Hebrew exiles had been in Babylonian culture so long that the Levites were spread throughout the crowd explaining what The Teachings meant.

As Mako laid the table for breakfast, and I made coffee, we both held a weather eye out the front window, waiting for our third member, Dan Maison to join us, with anticipation. As Dan approached he spoke one word, ‘Bado’ (not yet), as we are all awaiting the imminent arrival of Maisons second born.

In that moment, a sense of peace and joy overwhelmed me. It may be hard to fully articulate the sense of brotherhood felt here, or how we all carry one another’s burdens. In that moment I understood Nehemiahs word more fully. The Joy we find in God is our true source of strength, as we learn to lay our burdens at the foot of the cross, trusting The One who promises us His yoke is easy.

10/24/2024

[Failure To Thrive]

Iris and I are big ‘Call the Midwife’ fans, and with the holidays approaching I know that the Season 1 Christmas special will be in the holiday movie rotation. One of the main story lines of this episode is that of Jenny Lee, young district midwife, helping a destitute old woman find healing in the grieving of her children, who were lost in the workhouse. Cause of death listed: ‘failure to thrive’

Working in the gardens of Olderkesi this week it is impossible not to see the scriptural connections, especially to Christ’s teachings in John 15. As I was pruning pili pili pepper bushes this week, I was thinking again of the ‘withered branch’ which will be cut off from the vine for failing to bear fruit.

Any gardener can tell you how important pruning is, to remove what is withered so that good can thrive. Additionally, fruit that is left on the vine or tree after harvest is equally damaging, drawing resources and attracting unwanted pests and disease.

When it comes to allowing the Vinedresser to do a bit of pruning in our own lives, however, we can all become a bit hesitant. When prompted by the Holy Spirit, we are not always so willing to allow the things that are hurting us to be cut back from our lives. We think we can be the vinedressers of our own lives and, more often than not, we either cut out too little, leaving remnants of those little sins we like to indulge in, or we can cut out too much, damaging our growth in Christ.
Either way, when we fail to let God prune back our lives, the result is that we fail to thrive in Christ, and become incapable of carrying out the fullness that He is calling us to.

It can be painful to fully surrender to Christ that which keeps us from thriving, but it is necessary. Just as a newly harvested field appears barren, God is always at work, leading us to be more fully alive in Him.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

10/22/2024

[CREATED TO BEAR FRUIT]

Throughout the scriptures we see the imagery of ‘bearing good fruit’ inexplicably linked to following God in our daily Christian walk.

In Galatians 5, Paul outlines what the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ looks like, as characteristics outpouring from a heart alive in Christ.

In John 15 we see Jesus Himself teaching us what it looks like to abide in God, wholly and continuously dependent on the ‘True Vine’, in Him.

When we begin to understand the intertextuality of scripture as a whole and complete narrative which always, ALWAYS, points to Jesus, we begin to understand how the references of ‘bearing fruit’ are intended to recall our minds back to Eden, to the Paradise Lost and the hope of the Paradise Restored.

In Genesis 1:26-27 we see, in part the purpose of our very creation: to be the visible representation of who God is here on earth. That is, we were created to live in such a way that we always, ALWAYS point others to who Jesus is.

With this in mind we can more fully understand what Christ is saying to His disciples in John 15, ‘you did not choose me, I chose you, I created you, that you should go and bear fruit, who in turn will abide in me and bear fruit! I did not come to look like you, I created you to look like me’! There can be no higher calling.

We thank God our team arrived safely to Olderkesi Development Project last Friday evening. Sunday we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with 2000 secondary and junior secondary students before preaching in our ‘home church’ here at the project.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

08/21/2024

[THE STRAIGHT PATH]

Throughout both Old and New Testament Gods people are urged to make for themselves a ‘straight path’. Perhaps my favorite such example can be found in all four Gospels, quoting Isaiah in the voice of John the Baptist ‘make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’

For the Christian, the walk of faith is never promised to be easy, there is a reason why Jesus told His Apostles that He was the ‘Narrow Gate’ and that ‘The way is hard’, but again and again we are encouraged to remain on the straight path, however difficult.

Here in Northern Kenya, the way is most certainly hard, especially traveling to some of the more remote churches we serve. There is a particular road to L’Moti that always reminds me of the Isaiah 40 passage. The road is straight, but heavy laden lorries have rendered it untenable in places. In response, there are off shoots, which cut through the desert, rejoining the main road when it becomes smoother. The problem is this: if you take the wrong ‘easy path’ you can travel miles away from the main road and become mired in soft sand, stranded. No matter how bad the battering, it is always best to remain on the straight route.

Our faith Journey is the same: there is an allure to the easy path, but we always find ourselves miles from where we need to be, mired to the axels in desert dust, spiritually stranded. If we are to walk in righteousness, there can be no shortcuts.

Today our team had a rare opportunity to share the Gospel with the Moran warriors of this area. These are the most marginalized members of the community, as they live segregated from the villages, and often are away in the bush weeks or months, protecting the herds. Since first meeting with this group last year, we have continued to disciple them throughout the year and it was incredibly encouraging to see them continuing on the straight path.

“A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

08/19/2024

[ THE BRUISED HEEL]

This morning, as we were sharing a teaching from the Gospel on the soccer pitch, our camp watchman killed a black mamba just outside our camp. This incident brings to mind a similar occasion a few months ago when we killed a green mamba just outside my house at Olderkesi in southern Kenya. In incidents, the locals immediately attack the head of the snake, the bludgeoning is gruesome, to be sure, but it immediately neutralizes the threat of a bite, which would be fatal in such a remote area as we find ourselves in.

When we read passages like Genesis 3:15 with a western mindset, it can be easy at times to miss the deeper meaning of the text. When God addresses Satan as the serpent in the garden, He tells him that one day the offspring of the woman, Jesus, would crush his head, though Christs heel would be bruised. Not only will Satan be defeated in that final battle, but the venom of death itself will be utterly neutralized. What a hope we have in Jesus!

In the meantime, we are so thankful for your many prayers, keeping our ministry team here safe. Yesterday morning Rev. David and I taught in the church about the cost of being a living sacrifice. Sunday afternoon, the opening ceremony for the Youth Evangelism Soccer Tournament was held, with match play beginning at 730 am this morning.

We will share a message with all the teams present each day following morning match play. Our teaching theme for the week is ‘Koree Nkai’, where is God in your life, connecting attributes of the Good Shepherd from Psalms 23 to practical lessons on substance abuse, sexual abstinence and living completely set apart for God.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

08/17/2024

[ THE LOST SHEEP]

Yesterday, our ministry team returned safely to our base camp here in Northern Kenya. We had been traveling into more remote areas of the bush to visit and encourage our brothers and sisters in the church of L’Moti. Three years ago, this November, L’Moti became the first of three church plants established under AGC Nairibi, our ministry partner here in the North.

L’Moti loosely translates as ‘place of pots’, as natural rock formations create water catchments in the granite. From the village, there is one central granite outcrop which provides amazing vistas of the surrounding landscape. While on top of this rock, I witnessed a shepherd below leave his herd in the bush, in search of a lost goat, which had gone astray. While the rest of the herd grazed ahead, this determined shepherd persistently crisscrossed the terrain in search of the one that was lost, calling out in a sing song whistle unique to himself and his herd.

I am so thankful that we serve a God who is as persistent in seeking us when we have gone astray. Always calling out, always calling us home. In both Gospels of Matthew and Luke the parable of the ‘Lost Sheep’ is recounted, as Jesus made plain how He is ever at work calling our hearts back to Himself. In the parable we are likened to sheep, however, as is the case in my own life, I think we are more like lost goats.

The Psalmist also recognized his own wondering ways when he wrote Psalm 119:176
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭176‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How grateful we should be that our God does not give up on us.

While in L’Moti we preached the Gospel of Living Water, shared a community meal, feeding over 300 people in the village, and met with village elders, who finalized the community land to be given for a church building. This was a critical next step towards building the church structure for this village.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

08/12/2024

[POURED OUT]

Six years ago to the day this photo was taken in Northern India, on a trip with Beehive Global Collective. In the post for this particular photo, I remember referencing Philippians 2:17. I will confess that back then I could not fully understand what Paul meant when writing to the church in Philippi.

In the following years, God has been working deeply in my own life, to teach me what it truly means to be poured out for Him. His refining work within my heart and soul has been at times painful, as the work of the Holy Spirit is always kind, and sometimes gentle. As John the Baptist said, we must decrease so that He may increase.

Each of us, when we say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, must learn to be perpetually ‘poured out’, offering ourselves as living sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel.

At times this means going across the street or across the world, sharing our faith with those who hurt around us. At other times this means sacrificing our ‘wants’ and our pride for His good.

Tomorrow our team will head north, into the sub-Saharan desert to share the Gospel at a youth soccer evangelism event and to encourage our brothers and sisters of the faith in the churches established in remote villages. Please continue to keep us in your prayers for safety and that His Kingdom would be increased.

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

12/02/2023

[ALL GOOD THINGS]

I have been thinking a lot about grain offerings over the last few days. In Leviticus 2, the Lord gives direction to the people of Israel regarding the observance of grain offerings. The memorial portion, offered on the fire was meant to remind Israel, again and again, that all good things come from the Lord, that He was their portion, that He was their provider, that He was their provision.

James, the brother of Jesus echoes this sentiment in his letter to the dispersed Hebrews of the New Testament when he says ‘every good gift and every perfect gift is from above’. James was no doubt recalling to mind the grain offerings of their forefathers with this statement before going on to say that God ‘of His own will’ ‘brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures’. That, as believers, we should remember that all good things come from God, and that in response to Gods goodness we should offer ourselves as a kind of firstfruits offering or sacrifice to the Lord.

As I think back over the last two weeks in southern Kenya, I am amazed at the goodness of God on display! The seminar for Olderkesi AGC concluded this past Sunday, where seven of our brothers and sisters followed Christs example in believers baptism. At the conclusion of Sunday, there was a community meal, where over three hundred individuals from surrounding villages were fed!

On Monday, our team shifted to ‘Phase 2’ of our mission here, as construction on the building for Maji Moto AGC commenced. Though heavy rains and flooding of the local river threatened the area, God was faithful and provided for clear skies every day of construction. Today, a steel and wooden frame stands upon the plain, where this time last week there was nothing. The frame will be covered with corrugated metal in the coming week, and the structure will be complete.

All good things. Perhaps the greatest ‘good thing’ is that our Good Father seeks to partner with us in His work, brittle though we may be. May we never lose sight of The Giver when we receive the gift.

Soli Deo Gloria

11/23/2023

[THANKFUL]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ALL OF US AT BEEHIVE GLOBAL COLLECTIVE.

We have so much to be thankful for today!

We thank God for how He is at work here in Maasai Land.
We thank God for lives changed, hearts surrendered, and new brothers and sisters finding salvation.
We thank God for the opportunity to share the transforming message of His Gospel with the Maasai people.
We thank God for dear friends and family, for His provision over the past year.
We thank God for supporters like you, who lift us up in prayer and financially,and make this work possible.

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to serve in Southern Kenya.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

11/20/2023

[THE GOSPEL CHANGES EVERYTHING]

when the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy ‘that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost’, that really hit home. There have certainly been seasons of my life where I have felt far from God, irredeemable. Seasons of my life, where in my pride, I believed I had it all figured out, all together. It was in these broken places where God met me with the overwhelming beauty of the Gospel, and that has changed everything.

Today I am humbled, thankful for the opportunity to return to Olderkesi Kenya, to where my missionary journey began, to share the Gospel at a Summit of AGC (Africa Gospel Church) churches. Over the coming week, we will have the opportunity to share this transformative Gospel message with the large Maasai community here at Olderkesi. We are thankful as well that several of our brothers from Marsabit and Nairibi AGC are able to make the journey, to share in fellowship and experience ways in which a different church community and tribe worships.

When self-doubt creeps in, and I wonder how I could ever be shown such love and mercy, I am thankful Paul’s equally resonant words to Timothy: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Soli Deo Gloria

08/26/2023

[IT TAKES A VILLAGE]

Or a Beehive.

As our latest Ministry Trip to Northern Kenya comes to a close, Iris and I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for everyone who has lifted us up in prayer, offered support for Iris on the home front, and given financially to make the continuing ministry in Northern Kenya possible!

When Iris and I founded Beehive Global Collective over five years ago, we did so on the guiding principle that the collective Body of Christ, and all of its members play a part in the impact of the Kingdom.

I have copied part of Rev. David’s ministry update to our in country WhatsApp group to share some of the ways your support has impacted the Kingdom:
1. Over 200 young people were reached with the gospel
2. The elderly people at different venues accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior
3. A Muslim lady prayed for. She still has few things to sort with her family but has confessed that Jesus is superior over Mohammed.
4. Morans, warriors were reached with the gospel. It was the first ever time to happen in this region. Discipleship will take effect soon
5. People received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
6. Unity and fellowship through sports
7. Support for the players
8. Feeding the community

As I was reading through 1 Samuel again I was struck by 1 Samuel 30:24:
“Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.””
‭‭Although few warriors followed David into battle, all had equal share in the spoils. Likewise, though few are sent into the spiritual ‘battle’ here in Northern Kenya, all who lift us up share in the Kingdom victories.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

08/23/2023