Graduation 2018

It is hard to believe that 10 years has elapsed since we began graduating Pastors from Divine Providence Training Center! One has only to hear the testimonies of lives changed to realize that God’s hand truly crafted this Mission Outreach. Our trip this November got to witness the impact this ministry is having in Kenya. Here is a summary from one of the November team members:

“Our first stop was to Naivasha and Strong Tower Orphanage to see how our former graduate Martha and her husband Paul are equipping youth to share the Gospel.  We worshipped in a power house of praise that reveled Cathedrals with its cacophony of heavenly praise and dance. Seeing over 70 youth and a myriad of adults worshipping with such passion was infectious.  I wish we could bottle that and bring it to the USA!

Another joy was seeing children interacting with our team in play and just earnest conversation.  Children know no barriers to show love and interest.  Being with them and watching how they are blossoming into young adults is such a testimony to the impact that our pastors have on lives. During this stop I got to visit a young man I have supported for over 10 years.  He was passing into his citizenship in heaven, but I will never forget the many hundreds he reached sharing the Light of Christ.  Teachers, students, friends and children all heard from Charles about how God is with them.  He is a product of the home of Martha and Paul.

Our next visit was to travel the roads to visit the pastors in Masailand.  There we met Patrick and 2 powerhouse women Catherine and Sarah who wanted all to know how appreciative they are for their support of DPTC.  Both of these women shared with us how DPTC showed them God’s purpose for their lives in proclaiming His Good News.  Sarah and her husband have planted 3 churches, while Catherine who founded her church under a tree, now has a heart to minister to handicapped individuals and their caretakers.  Catherine shared how these individuals are seen as outcasts and often they, and the one who cares for them, are forgotten.  But Catherine wants them to all know of the love of Jesus for them and that they are not forgotten so she has begun a home visitation ministry and is working to get them equipment to be able to leave the home.

Next we witnessed Tom Davis’s ministry to the Alumni and Students.  He shared with them to be effective in ministry they have to get their priorities in order.  He powerfully shared how they needed to walk with God first, then their family and they can be effective in their ministry.  He talked about walking with God in the cool of the morning and the evening as God intended in the Garden. He then proceeded to share that God told Moses he needed helpers and that they should walk with other ministers two by two to build a support system.  The pastors enjoyed the breakouts and then asked the hard questions of how to fix this or that.  Tom shared those were questions that God would help them with in their private time. He also challenged them to share with their listening support pastors. It was a blessed time.

Then it was on to graduation preparation.  Thursday was the goat roast and washing the new graduates hands and placing them into service and then having Tom light the first candle to send them as Light out into the darkness (of the night) to bear witness.  Now to Goat eating and watching the Kenyans clean the bones and smile.”

Graduation day was the best yet.  It had been cold and raining most of the week, but on that day the skies began to shine!  We had a record crowd of over 600.  Many of these folks traveled for days to be with their pastor and to celebrate, dance, and show God the glory for his allowing their pastor to graduate.  Tom Davis delivered the key note address and the president of the class delivered a moving address challenging his class to Light up the World and walk in fellowship. He additionally was one of the Mike Long Leadership award recipients.

Celebration after the ceremony to me is the most special as you watch pastors, congregations and family pray, dance and sing together to Praise God for the miracle of their time at DPTC and what is to come.