WHY I AM BACK IN KENYA AGAIN
As many of you know, I am a retired pastor, and occasionally I am asked, “why are you doing this at this stage in life? Why don’t you just enjoy your retirement?”
Today I would like to take this opportunity to answer a question that has been put to me: “Dieter, why are you still doing this? Why don’t you just enjoy your retirement?” The short answer to that is – I AM enjoying my retirement – immensely. But I would offer several reasons of why I am travelling to Kenya for the sixth (6th) time now.
1.It is a tremendous privilege and opportunity to make a Difference . On each of the previous 4 times of teaching it has been a joy to see results over the course of a semester or term. Students who either have no experience in preaching, or have experience but no training, are by the end of the semester competent to preach very well and they enjoy doing it. After more than 45 years of ministry, I do not pretend to know everything there is to know about preaching and being a pastor. But I do believe that I can make a small contribution to others, and I consider it an honour and a privilege to be invited, now for the fifth time, to influence the lives of students who are preparing to serve in ministry. The words of former US President Jimmy Carter have been a great encouragement to me:
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
I am well aware that the day will come when I will no longer be able to do this. So I am doing it while I still can. I would advise anyone of any age: if there is anything that you need to or want to do, do it now while you still can.
2. My Calling is still valid. On June 2, 1979, I was ordained to the ministry of the Gospel. In the denomination in which I still hold credentials, this does not elevate one to a special status, but rather it is a public “setting apart” of someone who is recognized by the wider Christian community has having a calling from God. Ordinations are valid for life unless revoked if one is guilty of immorality or heresy. I take it very seriously that I am still under divine orders, even when no longer employed in ministry. For the record: I do not get paid anything for what I do in Kenya other than the free use of furnished house. Needless to say, I have revised my views about what a fulfilling retirement looks like !
3.I have come to love Africa, and the African people. That was not always so.
In fact I recall for decades viewing and hearing many presentations by missionaries to Africa giving their slide presentations when they came on home assignment. I found those very interesting, but not particularly relevant to my own life. I had certain pre-conceptions about the African continent – the climate is hot, there are dangerous animals like insects and snakes, the food is strange etc. But after being in Kenya 5 times, I have found out many more things that I actually like. Life is very different from ours in North America in so many ways. I have come to like the simpler lifestyle in Africa. Overall, people in Kenya are very very friendly. One notices that as soon as you step off the airplane in Nairobi – whether it be customs or immigration officials, security guards – they do their job but they are all very friendly – (quite unlike what I sometimes experience at airports and borders in North America, or even in Europe). That friendly tone continues wherever you go. When I commented on that to a Kenyan Police Chief (he had invited me into his office for tea while officers were busy filling out paperwork for an item that I had reported as lost), he said, “It is expected that anyone who has anything to do with the public, to be cordial”. Of course there is a flip side to that as well: in Kenya there is also a lot of violent crime, and sometimes riots and street violence, and corruption at almost every level of society, but thankfully I have not had to face any of that directly.
4.Because of a great need.
There is a great need among the people in Kenya. Not just materially, but in other ways too. Churches are growing quickly numerically, [unlike in our country] but they do not not always grow in depth. Some churches do not have pastors, others have bi-vocational pastors, some of whom have little or no training. I believe that those of us who have an abundance of the things that we need [or don’t need] also have an obligation to do whatever we can to help those who are lacking in what they need.
Of course I have been able to do this only because of the help of many friends. This is a huge project – it takes a village. And I am privileged to have a village of faithful supporters. I am happy to announce that 100% of the expenses for this coming trip have been covered because of some very generous contributions, both from individuals, and also from 2 churches – Benton St. Baptist Church, (which is my church home) and also the Martin Luther Evangelical Church in Kitchener. Donations are still coming in, and as in other years, anything over and above expenses will stay in Kenya to assist needy students.
To everyone I say a heart felt THANK YOU! Some of you have not been able to contribute this time, and that is totally OK. Thank-you for cheering me on by continuing to encourage me and praying for me. Those of you who contributed through the Great Commission Foundation website, will receive a tax receipt for contributions made prior to December 31, 2024. The receipts for the 2024 tax year will be sent out in early February of 2025 either by email or postal mail (if the strike is over by then!)