In January of 1980, the members at Quaker Avenue gathered together on a Sunday night for their quarterly family meeting.  In most ways it was no different than the other meetings the church had every three months.  The budget was reviewed, a few committees gave their reports, plans for the annual singing school were discussed some.  But one item on the agenda would dominate the discussion that night.  What are we to do about Kenya?  Willie Sang had challenged us to send missionaries to Kenya.  A fact-finding team had returned with glowing reports of the opportunities waiting there.  Now was the time.  Will we do it or not? 

Several had given their opinions, considered the financial challenge and discussed various possibilities about cooperating with other churches.  At the time, the church budget was just barely meeting our local needs.  One member spoke up, “Wouldn’t it be prudent to wait until we can raise the funds to make this commitment?” Another answered, “Maybe God is wanting us to step out on faith.”  After more discussion, Armand Weathers spoke up.  “Well, it seems to me that God just dumped this thing in our lap.  We got to do it!”  And with those words the consensus was formed.  After all, if God was truly sending us, surely God could supply us.  We voted unanimously to sponsor the work.

God had already shown his faithfulness by enabling the church to raise funds to send the fact-finding team over.  We had budgeted $12,000 and received $16,000.  The cost of the trip ended up being $16,000.  That was the first of many experiences that would teach us how God would provide just what we needed to accomplish his work.  Invitations were sent out to churches and individuals to be partners in this exciting new mission work.  Contributions started coming in from people who themselves felt the challenge to do more in addressing the Great Commission of our Lord.  By the time the missionaries had been selected to go, in the fall of 1980, there were more than enough funds available to send them and assure them of support. 

Over the years there have been many anxious moments when it was uncertain if the funds were there to sustain the mission, but over and over again the Lord provided.  A few years ago Shawn Tyler informed us of the opportunity to purchase land that would be perfect for building a school facility adjacent to the church.  He estimated it would take $60,000 to purchase the land and build the building, but it would have to be paid in full within a year.  Of course we didn’t have an extra $60,000 sitting around, but convinced this was God’s leading, the commitment to purchase the land was made.  We started raising funds and received a little over $100,000, which was good since it turned out that the land and building expenses were more than expected, a little over $100,000!

Sometimes there were large unexpected contributions, other times many additional supporters came in just as the needs arose, but in every case God has never failed, providing a twenty five year testimony of his faithfulness.  And as the work has grown, its demands for our faith and dependence on God have continued to grow.  So that now in addition to the thirteen year work in Kenya followed by the current work in Uganda, we have become involved helping support other missionaries in Laos, Malawi, Sudan and the Ukraine as well as several mission points in the States.  And God continues to provide.  Within ten years of beginning the Kenya mission, attendance at Quaker more than doubled and contributions almost quadrupled.  Is there a connection?  We are convinced there is. Obedience to the great commission has not cost us, rather it has paid us rich dividends, both in Africa and here at home.

SPIRITUAL TRUTH #2

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19