09/26/2024 Kenya (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern’s (ICC) Bikes and Bibles initiative began as a dream to bring God’s Word to people living in hard-to-reach areas. For years, ICC has supported and sent evangelists into heavily persecuted regions — and they’ve gone knowing the ever-present risks of beatings or even death.
In India, pastors and evangelists who’ve partnered with ICC throughout the past five years have bravely faced violence, embodying remarkable courage. These dedicated evangelists have distributed thousands of Bibles to local Christians who’ve never owned a Bible before. Their efforts have also led to the establishment of new churches, with evangelists using their bicycles to shepherd and support these growing congregations. The bikes have proven invaluable, enabling these evangelists to reach isolated villages, pastor their communities, and secure reliable work outside their villages, transforming both their spiritual and daily lives.
But India isn’t the only country with determined evangelists working in rural areas. We’ve recently expanded our Bikes and Bibles program to Kenya. Despite Kenya’s majority Christian population, Christians often face oppression and persecution in rural Muslim communities throughout the country. Al-Shabab and other Islamic extremist groups continue to grow in number and influence, posing a growing treat to Christians in the region.
ICC is now working with more than 10 evangelists to make their ministries more effective so they can shepherd more Christians and reach more nonbelievers with the gospel. Our model is the same: provide them with a motorbike and a stack of Bibles so they can live out their God-given gifts of evangelism in their communities.
WITNESSING TRANSFORMATION IN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES
Moses, an evangelist ICC supports in Kenya, lives and serves in a predominantly Muslim community where people, especially the relative few local Christians, face many challenges.
He regularly visits the homes of both Muslims and Christians to teach them about the gospel and help them understand the truth of Jesus.
“As an evangelist serving in this Muslim-dominated community, my desire is to see the people of this area transformed and come to know Christ, living in peace with one another,” he said. “It would bring me great happiness to witness the people of this area embracing the truth of Christ and experiencing transformation.”
Even as a devoted husband and father, Moses visits these homes consistently to share the gospel with residents. The distance he must walk from his home to the villages where he conducts his outreach requires considerable time and energy. As a result, he returns home late and is often unable to visit some villages due to a lack of time.
Moses goes beyond sharing the gospel. He lives it by serving and loving members of his community. He prays with and encourages villagers, teaching them the Word of God from Scripture to help their understanding and transformation. He also provides support and encouragement to secret believers in the area.
“I regularly visit the village and the homes of various individuals to fellowship with them, share the word of God, offer encouragement, and conduct Bible study sessions,” he said. “These sessions involve studying Scripture in detail to help them grow in their understanding of the gospel and Christ.”
Given the insecurities and challenges in the region, ICC provided Moses with a motorbike to help him have easier access to the villages and homes of the people he serves. He’s now able to spread the gospel more effectively and return home earlier to spend time with his family.
ICC also provided Moses with Bibles to distribute to residents in the local language, making it easier for them to read and understand the Scriptures. New believers and those seeking spiritual growth now have access to God’s Word in their daily lives.
REACHING MUSLIMS BEFORE THEY’RE RADICALIZED
“The area we are reaching is vast,” said Samuel, who pastors a new church plant. “We need brothers and sisters in Christ to help us to reach those frontiers.”
The church that Samuel pastors still meets in a home — just like churches mentioned in the New Testament. Samuel is dedicated to reaching local Muslim tribal groups, mainly focusing on Bible studies with new believers and seekers. He hopes the gospel will continue to spread and bear fruit through his ministry.
“I have served as an evangelist and church elder from when I got born again in 1994,” Samuel said. “I have been part of the leaders that planted and strengthened the churches around my town and in the villages. Many people are believing in Christ, including some nominal Muslims. We need to reach out to them and lead them to Christ before the radical Muslims come and radicalize them.”
Many families are scattered across different villages, some of which have not heard the gospel. New believers in these villages need to read or hear God’s Word in their native language to help them grow spiritually. ICC provided Samuel with a motorbike and Bibles so that he could continue to evangelize in hard-to-reach areas.
SERVING THE LORD AT ANY COST
Dia pastors a new church in a Muslim dominated village in Kenya. A former Muslim, he previously taught the Quran and has a seep knowledge of both the Quran and the Bible. Like Samuel, his church meets in the homes of believers, reminiscent of the New Testament church. His church has 50 new believers, several of whom are children, from 15 families.
“I would rather die poor in Christ than serve any other Lord,” Dia shared. “For me to die and to live is all for Christ.”
Members of his church are passionate about serving the Lord. One member, a widow, lets the church use part of her land.
Dia walks long distances, sometimes at night, to meet with each house church. He sometimes borrows motorbikes from friends, but they charge him each time. ICC provided Dia with a motorbike to help him travel to each fellowship more efficiently. We also gave him Bibles to help him nurture the faith of new believers.
PREACHING THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
David serves at a church in a rural Muslim-majority town that Dia’s church planted. The church currently gathers at a primary school. Last year, thanks to the Lord’s provisions, the church bought a piece of land. In recent months, its membership has grown to 60 believers, and it’s expected to continue growing.
“I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that life without Jesus is a futility,” David said. “The gospel is the hope for all humanity, and so my desire is to keep preaching to all people so that they may know Christ.”
David walks when he goes to minister to neighboring villages, so ICC provided him with a motorcycle to reach his congregation and even more seekers in the surrounding communities. We also provided Bibles in the local language so he can minister and preach the Word of God.
TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN
Stephen is a pastor serving in a Muslim-dominated region with multiple challenges. He lives near a busy highway and encounters difficulties in conducting God’s work, which includes reaching out to people in villages to spread the gospel, praying with believers and nonbelievers, and conducting Bible studies to help people deepen their understanding of Jesus.
“Serving the Muslim community, my desire is to share the love of Christ with them and make Christ known so they may be transformed and understand the truth about Christ and Christianity,” the pastor said.
One major challenge he faces is a safe way to travel to evangelize. Walking poses significant risks due to the area’s lack of proper security. ICC provided Stephen with a motorbike so he can travel more safely and spread the gospel more effectively.
“Additionally, I aim to provide Christian advice on living peacefully with one another, encouraging them to place their trust and hope in Christ alone,” Pastor Stephen said. “I also conduct Bible study sessions and fellowship gatherings in their homes in the village through visitation.”
Pastor Stephen interacts with secret believers and shares Bibles and other Christian literature to enhance his outreach efforts. These materials help people engage with the gospel more directly.
NOTHING CAN STOP GOD’S WORD
The Rev. William’s church remained stagnant for two decades until he took over and started to plant churches in unreached areas throughout Kenya.
“We serve in an area where the gospel is opposed and under attack from the Muslims, but no matter the opposition, nothing can stop God’s Word,” William told an ICC staffer. “We wake up every day fully prepared to preach and suffer for the gospel.”
Although Islam is spreading rapidly throughout the town, the church’s missionaries are actively sharing the gospel. The need to reach the unreached with God’s love is more urgent than ever.
ICC provided the Rev. William’s church with a motorbike to help William and other evangelists reach villages where public transport is not available. We also provided the church with print and audio Bibles in the local languages.
“God faithfully provides for those who faithfully serve Him,” Samuel said. “That is what keeps me moving in the ministry.”
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