VINEYARD CHURCHES, KENYA

Gideon was one of the Judges of Israel. He starts well but does not finish as well. He may have been the weaker of his brothers and coming from the smallest tribe yet God still uses him. The invitation we have is to always lift our eyes to God in order to see ourselves and the situation around us better, host his presence and then obey. When we forget any of that we easily lose our way.

Jesus gives us freedom freely. Often we do not know how to step into that Freedom. How could we learn to receive the free gift he gives us?

As a church, we remain apolitical yet we are not silent. We stand on the side of Justice. Every Kenyan has a right to peacefully protest and voice their opinions on any issues that touch on their governance. We are convinced that God stands with the poor and the powerless. Jesus was a foreigner in a country seeking safety, Jesus lived under the oppression of a regime that thrived on forced labor and punitive taxes, and He was killed for speaking out what the regime found as speech they wanted to suppress. And we believe as scripture says, "Whoever mocks the poor, shows contempt for his maker!" (Proverbs 17:5). His response nonetheless was nonviolent. He disarmed his disciples when it felt right for them to take up arms as Peter once did. Yet He is mighty and strong and fights for the weak. Jesus spoke Truth to the injustice of that time and continues to speak Truth to the injustices of our day. And so as a church, we stand with the least of these, we stand with the oppressed, we stand with the poor. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "No we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until Justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." So we render our full support to non-violent and peaceful action. We condemn the deaths of any protesters, we decry the abduction of Citizens of our Country as a path in the wrong direction taking us much closer to days past. How can the church respond? 1. We will pray, inviting our Prince of Peace and our God of Justice to intervene 2. We will continue to speak the truth with boldness. 3. Me eir conscie helia re to boldly and peacefully speak up for what they believe 4. We encourage believers to live primarily as invited to in God's word 5. Provide care for both police and protesters, 6. Safety for protesters Edgar King, National Director, Association of Vineyard Churches (Kenya). For the National Council of the Vineyard Churches (Kenya)

Today we talk with Sean and Meredith about their journey of praying for people, receiving prayer, seeing healing, receiving healing and even battling unanswered prayer while receiving the gifts God has given them.

"Healing can be instant or sometimes gradual, yet in all times it is gradual." The healing Jesus offers is holistic. Sometimes there is such a focus on physical healing or deliverance as if it is the end all of things. It is bigger than that. It is about being fully restored to wellness in all areas that have been out of joint. Sometimes even after people get healed, there is still work to be done on the emotional, psychological and communal impacts of what they have gone through. This is why healing cannot be outside of the community, is not for show and is always tied to the Kingdom of God and our discipleship.

Jesus healed the sick, trained his disciples to do the same and even sent them out to do it. If God does heal today and all of us can participate, why is it Important for you, as a follower of Jesus, also practice laying hands on the sick to pray for them? It is tied to our discipleship and obedience to Jesus, it shows deep compassion for those around us and it is Spiritual Warfare. Join the conversation.

Does healing happen today? Does God heal today? Yes.  Through medical intervention and even through miraculous intervention.  Jesus healed out of compassion and two, Jesus healed as a demonstration of the Kingdom of God. He felt people’s pain deeply and it moved him to action. And if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, he still feels the pain of the sick. The question is, will the church which is the hands and feet of Jesus be moved to action?  For Jesus healing is part of demonstrating the Kingdom of God. When the King is present you feel the power of the King Now the Kingdom of God has come. We do not experience it in full. Yet today we can experience pockets of thin places. Moments where we become so aware of God’s presence. And when the King is present with us in that way, so is the power of the King. When God is present with us in that way, so is his power, and sometimes his power is present to heal the sick.
And because God has not changed, he still does this today.

As God Touches Our Lives, We are Equipped to Touch Others and praying for the sick is part of how we do it.

Healing the sick was a significant part of the ministry of Jesus. It is a part of the presence of the Kingdom. Our discipleship to Jesus also involves doing what Jesus did. We get to not only proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom but demonstrate the Good News of the Kingdom. 

What is Lost is Lost, It Cannot Find Itself. Jesus calls life without him lost. Whether we were doing the normal things of life, or because we came from broken families, because of the waves of life itself, or even when we intentionally walk away and make bad choices, being lost means we cannot find ourselves. So we lift our eyes to Jesus. Only he can not only find us but also make us right with the Father.

Here is the second instalment of the story of Rejesha Project Nairobi. We conclude our interview with Eunice hearing her own story of how God drew her in to this journey and that of rejesha women and what God is doing there. Visit their websie at www.rejeshaprojectnairobi.org to know more, partner and participate in upcoming events.  A lot of gratitude to the staff at Ngong’ Forest Sanctuary who provided space and services for the recording of this episode. www.ngongroadforest.com Background Music - “ Everything” by Vineyard Worship. www.vineyardsongs.com Upcoming Events: 4th March 2023 - Cocktails & Conversations Partnership Event Giving Details: Mpesa Paybill: 551727 Account Name: REJESHA Account Name:  Renewal Vineyard Church Account Number:  1907960051 Bank: NCBA Bank Bank Code: 07000 Branch Code: 119 Swift Code: CBAFKENX Reference: REJESHA

In this episode, we interview Eunice Njeri Mathu. She is part of Renewal Vineyard and the founder of Rejesha Project Nairobi. Here she tells the story of the Rejesha Project, a grassroots organization whose purpose is to restore hope and dignity to women and girls in prostitution and where possible, help those who seek to permanently leave prostitution through access to alternative work options. Loving them, building community and restoring them to themselves, community and God. For Rejesha, Love resstores and transforms. Eunice Mathu is the Founder and C.E.O of Rejesha Project. A committed Christian, Eunice is passionate about social justice, particularly in sexual exploitation and human trafficking. In October 2018, Eunice returned home to Kenya after 12 years of studying and working in the UK, dreaming of making a social impact in Nairobi. Eunice has extensive experience working with survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and women in prostitution. A lot of gratitude to the staff at Ngong’ Forest Sanctuary who provided space and services for the recording of this episode. www.ngongroadforest.com Background Music - “ Everything” by Vineyard Worship. www.vineyardsongs.com Upcoming Events: 4th March 2023 - Cocktails & Conversations Partnership Event  Giving Details: Mpesa Paybill: 551727 Account Name: REJESHA Account Name:  Renewal Vineyard Church Account Number:  1907960051 Bank: NCBA Bank Bank Code: 07000 Branch Code: 119 Swift Code: CBAFKENX Reference: REJESHA

Prophecy in our local churches is so important, to be encouraged and to be practised and then taken out of the gathered spaces to our workplaces and everyday life. But there are things to watch out for.  Hellen serves Vineyard Kenya National team as the National Secretary and Leader of the National Prayer Team.