February/March 2008

Dear Prayer Partners,

As we sat in our house in the darkness on another night without electricity, we heard the piercing scream come from the outside of our house. Lisa and I immediately ran toward our kitchen door and saw fire leaping from our storeroom. Boniface, who was putting gasoline into our generator, had accidentally knocked over his candle. Flames came out from the generator, the gas container, and the spilt gas on the floor. Boniface and his wife were racing to get water. I grabbed a blanket and threw it to him and told him to put it over the top of the generator where flames were coming out of the gas compartment. Within seconds the fire was out and we were all safe.

This reminded me of the lost world. They are living without the light of Christ. They are walking in the darkness and soon without warning, will be consumed in the fire that was prepared as a punishment for Satan and his demons. It reinforced in my life the importance of getting the Gospel out to as many people as possible before it is too late. On the night of the fire, we could have lost our friend Boniface, his wife, our things, or even our house. It only took a second for the fire to start, and another second to get out of control. People are dying every day and meeting an eternity of fire. What are we doing to tell them about Jesus?

Easter was one of those opportunities to reach out to people and we praise God that 2 precious souls came to know Christ on that day. We are planning our big outreaches for the spring. We will have Friend Sunday, Anniversary Sunday, and of course, Youth Sunday. It is fun to plan and implement these events but we always have to keep in mind that our purpose is to see the lost come to know Christ. Would you please pray with us that Kenyans will accept Jesus as their Savior and that we would do our part to reach them?

We are excited that Phase II of the building program at Neema Baptist Church is almost done. We were able to construct 3 new classrooms that serve as school rooms for the New Life Academy and Sunday school rooms for the church. The church has accepted their national pastor and is helping to raise money so that he can pay for his wedding in August. Pray for Abraham as he leads his church and plans for a wedding. Pastor Allan at Injili Baptist is doing well and had over 300 at his Easter Service. Allan’s wife, Eve is having a baby in April. Keep her in prayer as she is having difficulties and will have to have a C-Section which is a difficult operation here in Kenya.

Please pray for a new project that we are starting this year. It will be a new church plant in an area called Mshomoroni. This area was hit hard during the political violence and is in great need of a Christian witness. Our dream is to start another feeding center and eventually a Christian high school in this area. God is in control and is opening a door for us to receive two acres of land FREE. Pray for God’s will to be done.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Bobby Lisa Ethan & Conner Bechtel
Missionaries to Kenya, Africa

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Praise Reports:

• Salvation and Baptism of 10 people at Neema Baptist Church

• Salvation of 6 people and baptism of 12 people at Injili Baptist Church.

• Kenya in Peaceful

• Safety during house fire.

• $25,000 given to build 1st -3rd grade classrooms at New Life Academy.

• Attendance is up!

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for Pastor Allan and Eve for birth of baby.
• Pray for New Church Plant in Mshomoroni.
• Pray for Pastor Abraham and his wedding in 2008.
• Pray for more support. We are in desperate need of more ministry funds. Gospel Feeding Center and School is under-funded by $600 monthly.