Encouragers Unlimited Ministries

Kenya is in turmoil these days. The Gen-Z movement has called for more protests this week with the aim of ousting the president of Kenya. Please pray for justice and peace that will mark Kenya as a leader on the African Continent. Pray for a united, prayerful church.

I can hardly believe that our 20 years grand celebration at Kings Kids Village in Nairobi is just one day away. If you are in the Nairobi area, don't forget to check out the parking situation at Oak Place next to us. In case you can't attend, look out for a link to the livestream of the event. , ,

Happy New Year. We are about to travel back to the US, after a fruitful three month time in Kenya. This Sunday, we have the privilege of worshipping with our Rock Church family in Danville, Illinois. If you are close by, we'd love to see you there.

Last Monday, we launched our fall giving season to prepare for 2024. If you would like to give something towards KKV 2024, thank you in advance. We are believing for miracles. God is able.

Recently, our niece, Sarah, mentioned the story of how Kings Kids Village got started and mentioned the book that Mom Stern wrote, called “Never Too Old”. In doing so, she leashed an avalanche of requests to buy the book. Many were asking if it is available in the Kindle format. So, my sister, Sue David, got busy and here it is. Hurrah! This is also a big blessing to those who live in parts of the world where getting a hard copy of the book is prohibitive. So, problem solved! We now offer this book in Kindle form for a whopping $2.99.

https://buff.ly/3CksFbU

Check Out my new Blog post about our dear friend and brother in ministry and life. He is with the Lord and I am looking forward to knowing him there and continuing our fellowship on into eternity. I published this post yesterday, but wrote it December 1st, the day I learned of Zedi's passing.

Zedekiah Mkagwa – Man of God I have been silent for a long season of rediscovering true north in my walk with the Lord. Today, the silence ends. Today marks the day of great loss and at the same time, great gain. This day, at about 10am, East African Time, our dear dear friend, mentor, companion and brother reached home. Zedeki...

We Hit $25,000 / 30% of our goal.
As the thermometer arises, we remain grateful.
Note: The new total includes a donation we had forgotten to include last week

Yay for Christmas gifts! These packages are what the kids received today. Each gift contained a bath robe, towel, wash cloth, toiletry kit (soap holder, toothbrush/paste holder, luffa, pocket mirror, comb), fuzzy slippers, rubber slippers, lotion, vaseline, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant (older youth), shower cap (girls), bandana (boys), a sticky bathroom hook, and a basket.
They will also be holding a special family Christmas dinner (pictures to follow).
THANKS to all of you who helped make this possible! We appreciate it so much.

It is really hard not to underestimate the impact that our dear brother, Zedekiah has had on our lives and the lives of all who knew him (at Kings Kids Village and everywhere else he was known). He was a simple man who knew and feared the Lord and nobody or anything else. He was (and is, by the way) a shining example of someone who was called by the Lord to Himself first and then to others. The generations his life touched is having and will have a great impact on Kenya for a long time. When we invited he and Mary to consider coming on staff at KKV and being our first house parents, they didn’t accept right away. They never made any move without diligently seeking the Lord for a word to back up the decision. They took a week to pray and after a week and came back with a word from the Lord. ‘Go, serve and I will be with you and protect you’.

That began 13 years of faithful and godly passion as a father and pastor of the KKV community. Every single person he knew heard the gospel in a loving, yet truthful way. He didn’t sugar coat the gospel. God is not soft on sin, but is full of compassion and love for the sinner. But, don’t play around with sin any more than you’d play around a cobra (the species of snake most encountered on KKV property). God took him from overseeing over 25 churches and promoted him to fathering the fatherless. He is greatly missed by all who knew his loving smile and consistent lifestyle. One of his favorite songs was, "I’ll say yes, Lord, Yes" He is still saying that as he worships at the throne of God.

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

1. Jesus is with us...
2. His voice is as clear as ever...
3. His power is able to keep us...
4. He is the reward...

So, in the middle of so many uncertainties, I can say with all my heart and mind, that all is well with my soul. Somethings never change and I make it my main ambition in life to keep those certainties at the center of all I say and do in 2022. Happy 2022.

Certainties in Uncertain Times The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything. As […]

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

4. He is the reward… I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward. “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name.” The words to this old hymn are on my lips a lot these days. I am undone by the fact that I already possess the greatest thing I will ever hope to have in life and eternity. I have the pearl of great price; the fairest of 10,000, the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star. I have dreams and those dreams scare me and keep me up at night and all, but even if none of them get fulfilled in the way I think they should or will, I have the blessed Hope. I have the reward of all rewards. Nothing Jesus will ever give me will compare to the gift of Himself. For that, I am grateful and know that life is worth living for.

Certainties in Uncertain Times The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything. As […]

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

3. His power is able to keep us and propel us to fulfill His Commission. ‘After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”’ Genesis 15:1. In this world of dangers and opposition at so many levels, it is wonderful to have a place to hide. I’m talking about a place of peace where my thoughts away from the swirl. Thank God for His abiding rest and cover.

Certainties in Uncertain Times The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything. As […]

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

2. His voice is as clear as ever and we remain the sheep of His pasture. ‘When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ‘ John 10:4. If you know the Lord as Lord and Savior, you know His voice as well. One of my dad’s favorite sayings was “I know Jesus is alive. I just spoke to Him this morning.” We know that many voices speak to us in our inner person every day. As I concentrate on seeking Jesus though reading His Word and following Him, I can distinguish His voice from the others. His word is always accompanied by His peace.

Certainties in Uncertain Times The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything. As […]

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

1. Jesus is with us. ‘teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’ Matthew 28:20… The knowledge that Immanuel has been at the center of our existence since He lived on this earth is very stabilizing to me every day. In this world where loneliness is a bigger issue than ever, His presence and the promise of His presence makes all the difference in how we look down the road, questions we ask and how we plan in the middle of foggy situations. https://buff.ly/3GdWbAn

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The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything.

As we look at the future of our ministry in Kenya (Kings Kids Village) it is difficult to ask the right questions, let alone, make the right decisions. I have not experienced anything like this in my lifetime. Perhaps our generations living today lack the perspective of our parents who lived through tumultuous times in the early to mid 1900’s. I think it may be a mix of that and the fact that what is happening now is unprecedented.

As we seek to carry out the mandate set before us as Encouragers Unlimited, a few things remain certain that will take us through everything we have yet to experience.

Check out my thoughts on this in my blog.

Certainties in Uncertain Times The Year 2022 is new and yet, as we start this new year, we still have old battles that we are facing. The state of our times have been described as a swirl. There are so many realities today that are in question. It is a very challenging time to lead anyone or anything. As […]

'But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 'Acts 20:24. I don't know if this fits into the American Dream, but it is certainly, our dream.

Today, we said "GOODBYE for now" to a true Proverbs 31 woman. One of our KKV Aunties, Violet, was tragically taken from us through a road accident. We had her memorial service at KKV today. So many shared how she impacted their lives through her kindness, faith, and quiet strength. One of the young people shared how she taught him to take responsibility, how to open up about his struggles, and then how to walk through those struggles. Violet's consistent, faithful presence was an example, to so many of us, of dedication and care. She had personal pain and hardship in her life, but she always had a smile and prayer for someone else. Violet, we will miss your sweet, steady presence in our lives. May you rest in peace. Until we meet again.
During this time of loss, please pray for Violet's family, as well as our KKV family. The children will miss her. We ALL will miss her.

Take a look at the Youth beginning to enjoy the new computers! Libby Cunningham and friends, once again, we SHOUT OUT a BIG THANK YOU for your part in making this happen.

"Operation Kitchen Renovations" are under way! After more than 15 years of MUCH use (each day, cooking 3 meals from scratch for around 12, and washing all those dishes, pots and pans - including teaching kids how to cook and wash dishes!!) these kitchens have taken a beating. Last week, we gutted the first one of the four. Let the work begin! Prayers for the Mamas! This could be nerve wrecking. But, we're thankful for the provision.