News and Updates
September 1, 2023
David Copeland · September 1, 2023
Newsletter · Volume: 23 Issue: 9
The August 2023 Kenya School of Ministry trip was a huge success!
We began our ministry time by holding two regional meetings for our Revival Now pastors and churches, first in Kilgoris and then in Narok. Eighty-five pastors & leaders gathered in both towns for a one-day seminar where I taught on the subject “Some Things I Have Learned In Forty-five Years of Ministry.” A spirit of unity hovered over both meetings, and God confirmed His word by touching these men & women of God.
The Kilgoris School of Ministry began with over one hundred pastors & leaders arriving for day one. Again, the hunger and thirst for God’s Word draws things out of you as you minister that are hard to express in words. Tim Williams, Jackie Benefield, and I had an outstanding time teaching, and several times throughout the week, the Glory of God manifested and touched the people.
August was the inaugural session for the School of Ministry’s degree program, underwritten by Evangel Christian University, based in Monroe, Louisiana. Fifteen students took part in the first class as we taught from John Maxwell’s book, “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. There was some great and often intense discussion throughout the week, and every student scored 100% for the class.
The weekend ministry was a great blessing as well. While in Kilgoris, I had the privilege of ministering at Hopewell Christian Centre, and God did not disappoint us for the Sunday services. People were at the altar weeping and receiving from the Lord.
August 28 - September 1, we traveled to Narok for the Narok session for the School of Ministry. Ninety-five pastors & leaders gathered from across Kenya for the teaching on Gifts of The Spirit, Character of the Believer, and Authority of The Believer. Throughout the week, these students were more engaged than in the previous four years combined. There was some very lively discussion when we dealt with a lot of abuse in ministry here, and everyone left greatly encouraged in their call and walk with the Lord. Because of Covid 19 disrupting our teaching and training schedule, our first graduation for the diploma of the Narok School will take place this December.
On Tuesday at the Narok School, at the 11:30 am session, the praise and worship team was used by God to open the heavens. I sensed very strongly that I should stay out of the way and let God do what He wanted, and I am so glad I did! Many were baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues for the first time, and several healings were reported. One young pastor was injured in a motorbike accident a couple of years ago and has had continual pain in the torso of his body since the accident. During this extended time of worship, the power of God came on him and healed him. He was pain-free for the first time in several years. To God be all the Glory!
Several weeks ago, I was sent a testimony of a young man who attended and graduated from our School of Ministry who had been involved with a cult his entire life. While at the School of Ministry, he recognized that the organization he was a part of was a cult. He returned to his “bishops” and told them they were teaching and believing false doctrine and needed to repent. He renounced his membership in the cult but kept having fellowship with them, hoping to bring change to the people there. Finally, he convinced the leadership of their errors and called for one of our Revival Now leaders to come and teach them. They have renounced their false teachings and have fully embraced Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. To God Be ALL the Glory and praise!!!
In April, the Kenya government uncovered a cult in Kenya that had convinced its members to starve themselves to death to hurry the coming of Jesus, resulting in the deaths of almost 500 people buried in mass graves in Mombasa. Now, the government is slapping severe restrictions on pastors and churches to be under some covering and for pastors to prove they have had some basic Bible training. Revival Now Schools of Ministry is meeting a great need in Kenya at this moment, and we are expecting a huge increase in the number of pastors and leaders wanting to receive this basic Bible training in the coming months. We sincerely need your help to continue providing this essential service to pastors and leaders who cannot afford and don’t have the time to leave their families and attend a traditional Bible School.
Would you consider an extra special gift this month for our Schools of Ministry in Kenya? Since 2010, Revival Now Kenya has graduated over 1200 pastors and leaders, and this Sunday will impact over 65,000 people across East Africa. While I know that is not much compared to our mega-churches in the United States, these are churches and ministries in predominately rural areas across East Africa. Many of these pastors have planted ten to twenty churches a piece. Our ministry is needed more than ever.
Thank you for being obedient to whatever God puts in your heart to do.
God bless!