Benson served in the Kenyan Army for seven years during which time he joined the African Inland Church (AIC), a main protestant denomination in Kenya. Benson quickly became very active in his church and was asked to lead the youth church choir. Benson aggresively studied the Word of God under his pastor Geofry Mutua Muywoki and began teaching others. The congregation grew under the leadership of Geofry and Benson and soon found the need for more room. Benson and Monica prayed about the need and were led to give a piece of their land to the church, that they might have a house of worship.

After donating his land to the church, Benson was praying how he might serve the Lord in other ways. Nehemiah 1 was placed on his heart and he began crying out to the Lord that He might use him in a mighty way. The Lord answered this plea with a vision. Benson was called to reach the youth with the resources he already had. (Exodus 4:1-2)

Benson used an old black and white television, a video deck, and one box speaker to show videos to the youth. He showed video’s on the life of Jesus, Moses, Samson & Delilah, Esther, the Ten Commandments, and more. Many people, young and old, would travel great distances to come view the videos. Benson explains, “To my surprise, Jesus did wonders and I could see people surrender their lives to the Lord.” The word got around about Benson and the videos and he was soon invited to many churches and schools. The parents of the children requested Benson begin speaking on topics to include HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, peer groups, dangers of abortion, and more. He agreed and began studying these topics and teaching them at the same time. All the while the Lord continued blessing him with larger and larger crowds of people.

The requests to speak became more and more and Benson moved his TV and equipment into his wheelbarrow. Across the country-side Benson went and the Lord continued blessing him. Soon he upgraded to a bicycle to reach schools and churches even further away. He would strap the video deck to the handle bars, the car battery to the back of his bike, and the TV was carried on his back in a bed sheet. Benson was speaking every day to two schools a day. He would come home late in the evenings, risking his own life by riding through the African country side at night alone.

Benson and Monica grew produce in order to raise money to purchase more equipment. They invested every extra penny into the ministry, that they might win just one more for Jesus. Then, as Benson was shooting a video, a power surge spiked through all his equipment and left him with nothing. Benson began praying to the Lord that he might be blessed with equipment to begin the ministry again. Later, Benson volunteered to come to Iraq in order to support his family and try to save a little extra money in hopes of continuing the ministry God has called him to.

Benson and I are joined in prayer that God would raise up fellow believers who wish to support this wonderful ministry. What an investment in the Kingdom of God this is. Beth and I will be visiting Benson in Kenya and are praying the Lord has provided equipment prior to our arrival. Friends, won’t you pray about your role in Benson’s ministry to the beautiful people of Kenya. AMEN!

Well my friends, the Iraqis have taught me another important lesson. Again, this lesson is a bit humerous but has a legitamate lesson. First, let me catch you up on my current job in Iraq . I’m an intelligence officer working inside an Iraqi Intelligence fusion office with the mission of taking American intelligence and matching it up with the Iraqi intelligence in order to provide the most accurate picture. OF course, Iraqi intelligence officers are not the most trusting people in the world, so building a relationship built on trust is vital. Therefore, my goal is to create a bundle of new best friends. This is the fun part.

Well, I’ve heard stories about the Iraqi culture being very intimate once initial formalities are past and friendship is established. I had NO idea how intimate that intimacy runs. You see, apparently I’m doing a pretty good job of building friendships and trust because my new counterparts see no problem hugging, giving kisses on the cheek, and holding hands as they walk. The first time I was walking along and one of my co-workers, an Iraqi man about 45 years old, reached over and held my hand I flinched and shook my hand like I had just been stung by a bee. He was just as startled as I was because holding hands is quite normal for him. So there we stood, two grown men facing each other with a million thoughts screaming through our heads. (well, I did any way) I stood there, appauled that this man thought I was gay, when it hit me. He doesn’t think I’m gay, he thinks I’m trust worthy. Then Paul’s words popped into my head, “I’ve become all things to all men”.

Though I was not witnessing to this man, I was loving him as Christ would love him in order to work together. The Lord calls us to step out of our comfort zones and meet people where they’re at. The Lord calls us to get up out of the pews and meet the lost in order to bring them closer to Him. Christians, we need fellowship but we don’t need holy fraternities. Let down your walls, risk being hurt, and step out into the unknown in order to win just one for Him. This isn’t easy, I know. But neither was holding that grown Iraqi man’s hand. However, once I got over the weird goosebumps and creepy feeling, my relationship with the Iraqis has blosomed into a much deeper trust than experienced before; a trust that would never be reached from inside the American comfort zone.

My friends, I challenge you to become all things to all men. Let down your guard, take a risk, and walk off into the sunset holding a middle aged Iraqi man’s hand in order to win but one for Him. AMEN!