I have just returned from training a wonderful group of Masai pastors in southern Kenya in our fourth Pathways workshop, which focuses on the Bible’s Salvation Story.

After arriving in Kenya and catching a few hours of sleep, I worshipped with our African brothers and sisters on Sunday morning and was invited to preach the Word.

In this workshop, we focus on central themes running from Genesis through Revelation, and guide pastors in how to preach Old Testament passages well in light of New Testament realities. Oftentimes in Africa, Old Testament passages, which are likely commands, are taught in such a way that we in the “New Covenant” are placed under “Old Covenant” restrictions. If one is not careful, it is easy to put believers today under the Law, making them feel like they need to obey biblical commands to earn God’s favor, his approval or acceptance. But what the Bible actually teaches, both in OT and NT is that we can NEVER obey God’s righteous standards, His Law. The Law is important in that it shows us that we are sinners and unable to meet God’s standards, and we desperately need help. That help comes through the righteous life, substitutionary death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. The essence of the New Covenant is that through faith in Christ, not works of the Law, we receive the righteousness of Christ while Christ bore our sins on the cross. As New Covenant believers, we live not under the Law, but we live victoriously in Christ, striving to obey his commands not to earn his favor but because we delight in honoring the One we love, in response to His activity in us by His Spirit. In the training, we worked through many biblical passages to bring these truths home, and seeing the pastors wrestle with and eventually grasp these foundational truths was so rewarding.

I was joined at the training with my good friend and co-facilitator Dan Stoddard, who is a United Airlines captain but has a passion and great ability in bringing the Word to our African brothers. While the training certainly had its challenges, and adjustments will need to be made to help the pastors in this network overcome some difficulties, yet the sincerity of faith and humble eagerness to learn how to handle the Word well is always such a joy to experience.

Here were some of the comments the participants shared after the training:

Bishop Daniel Osoi – “This training is an impartation to bring life and truth into people. It is a new revelation through the Word of God. Going verse by verse in preaching brings a knowledge and truth and power more than ever before.”

Pastor Joseph – “As we continue through this training, it is expanding our handling of God’s Word. The Bible’s Salvation Story helps increase our understanding of how each passage is connected to the overall story of the Bible.”

Pastor Abel – “We have been equipped to go and preach the Word of God. I will use it to reach many people.”

Pastor Jacob – “I thank God for our facilitators. Now, in view of this training of the Salvation Story, especially when I preach on the Old Testament, I will tie it in with the overall message of the Bible.”

Pastor Joshua – “God bless our trainers for their efforts. I confess that I have never used the Old Testament in my preaching, but now I know how to preach the Old Testament in view of the Salvation Story and will begin to do so.”

The trainers with whom we worked are multiplying the training to other Masai pastors in southern Kenya, and we are working to develop, empower and release them to equip more and more pastors in the rural African bush country with tools in how to study, obey and teach God’s Word well.

Each of the pastors also received an ESV Global Study Bible, donated by the publisher.

I am so very thankful that God answered the prayers of many in helping my family continue on well while I was away. Despite Holly’s and Allie’s sicknesses, yet Holly and the kids are fully supportive of my work. Many friends have been offering assistance for times I’m away, and we are blessed to continue on this journey in service to our gracious, covenant-keeping God.

Pressing on, Eric