Mohr Perspectives

Mission to Nairobi (August 2019)

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Basic Information

Assignment

To teach a modular course on the introduction to and interpretation of the book of Ezekiel for pastors and ministry leaders.

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Local Ministry Center

Common Ground Theological Institute

Dates

  • Leaving August 16, 2019
  • Returning September 1, 2019

Updates

Click on the link to Philip’s blog.

The Need

A Biblical Vision: “The Pattern of Sound Words”

For pastors and teachers in the Church to accomplish their God-ordained work, they need a firm grasp of the Bible and a clear articulation of its doctrines—to be trained in “the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim 1.13)—so that they may be ready in all seasons to proclaim God’s word rightly (see 3.14–4.2).*

* Click to learn more about Philip’s convictions about the Bible as God’s word written. Or click to learn more about “theological and christocentric” interpretation of the Bible.

The Lack of the Pattern

If pastors and teachers are not trained in “the pattern of sound words,” false doctrines will eventually creep into their congregations (see 2 Tim 4.3–4).

Pastors and teachers around the world are sometimes unable to receive such training because of

  • prohibitive monetary cost,
  • lack of availability,
  • family and societal obligations, and/or
  • persecution.

In Kenya, a combination of these factors (including persecution) contributes to a general lack of biblical literacy and dogmatic clarity among many pastors, despite the fact that Christianity is by far the most professed religious “tribe” in the nation. Consider the following observations from a 2016 missionary report:

Every non-Muslim and non-Hindu school in Kenya is required to teach Christian Religious Education (CRE) all 12 years of primary and secondary school. Yet the children of Kenya struggle to answer the most basic questions about Christianity. Sadly, the adults I meet are no different. Kenya is not a Christian nation; it is merely Christian-ish. [. . .] I quickly learned the preaching in most Kenyan churches lacks biblical substance. They proclaim instead a syncretistic mix of Christianity, combining traditional African beliefs with the prosperity gospel. This practice has created a church that knows little biblical truth.

While there are some dangers for “Western” travelers in Kenya, the need above far outweighs the danger. Still, keep Philip and Rebekah in your prayers!

This Mission for the Biblical Vision

The local ministry that this mission serves is the Common Ground Theological Institute. The Institute’s vision is to help strengthen the church in Kenya and in the region by offering sound theological training to those men and women the Lord is calling to His service. So Philip’s short-term mission to teach a modular course on Ezekiel is a small contribution to a sustained local (Kenyan) effort to see pastors and teachers trained in “the pattern of sound words.”

Background

Philip and his wife Rebekah are joining Dr. David Galletta, a full-time missionary with World Witness’s Mobile Theological Training Team (MT3). The primary work of MT3 is to train pastors and church leaders in their own countries and cultures. So Dr. Galletta, an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC), travels around the world to teach modular classes in Bible and theology at almost no cost to the local institutions. Dr. Galletta’s vision is simple: to help pastors learn how to preach Christ-centered, redemptive sermons from the biblical text.

Traveling around the world is Dr. Galletta’s primary vocation, and Philip and Rebekah have the privilege of accompanying him this August on just one of those many trips.

See Philip’s blog for updates on the preparation and trip. Scroll down or click the link to learn more about how you can support the mission to Nairobi.