Robert & Ruth Armstrong
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Psalm 126:3.
I spent the beginning of the year teaching in the assembly and reaching out with the gospel, mainly on the University campus. I had a good supply of gospel CDs, gospel of John and Ultimate Questions books, in both English and Swahili.
While at the University College of Education, I returned to see a staff member whom I had met on a former visit. We had a long discussion from the Scriptures regarding salvation by works. He had been trained in Catholic theology but was searching for answers to questions so, in the discussion, we looked at John 3:36 and he read, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." He sat looking at it for a while and then said, "So you just believe?" We believe that at that moment he 'got it.' The rest of the discussion was about the assurance of salvation and works after salvation. I brought him back to the point that he had to have a time in his life when he trusted Christ as his Saviour and we asked him, "Did you?" He said he believed that Jesus is the Redeemer and He died on the cross for his sins. Then I asked him when he believed that, and he replied, "A while ago when we were talking together." He knows a member of the assembly, Elimboto Yohana, a post graduate student at the college, who, he said, "was different from others." What a wonderful encouragement from the Lord.
It is encouraging seeing the believers not only learning and standing for the truth, but willing to teach it to others. An invitation was given by Emmanuel's brother to travel south and explain to others what the assembly at Keko believed. Emmanuel, Wilbert and Dastan agreed before the Lord that they should do this and travelled down over the Easter holidays. Emmanuel spoke on the Authority of the Word of God. Wilbert explained about the Church and the difference between the Body of Christ and the Local Church. He spoke for over three hours and Dastan took up the subject of Gender in the Assembly. We are praying for those who heard the teaching. While they attend places where these things should be known, for many this was the first time they heard such things explained.