In Kenya Page sees Southern Baptists providing water,
mobilizing millennium generation to reach Africa

Clinton Wolf
IMB

Hours from any city, traveling on roads he could only describe as “horrible”, last week Southern Baptist Convention president Frank Page saw firsthand how Southern Baptist representatives are partnering to provide clean drinking water to a highly remote, nomadic people in northern Kenya.

“It was great to see the hands-on ministry and the relationships that are developing out of that,” Page said, noting the acceptance and trust these efforts have built in the area for Southern Baptist representatives. “They are a people in need of the Lord and the Gospel, and meeting human needs is a great entree for that.

Now two IMB regions—West Africa and Central, Eastern and Southern Africa (CESA)—are working together to mobilize millennium generation Southern Baptists in addressing spiritual and physical needs such as these across the continent of Africa. Still in the development stages, the program is set to be unveiled at Glorieta and Ridgecrest this summer with the first wave of students reaching Africa in January of 2008.  Page commended the effort, noting the critical need to involve more young people in ministry both in the U.S. and internationally.

“I see the 20-something generation as integral to reaching the world.  If we do not find strategies that involve them, we will not fulfill the Great Commission,” Page said.  He went on to draw the parallel between work being done in Kenya among nomads and the millennium generation’s desire to minister holistically.

“They want to minister to the whole person,” Page explained. “Well, if you talk about offering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name—that’s exactly what they are doing here.” 

Page found the Kenyan nomads to be very friendly despite having little if any exposure to outsiders.  While there has been some Catholic and Muslim influence in the area, evangelical work is unknown. Illiteracy is high, and television and electricity are nonexistent. 
 
“It was by far the most isolated place I’ve ever seen in the world,” Page described, noting the group’s separation even from other nomadic tribes.  “I’ve been many places in the world, but this was the most remote.  It was the first time in my life that I had seen herdsmen actually carrying a warrior’s spear.”

Page went on to describe the spiritual darkness he encountered. 

“They don’t even know the questions to ask.  They’ve been living in darkness so long they don’t know how to turn to the light.  They don’t know where to turn or who to turn to,” Page said.

Page said it may be possible for Baptist medical and dental teams to play a role in time—having now been there himself, he would like to bring a medical team from his own church—but it will be necessary to establish an ongoing supportive presence in the area to be effective. Page said establishing that presence will be Southern Baptist’s greatest challenge, given the area’s harsh, arid climate.

Page challenged Baptists both at home and abroad to stay focused on the task of sharing the Gospel message wherever they are at—both on the mission field and in the U.S.

“I was deeply encouraged to see that we’ve gone far enough with the Great Commission that we can reach out to small, isolated groups such as this one,” Page said, emphasizing the continued need to share the Gospel in remote areas. “We’re called to go to all of the earth, and these people are truly at the uttermost parts.”