BTCP Update

On the right are 5 of the 6 pastors that I have been teaching BTCP for the last two years in Ujamaa, Likoni.

I just got done teaching them BTCP Book five - Bible Doctrine Survey. We have 5 more Books to go through and then graduate sometimes next year in April. We are at the moment on break until January 15th when we will resume classes.

One of the highlights of my teaching Book 5 was Pastor Tome (Pictured below alone). I love all my student and enjoy teaching them a lot but Tome has blessed my heart in special ways this last year.

His thirst for the Word and Passion for God's work and God's people is very admirable. He is a simple man with a family of 5 children and his wife Alice. He pastors a small Church of about 10 people in the village.

During one of our class sessions I was teaching about Law and Grace and the way we no longer live under Law but under Grace. During this class He raised his hand and asked a question about eating Pork, "So can we eat pork now that we are under Grace and the Bible is very clear that Pigs are unclean animals?" I was taken a back, thinking, Duh! Who does not know that, Whatever God has called clean no one should call unclean (Acts 11:9) and it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but what comes out (Matthew 15:11).

Before I could say anything, I remembered I had told them that no question was a stupid question except the one that you don’t ask. So I explained as clearly as I could from the Bible beginning in Leviticus 11 all the way to Acts 11. When I finished explaining, Tome was sitting there looking at me as if I had just dropped from space, shaking his head as if to say I did not know it was that simple. He looked up at me and said Mwalimu (Swahili for teacher) I have never eaten pork in my life but I am going to start now. The Whole class applauded him and clapped their hands in joy! So one of these days I am going to invite Pastor Tome to my house and we will have Bacon together!

God is so wonderful!