First Report from Kenya

Steve Stewart's picture

I am with a group of CEOs from the US, showing them various aspects of the 'Daughters of Destiny' program that our friend and partner, Mike Brawan runs in Kenya. He has seen tens of thousands of prostitutes and young men living on the streets turn their lives radically around through turning to Christ and then starting small businesses. So far, Mike has started 98,000 businesses.

Here are some highlights of the first two days:

On Saturday morning, we met a number of the people who are now working in their own businesses. We met Eric who has a book stall in Nairobi. In the one year he has had his business, he has helped 18 other young men start businesses for themselves. Notice, they are not his employees; he trained them and with Mike's financial help, got them started on their own. We met Irene, who owns a beautiful clothing store on the main shopping street in the city. Three years ago, she was working as a prostitute. Beginning with a small sidewalk business, she used her profits and success to secure business loans. She has also trained and launched 44 other women into their own businesses. Near the end of the day we met a woman who has a furniture fabric business that employs 76 people. Four years ago, she was trying to survive in prostitution.

Saturday night, four more of the team gathered; as they were coming into the hotel, we were about to leave to go out and meet with women working in the red light district. Although they had been traveling for twenty-four hours, they eagerly joined us. As we walked through the worst streets in Nairobi, accompanied by two guards with AK-47s, we really didn't know what to expect. I had pictured inviting five or ten women to meet with us (which was my only other experience of Daughters of Destiny--DOD). Instead we went into a room no bigger than 20x30 feet and found ourselves meeting with 102 women. We shared testimonies with each other, prayed for them (many came to Christ, including a pimp and our two security guards), and Mike told them that if they called him, he would arrange for them to get into a safe house and then train them to start their own business. By the next morning, 57 women had called. We finished the night by giving each woman a bagged meal and Mike gave each one double the amount of money that they would have earned that night on the street.

Sunday morning, we drove to Nakuru where we went to one of the most joyful church services I have ever attended. There were four different choirs and dance groups. We found out that all of them had come from the streets. That night, Mike took us into the most dangerous neighborhood in the city, a terrible slum called Bendini where Impact Nations had done the first ever clinic there about four years ago. It was 100% Muslim, but because of that clinic, now over 1200 children meet each week for church. To my amazement, I was greeted by a number of people who remembered that clinic. Mike took us into a small room crowded with about 100 boys, maybe 5-15 years of age. We were immediately accosted by the smell of glue. Most of the boys were high. Glue sniffing is the cheapest and most addictive substance there is. It also kills brain cells. Again, we shared some stories from our own lives with the boys. Then Mike said that we were gathered as the church and he asked them for an offering--their glue bottles. And others drugs. In a few minutes we had many glue bottles and other drugs. One of the boys spoke up and asked for help to go to school.  He said that if they could just go to school, then they had a chance. After a great prayer time, we went back to the bus while Mike's team gave the boys a meal. While we sat on the bus, overwhelmed by what we had just experienced, a man of about 45 quietly joined us, saying nothing. A few minutes later, Mike joined us and introduced us to the man. He had been in the room with us, although it was too crowded for us to notice him. He heard the boys sharing with us and saw what Jesus had done. This man was their drug dealer. He had come to say he was sorry. As we prayed for him, his body actually convulsed with sobs. It was an incredible repentance. The next morning, he showed up at Mike's church with all of his containers of glue and drugs and his gun. He spent the whole day in the church praying and talking with Mike's team. Like Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house."

For the sake of length, I will end this now. The next report will be about yesterday when we went to a prison for women and children, to a whole community that lives in the local dump, and another incredible night of DOD.

I have had many remarkable adventures with my friend Mike over the past nearly seven years, but none of them has equaled this one.

Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 171 - 180 of 487

Pages

LEARN Rivers of Grace

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 20 Pages

This LEARN notebook is designed to go along with the CD series on Rivers of Grace and it offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $1.95
LEARN Spirit-Anointed Teaching

LEARN Spirit-Anointed Teaching

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 23 Pages

This 23-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. It offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $4.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 10 Discs

This DVD Set of the 10-hour course will draw you into a classroom experience with others who are learning to hear from God right alongside you. It follows along with the LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice notebook (available for $4.95). Because Dr. Virkler is teaching directly from this booklet, it is recommended that you purchase both the LEARN notebook and the complete book entitled 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice. You will want to meditate on the teaching and do the exercises found in the large book if you intend to fully internalize the skill of living daily out of God’s voice.


Looking for the new Abridged Edition? See this blog post to learn more and order.


Price: $69.95

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice DVDs - Abridged Edition

by Mark Virkler | 3 Discs | 10 Sessions

A complete description is available by clicking here, where you will find information on the 60-minute version of this product. The main difference is that these 10 sessions are shorter, averaging 40 minutes each. You asked for it and it's finally available! The same core teaching now abridged, making the sessions easier to fit into your Sunday School class, home group meeting or lunch hour Bible study.

Price: $39.95

A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee DVD

New life for your daily devotions!

The #1 Tool in the World for Introducing People to Hearing God's Voice! Pop this into your DVD player during your morning devotional time and let us paint a scene of you and Jesus walking together along the Sea of Galilee. We'll encourage you to ask Him one of the following questions, "Lord, what would You like to say to me?" "How do You see me?" or "Do You love me?" We then guide you into using the four keys for hearing God's voice, which are: quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, tuning to spontaneity and writing.

Price: $2.95
Counseled by God DVD Series

Counseled by God DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 4 Discs

Just Released: 35th Anniversary Edition

The foremost training series in the world teaching you how to become emotionally whole by hearing the voice of the Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)! A genuine word from the Lord heals the broken-hearted. All the “how to” books can never do what a rhema word from God can do for the inner man. You will learn to let God speak to your heart and counsel you about the basic emotional pressures of life such as anger, doubt, depression, condemnation and inferiority. You will learn to let God replace these with His opposites, as His voice releases His grace within your heart. Those whom the Son sets free are free indeed!

Price: $59.95
Prayers That Heal the Heart DVDs

Prayers That Heal the Heart Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 15 Sessions | 7 Discs

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit. Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith.

Price: $69.95

Everyday Angels DVDs

By Charity Virkler Kayembe

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $59.00
Hear God Through Your Dreams DVDs

Hear God Through Your Dreams DVDs

by Mark Virkler | 5 Sessions

The DVDs and CDs correspond with the Hear God Through Your Dreams book and for maximum growth and internalization, we recommend utilizing it along with either the CD or DVD set. The book provides an outline to follow as you watch the DVDs. Also included are application exercises and classroom activities. (Note: There are 5 sessions on 3 discs.)

Price: $39.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams DVDs

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 10 Sessions on 3 Discs

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

Receive divine counsel nightly. Increase emotional health, wisdom and creativity.

Recorded live at Catch the Fire in Toronto!

Price: $49.95

Pages