Young Kenyan Man Teaches About “The Faithful God”
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
March 4, 2019
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now into March 2019. Hard to believe how quickly the time passes. We are thankful to God for His care for us, His protection, and His leading. One of my favorite verses is 1 Peter 5:7, which says “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” We have so many cares to this life, day to day, and how comforting that we can cast them on Him, knowing that He cares for us. What a great God.
Currently, the road on which we live is being worked on. There has been so much dust produced from the large construction vehicles moving the dirt, going over the potholes to reduce them, laying the road foundation, etc. Supposedly they will begin laying the actual tarmac this week. Please pray with us that the work will be finished soon. This new road will be a huge blessing to our family for a variety of reasons, including an improvement in our health. I, Nathan, and our daughter, McKenna, both struggle with asthma. The new road and elimination of dust would be a huge relief for breathing issues, colds and allergies. It also would help other people in our area, specifically with lowering maintenance needs for vehicles due to the reduction of potholes. We are trusting that this much needed work will be done soon.
We are so thankful for the good school that God has provided for my wife and our daughters. It is truly a miracle. My wife teaches several days a week and helps with administrative duties. This all keeps her much busier and happier. Our daughters are also doing much better, making much needed friendships with other kids their age. Friends were lacking here for so long and we are thankful that God has provided beyond our imaginings. Please pray for our daughters, and for my wife, as she prepares weekly for the lessons she teaches. Please also pray for other missionaries and people in the community to consider enrolling their children in the school as well. The directors and staff are truly being a light in this area and satan is not happy about it. Please pray for encouragement and for wisdom and strength as the directors, administrators and teachers continue to trust God.
I (Nathan) have been continuing to disciple/mentor a younger Kenyan man (Emmanuel) in the Kitale area of Milimani. He has had a good attitude, seems to have a hunger for the Word of God, and desires to take the teachings I teach him to reach others. Recently he told me that he taught his Bible study group on “The Faithful God.” He taught them many different aspects of God’s faithfulness, and he told me it was very well received. He desires to make himself available more to build into their lives with the Word of God. I am very pleased with his progress and ask that you would please pray that God would raise up other young men like him, who have jobs, desire to be independent, trust God, and teach others. God is faithful and will raise these men up in His time and plan. How I need to wait on God and trust in His timing. Psalm 27:14 says “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” How important it is to wait on God and His timing, trusting in Him each step of the way.
We are now entering into rainy season soon, so we would appreciate your prayers for safety as we travel. The rains cause the roads to become muddy and slippery, and there are more accidents. Please pray for all those going around Kitale during rainy season, for God’s watch care and protection. May God bless each of you and we thank you for your heart for missions.
In Kitale,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Road Improvements, New School Wing, and Discipling
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
February 1, 2019
Dear praying friends,
We are now in the month of February, and there are many things to update you on. We ask that you would please pray for us in the areas provided, as there are some things we need prayer for currently. Thanks so much to each of you for your heart for missions. We truly do appreciate you.
One prayer request we have currently is for the health of our family. There is work being done to tarmac one of the main roads in Milimani, where we reside. This is actually a very good thing and will bring many improvements, such as removing the potholes from the roads, reducing the amount of dust in the air, providing smooth transport for those in Milimani, etc. It is always challenging to drive in rainy season, as the roads are mainly hard forms of mud and when it rains, the vehicles go over the road, creating big ruts and potholes. Now, with the tarmac (hopefully to be completed by March this year), this will be greatly reduced. However, a big problem is the amount of dust created from digging up the road and smoothing it. McKenna and I both struggle with asthma and this dust is making it worse. McKenna has had to miss some school days, so we would appreciate your prayers not only for us, but for all those within the Milimani area. Please pray that they would conclude the tarmac project on time, as this will be a great help.
Please also pray for the new school wing that my wife and daughters are involved with. There have been some bumps along the way, as is expected, so please pray for the beginning of the school, for the teachers, the parents, the students, and the directors. Please pray that God would be glorified and all would be done for His glory. Please also pray for our daughters and the friendships that they are currently making. God is in control and we trust Him for all these things. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
I (Nathan) have been discipling a younger Kenyan, Emmanuel, in Milimani. He has done very well so far through the course and is volunteering to lead once a month in a home group Bible study. I think there are around 14 families attending this study, so this is a big step for him and a great way to reach multiple families. Emmanuel has given very positive feedback to the course so far, so please pray for him as he now plans to start teaching others. This is the model I wish to pursue currently, to train, disciple qualified Kenyan men who God will raise up, who in turn will go to teach others. This reminds me of the model given in 2 Timothy 2:2, which says “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” One of the key phrases in this verse is “faithful men.” I would covet your prayers for God to raise up “faithful men” who will go and teach others.
Something that has been emphasized to me (Nathan) while training is to work with employed young men, ages 20-30. Why? I have been told from several people that have lived here for years that youths don’t have the same level of expectations to receive material items from the missionary. This doesn’t mean that there are not some expectations, but hopefully they will be reduced by working with youths. Hopefully this will help with the dependency issue some. Also, to work with those that have jobs. Why? Because those with jobs already have taken the initiative to provide for their families and have a strong work ethic. This also should help some with the dependency issue. So, please, please pray for God to raise up employed young men to train. I would greatly appreciate prayers about this. I am willing to be patient and wait on the Lord to provide these kind of men. God will provide in His time.
We will be sure to keep you updated and we thank the Lord for each of you. May we commit ourselves fully to the Lord in 2019, serving until He comes.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Back to School & Continuing to Train Young Kenyan Men
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
January 3, 2019
Dear praying friends,
Happy 2019! We wish each of you a happy 2019 as you serve the Lord this upcoming year. May we truly be busy serving God, as we don’t know how much time we have to serve. Time passes so fast, and how we need to prioritize and put His kingdom first. I am reminded of Matthew 6:33, which says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Please pray for my wife and daughters, as they will be going back to school this next week. My wife will be teaching on Thursdays and Fridays, and assisting where she can. I am thankful for her servant spirit and making herself available to serve. Our daughters have been getting bored as the break has been long, so we are thankful that they will be going back to school soon to be with their friends again. This school has been such a huge answer to prayer in regards to the much needed socialization for our children, and having activities to do. They will be studying the languages of Kiswahili and French, as well as staying busy with their studies. Please also pray for Julie Tate, my wife’s friend, as they both will be assisting with the new curriculum during the week.
I (Nathan) am continuing to disciple the younger Kenyan man in his home village of Rafiki. We have gone through many Biblical teachings together, and recently we studied about the need for daily devotions. We looked at how we need to spend time with God, praying, studying the Word of God, and entrusting to Him all the activities of the day. He seemed to appreciate the teachings and it challenged him in regards to his quiet time with God. I hope and pray that the teachings will be a blessing to him. He has told me that he has been growing spiritually, for which I am thankful. I feel that the men need to be grounded and pass through the discipleship course before they are sent out to start churches. This is the way I feel led at this time and I pray that you would pray that God would bless and provide the right men to train. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6, where Paul says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” Without His blessing, nothing will work, but I am trusting Him to give the increase. Praise God.
I am also continuing to train another younger Kenyan man in the area of Milimani, right outside of Kitale town. This young man also seems hungry to learn and be discipled, for which I am thankful. He has given positive feedback to the training, and I thank God for that. Please pray for both of these men, as they have jobs and are busy, but are desiring to be taught and trained in the Word of God. I will continue to wait, pray, and trust the Lord to provide the right men in His timing and plan. I appreciate your prayers for me as I continue to train and leave the results to God.
We appreciate each of you so much. May God bless you for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and notes of encouragement. You are each a blessing and we thank God for you. We will keep you updated.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Teaching and Training in Kitale
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
December 3, 2018
Dear praying friends,
We are now at the end of 2018, with 2019 right around the corner. As I (Nathan) look back on this year, I am amazed at how quickly the time passed. I am reminded of Psalm 39:4, which says, “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” May we make the best use of the days that the Lord gives us, as each day is truly a gift. This letter will share ministry progress as well as prayer requests.
Please pray for us and other missionaries during this holiday season. It is not easy to be separated from family and friends at this time, but God gives grace. Christmas is such a special time of the year, and during the busyness, may we not forget the true reason for our celebration, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We wish each of you a very merry Christmas and a happy upcoming 2019. We are thankful for the missionaries who are here in Kitale now, who we will be getting together with during this holiday season, however, our hearts and thoughts are with our families as well. We have many exciting things to look forward to in 2019, one of which is the new school that God has provided for our daughters in Kitale.
We wish to thank anyone who donated to the shipping and set up costs for the new school. My wife and Julie Tate have been working hard to ensure that the right materials have been shipped into the country. Praise the Lord, some of the curriculum has already arrived and they plan to start training teachers this week. This curriculum is very new to the teachers and they are not familiar with it, so please pray for my wife and Julie as they invest their time and energy into training them. My wife has been praying about how to be more involved in the school, and she has decided to volunteer to co-teach the language arts block and history with Julie. Please pray for her in this endeavor as well, that God would help her and she would be a blessing. This has been a long break for our daughters, and they sometimes get bored, but they are looking forward to starting school with an international curriculum the beginning of January, Lord willing. We will keep you updated on these things and we appreciate your prayers.
I (Nathan) am continuing in the discipleship course in the village of Rafiki with a younger Kenyan man that I have been meeting with for the past several months. I have been encouraged in his spiritual growth, and I hope and pray the teachings have been a blessing to him. I want to give him a solid foundation before training him in church planting, as I feel there are many teachings the men need before being sent out to start churches. Recently we looked at a lesson titled “The Faithful God.” In this lesson, we saw many things about His faithfulness. We considered things such as God’s faithfulness has no limits, His faithfulness does not fail, and His faithfulness is great. Psalm 36:5 says “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” In Psalm 37:25, David wrote “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” God will take care of us as we serve Him. He is a faithful God, and we can trust Him.
Please pray for me as I continue to disciple another younger Kenyan man in the area of Milimani, near where we stay. He has been busy with his job, but desires to continue studying and learning the Word of God. I am trusting God to provide the right men to train in His plan and timing. God is faithful and I will trust Him.
We will be sure to keep you updated and we appreciate so much your prayers, letters of encouragement, and sacrificial giving. You are each a blessing to us and we wish each of you a very merry Christmas and happy upcoming 2019.
Blessings,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Thankful for New School Opening in January
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
November 2, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now almost finished with 2018. 2019 will be here soon! God has been so faithful over the past year and we give Him all the glory and praise. He has answered so many prayer requests of ours, including a huge one regarding schooling for our daughters. May we enter 2019 with a spirit of service and gratitude to our great God.
In regards to our daughters, I have been updating you on the progress of the new school in Kitale. One of our biggest prayer requests has been for stable friends for our daughters. This is a huge challenge on the mission field as so many families come and go due to transfers, job changes, etc. I am pleased and so thankful to God to report that there will be a new branch of the school opening in January 2019. The new school will be called Milimani Christian Homeschooling Community. This will be an international branch offering Christian curriculum from publishers such as BJU, Math-U-See, All About Reading and All-About-Spelling. We are beyond thankful for the 4 directors of the school and the vision they have had to start a school with a strong Christian, Biblical foundation in our small community. My wife and Julie Tate have been very involved in the planning stages of this and will continue to assist the directors with training the teachers and overseeing the implementation of this new curriculum. This will be such a good step for the school and we believe that once the school gets established in its new curriculum that it will attract other missionaries and nationals with their children from other parts of the country. This school is truly a miracle and a gift from God. We are in awe of God’s provision for our small community. I think of Luke 1:37, which says “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” God still does miracles every day and how we need to trust Him fully.
I (Nathan) am continuing in my teaching to a younger Kenya man in his home village of Rafiki. I have worked hard on the discipleship lessons and my goal is to get the men that I train grounded in their faith. I believe they need this foundation before they are sent out to start churches. Just recently we studied about our enemy, Satan, and how to defeat him. We studied about how he is very active, and how we wants to deceive and blind people to the truth of the Gospel message. (2 Corinthians 4:4) At the end we studied about how to defeat him-by prayer, knowing the Word of God and using it, and putting on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:11 says “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” How we need to do this every day, as it truly is a spiritual battle.
I am also starting to disciple another young man in Milimani, near where we live. He also seems to have a hunger for the Word of God and seems to be growing spiritually, for which I am thankful. We will see where the Lord leads, but I am very grateful for this opportunity as well and ask that you would pray with me for God’s leading and direction.
In closing, the new school has many start-up expenses, such as shipping costs for the curriculum from the States, additional teachers for the new branch, and the costs associated with needing new classroom space. If anyone would feel led to help contribute to these costs, please email us and we will give you the information. God bless you for all your love, prayers and sacrificial giving. May you all have a blessed upcoming holiday season.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Young Man Seeks Discipleship
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
October 3, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are thankful for the Lord’s care, protection, and guidance for our lives. What a great God we serve, and He deserves all glory and praise. This update will give current ministry updates as well as share prayer requests.
Please pray for our daughters and their schooling here in Kitale. They are really making many friends, and having many activities, so we are praying about how to balance what they are getting at school along with homeschooling. The school uses the local Kenyan curriculum and we have found that this isn’t sufficient to prepare our daughters for their futures. Therefore, we find we have the need to balance homeschooling with the girls also attending the school for socialization. This is not an easy task, but one we are praying about. It has been challenging to balance both, and we would appreciate your prayers for us for wisdom and guidance for them for the future. We are very thankful for this school for them and the many friends they are making. They are also learning some Swahili, the language of Kenya. I listened to my daughters singing the “1 through 10” song in Swahili to me recently, and it was really encouraging. It goes something like “Moja, Mbili, Tatu, Nne, Tano, Sita, Saba, Nane, Tisa Hadi Kumi.” They will certainly pick up the Swahili quickly at their age, something I still struggle with but try to use when I am in the villages training.
Speaking of villages, please continue to pray for the village ministry in Rafiki where I (Nathan) am training a younger Kenyan man in his home area. We have continued along in our discipleship course, and it is going well. I recently taught him on opposition, with the idea that he will face opposition as he serves the Lord. But, for him to stand strong, rely on the Lord through the trials and obstacles, and to trust God to work on his behalf. 2 Timothy 3:12 says “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” I also love John 16:33, which says “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” God will be with us, no matter what we face. How we need to trust and rely upon Him, through all seasons of life.
God has provided another opportunity for me to disciple another younger Kenyan man in our area. He approached me recently and desires to be taught/grounded through discipleship materials, so I started with him last week. He was encouraged with the first lesson and desires more teachings. At this point, he doesn’t really know his future plans, but he wants to be discipled, and will take the next step that God wants him to take when finishing the discipleship course. This is encouraging and we would ask that you pray for both this opportunity and the ministry in Rafiki. God is in control, and I leave all the results to Him.
Please pray for my wife as she continues to go to the hospital ministry, helps our children wherever she can, and supports me in the opportunities that God provides. She is a true helpmeet and blessing to me and our family. There are many challenges on the mission field, and we greatly desire your prayers for us. Just day to day travel is a big prayer request, as the roads are in bad condition, there are large amounts of traffic on the road, and many overtake without really paying close attention. We trust God for our safety each day, and He is faithful.
We appreciate each of you so much. Thanks so much for your prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. It means so much to us.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
Ruts in the Road; Girls in School; Psalm 119 in Rafiki
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
September 5, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now into the month of September. We have some prayer requests to share, as well as ministry updates. We appreciate each of you so much and you are a blessing to us.
One of our big prayer requests is for the road maintenance within Milimani, the area of Kitale where we live. Please pray with us that the roads will be maintained in the next few days, as big ruts have been created all over, making it difficult to drive. It is rainy season during the afternoons and evenings, and vehicles go over the roads while they are still water soaked, creating large ruts that dry in the mornings. Please pray that the roads will be repaired soon, for the benefit of all who live in Kitale.
Our daughters are now back in school after a break off for a few weeks. They started back yesterday, and there were some tears, as they are getting used to the school again and being with their friends. Some of their friends have moved since the last term, and this has been difficult for them, but there are other new students that we pray that they will make friends with. My wife is trying to balance homeschooling with sending them to the school some during the year, so please pray for her, as this is a challenge and she wants what is best for our daughters. She has been under some stress with trying to figure out how to balance the curriculum, giving our daughters the socialization that they need, and trying to help them any way she can. I also want to help them with all this, so we would appreciate your prayers for us during this time in regard to their schooling here in Kitale.
Please pray for me (Nathan), as I am continuing in the discipleship program with a younger Kenyan man in his home village of Rafiki. Please pray for me as I traverse the roads out to his village in the early morning hours (this is the best time for him), as the roads out to Rafiki can be challenging to drive as well. There are certain parts of the road I try to avoid completely, but after a hard rain, the entire road can become very water soaked and slippery. I go very slowly and carefully, trusting in God’s protection as I go. It is beautiful to go in the mornings, to see the beautiful clouds with Mount Elgon surrounding them. When I look at these sights in the morning, I am reminded of Genesis 1:1, which says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Recently as I was teaching him in Rafiki, we looked at the Word of God, and the many benefits we get from it. We looked at and studied several verses in Psalm 119. One of my favorite verses we studied together was Psalm 119:11, which says “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” How we need to study, meditate upon, memorize, and hide the Word of God in our hearts. What a protection it is, and how the will of God is revealed as we study it. I hope and pray these teachings will be a blessing to the men God will raise up to train, in His timing and plan.
We will keep you updated. We appreciate each one of you for your interest, prayers, sacrificial giving, and encouragement. May God bless you all.
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
A Study on Prayer with the Young Man in Rafiki
Nathan and Carrie Radford serve the Lord in Kitale, Kenya. Their main ministries include indigenous church planting, a prison ministry, and a hospital ministry for mothers with premature babies.
August 4, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are already in the month of August. This year seems to be passing so fast, and what a reminder to use wisely the opportunities that God gives us to serve Him. This update will share current ministry updates, as well as prayer requests.
One prayer request I (Nathan) have is for safety on the roads as I travel out to the village of Rafiki. I have been training a younger Kenyan man in his village area of Rafiki, which is on the outskirts of Kitale. How can you pray for safety while traveling?
The road is not dangerous, not at all. Just challenging to navigate at times. Many times the roads can be in a bad condition, especially after a hard rain. What happens is the road is mud, and when it rains, many different vehicles pass over the road, creating large potholes and ruts all over. The mud then dries, and the potholes and ruts remain. It is a challenge to drive in the early morning, but this is the time I need to leave for the young man I am training in the Word of God. I try to leave earlier in the mornings now, to allow more time to avoid the potholes along the road. Sometimes it rains hard in Rafiki and it has not rained much in Kitale, so there are challenges. I am thankful for the safety I have had so far, as I go very slow and carefully. There is a great view of Mount Elgon along the way to Rafiki. The mountain surrounds Kitale and to see it in the mornings with the clouds surrounding it is truly majestic. The peak stands at over 14,000 feet. God’s creation is amazing.
We have gone through many lessons together, and a recent one was on the subject of prayer. We saw in the lesson on prayer, our need to pray for several reasons: To praise God for Who He is, to pray for others, not just ourselves, and to not give up/faint when we pray. To trust God to give the answer in His timing and plan. Of course, there are many other reasons to pray, but this was a small part of the lesson we studied together. I like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which says “Pray without ceasing.”
Please pray for us as we continue along. Please pray for him to depend on God and rely on Him.
I will keep you updated on the progress of this ministry, and the training that is continuing from the Word of God. How I need to pray faithfully and rely on God each step of the way. The work is His, and I commit it to Him. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” What a great promise.
We thank each of you for your prayers, interest, and sacrificial giving. Each of you are a blessing to us, and we thank God for you.
Until next month,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa 30200
For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280
Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.
Read more
