Teaching in the Annex Prison, Praying for Rain
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.
April 2, 2019
Dear praying friends,
It is now the month of April, and we have many things to update you on. Thanks again so much for your prayers, encouragement, and sacrificial giving. We appreciate each of you so much.
April is a big month for birthdays in our family, as my wife (Carrie) has hers in the middle of the month, and our daughter McKenna has hers towards the end of the month. What a blessing they both are to our family and I thank the Lord for them.
This month is a break from school. Last week was the final week of school until the end of April. The students put on a very nice end of term program. Both of our daughters are enrolled in the school and doing very well. It was amazing to watch our daughter McKenna speaking French for five minutes with her friend. Both our daughters are learning basic greetings, etc. and doing very well. Their teacher is fluent in French, so we hope they can continue to develop, grow, and learn in the language. They are also studying Swahili, the language of Kenya, so two languages at once is challenging. My wife has stayed very busy with teaching 3 days a week at the school and helping with administrative duties. We are so thankful for this new Christian school and ask that you would pray for the directors, teachers, and students alike.
I (Nathan) am continuing to teach Emmanuel through our discipleship course. He is doing very well as a student and is taking it seriously and growing spiritually. He has a good attitude and wants to take these teachings to go teach others. We recently studied “God is our Heavenly Father.” In this lesson, we saw that God loves us with an everlasting love, (Jeremiah 31:3), He protects us, and we are not to worry, but to trust Him to provide and care for us. We are to seek His kingdom first, and trust Him to lead and guide us through life. One of the key verses in the lesson is 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.” What a great verse to claim throughout our lives. Please continue to pray for Emmanuel, his spiritual growth, and those that he plans to teach in the future.
I (Nathan) thank the Lord that the Annex prison ministry is continuing along well. I have been doing ministry in this prison for the past several years, and am thankful that the opportunity is still there to teach the men who desire the teachings. I recently taught them on “God Alone.” This lesson had many teachings, with the idea that God is eternal, needs nothing, knows everything, is everywhere all the time, and greater than all. One of my favorite verses from the lesson is Psalm 147:5, which says “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Please pray for me and the students, as we continue along in our study of the Word of God.
One final prayer request we currently have is for rain. It has been so hot and dry lately, and many of the crops, etc. are suffering. We are usually in rainy season at this time, but this year has been unusually hot and dry and the rain would be a much needed welcome. We hope and pray that the rains will start soon, and we know God is in control.
May God bless each of you. We will keep you updated.
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.
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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
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
Discipling a 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.
May 4, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Another month has come and gone, and we are now nearly halfway through 2018. Time truly passes so fast, and may we use the opportunities the Lord gives us to serve Him faithfully. This update will share current prayer requests, as well as family news.
In regards to health, I (Nathan) recently had to have some moles removed after being seen by a dermatologist. There is a decent hospital about an hour and a half away from Kitale, for which I am very thankful. There is a history of melanoma (skin cancer) in the family, so it is wise to be seen and have moles removed when necessary. I am healing well and would ask that you would please pray for me, as the sun is very hot here, and I do my best to wear good sun screen and protect myself. Please pray not only for me, but also for the entire family with any possible health issues. The doctor does not seem concerned and I trust Him for the results. It is all about trusting God, using wisdom, and relying on Him day by day here, with everything. He is so faithful.
The girls are now back in school after a month off. This was a great month for my wife, as she could homeschool them and get them caught up in various subjects. It has been difficult to try to figure out the system of a Kenyan school and the best ways to help the girls keep up with American standards, but we are starting to get the hang of it. We really feel our daughters need socialization with other kids their age and some of the experiences a school offers, especially for learning some independence and gaining friendships in this culture. While it has been difficult to find the right balance, we have prayed and sought wisdom from others and feel the girls should continue to attend the school as much as possible. Please pray for them, for socialization, and for adapting well to the culture here. They have done well so far, and we continue to pray.
I (Nathan) have started a discipleship course with a younger Kenyan man in Rafiki, a nearby village. It is about half an hour from where we live on windy, dusty (or muddy, depending on the season), pot hole ridden roads. So far, I have been able to proceed well through the teachings and ask that you would continue to pray for our time together. As I have shared before, this term I really desire to go out to village areas, off the beaten path, to use the Swahili language, and train younger, qualified Kenyan men God would raise up. I know that God is in control and trust Him each step of the way. After building a foundation with at discipleship course, the next goal would be to train the man in church planting. I recognize there will be men who will not work out for one reason or the other, but I desire to be faithful, give it my all, and trust God for the results. I would greatly appreciate your prayers and for the Lord’s help each step of the way. I am reminded of verses such as Luke 1:37, which says “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Also, Ephesians 3:20, which says, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Anything is possible with God, and I thank Him for that.
Please pray for us in regards to travel safety around Kitale. It is now rainy season and the roads are becoming very muddy and slippery. Large trucks drive on our road, which causes large ruts and potholes to form, making it a challenge to drive. God is in control of all things, even our going out and coming in. He is so faithful.
Blessings to you and we appreciate you,
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
Missionary Update: The Radfords in Kenya [January 2015]
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 2, 2015
Dear praying friends,
Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that we are into the year 2015. I look back on this past year, and it seemed to fly by. Each year seems to pass faster than the one before. I am sure many of you can identify with this, as it just seems a fact of life. We hope you all had a great Christmas of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, and we also wish you all a happy 2015.
This past year was a good one for our family and our time together. My wife and I have done our best to assist and help our daughters in any way we can, as there are many challenges on the mission field. Both girls love animals, and over the past few months, we got them a puppy and a kitten. This gives them responsibilities of taking care of the animals, feeding them, playing with them, and growing up with them. McKenna is doing well in school and seems to be picking up the concepts that my wife teaches. Before you know it, Camille will also be starting school in the Radford household. How thankful I am to have a wife who has a degree in education and does such a great job. McKenna has also indicated interest in learning Swahili, the language of Kenya, so we would appreciate prayers that the Lord would assist us with this also. All of these plans we lay before the Lord and trust in His timing and will for our lives. Psalm 37:5 says “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”
Speaking of laying our plans before the Lord, we really need wisdom as my partner, Roger Tate and I, are proceeding in church planting. We have done church planting in different ways, such as starting a church in a Kenyan home, or training qualified men to go out and start churches in their respective villages. Both ways are challenging and have their difficulties. We are praying and asking the Lord for wisdom for the best way to proceed in these ministries. We know the Lord is sovereign, in total control, and will work in His time and plan. We also must trust Him for the results, and remain faithful to teach, instruct, assist, and equip the Kenyan men in any way we can. Prayer is central for seeking and knowing the Lord’s will, and we would greatly appreciate your prayers for us.
Thanks so much to each one who emailed us during the holiday season, sent cards, sent pictures, etc. The holiday season is always difficult here, being separated by thousands of miles from those we love. The Lord gave us grace and strength once again, and we appreciate each of you more than you know. Each thought or card was welcomed and greatly appreciated. We wish each of you a wonderful 2015 ahead. May the Lord richly bless you all.
Serving in Kitale,
Nathan and Carrie Radford
P.O. Box 4150
Kitale, Kenya
East Africa, 30200
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