We first heard of Marc and Cindy through Marc’s book “The Gospel According to Jesus.” Honestly, the title is quite interesting in itself. Mark 1:15 says, “…’The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'” I’ve been taught that “the Gospel” is the burial, death, and resurrection of Jesus. True, these are pieces of the Gospel, but…what is the Gospel that Jesus taught here in this passage? Did He teach about his death….that hasn’t happened?
Luke 9:2, and 6 are a great example of what this “Gospel” is, they are highlighted below:
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
You can see in vs. 2 what they were sent to do, and vs. 6 is the “conclusion” of what they did. The Gospel is the Kingdom of God! This hit us, changed our lives, and has lit us on fire for Him!
Marc’s entire focus, the ultimate focus, is to make disciples that make disciples. If we aren’t replicating what we believe, the truth ends with us! If we don’t live it like the Bible tells us, our Children will see that and they won’t live it either. How are we to teach our children…what do we teach them…These were questions that continued to pressure us. Knowing that Marc has made a successful ministry of making disciples, has written materials on the Kingdom of God, and has (personally) made disciples that are making disciples…well, frankly, we wanted to witness it and learn it for ourselves.
May 21, 2014, Rebekah, our youngest son, Owen, and myself (Tim) boarded a plane in Portland, Oregon bound for Kenya. A grueling three days later, which included a 12 hour layover in Amsterdam and a 9 hour drive from Nirobi to Kiminini, we met the entire Carrier and Sweazy clans! Oh what joy it was to meet other like-minded believers in Christ, on the front lines of His army, and we were going to spend the next 14 days with them.
First thing Rebekah and I wanted to experience first hand was not the poor living conditions, mud houses, the water hole where the entire village of 3,000 go for water, experience the glue boys, or even seeing wildlife…no, we wanted to meet other dedicated disciples for Christ and learn how present this Gospel so we could take it home! Oh, but no! Marc had other plans. I spent several days on mission attending training of other disciples, teachings at other home fellowships, and the fellowship that currently meets in Marc’s home.
Our first weekend, we were at home and were able to meet Silas, Marc’s first disciple. What an amazing, Godly, meek, and powerful person he is! I felt it such an honor to meet him and be a part of his life as he worked with the mission over the next two weeks. Our days started and ended with Silas–he kept his motorbike at the Carrier home to keep it as safe as possible. So, Silas would come first thing in the morning to pick it up and just at dark to drop it off. During that weekend, we witnessed what a New Testament church might have looked like; we met in the Carrier’s home and filled it with nearly 60 other Kenyan’s, casual believers to true disciples, to those who attended only to receive medical treatment (thinking that attendance was a prerequisite for medical care).
The church was full of Spirit-led singing, words of edification, correction, and prayer. The crazy thing to me, I first wondered how the teachings might match up or be all over the board…instead, it was orderly, and spot on for what was needed for the body at that time. In fact, from one person speaking to another, each followed a theme…yet, nobody “decided” what was to be spoken that week, what “topic” they’d teach on, or which three points to convey. No, rather, the Spirit led and it was all exactly what the body of Christ needed at that time.
Throughout the next several days, I was a part of many teachings. Through crazy and bumpy roads, we went from town to village, meeting fellowships, disciples, and teaching the Kingdom of God. In Luke 4:43 Jesus says, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” This is all that Marc taught, the Kingdom of God. Many received, not all were seen producing fruit, while there was a small remnant producing fruit…and it was obvious! This is what the parable of the sower also says in Matthew 13.
Rebekah was able to stay at home with Cindy, learning what life is like in the home of a Kenyan missionary: cooking with much less than in American homes, finishing home schooling for the year, shopping in the local markets and towns, and experiencing the flow (and I mean FLOW) of Kenyan’s coming in for medical aid, financial aid, and other support from the Muzugus (white people). Throughout our stay, Rebekah was able to participate with a ladies fellowship/Bible study. At this meeting, she met Mary, a Kenyan local who was in the beginning stages of understanding the Gospel of the Kingdom, who later repented and was baptized! What an amazing experience it was!
With not enough space to post EVERYTHING, I must say, our lives were changed. The final 5 days, Marc dedicated time to teaching us, alone, the Kingdom of God. Through many interruptions for financial and medical help, we learned the Two Kingdoms, Repentance & Baptism, Obedience to Christ, the Church of the New Testament, and finally, teaching others how to do the same. We were able to bring home the message of the Kingdom of God, materials to use, and an excitement for the life to come as we make disciples who make disciples.
After a three day travel from Kenya to our home in Harrisburg, Oregon where we picked up our two older children, we knew that God had a plan for us in Kenya! This next years is going to be the crazy one. We thought the past two years that God has taken us on our journey has been crazy…this one is sure to be more; selling everything we own!. And…I’m sure our first year in Kenya, on mission to make Kingdom disciples, will top them all. I truly hope, that through our adventure with Christ, year after year can be seen as the next CRAZY adventure!
Please consider supporting us, with a one time or monthly support, as we take the adventure of a life time; heading to the Kenyan mission field! Just click on “donate” in the bar above.