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Where do we begin? We are still recovering from our largest pastor’s conference to date. We had approximately 1200 leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Congo. It definitely stretched our abilities and totally destroyed our budget, ($1,200.00 of rice and $1,100 just for chicken) but the impact upon the church here was powerful.

Due to such a large number at one conference, we gave away all the Bibles we brought and had so many first timers until we may be challenged to have enough concordances for the June conference. We were able to put thousands of inspirational books in their hands along with thousands of pages of notes and thousands of messages on cassette tape. This does not include the hundreds of notebooks, pens, tootsie roll pops and bottles of water the pastors received at registration.

The speakers were wonderful with timely and anointed teachings. I wish you could have heard what 1200 pastors sound like when they are singing and praising after a day full of receiving so much. We had a glimpse of what heaven is going to be like.

More Miracles:

We witnessed one blessing and miracle after another. The sea container with all the concordances and over 17,000 Bibles and books got stuck in customs in Nairobi an extra day and then on the way to CMM could not climb a hill and was stuck on the road at an incline (18,000 tons does not move easily). It was stuck 1,000 yards from our gate and we lost more valuable time. Due to God’s timing, a group of youth leaders from Texas spent the next day helping us. On Friday prior to the conference starting on Monday, we were back on schedule. Everything was unloaded and organized for distribution.

If it would have rained with this many pastors on the campus, it would have been a nightmare. The rainy season was to have already started but on the day after the conference was over the rains began! Yes, Kenya desperately needs the rain, as witnessed by the dry conditions in the photo above.

The Impact

There was a larger than usual number of bishops (those who oversee more than one church) at this conference. We surveyed all the leaders to find out how many churches they oversee, pastor and how many members that represents, making sure that only those that oversee a church(s) filled out the survey. We then took a sample of 100 surveys and extrapolated the results for the 1200 and here are the numbers:

Ø 1,200 leaders

Ø 9,048 churches represented

Ø 589,944 members represented

Note: This does not reflect 2 bishops that oversee 2 major organizations which represent 900,000 members and another bishop overseeing 86,000 members.

Even though we will not be able to host this many pastors again until our facilities can house and feed this number, it did show us the impact we will have once the centre is completed.

Many thanks and blessings to each of you that gave so sacrificially to the filling of the sea container and to those that have continued faithfully in the financial support of Mission Barnabas. Without each of you these pastors and church leaders would not have the resources they need to pastor and lead effectively.

Ronnie and Debbie Matheny

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The Testimonies:

It is hard to choose which testimonies to include so as not to write a book. But I must tell you one story of 7 bishops that came from the Congo.

These men had to travel 3 days by bus to reach Nairobi. On the second day, the leader of the group was rewarded some special books and gifts due to an example we were showing. He did not “win” a computer and I casually told him to “pray” that God would give them a computer. These pastors literally took me at my word and they all fasted and prayed on Wednesday. Then they met with us to invite us (begged and pleaded) to bring this to their country. Their pleading for us to visit their city and the knowledge that the pastors in Congo are in such need truly stirred my heart. Later that night during the praise time I felt God lead me to give them a laptop. I had one left and wanted to keep it for something special. God said this was the something special. After we gave it to them, they began to shout, prayed over us and sang a song in Congolese. They will all share this as it was loaded with Bible software programs. I wish you could have seen the joy and excitement over one “used” laptop.

Also, these men did not have the money for their return trip. It took all they had to get to Kenya and for the conference. However, one of the youth leaders from the group that helped us earlier felt they should take up an offering among themselves to give to help any pastor that did not have bus fare home. Without knowing this particular need, they collected 20,000 shillings ($250.00) before they left the conference. Yes, you guessed it; the amount for the 7 pastors to return to the Congo…20,000 shillings! Just another average day during a conference!

I hope you will read some of the other testimonies to follow. These are for you as it would not have been possible if you had not given the resources and funds to make this happen. Be blessed as you see your money at work.

ENJOY!

The last time I attended the conference in June 2008, the principles became practical to me. The following things have happened:

a. The church grew from 97 people to about 800 people in 6 months.

b. God gave me a very good car for the first time in my life.

c. I have raised gifted men and women in ministry.

I am planning now to apply every single message I have heard and in every conference, I will have a testimony. Now I feel and believe I will send the revival fires to Africa, Asia and South America because God sent me 13 years ago. Apostle Ezekiel Liilu, Kitui, Kenya

I thank God Almighty for preparing a place and time like this for me. CMM conference for me is like a springboard to take me to the next level in the ministry. Pastor Peter Mwangi Karatina, Kenya

I have been in the ministry for 37 years. I have been in charge of 217 congregations with an average attendance of 400 in each church. I oversee 11 pastors, 30 evangelist and church elders. As the tradition of my church, Presbyterian is, a church minister is posted to a parish according to the needs of the that place. In many areas you do not know what to do because the needs are more than the service you can offer. What I mean is , I’ve been asking who is the pastor of the pastor? You give until you are worn out and you’ve no one to renew your spirit. I must confess that when I came to this conference I was completely dry, worn out, but I thank God that through the teachings of Ron Hogue and Les Brickman, I came out as a new pastor. I confess, I have been completely married to the church and for a long time I’ve not been giving time for my family and alos my wife. I must now apologize to her and my children, so as to have an effective evangelism.

James Kalem Rie

Your last conference I attended was in Kakamega, 2007. I must honestly confess that I joined Bishops and Sr. Pastors in order to receive a concordance. The Holy Spirit convicted me and I repented. Consequently I donated that concordance to a Senior Pastor friend in our church organization. Later on, God blessed me with many books. I must apologize for that. Jackson Kabithi…Rongai, Kenya

Thanks for concordance that I have been looking for several years. Thanks for feeding us and giving us hot water for bathing that we hardly get at home. What about food? Was very nutrious. You have served us like kings. God bless you and live longer. Pastor Ernest Kisany

This has been one of the best seminars I have ever attended. Surely my life will never be the same again. First and foremost from the start of the sessions the Holy Spirit has taken control from Monday to the end today. I had not expected it will be so, praise be to God for He has remembered me, especially about family life. As an African and in bondage of culture, I had been having a problem. But now, I have been set free. Pst. Elijah Yegon

Thanks for the supporters abroad…it is true, you are unknown to us and we have never met you, but your generous spirit is alive in our midst. May His divine spiritual showers water this relationship and may the Lord supply all your needs from His glorious riches which have been given to us in Jesus Christ. Bishop Charles Mahugu

I also enjoyed getting the concordance for my first time since I started preaching. I have also taken inspirational books and a good Bible. ( Rev. Anthony Kimuyu…Oversees 25 churches with 1500 members….Note from Ronnie…what will he do now that he has a concordance and good Bible).

I have been low because of lack of materials, especially Strong’s Concordance. It will really help me so much. God bless you CMM. God bless you! God bless you! God bless you sooo much and expand this vision all over the world… Pst. Isaiah Wekesa Makandayi

It’s my pleasure this evening to say glory to God for causing this to happen in my life time and in this generation that I am living in. It is beyond understanding on man of what God has revealed and spoken in my life through his anointed servants who have travelled all the way from overseas. The messages were as though it was rain falling on the dry ground. Pst. Stephen Mamasaka

As a church leader, I have gathered a lot from all the lessons that was taught from the beginning to the end. I wish we had another week for this has been a week of weeks in my life. I promise to change my church, the leaders in my church and the nation as a whole. Pastor Moses Mubyge

What a revolutionary pastor’s seminar I ever attended! Wow! Am so much blessed and transformed and builded up unto a new person, not only spiritually, but also socially, physically and mentally and materially. This seminar as turned out to be one of my best in life. Indeed, I am well informed and my life will never been the same again. My ministry has totally taken another shape from here. Pst. Luke Murimu

I praise the Lord for this conference at which has brought me out of the hiding place through the teaching and wonderful teaching about family. For sure I was about to give up because of hardship that I was going through. A. The church that I oversee was going dry because of the lack of materials and not having enough knowledge about leadership. Before I came to this conference I was surely down spiritual and upset because of how to lead and building up the home of God. B. My family was about to break because no one was talking to each other and so my wife was siding with other people. But I thank God for the preaching which has encouraged me and built me a lot and made me a new creature. My God bless CMM for bringing me back to the ministry and back from the hiding place and renewed my spirit, my home, my family and I will start building my family and church of God.

Bishop Moses Masiga

I would love to note that I was awe stricken when I heard Mrs. Clarence Matheny speaking to the fellowship over the phone. This really touched my heart to see the passion she has to raise leaders in her old age. Rev. Joseph Kamau

The empowerment acquired in this conference will remain a permanent legacy in life eternity. I have experienced the invisible church. Rev. James Abura

The conference has been a really blessing to me more than my mouth can confess. It has really equipped me ministry wise. Where else could I have gotten a concordance worth more than 6,000/=KSH (approx. $80.00), a bible worth some thousands and other books and some cassettes plus the food, messages and accommodations. No words enough to say thanks. May God bless CMM for the good work they have done. You’ve transformed my life and ministry. Pst. Job Munyao

My special appreciation goes to those who donated books, Bibles, reference material and those who dedicated their time in prayer for the training to be a success. Pst. Joseph Alusa

The conference has equipped me with books and drawn me near to God. Also, how to use concordance which I never knew…. (Note: Bishop Michael Muig has founded 13 churches since 2007 with 1260 members.)

On the marriage issue I wish my wife was with me. However, I kept updating her on what was going on from time to time with this word…”I love you darling, I love you darling.” I believe God is going to change my life of marriage and lift up my ministry. Pst. Omuse

I wonder how as a labourer in the Lord’s vineyard that I have been successful without the information I got in the conference. I’ve come to understand what I called ministry was something different from God’s interpretation.

I am a pastor of 8 months and so blessed to know and understand about the cell ministry. I am determined with all the information I heard to bring out the most powerful cell ministry in my home town.

Thank God for the dressing code Pastor Ronnie has taught me how many could not appreciate the fire in the Word because of my apparel.

In this age where we prepare for the great harvest, I have come to discover we can’t do it without the empowering power of the Holy Ghost. Thanks Pastor Seymour.

The books that have been freely given is a treasure to me. I now know how to prepare myself before going before the people.

Long live CMM! Pastor Timothy Njoroge

This has been the time when my marriage is hanging and its just about to fall. However, through Matheny conference God has saved it. The lesson that God dwells in marriage and family to me was becoming unbelievable for me and my wife. We were not agreeing, meaning God was not dwelling in our midst. But after that lesson I shared with my wife and God healed our marriage only in 2 days. Thank you God. Titus Nyongesa

I came with nothing (empty) but am going back with full package of materials and full in Spirit. Pastor Stephen Oumah