Shelbys in Kenya Letters and Updates

God’s Work in Kenya: Tumaini Baptist Church Opening, Outreach Success, and Family Blessings

2025-07-25T16:00:00.001+03:00

Dear Prayer Partners and Friends, May-July 2025

Greetings from Kenya! We hope this letter finds you well. We would like to begin by offering our sincere apologies for the delay in sending out this update. Many of you were expecting our letter in May, and we deeply regret the oversight. During this time, Tonya traveled to the U.S. to be with Abigail for the birth of our second grandchild, while I spent time in the Maasai area with limited internet access, which caused some delay in sending this out. We appreciate your patience and are excited to finally share what God has been doing in our lives and ministry!

Family Update – A New Blessing
We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our second grandbaby, Nathan Cepec, born on May 25th, just a few days after Tonya was able to travel to the U.S. to be with Abigail and her family. Nathan was born four weeks early and required oxygen for the first 12 hours. But we are thrilled to report that he is doing wonderfully now! Abigail is recovering well, and they are just waiting on Nathan’s passport before returning to Guyana. We are thankful for the Lord’s timing and guidance during this special time for our family.

Church Updates:
We are Excited to report that a NEW CHURCH, Tumaini (Hope) Independent Baptist Church in Kipkirui, officially opened on May 4th, with over 80 in attendance. This event was made possible through the combined efforts of 6 local churches in the area. In the weeks leading up to the opening, we were able to finalize the land and property details with the local community and the government. We built the church building, and on the opening day, we dedicated both the land and the building. It has been such a blessing to see the men and church members we have trained step up to take ownership of this new work. We are excited about the future of Tumaini Baptist Church, and as we continue to work together as a team, we trust God to enable us to accomplish great things for His glory.

In Siaya, we are making progress on the building project. The county government approved our request to move the remaining structures from the previous site, and we have transported some of the materials to the new location. Our next step is to complete the church building. Once finished, we will set up rooms in the existing structure to house children in the orphanage. We also had a successful Youth Rally at the end of June with 40 in attendance!

In Ilkerin, we have completed the church building for Nkirukoto (Faith) Baptist Church. The process took longer than expected as we waited for the land to be officially processed, but the paperwork is now in place. The church members have been working hard to clear the land and get things ready for future projects. We have built a 20 x 40 ft. church and will begin the fencing soon. We are also excited to announce that we plan to open a branch of our Bible college in Ilkerin in January, with a focus on addressing literacy needs and using a simpler approach to teach the Word of God. There are so many open doors in this area, and we are eager to reach the Maasai people and beyond. We are planning a Thanksgiving Service on August 24th to honor the community and its leaders for donating the land to Nkirukoto (Faith) Baptist Church. This will be an opportunity for us to thank God for His provision and for the local leaders who have partnered with us in the ministry. Please pray that this event will lead to greater community engagement and a deeper impact in the Maasai region.

In Narok, we have the opportunity to purchase the land where Berea Independent Baptist Church is located. The land has been leased for the past few years, but the owner has now offered to sell it to us for just $3,800. The church has already built on this land, so no further construction is needed, but we must cover the process fees with the government. We need to raise $4,500 to complete this purchase, which will secure the land for the church's future.

In Raganga, at Raganga Independent Baptist Church, we held a powerful crusade that included showing the Jesus Film and a week of door-to-door visitation. Five local churches came together to support the event, and 14 of our Bible college students participated in a full week of soul-winning. By God’s grace, 55 people made decisions to trust in Christ for their salvation throughout the week. Additionally, we hosted a Youth Rally, further encouraging the next generation in their walk with the Lord.

Thank You for Your Continued Support!
We are incredibly grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. Your partnership with us in spreading the Gospel is what makes all of this possible. We could not be here or accomplish all that God is doing without your faithful prayers and support. As we continue with the work here, we ask for your continued prayers, especially for the new churches and ministries we are starting, as well as for Tonya’s health and continued recovery. Thank you for being such an important part of God’s work in Kenya!

May God richly bless you as you continue to serve Him.

In Christ’s Service,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Your Missionaries in Kenya

Prayer Requests:

Tonya’s health
Bible College
Laborers for the harvest
Leadership transition at Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi
Purchasing the land for Berea Independent Baptist Church ($4,500)
Fencing at Nkirukoto (Faith) Baptist Church in Ilkerin and Tumaini (Hope) Baptist Church in Kipkirui ($1,000)

Please use the KENYA LEGACY FUND

account #501 for these projects.

Thank you!

Ministry Updates: New Church Projects, Feeding Program, and Prayer Requests

2025-03-13T16:31:00.001+03:00

March 2025

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Greetings from the hot shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya!

We are thankful for your continued prayers and support as we navigate some challenges and experience God’s direction. Recently, Tonya underwent some blood tests here, and the doctor says that she has "long Covid." The symptoms resemble her COPD but are causing more fatigue than usual and has weakened her heart. We are thankful that God has given us some clarity in her health, and we’re in the process of moving to a more suitable single-level house to help with her recovery and daily needs. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as we seek God's guidance and strength during this time.

Calvary Baptist - Uwasi

We are pleased to report that electricity has now been installed at the church, thanks to the generous offerings we’ve received. We’ve also received additional funds for the orphanage, and the supplies will be arriving this week to help the children start living on the compound. It’s a great blessing to see this progress.

The church building project continues to move forward as well. The church members are actively making bricks to finish the building. Despite facing many challenges in the community, this faithful group of believers has remained committed to seeing the work of the Lord continue. They are also making important decisions regarding the organization of the church, one of which is choosing one of their own to lead the congregation. I will be working closely with him, mentoring him to become the future pastor of the church. Please pray for James Nyandimo as he steps into this important role.

Building Program

We are thrilled to share that we have received $5,700 toward the construction of two new church buildings in Ilikerin and Kipkirui. In Ilikerin, we are still waiting for the rains to stop and for access to the plot to be cleared before we can begin building. We are moving forward with Kipkirui and are collaborating with other pastors and churches in the area to start the construction.

Last week, I visited a neighboring village where we witnessed two souls saved, including Dorca, a blind woman who prayed with her face lifted to Heaven, asking Jesus to save her. It was a powerful moment, and I could only imagine her joy and the clarity she must have felt, envisioning the face of Jesus as she received Him into her heart. What a glorious day it will be when we see His face!

Feeding Program

Thanks to a church in North Carolina, we were able to start a feeding program in Kisii through Calvary
Baptist Church in January. This program is serving needy church members, as well as their families and neighbors. We have been able to provide food packets to 9 families, with each packet costing about $40.

Please pray for this ministry as it continues to impact the community and reach souls for Christ. Calvary Baptist Church in Kisii is currently the pilot church for this program, and we hope to expand it to other churches once we have a routine and guidelines in place.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, encouragement, and financial support. God is using you to accomplish amazing things here in Kenya, and we are so blessed to serve alongside you in this ministry. Please continue to pray for our health, the building projects, the ministries, and the many souls being reached through these efforts.

May God richly bless you,
Luke & Tonya Shelby
Your Missionaries in Kenya

Faith in Action: New Churches, Lives Transformed, and Prayer Needs from Kenya

2025-01-21T16:31:00.002+03:00

Printable (PDF) Version HERE

Greetings from the hot shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya! We have experienced temperatures over 130°F during the past few weeks, with only a few refreshing showers to cool things down. Despite the intense heat, the fall season has been full of blessings and progress. Our Bible College graduated 13 students, and we hosted Olympic Youth Camp in Kisii (you can watch a recap video HERE). Apologies for the delay in sending this update, but we are grateful for your ongoing prayers and support.

Thank you for praying for Tonya. Her medical trip to Little Rock, AR, in November went well, and she received the necessary infusions. She is feeling some improvement, though she still struggles with low energy, especially in the heat. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she continues her recovery.

Bible College Update:

Our Bible college has opened its doors for the new year with over 50 new students, bringing our current enrollment to over 115 students across the Certificate, Diploma, and Pastoral programs. We are excited to see God’s work in the lives of these students, and we will provide a more detailed update next month once I’ve visited all 10 branches and completed the first month of classes.

Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi & Orphanage Update:

The Lord has been blessing Calvary Baptist with consistent attendance, and we are getting closer to housing a few boys at the orphanage. Some of the existing buildings on the property are being updated to accommodate them, and we expect to have them sleeping there next week. We have also been working closely with the church to finalize the selection of a new pastor. I have been guiding the leadership and preparing one of the men to take on more responsibilities, and getting closer for us to step away as they begin to operate everything on their own. There have been several funerals in the church over the last two months, which has affected some of our plans, but we are pressing forward.

We are not currently in need of additional funds for the building project, but we do need to raise around $500 to bring electricity to the compound. Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to serve the children and the community here.

Maasai - Nkirukoto (Faith) Baptist Church in Ilkerin:

On November 17, we officially started our 34th church in the village of Ilkerin! The week of visitation and soul-winning was fruitful, with 90 souls saved. We had four baptisms on Sunday, and several others are ready for baptism as well. The Maasai people can be slow to commit due to a lack of education, but once they make a decision, they are incredibly faithful. We had over 35 people attend the first service, including many children.

During our visitation, we walked through fields with wildebeests, ostriches, and impala, and we even passed through a forest where elephants roam daily. At night, we could hear the hyenas from up the hill where we were sleeping. While the challenges are great, the opportunities are even greater. We would not trade this experience for anything.

Unfortunately, we were not able to build the church during our last visit, as we are still waiting for the county surveyors to complete their work. We have a plot number, but we have not received a map to locate it within the village. Once the land process is completed, we plan to begin fencing and building the temporary structure as soon as the rains subside in March and April. The cost for the fencing and building will be between $3,000-$4,000. As Ilkerin is far from major towns, materials and food costs are much higher.

Tumaini (Hope) Baptist Church in Kipkirui:

We are excited to announce that our next church plant will be in Kipkirui. The land process will be completed next week, and we will begin fencing and building the temporary structure this month. We do not have a set date yet, but the Bible study group has already chosen the name “Tumaini” (Hope) for their church. This church will be led by one of our students, Marsden Chahenza, who is doing a great job. We are praying for the remaining $2,500 to complete this project in the next month.

As always, we are deeply grateful for your prayers and support. Without you, we could not do the work God has called us to in Kenya. We are seeing lives transformed, souls saved, and churches established because of your partnership in this ministry. Please continue to pray for our family, the Bible college students, and the church plants across our region of Kenya.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Your Missionaries in Kenya

Prayer Requests:

Tonya’s health
Bible College
Laborers for the harvest
Leadership transition at Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi
Electricity for the Church and orphanage ($500)
Fencing and church building in Ilkerin ($3,000-$4,000)
Tumaini Baptist Church plant in Kipkirui project ($2,500)

Please use the KENYA LEGACY FUND account #501 for these projects.

Thank you!

New Church Plant in Ilikerin Maasai Village: Faith, Walks, and New Believers

2024-11-17T17:05:00.001+03:00

Nkirukoto Baptist Church: A New Beginning in Ilikerin Maasai Village

This week has been a truly exciting and exhausting week of ministry here in Ilikerin Maasai village. We have spent countless hours walking—sometimes through the homesteads and sometimes across quiet roads, with the incredible sight of wildebeest grazing in the distance! Every day, we’ve walked, visited, and shared the Gospel with people eager to hear the good news of Christ.

So far, we have seen 63 individuals come to Christ. It’s amazing how the Lord is moving in this community, and we still have more outreach to complete tomorrow as we follow up with others we've met along the way. Market day tomorrow will be another opportunity to meet even more people, engage in conversations, and invite them into God's family.

One particularly special moment happened a few days ago when a young man came to the house where we are staying. After hearing the message, he accepted Christ and went back home to share the news with his family. Today, his mother and brother came to church and both accepted Christ as their Savior! We’ve been invited to visit them tomorrow morning and meet the rest of the family. Praise God for the power of one person's testimony!

In a beautiful show of unity, the people of Ilikerin have chosen the name Nkirukoto Baptist Church—Nkirukoto meaning "Faith" in the Maasai language. Today, we held the first official service for the church, and it was a beautiful day full of excitement and joy. We had four baptisms, many visitors, and even more souls saved.

The work in Ilikerin has only just begun, but already we are seeing the fruit of faithful laborers and eager hearts. Please continue to pray for the growth of Nkirukoto Baptist Church, for the new believers to grow in their faith, and for the ongoing outreach in the surrounding villages.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are grateful for each of you who is walking this journey with us. God is doing incredible things here, and we are blessed to be a part of it!

Stay tuned for more updates from Ilikerin, and may God bless you abundantly.

#NkirukotoBaptistChurch #FaithInAction #MissionsInKenya #WalkingByFaith #NewBelievers #ChurchPlanting

Faith in Action: Exciting Ministry Updates, New Outreach Opportunities, and Building Progress in Kenya

2024-11-13T23:01:00.007+03:00

Dear Prayer Supporters and Friends, August - October 2024

We are filled with gratitude for the Lord’s guidance and protection over our family. Please keep Tonya in your prayers as she prepares for more medical treatments in Little Rock, AR during November.
We are incredibly thankful for the faithful pastors assisting us in teaching at our Bible college, which spans across 8 different churches. These churches are actively reaching out to 15 other villages that currently lack a church, training our students to engage in soul-winning and visitation in their home areas. We are thrilled to report that nearly 1,000 souls have been saved over the past few months—a testament to the goodness of the Lord and to the hard work of these pastors and students.

Calvary Baptist Church in Uwasi and Orphanage Update

We are excited to share that we are getting closer to housing a few of the boys on the property as we update some of the existing buildings. The church is also in the process of selecting a new pastor, following the previous pastor's departure when the church relocated. I have been guiding them and preparing one of the leaders to take on these responsibilities. Three men have stepped up to assist in various areas, and we currently do not need additional funds for the building project. The church is raising funds for materials, and we will schedule workdays to continue the progress. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for this ministry.

Maasai - Oltepesi Land Fencing & New Church Starting SOON in Ilkerin
We are pleased to announce that we have completed the fencing of the 2.5-acre plot generously given to us by the community. The Lord is opening many doors for the Gospel in the surrounding villages. During our last visit, we walked 8 kilometers to the village of Mariti, where we preached at three different homesteads to over 25 people, leading 13 to the saving knowledge of Christ before returning. There are numerous unreached areas with significant distances between them. Please pray for laborers for His harvest in the Maasai regions.

On November 17, we will begin the new church in the village of Ilkerin, where we will spend a week conducting evangelism and constructing a temporary structure on the land that has been provided to us. The opportunities are amazing, and we are eager to make the most of the time the Lord has given us to serve Him here in Kenya!

Outreach Meeting in Kipkirui
We will also have a follow-up outreach meeting in Kipkirui from November 1-3 (previously named Ong’adi). This area sits on the border of the Luo and Nandi tribal divisions, and land has been donated for future use. The average attendance has been around 25-30 each Sunday, and we hope to officially start the church in the coming months. Bro. Marsden is doing an excellent job, and several have been saved there. There is a rich history of a Baptist church in this area dating back to the 1980s, which has laid a solid foundation for this Bible study.

We are immensely grateful for each of you who lift our family and ministry in your prayers. Your support is invaluable, enabling us to carry out the work God has called us to do.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Your Missionaries in Kenya

Exciting Ministry Updates from Kenya: Land Dedication, Building Progress, and Outreach Initiatives Ahead!

2024-07-17T15:40:00.019+03:00

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We have had a fantastic few months here in Kenya, filled with exciting progress and fruitful ministry. Recently, we were thrilled to host a group from our home church Bible Baptist Church in Arkansas for a short but impactful trip. They joined us in canvassing for a new Bible study in Chemilil, distributing tracts in Kisumu, participating in a church painting project, visiting our church in Kisii Town, and enjoying a memorable game drive where they saw lions and other wildlife.

Calvary Baptist Uwasi Land Dedication Service & Project Update:

In June, we celebrated the dedication service for the new property of Calvary Baptist in Uwasi. It was a joyous occasion with an attendance of 108, including many visitors. We are grateful that three souls were saved during this special event. The land purchase and title transfer are now complete, and we've used over $8,000 for initial renovations and moving expenses. The church is now settled in their new location and filled with excitement for the future. Progress on their church building is moving forward steadily. We have laid the foundation, erected the metal frame structure with the roof, and are now preparing to raise the walls using bricks salvaged from previous buildings on the old property. Additionally, we are planning to install electricity on the property, a crucial step that will require approximately $600.

Maasai - Oltepesi Land Fencing & Ilkerin Plot Development:

In August, we will begin fencing the land in Maasai - Oltepesi, a project that carries a cost of $750. This initiative is crucial as we continue to nurture spiritual growth among the community, particularly focusing on the leadership training of Bro. David and Bro. James, who are instrumental in leading the Bible study there. Please pray for their spiritual growth and readiness to serve God's purpose. We are also finalizing plans for a plot in Ilkerin, that was generously given to us by the community, with hopes to establish a church in the coming months.

Outreach Meetings in Buyangu and Ong’adi:

Next month, we have outreach meetings scheduled in the villages of Buyangu and Ong’adi. These are new areas for our ministry, located in Vihiga and Nandi Counties respectively. Our focus will be on canvassing the area, engaging in soul-winning efforts, and identifying potential attendees for Bible studies, laying the groundwork for new churches. These efforts are led by Bro. Ezekiel and Bro. Marsden, recent graduates who are dedicated to spreading God's Word in these villages. In Ong’adi, situated on the edge of Kajulu Forest in Nandi County, we are pioneering a Bible study among a new (to us) language group, while also utilizing Swahili. We have started working in a couple of different areas where the Kalenjin language is spoken. We are excited about the progress of First Bible’s project to translate the Bible into the Kalenjin language, which is expected by year's end. This will greatly enhance our ability to reach and teach in local villages. Please join us in prayer for the success of this project and its impact on sharing God's Word effectively.

Your prayers and support continue to be invaluable to us as we strive to spread the Gospel and strengthen Kenyan Christians through our ministry efforts. We are grateful for each one of you and the part you play in God's work here in Kenya.

May God richly bless you,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Exciting Updates from Kenya! 🌍🙏

2024-05-24T15:30:00.000+03:00

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Hello from Kenya. It has been an eventful three months, covering over 5000 miles and visiting pastors, students, and church members across 8 out of the 11 counties where we have churches and Bible studies. We thank the Lord for traveling safety, especially during a couple of harrowing times, traveling with our team between Maasai villages, we ended up pulling a small car through mud and rivers; we spent the night in our vehicles with 15 men, women, and children, while listening to hyenas and other wild animals through the night because the small car we were pulling had two front flat tires and two flat spare tires. God is good! Also when coming down the mountain from that Maasai area a few evenings later, we heard a noise from one of our wheels and found that it was only being held on by one lug-nut! God is so good! More of these stories have been posted on our Facebook page. Be sure to connect with us there. We are incredibly grateful for God's protection!

During our recent travels, we have had the privilege to witness 41 souls saved in our new outreaches, including a powerful testimony from James Mochache. We had witnessed to him through the years because one by one, his son, nephews, brother and others have come to Christ over the last 10+ years; but until recently, he was a Bishop in an African cultural religion, when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor already advanced to stage 4 and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. I visited him on Friday before going down into the Maasai villages and on the Wednesday afterwards. On that Wednesday, April 24th, James prayed to ask Christ into his heart! After he prayed, he pulled me close and told me to tell his children that he said that they should follow the truth found in God’s Word that is preached by us, and that we must do everything that we can to get them into church. He passed away late the next night. Praise the Lord for God working in his heart! His salvation touched many lives, leading to 8 more receiving Christ during his hospitalization and funeral. Please pray for the rest of his family.

Church Planting (NAROK - OLTEPESI - ILIKERIN)

We were able to visit these church plants in the Maasai areas south of Narok almost to the Tanzanian border. There was very good reception to the market preaching that we did and in the visits that we made in the members homes. We traveled with Bible College students from our church in Narok, and then we added some members from our church in Oltepesi as we went to spend the weekend in the village of Ilikerin. Using flashcards and sharing the Gospel message from creation to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in their Maasai language, we witnessed over 300 adults attentively listening, we then had 3 preachers preach salvation messages, and many responded in the invitation. We are thrilled to report that 16 men and women got saved and trusted Christ as their Savior that weekend; with more individuals interested in hearing more, and who will be followed up on by the leaders of the church and Bible studies out there. The county government there has designated a plot of land for us that will be divided out officially in June. Please pray that in the next few months this Bible study can be offically started as a church in Ilikerin village.

SIX YEARS OF DISCIPLESHIP

We took this picture together after six years of discipleship in the Maasai area. Samuel started Bible college in 2018, pastored the church in Narok, and led Gideon to the Lord in 2020. The two of them led Fred to the Lord, and Fred is currently a 2nd year student in our Bible college. In January, Samuel and his family moved to the Maasai village of Oltepesi to work in the church that we started to help them continue grow and be grounded in the Word of God; and Gideon is now the pastor at the church in Narok. We met James in 2022 but only in passing, as he was at another church. Last year Samuel met David and James and began to teach them and that is when they started the Bible study in Ilikerin. The others in this story are Samuel’s pastor in Kuresoi and other teachers in the Bible college that have helped to make this possible. It is fun to have a little part in this story!

ORPHANAGE PRAYER REQUEST

We are excited to announce that Calvary Baptist Church of Sidundo and the orphanage have found a new home, thanks to your generous donations toward this urgent project. As of writing this letter, we have received $8,800, with more inquiries coming in. With these funds, we have acquired both the land and the building for just over $4,500. The new property features a 50x15 building divided into three classrooms, along with a well and an outhouse, all conveniently located on the main village road. While some rooms require renovation to accommodate the orphans, we have already dismantled the old church building, the partially completed new church building frame, and one of the orphan buildings. Our immediate focus is constructing the new church building while simultaneously working on the orphanage accommodations. Thank you for your unwavering support in making this possible.

MORE GOOD NEWS!

We received more exciting news this week: the Bible Study in Nyamiobo village has been generously donated land, and they have officially established their church, Nyamiobo Independent Baptist Church. It is inspiring to witness this group growing in their faith and actively spreading the message of Christ in their community. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for the Lord's work in Kenya. We will be visiting them next week, along with another church and Bible college branch in the vicinity.

We remain delighted about the ongoing work of God in various aspects of our ministries here in Kenya, and we are looking forward to what He has planned for the future! Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya

Urgent Prayer Needs & Exciting Updates from Kenya 🙏✨

2024-05-21T11:12:00.000+03:00

Thank you for your prayers as we returned to the field. Despite mechanical delays on our flights from Little Rock, Atlanta, and New York, totaling 4 days of travel, we are grateful to be home. Please pray for Tonya's acclimation to the elevation here in Kisumu, Kenya. She has been improving a lot over the last two weeks.

Here are some specific prayer requests and updates from our ministries for 2024.

Church Planting:

The Lord has opened the door for Ezekiel, a 2023 graduate, to start a Bible Study in Buyangu under a tree. I will be visiting there this weekend.
We have begun meeting with a group for a Bible Study in the village of Mibasi on Saturdays and some Sundays. Over 20 individuals have been saved in the last month in this village!
I will be visiting the new Bible Study started last year in Ilikerin Maasai village this month, staying for about a week. It's about 10 hours from home, and I'll be visiting 2 other churches along the way. Land has been donated to build a church building in Ilikerin.
We are discussing with the 2 other Bible Studies in Sigoti and Nyamiobo villages about when those churches will be started.

SOUTH NYANZA BAPTIST COLLEGE

We have started up our Pastoral Classes in 3 locations with 12 students who have graduated and are pastoring or looking for a place to start a church. This is a 2-year course that will ready them for any challenges they would face in the ministry.

Internship Program: We will not be able to start our internship program this year due to the prep work that needs to take place. We had two young people seriously interested in coming this year, but unfortunately, it was not possible. We are taking applications for next year. We ask those who are available to start preparing 6 months in advance. This program is geared for Bible college students who have been called to the mission field.

KENYA LEGACY FUND #501: We have received the money for the 1st phase of our College Dorm building and have started the site planning for this project. Thank you so much. Please use the account #501 for these projects. Thank you.

!!!ORPHANAGE URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!

During our furlough, the 5-acre property given by the village community has been taken control of by the County Government for rice processing. The church and orphanage will need to move, so we have been dismantling buildings and storing materials at church members' homes while we look for a new place. We are considering a plot that had a nursery school that is now closed. We would need at least $3,000 to buy the land and start using it. PLEASE PRAY!!

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya

Building Legacies, Transforming Lives: Our Vision for Kenya 🌍✨

2024-02-02T19:59:00.001+03:00

Dear Prayer Supporters and Friends, February 2024
We are already blessed with the New Year and new plans for our ministries in Kenya. This letter looks forward to those plans in the years to come, broadening our focus in the work that He has called us to do in Kenya. We will be heading back to Kenya on February 13th as empty nesters and covet your prayers for our family and continuing ministry.
Here are some specific prayer requests as we begin on the next phase of our work in Kenya:

1. CHURCH PLANTING: Initiating the establishment of 3 new churches that have been in the planning stages during our time in the states.

2. EDUCATIONAL EXPANSION: Expanding our Bible College classes for young people and pastoral classes, welcoming around 20 more students into our programs.

3. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: We desire to influence, train, and develop young people into the next generation of missionaries in Africa. Over our 25 years in Kenya, we have witnessed the population more than double, and there's a projection that most African countries will double again by 2050. Recognizing this, we feel a responsibility to play our part in preparing missionaries for the next generations of lost souls. The growing need for missionaries in the harvest fields of Africa encourages us to launch an Internship Program for Bible College Missions students. This program aims to integrate a student's internship with their home church alongside a 1-3 month internship in Kenya, to enhance their success on deputation and in their initial years on the field.

4. KENYA LEGACY FUND #501: The need to acquire land and build church buildings for our ministries in Kenya is becoming more pressing as our ministry is starting new churches at an accelerated pace. Approximately 12 projects require attention and focus over the next several years. Drawing inspiration from Joshua 22, where tribes on the eastern side of Jordan built an altar as a witness of unity between them and the other tribes so that the generations to come would know that they were one people, and due to the amount of money that is used during land purchase and building church buildings, we have been advised to establish the KENYA LEGACY FUND #501 at BMI for these endeavors. If your church wishes to contribute to these building projects, kindly use this account to help us avoid personal tax accounting issues.

Here are a few initial projects that we will address upon returning to the field, with most costs becoming clear as we assess the situation:

Bible College Dormitory Building (1st phase $5,000)
Temporary buildings or rent for the new churches.
Purchasing or leasing land for churches where needed.

For those interested in contributing more than $1,000 towards a project, please use the new account number (#501). Any questions about the projects can be directed to me via email, and I'll provide an updated list and address any inquiries. Thank you for your unwavering love for the Lord, our family, and for your dedication to serving Him.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby Missionaries in Kenya

Celebrating Milestones and Spreading Joy: Our Missionary Adventures in Kenya 🌍✨

2024-01-18T06:38:00.001+03:00

Dear Prayer Supporters and Friends, January 2024

Happy New Year to all of you! We pray that God will fill this year with His goodness in your lives.

We are so thankful for all the incredible experiences that God has blessed us to be part of in 2023, especially the moments spent with our family during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holiday. Your support and prayers have been a source of strength for us.

Exciting updates include our son-in-law, Robert Cepec, daughter, Abigail, and our first grandson moving to the field of Guyana this week to start their ministry. Your prayers for them mean the world to us, and we appreciate you for the adding them to your missionary families for support.

In December, I had privilege of returning to Kenya, reconnecting with our pastors, students, and church members. We celebrated the graduation of 29 studunts during the 4 graduation ceremonies, and we are excited for what the Lord has in store for 2024. Already, 26 new students are starting classes this month, with more expected to join by the end of January.

Several men from our ministry are moving into new areas to begin new ministries, and recent graduates are now stepping into leadership roles. Please join us in praying for Edward, now ministering in his home area, and Samuel, who moved to the Maasai villages to help the church and the Bible Studies that have been started recently.

Heartfelt thanks for the generous Christmas gifts that we have received. God has faithfully met every need mentioned in our letters and prayers. We are grateful for additional churches commiting to support us and our ministries in Kenya. Your contributions remind us of Paul’s words, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God is abundantly good, surpassing our expectations! Thank you so much for everything that you do for Him!

During our time in the USA, God has continued to work in Kenya with 1,843 souls accepting Christ and 207 baptized, according to reports from our pastors and their ministries.

Please lift up prayers for the planning and setup of the new Internship Program, aiming to guide USA Bible college students and those called to preach the Gospel in Africa. Our desire and vision is to influence the next generation of laborers for the harvest fields in Africa.

Thank you sincerely for the love you have shown to our family during this furlough, and for your Christmas offerings.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya

Fruitful Furlough Update and Prayer Needs - October to November 2023 🙏

2023-11-08T20:46:00.003+03:00

October - November 2023

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Dear Prayer Supporters and Friends,

We want to thank you for your prayers as we have been doing a lot of traveling, reporting to churches, and getting into new churches this furlough. Several more churches have voted to take us on for support, and we are praying that they will be able to start before the end of the year. Our daughter, Breanne, and her husband, Jeremy Martin, have arrived in the States for their first furlough after spending their first term in Mongolia. They need to raise more support for the ministries that they are getting started there. They are only here for a 7-month furlough, so please pray that they can visit churches and gain their needed support.

Many of the needs that we mentioned earlier have been met by the churches that we have been in the last couple of months. We thank the Lord for the generosity of the churches and individuals that is making all of this possible for our ministry in Kenya in the coming years.

Praise the Lord, these needs have been met: Oxygen Concentrator, Bibles for graduates, English Bibles, Songbooks, Shipping, Graduation expenses for December, Camping equipment for going into the villages, Ties, and Scarves for our Bible College Students.

Please pray for my two-week trip to Kenya in December, filled with visiting churches, holding 4 separate graduations, supplying training materials to start classes for 2024, and planning some of the new church plants that will take place next year.

Our ministry requires additional financial support to keep growing. We intend to establish a new area of training in our Bible College, focusing on young people who have recently graduated high school. Up until now, our main focus has been on working with families to establish churches in their home villages. As we move forward, we hope to expand our reach by training young people to spread the word of God to areas we have yet to reach. We pray that these young people will be instruments of God's work in new villages and towns.

One of our ministry goals has been to create an internship program that will provide training to the next generation of missionaries. During this furlough, we have had the opportunity to meet with young people in several churches and Bible Colleges who are interested in this type of internship. We are praying that this will help them serve the Lord and prepare themselves for a future in missionary work. If you're interested in learning more about this program, please let me know.

Please pray for these needs in Kenya:

Return Airfare in February - $2,500
Chairs for church in Narok 25@$4 each = $100
Flooring resurface for BBC in Oltepesi - $100
Solar power backup for our house - $800
Swahili, Luo, and Maasai Bibles 100@$6 each = $600

Thank you very much for your love for the Lord and our family and your desire to serve the Lord.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

Missionaries in Kenya

✨ 🌍 Exciting Updates from Our Furlough - August-September 2023 🌍✨

2023-09-16T19:58:00.003+03:00

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your support for our family. In the last few months, we have had meetings in the states of Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Arkansas and have traveled more than 10,000 miles. Our meetings are fully booked through November with a mixture of new churches as well as reporting to supporting churches. We have met 13 new pastors in churches that were already supporting us. We thank the Lord for the young men in the next generation who have taken the mantle to carry on the work of the Lord.

We were able to be in 8 new churches in the last few months, and six of them voted to take us on for support. And the others will see if they can support us soon. We have one church that took us on through correspondence with them and two others reinstated our support after making personal contact with them since we have been back. Including the one new church in June that took us on for support, nine churches have partnered with us through their support since we began furlough. We thank the Lord for your prayers and for these new partnering churches in their willingness to give to the work of God in Kenya.

Our Bible College in Kenya has finished the second term exams with our 72 students; we are entering their grades and preparing for the final classes that will be taught during the third term leading up to our graduation, which is scheduled for the first part of December. The pastors and students are busy serving in their local churches, seeing souls saved, and the churches are growing.

Another Bible Study opened in the village of Ilkerin, out of our second Maasai church that was started in 2021, and there are more than 10 adults that are meeting under a tree in the village of Ilkerin every Sunday. Please pray for them to be grounded well in the Word of God during this time of Bible Study so that a new church can be started early next year. A plot has already been designated by the leaders of the village to build the church when we are ready!

Our youngest daughter, Kay-Leigh, has moved into the single teachers’ dorms for our home church’s Christian school in Arkansas. She is teaching one of the K3 classes this year, plus taking a full load of Bible College via online studies. Please pray for her during all the adjustments of living on her own while managing her work and class schedules. She is also involved in our home church's bus ministry, children’s programs, and choir. We appreciate your prayers for her, our family, and our ministries in Kenya!

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

📣 Shelby Family in Kenya - June-July 2023 Prayer Letter & New Bible Study Started 📣

2023-07-11T17:58:00.001+03:00

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Thank you for your prayers for our family, and thank you for your offerings for Caleb and Kay-Leigh for their graduations and Caleb’s internship. We have been able to have our annual medical check-ups with mostly good results, Tonya has been able to complete her first round of infusions and will get another round this Fall, and we will have a few more follow-up appointments to take care of later in the year. Please pray that all these visits continue to go well.

We have started traveling, reporting to supporting churches, and visiting some new churches to raise some needed support. We already have 13 new churches scheduled, but we would like to be in 20 new churches as the Lord allows. We have two churches that have taken us on already, and we are thankful for that. Our goal is to raise an additional $500 - $1,000 in new support. This support will be used in new church plants, travel, and our Bible College.

Since returning to the USA for furlough, our home church has gone through a transition, with Dr. Mike Files retiring as pastor; and with Dr. Jason Watford being voted in as our new pastor. We have stayed close to the church during this transition in case we needed to help in any way. The transition has gone very well, and we are excited to work with our new Pastor. There is a renewed excitement in the church; and we thank the Lord for His leadership through this transition.

Caleb received good training during his Spring internship in Israel, and he has started his missionary internship at our home church, Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He will have another opportunity for a second internship in Israel and live with a family there for a couple months this Fall. Please pray that the Lord would continue to give him direction in this next phase of his life.

We are excited about how the Lord is continuing to work in the Maasai communities. From the second Maasai church the Lord allowed us to start in 2021 near the Tanzanian border in the village of Oltepesi, people have been visiting from surrounding villages, and more have been saved from the village of Ilkerin. In June, a new Bible Study was started and is being led by David, who just recently got saved. Please pray as David is discipled and is passing on what he is taught to the others in his village. “And I sought for a man among them...” Ezekiel 22:30. Praise the Lord for what He is doing!

We have a burden for the next generation of missionaries, and specifically the need for missionaries in Africa. We are praying that the Lord will open the doors in Bible Colleges, Youth Groups, and Youth Camps to be able to present this burden. Please contact us if there is an opportunity near you, and we will make arrangements to come if it is near where we will be traveling for meetings throughout this year.

Please pray that we can raise funds for these needs during our furlough:
Stationary Oxygen Concentrator unit for Tonya -$1,500
Bibles & books for our Bible College Graduates - $3,000
Shipping expenses for donated items - $2,000
Gathering donations to take to Kenya:
Used English hymnbooks
Ties for our Pastors and Bible College students

Thank you very much for your prayers and support for our family and ministry.

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya

Caleb's Internship Information

2023-05-08T17:51:00.002+03:00

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“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”—Romans 10:1

I am thrilled at the opportunity to participate in the fulfilling of the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:6-7: “For

there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.” As a follower of Jesus Christ, I desire to be a watchman for the remnant of Israel both here at home and abroad.

My name is Caleb Shelby, and I was born and raised in Kenya, East Africa with my three sisters for eighteen years by the two most wonderful, godly parents Luke and Tonya Shelby, missionaries to Kenya. At the age of seven, I had the opportunity to accept Christ as my personal Savior. I went to my mother and told her that I needed to be saved, and she showed me from a soul-winning booklet that I was a sinner, that I deserved to die because of my sin, but that Jesus came to the earth to die on the cross to pay for my sin, and that all I needed to do was to ask God to forgive me of my sin and take me to Heaven when I die. I prayed to God for salvation there in our family room on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Several years later, God put the burden on my heart to do what He wanted me to do; therefore, I began to pray for His will for my life. On Wednesday, July 12, 2017, God called me to preach and be a missionary to the Jews (of whom the most densely populated region is Israel). It was through the book of Romans that God showed me and confirmed His will for my life with a focus on Romans 10:1.

After finishing high school and graduating from Jacksonville Christian Academy, I entered Bethel Baptist College to continue my Biblical studies. Both institutions are ministries of my home church Bible Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Mike Files where I am happily involved in serving the Lord as a weekly bus captain, Sunday School and Children’s Church teacher, usher, and choir member. Now having finished four years of Bible college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Theology and Missions and awaiting my graduation this May, I have the opportunity to take a couple internship trips to Israel this year.

I am trusting God to raise $7,000 for both of these internships combined. The funds will include two domestic flights, two round-trip tickets to Israel, living expenses while there, and aid for the hosting missionaries and mission projects. I pray that you would consider partnering with me in prayer and financial support as I continue to seek for the avenue in which God would have me to fulfill His will for my life. Should you choose to partner with me financially, any support can be sent to my home church’s address: Bible Baptist Church, c/o Caleb Shelby, 3301 North First Street, Jacksonville, AR 72076. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (501) 457-1776 or email me at caleb@shelbysinkenya.org. Thank you tremendously for undergirding me in your prayers this year. I look forward to reporting what the Lord does in my heart and in the hearts of those to whom we minister.

In Christ the Messiah,

Caleb Shelby

Micah 6:8

May 2023 📣 Shelby Family in Kenya - May Graduations & other Happenings 📣

2023-05-01T17:38:00.003+03:00

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Hello from the Shelby Family. Thank you for your prayers for our travel back to the States for furlough. We have been able to see most of our family and catch up with friends in our home church in Jacksonville, Arkansas. We are also getting our presentation, display board, and prayer cards updated. We will be able to send these out to you and have them available on our website as soon as we get them finished. We are also getting our medical check-ups and appointments started with Luke’s physiotherapy and Tonya’s B-12 and Iron infusions. We are thankful that getting appointments are much easier than it was shortly after Covid. Please pray that Tonya will be able to get all of the treatments that she needs because her levels were really low upon our arrival, since it has been several years since her last full course of treatments due to the problems with travel and restrictions during the Covid years.

This month we will be having two graduations, first, Caleb will be graduating from Bethel Baptist College with a Bachelor degree on May 7th, and he will then take part in a couple of internships with Jewish Awareness Missions and IBJM. He will be very busy and will use these opportunities to start moving in the next steps of following the will of God for his life. Please pray that God will open doors and give guidance and wisdom through these opportunities. We have attached a letter from him explaining these opportunities.

Also, Kay-Leigh, our last one at home will be graduating from Jacksonville Christian Academy on may 12th, here at our home church and will be able to travel with us for the summer. She is praying about the direction on College and other steps in her life. Please remember her in prayer. Her graduation announcement is also attached.

We plan to return to Kenya in February 2024. If you would like us to schedule a meeting while in your area, please send us a message by e-mail (mail@shelbysinkenya.org) as soon as possible, and we will work out the dates.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support for our family and ministry.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

March - April 2023 Shelby Family In Kenya News and Furlough Announcement

2023-04-04T17:32:00.015+03:00

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Hello from the Shelby Family. We are writing to let you know that our furlough is coming up very soon and we will be leaving on the 17th of this month. We will have time with our family, graduations, medical appointments, and set-up time for our presentation, prayer cards and display for the first month before we start having meetings on the road. We will be in Arkansas during this time.

We are excited about the way the Lord is using our children to serve the Lord. During this year, we are eager to be able to see Abigail and her family as they leave for the field of Guyana when their deputation is complete; to see Breanne and her husband come back from Mongolia for their first furlough in October; as well as to see Caleb before he begins a couple of ministry internships in Israel and hopefully be able to start deputation soon afterwards.

Our Schedule is filling up with those that we have not been with in a while, and so far we have almost 30 meetings scheduled. There are several that I will be getting back with by phone to set up meetings, and there are others that we will be able to stop by as we travel through the area. We plan to return to Kenya in February 2024. If you would like us to schedule a meeting while in your area, please send us a message by e-mail (mail@shelbysinkenya.org) as soon as possible, and we will work out the dates.

We will need to raise a little support this furlough, because about 10 churches were not able to continue supporting us due to the Coronavirus pandemic and other economic issues that followed. We thank the Lord for the many years that some of them were able to support our ministry; there is much fruit that will be added to their account.

We will also need to raise project funds for different projects here in Kenya for buying land and helping with building projects for some of the churches that we have started in the last several years. God has continued to bless these churches and the faithfulness of their pastors and many souls are being won to Christ. We are so thankful for the things that He is doing in these cities and villages.

Recently, we were able to have a wedding at our church in Kisii between a young man, Ezekiel, and a young lady, Anne. Ezekiel was an orphan that we helped finish high school as he lived with us and we mentored him. He went on to university and got an Engineering degree while also completing our Bible College at the same time. Anne is the daughter of a very faithful family in our church in Kisii. It was such a special day to see these two young people, that we have poured our lives into, commit themselves to each other and to God as clean vessels for His honor and glory.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support for our family and ministry.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby

October 2022 - February 2023 - Graduation, New Churches, New Bible Study, Furlough, & More...

2023-02-08T17:29:00.001+03:00

Happy New Year from the Shelby Family!

It has been a busy few months here, and there is a lot to write about. I will not be able to go through too many details at this time, but we will in the next few months.

Hope Baptist Church

At the end of October, we helped a new missionary, David Smith, along with one of our Bible College graduates start their first church here in Kisumu. Pray for Hope Baptist Church and the Smith Family, as we have now placed the weekly ministry responsibilities of this church completely in their hands.

South Nyanza Baptist College

God blessed, and we had 18 graduates to close out 2022. Five of them graduated from our Pastoral degree program, and they are ministering in their local churches in different parts of our region of Kenya. We also have several new students that have joined us for the new year of 2023. Our current active student body is 72 enrolled students, who are studying in one of 9 local church branches of our Bible College in the Nyanza region of Kenya.

Youth Camp

We were able to have the first youth camp in 3 years, since everything closed down due to corona. It was a very good attendance 50+ youth and counselors. We even had youth from two new areas of Kisumu and Kericho, where new churches are getting started. We had 13 saved and it was a great blessing to be able to make connections with many that we had not been able to see for the past few years.

Immanuel Independant Baptist Church

Another NEW church started in one of the villages around Kisii, Karogo, on January 8th, out of another church in Raganga, where we have a branch of our Bible College for surrounding churches.

Also another NEW Bible Study recently started in the village of Sigoti, with one of our 2022 graduates. We are excited about what the Lord is doing in the opening new areas for the preaching of the Word of God through these men whom He has allowed us to have had a part in training them for the ministry. God is so good!

Hip Surgery

Last summer while we were in Arkansas for a few weeks to meet our first grandson, I had some doctor appointments, and we were told that I needed a full hip replacement. We were told that I could possibly wait until our regularly scheduled furlough (see details below), but the pain has continued to get worse. So, we began seeking medical advice on this side, and the surgeons here agree that I need surgery soon, and they are sending me to South Africa for surgery. We will be flying to Cape Town on February 17th, my surgery will be February 21st, and if recovery goes as planned we will return to Kenya on March 6th. Once back in Kenya, I will be able to continue physiotherapy and finish any doctor’s appointments here. We are planning for 6-8 weeks for recovery time; and once I get a medical release, we will be ready for our furlough. We would greatly appreciate your prayers for all the extra travel and for a quick recovery.

Furlough

We want to let you know that we are planning to return to the USA in May 2023 for our regularly scheduled furlough. Our furlough will be approximately 9 months long, and we plan to return to Kenya in February 2024. Our schedule has already started filling up, so if your church would like to schedule a meeting, please send us an email as soon as possible to: mail@shelbysinkenya.org. Please pray for our family during this time, as we will be getting our youngest daughter settled in Bible College and traveling thousands of miles while we are in the USA.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby Family

New Church Starting Soon and Other News..

2022-10-12T01:52:00.001+03:00

July - September 2022

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Hello from Kisumu, Kenya. We have had a very busy summer schedule, and we praise the Lord for all that He allowed us to do. We were able to visit our daughter, Abigail, and her husband, Robert, as they welcomed our first grand baby to their family, Andrew Allen Cepec, on June 23rd. We were able to spend some good time with them as they were transitioning to being on the full-time deputation. Tonya was able to be with Abigail in the hospital when the baby was born. That was a real blessing for both of them. Thank you for your continued prayers for all of our family. Robert and Abigail are on their way to Guyana, and they have reached around 20% of their support.

Please remember Breanne and Jeremy in your prayers, as they are about to have their first winter out in the village of Hatgal, Mongolia in their new house.

Also while in the States, I visited a Chiropractor and Orthopedic doctor concerning issues I have been dealing with around my hip over the last year. After a few visits it was concluded that as a result of arthritis and other issues I was in need of a full hip replacement. We were not able to stay in the USA for the 3 month recovery at this point, so we are scheduling the surgery for our furlough planned for next year. Please pray that I can manage the discomfort and try to keep going with as much of the ministry schedule as I can over the next 6-8 months before we begin furlough.

Bible Study in Nyamasaria, Kisumu

The outreach for the Bible Study has been going very well in several areas. We have a small rented building ready to start the new church, Hope Baptist Church, on October 30th. Please pray for this date as well as the preparation time leading up to it. The Smith’s have been a big blessing in helping in areas that I could not do because of my traveling, college schedule, and ministries in other cities. Many have been saved and discipled in the past few months, and we are meeting with over 30 adults in 3 different locations on a weekly basis.

Building project
We have started helping Calvary Baptist Church in the village of Sidundo build their permanent
church building. They are raising funds for the bricks and mortar, and we will come along beside them and match their offerings in building this building. Please pray for them and the work to be able to be completed in God’s timing.

Peaceful Elections
We thank the Lord that there was peace throughout the month of August and the election process, and there was not much disruption of ministry activities throughout the month. Kisumu is usually a problem area during the time of elections; but other than just a few days, the roads were clear and there was not problem getting the things done that we needed to. We did take precautions and helped the other new missionaries here know what to do if there was a serious problem, but we are thankful that there was not, and we know that this was because you were praying for us. Thank you very much for your prayers for our family and ministries in Kenya!

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby Family

Kenya Update & our New Work in Kisumu update

2022-08-22T01:48:00.000+03:00

Thank you so much for praying for peace in Kenya! We serve a mighty God & other than those 2 days, we have seen peace throughout Kenya.

Is it all over?? Well, no, the opposition says they don’t except the election results & are planning to take their petition to the Supreme Court tomorrow. Then the court will either choose to hear their petition, which means 14 days of waiting for another announcement. Or they can say the petition doesn’t provide proof enough to warrant a court case, in which case the the Presidential inauguration will take place on August 30th. 

In either of these rulings, one side or the other will be upset. So, please continue praying  for peace to be seen throughout the whole country. We know God is able. 

Ministry update:

The Bible study in Kisumu, is really beginning to take off & we are seeing people saved each week! We have the main Bible study & children’s class under a mango tree every Sunday morning, a ladies Bible study on Sunday afternoons, & 3 in-home Bible studies throughout the week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, plus we are targeting different areas of the Nyamasaria region of Kisumu town for canvassing on Saturdays. Needless to say…but life is definitely busy! 

Today we had 19-20 adults present, & a lady the was led to the Lord yesterday on visitation came & brought her husband with her! He was so attentive during the lesson & stayed afterwards with questions & he got saved as well. Then while the ladies were meeting this afternoon, the men went to make a few follow up visits & this brand new Christian asked to go with them. When he saw what they were telling people he asked if they could make another stop. So they did & it was at his work place & he went & gave his co-workers tracts & told them about the Bible study & that they needed to come learn more like he did! He said he would make sure that some of them come with him & his wife next week. It doesn’t get much better than that! God I’d so very good to us & it so awesome to see HIM working in the life of these new Christians. 

Please keep the Nyamasaria area of Kisumu in your prayers.

Please pray for peace!

2022-08-16T01:16:00.001+03:00

Please pray for peace!

It’s been a long week of waiting for presidential results & that was announced this evening. It was such a close race & the candidate that has tried for the 5th time lost again. 

This time around we live & work in Kisumu, & our hearts were breaking for the people here as we saw the black smoke (from burning tires blocking the roads) of protests beginning to go up & could hear the cries (wails) of people who feel like they have lost so much. From our home up on the hill, we can see all of town & could see the smoke spreading from one roundabout to the next for as far as our eyes could see. 

We have been in contact with the other missionaries on our team & the Kenyans that attend our Bible studies, & everyone is safe tonight. But we would greatly appreciate your prayers over the coming days. 

By nightfall, the police were trying to disperse the crowds & we could hear them firing teargas canisters & are still hearing an occasional shot. 

Pray  for Kenya  

Please Pray for Kenya!

2022-08-09T01:14:00.000+03:00

We would like to ask everyone to please pray for Kenya. Elections will take place tomorrow & we would like you to pray that it will be a peaceful process.

It could be days, weeks, or months before we know who will be the next president, & that can cause even more frustration & unease for everyone living here. 

There have already been some isolated cases of vehicles being torched in different parts of Kenya. We are safe, stocked up on supplies, & are ready to wait out the next few days & would greatly appreciate your prayers for peace & safety countrywide. 

Bible Study in Nyamasaria, Kisumu and Summer Update

2022-06-15T00:53:00.000+03:00

April - June 2022

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Dear Prayer Partners, Supporters, and Family,

Hello from the Shelby Family. It seems like just yesterday that 2022 began, and now it is half way over. Our class schedule has been extremely busy. Plus we have been helping the David Smith family as they first came into the country, did some language studies at a language school, and have now moved to Kisumu and are getting settled here. I have continued to teach at 3 of the college branches every week and a fourth one at the end of each month. I drive a minimum of 10 hours during normal weeks just for these classes. It has been difficult to get everything done in the office that is needed when there are also extra needs that must be attended to with the churches here. We thank the Lord for the many open doors for ministering, and thank the Lord for the much needed help as we now two other families and a single lady helping us in our ministries in our region of Kenya.

I want to apologize for the lateness of this letter, and to thank you for your understanding and patience in hearing from us. We thank you so much for your prayers for our family, your interest in what we are doing, and your care of support for our family and ministry.

Our son, Caleb, and my Mom have been able to visit Kenya for 5 weeks, and it has been a blessing to have them with us. Caleb has preached several times, and he has been mixing in the Swahili that he remembers and has been doing a very good job. He will begin his 4th year of Bible college in the fall, and he has a desire to go to Israel as a missionary. Please pray for God to open doors for him in the coming years.

Bible Study in Nyamasaria, Kisumu
We are encouraged by the work that is going on here in Kisumu in planting a new church. The

Bible study was meeting in the home of one of our students, Edward Oloo, who is helping me learn the Luo language. It started in May 2021, then moved to a small unfinished room, and now they have been meeting under the shade of a mango tree for almost two months. There were 49 including the children under other trees in the back. Several have been saved this year already, and it was a blessing to visit with them for two weeks last month. Bro. David Smith is helping with this work now, under our leadership, as he is getting settled into the culture and Swahili language. Also please pray for Edward and his wife, Mary, as the Lord has blessed them with their first child, Jonathan.

A couple of projects, that we failed to mention in our last letter, were completed last year is an iron sheet building in Narok when Berea Baptist Church began in April 2021, and another building for the church in the Maasai Village of Oltepesi. Both works are going well, and we are thankful to the Lord at how they are progressing.

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby Family

One year ago this weekend...

2022-04-23T13:10:00.012+03:00

One year ago this weekend...

It's hard to believe that a full year has gone by! So many of you were staying tuned for the next little bit of news as Luke & a group of our Pastors went to the town of Narok to start our very first church plant in the Maasai area. 

Berea Baptist Church started 1 year ago & will be celebrating their first Anniversary tomorrow! We are so excited for this young church & what the Lord is doing among the Maasai.

Also 1 year ago on the same trip to start this church, Luke & 1/2 of the Pastors went deep into the Maasai region and a Bible study was started there as well, which grew enough & was ready to become a church about 6 months later.

God has been so very good to us, and we are so very thankful to be able to serve Him here in Kenya!

Please pray for Berea Baptist Church of Narok Town & that they will continue to be a light to the Maasai.

To read the original posts you can go here and start --> The Beginning of a New Church - Part 1

Children's Crusade in Kericho Town

2022-04-19T00:59:00.001+03:00

We were excited to assist Bro. Matthew Rose and his family as they had a children’s crusade in
Nyagacho Saturday afternoon. Fellow missionary, Bro. David Smith, also went with us to help the Rose Family. The Gospel was clearly preached, and each person received a Gospel tract and an invitation to the Rose's Bible study on Sunday.

80 children attended the children’s crusade in Nyagacho today. The rain cut our program short and kept the adults away. But each child heard the Bible story and received a Swahili Gospel tract written especially for kids. Thank you for your prayers.

We know that God will use the events of today to help the Rose Family reach this area of Kericho.

Please pray with us that God would open the hearts of the people to the truth of the Gospel in Kericho Town.

Blessings for the New Year of 2022

2022-01-26T01:50:00.000+03:00

January 2022

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Dear Prayer Partners, Supporters, and Family,

Happy New Year! We are excited about the opportunities that we see the Lord opening up for His work here in Kenya. We are also excited about what the Lord is doing in our children’s families, what the Lord has enabled them to accomplish in 2021 as we shared last month, and what God has in store for them in this new year. We have seen last year as a year of opportunities to minister and make up for lost time during the Covid lockdowns. We thank the Lord for His guidance and direction.

Church Planting (2 Churches started)

In April, Berean Bible Baptist Church opened in Narok town; and in August, Bible Baptist Church in Oltepesi village was started. Narok town is the largest Maasai town in Kenya and is of great influence to the surrounding areas. This has opened up the Maasai community to us like it has never done before. We have tried in three different areas before, but there were always hindrances to getting a church established. We are thankful for what God has done.

Building Projects & Special Offerings $34,950

Bible Baptist - Rongo: floor, plastering walls, painting, wiring, electricity, inside doors, etc.
Bible College: dorm divisions, and bunk beds.
Agape Bible Baptist: floor, walls, and Sunday school room.
Raganga Baptist: sound system.
Calvary Baptist: finishing parsonage for the pastor, storage rooms, and painting.
Special Orphan Christmas gifts.
Calvary Baptist Church - Sidundo: building approval process started and some materials already brought the the site.

South Nyanza Baptist College (over 80 enrolled)

Local Church Bible College branches helped the students continue to study during the time of corona virus. Even though they shut down churches, they kept schools, colleges, and universities open. We kept the Bible College running with the help of 10 faithful pastors, scattered out in the region, who had classes for their members and from surrounding churches. Classes were taking place on Saturdays, Sunday afternoons, and even the middle of the week in some places. We had over 80 in classes at one point, and 74 finished the year with their final exams. We thank the Lord for this kind of retention of students throughout the year. We were able to finish the year with a conference for two thirds of the students who were able to travel to Kisii. We also held a graduation for 14 students in our 3-year diploma course.

2,605 Saved - Praise the Lord!!!

Through the ministries in these local Independent Baptist Churches, we have seen a great number of people saved in home Bible studies, church services, weekly soul-winning, and evangelistic outreach while starting the two churches. God is so good! We also saw at least 8 College students saved as well.

Thank you for partnering with us in the planting and in the harvest of 2021. May God bless you in 2022!

For Souls in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby Family