Foxfires in Kenya.
The 2020 Foxfires Kenya Team are excited for a year which will greatly impact the youth of Kenya, and also enrich their lives individually. During their orientation, they were encouraged from 1 Timothy 4:13 to set an example of excellence, that the world might testify of God’s goodness.
Already, the 2020 Kenyan Foxfires have become a strong team and have added value to Nairobi Chapel Karen, the church where they will be based this year. As well as serving in the church and engaging in youth outreaches during the year, the Foxfires team will receive training in theology, leadership and practical life skills.
During the month of February, last year’s Foxfires returned to mentor the new team and assist them with their first outreaches. Testimony to the success of the program, is news of last year’s Foxfires, concerning the impact they are having within their respective spheres of influence since graduating from the program
One of African Enterprise’s six strategic areas of focus is Integrated Youth Empowerment. The Foxfire training program demonstrates how this goal is being achieved in partnership with local churches and supporters all around the world.
In Zimbabwe, Foxfire teams have been deployed since 1980 and each year they successfully evangelise in word and deed. They engage in the community and culture; demonstrating a level of understanding that is greatly appreciated by those who are reached. This year, four young individuals are set to embark on this unique experience as they seek to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Nelson Thomo (Kingdom Revival Apostolic Ministries), Tafadzwa Shaani (Glad Tidings Fellowship), Tinotenda P. Masimba (Agape International) and Henry Tapfuma (Charis Missionary Church) are currently going through orientation, induction and training before their first deployment. This involves mentorship as they learn the role of Foxfire missions, church planting, evangelism, follow up and discipleship. They are also being equipped with practical life skills and the ability to prepare and preach sermons. This time of learning is a period of great spiritual growth for each individual as they explore personal devotions, prayer, fasting and other aspects of Christian living.
In the near future, Nelson, Tafadzwa, Tinotenda and Henry will be deployed according to the needs of the surrounding areas and the reports of previous Foxfire teams.
As the group moves forward, please be praying for:
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- A conducive economic, social & political environment;
- Their upkeep and good health;
- Provision for budgetary and financial resources, sleeping bags, clothing and mobile phones;
- The preparedness of the hosting churches, marketplace schools and communities.
“I am sending you like sheep amongst the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matt 10:16)
Preparing for any battle will take many months or even years of preparation. And so, it has been for the young Foxfires team who have visited some of the most crime-ridden areas of South Africa to give some of the youngest, most innocent children hope of a better life in Christ.
These young children in primary school are already targets for gang members to become runners for the numerous and incredibly dangerous gangs that exist in the community. In a school system whose ratio of students to teachers is so low (sometimes 70:1), degrees of discipline vary widely, and the Foxfires have many considerations as they prepare to outreach to the young school communities through drama, dance and personal testimonies
Local primary students attend Foxfires outreach service
Senior Foxfires member Bongani explained the impact that the Foxfires have been having over the past two weeks. “It’s been exciting to see the eyes of the children, because it’s likely that no one has seen this type of performance before”, he said. “ Mostly they have only seen secular songs and ‘crumping’, and this is the first time they have heard a gospel song, with accompanying dance and drama.”
Even though the Foxfires were performing before younger members of the school community (the high school had exam preparation), other kids and teachers came out from classes to watch. “Even people outside the school came to watch and listen through the school gates. It’s something that people in Mitchell’s Plain were not used to hearing.
One of the eight-strong members of the Foxfires team Mpumi mentioned how the ministry breaks through some of the false perceptions of living a Christian life. “There is a mentality that if you are a Christian you can’t dance, and you just have to read the Bible”, she said. “We break through the stereotypes on how a young person can live for God. They can have joy and fun in their life and listen to positive music, and that Christianity is also a faith-based lifestyle that serves God.”
The Foxfires have been confronted by the extent to which the young community is exposed to alcohol and drugs, and how life’s bitterness turns some young children into bullies. This is an important part of their message to have a values-based foundation and make wise choices for life.
In terms of their own growth, a fellow member of the team Luyanda talks about the divine commissioning before God to dedicate at least a year of their life after school for evangelistic activities. “Sometimes I don’t feel like I have done enough, but both support team members and the schools have been incredibly supportive”, she said. “We have been consistently called back to schools to reach other generations, which we will do if possible. The various evangelists, pastors and volunteers involved in the mission also minister to us, and we are really blessed when we hear from very powerful preachers like Andrew Palau. Even though we may have our own personal battles back home, God sustains us”, she said.
Three Foxfires team members in front of the Foxfires bus
The outreach in this very divided and dangerous part of Africa has moved the young evangelists right out of their comfort zone. They are having a huge impact on vulnerable young communities, and people of different faith upbringing. One of the Muslim teachers remarked that she has never seen the kids so attentive before at school.
Please pray for the support and sustainability of this crucial outreach program in Africa.
Khamisi Kwela’s father was a strong Muslim believer who took his eight children to the mosque and made sure they attended weekly Islamic classes.
“My dad was very strict when it came to religious matters,” Khamisi said. “There was only one religion allowed in our family.”
But when Khamisi was 10, his dad died and the family lost their way.
“We became completely financially incapacitated,” Khamisi said. “My older siblings and mum worked hard to ensure we had food, but we struggled to put a meal on the table. Poverty was part of us.”
It was a hard life. But it was also brought a little freedom to Khamisi’s mother and she started going to church.
“My mum had wanted to know Christ for a long time, but due to the restrictions of our dad, she would not have even dared,” Khamisi remembered.
Soon Khamisi’s mother and older brothers all started going to church and soon became Christians. But Khamisi and one of his younger brothers didn’t
“We wanted to maintain the religion of our father,” he said, “so we continued to attend mosque.”
Khamisi knew about Christianity from his friends at school and from the Christian Religious Education classes there. But still, he lived in darkness for five years after his father’s death.
“I FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING WITHIN ME. I WAS GLUED TO MY SEAT AND LISTENED ATTENTIVELY TO THE WORD OF GOD AS IF THAT IS WHAT I HAD COME TO DO.”
Until one Sunday when he went to pick something up from one of his brother’s at church. When he arrived the church service was still going.
“I sat in the last row, waiting for the service to end. As the worship was going on, I felt as if something was burning within me,” he said. “I was glued to my seat and listened attentively to the Word of God as if that is what I had come to do.”
When the pastor asked if anyone wanted to come forward and become a Christian, Khamisi couldn’t resist.
“Whatever was burning within me became stronger,” he said. “I was pulled to the altar by the power of Holy Spirit and for the first time in my life, I felt the need for Jesus.”
The pastor prayed for him and his family was overjoyed.
Khamisi joined the discipleship class and was mentored by the senior pastor to help him grow in his new faith.
“Today I call him my spiritual dad,” Khamisi said. “When he learned about my story, he took over paying my school fees. I went to a school in Malindi town, which even in my dreams I never thought I would do! I had never seen such demonstration of love.”
Khamisi read his Bible with an undying fervor and did all he could to learn about prayer and ministry in the church. In his last year of high school, he became a leader of the Christian Union, sharing his testimony with as many people as he could.
But in 2017, tragedy struck his family again.
“The death of our mum last year was the lowest moment of my life after salvation,” Khamisi said. “Her sickness took her when we needed her most.”
He and his siblings have struggled with this loss but are leaning on the love of their church community.
He joined the AE Kenya Foxfires this year after seeing last year’s team minister at his school during the Malindi Mission.
“I look forward reaching out to young people with the Word of God in 2018. Through our interactions, I want them to know and experience the love of God as I have.”
Because of you, Khamisi and many others have joined the Foxfire programme as an outlet for ministry and personal growth in 2018. Without your support, this programme would cease to exist. Please consider giving to this programme. To find out more, visit out Foxfires page here.
From Addict to Ambassador
At sixteen, Dan was addicted to social media. He spent all his free time online and struggled to get through a week without looking at pornography. He didn’t realise he had a problem, until the African Enterprise Foxfires came to speak to the young people at his school.
“When the Foxfires shared with us the various dangers of cyber addiction, I realised what I was doing,” Dan said.
He spoke to the Foxfires about his problems and asked God to save him from his addictions.
“I received Jesus in one of the sessions with the Foxfires,” he said, “and I now feel a calmness of heart and great peace away from guilt and addiction.”
But it was not an easy decision and Dan has struggled already.
“Many of my friends laughed at me having being saved,” he said. “But I never look back.”
He has held on to his new faith and wants to be an ambassador for overcoming addictions, helping other young men and women who are struggling with pornography.
“Out of the continued encouragement I got from the Foxfires team, I stood firm in loving God and choosing to do what is right,” Dan said. “Thank you Foxfires!’’
A prodigal daughter finds her way to God
Fourteen years old and in her first year of high school, Melissa enjoyed what she thought was the freedom of youth.
“I would sneak away from school and go to clubs,” she admitted.
School work and the future seemed unimportant. Melissa made decisions on a whim, doing whatever made her happy, following wherever her group of friends would lead.
When the AE Foxfires started visiting her school, she was intrigued.
“They were young like me,” she said, “and they really taught me how to live this life as a young person.”
As the months went on, and the Foxfire visits continued, Melissa started making better decisions about how she spent her time. She overcame the peer pressure that had marked her life before. And then one day, when the Foxfires asked if anyone wanted to become a Christian, Melissa said yes.
“Once I knew about God and his saving grace, I accepted him and He changed me,” she said.
God was looking after Melissa even before she became a Christian, and she now knows the danger she was in.
“I thank God that even in those times, when I was misbehaving, my life was preserved,” she said. “I didn’t end up dropping out of school because of pregnancy or drug abuse issues. God really has a better plan for me and I am now part of the Christian Union at school. I owe this to the Foxfires and also to God for having mercy on me.’’
Struggling through poverty
Benjamin has always resented his family’s poverty.
“My family background is quite humble,” he said, “and I really hated the fact that I was born into that family.”
By his third year of high school in Kenya, Benjamin was a quiet and sullen teenager who struggled to relate to his family. Then earlier this year, when the Foxfires visited his school, Benjamin decided to give his life to Christ.
“Since March this year, when I received Christ as my personal Saviour, my life has changed drastically,” he said. “It is the best it has ever been. I never thought things could be like this.”
Over the last few months, his performance has improved, his anger has subsided and his relationship with his family has started to change.
“I have always had these big questions in my mind and wanted them to be answered by anyone who would listen,” Benjamin said. “The Foxfires were there for me and helped me understand who God is. I had never before accepted who I was in the eyes of God.”
In return for what they have done for him, Benjamin had one thing to say to the Foxfires.
“You are doing a great job,” he said. “I hope you keep going and never tire because lives are being changed by your work!”
