Our Connection with Pastor Isaac, Nairobi Kenya, Africa

We first corresponded with Isaac in the fall of 2007 when he initially contacted us. We were curious just who this guy was.  Over the next few months, we became acquainted with him and his work.  Through church affiliations, we’ve heard about the personal devastation caused by the AIDS epidemic in Africa and the lack of access to Christian material, but we had no real personal contact with anyone dealing directly with the situation.  We were overjoyed to make direct contact with someone working in that area and to learn about the work they were doing.  Linda and I both felt God’s leading in this chance correspondence. 

In January, 2008, our joy turned to sorrow when post-election violence in Nairobi moved Isaac and his family from the role of assistance provider to that of one in need.  In a few weeks’ time, Isaac, his wife Robby and their children Precious and Treasure, lost their home, their business—Isaac had a carpet-cleaning business that supported his ministry work—and most of their possessions.  By February, 2008, they were without shelter and sleeping on a mattress in the parking lot of a police station—one of the few safe places in town—with the rainy season starting.  Robby was 8 months pregnant at the time.  We still can’t begin to image what that must have felt like for them.

The amazing part is that Isaac continued to correspond, borrowing the laptop of the Red Cross workers in order to check his e-mail.  The messages, my friends, brought tears to our eyes and introduced us to a new level of humility.  Here’s this guy, having lost everything, sleeping outside in the rain with a pregnant wife and two children taking the time to write messages of encouragement to us!  Paul’s message in Romans 5 was being played out before me.  “…We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”  We don’t think we truly understood what being filled with the spirit really looked like in the flesh until we read the messages from Isaac in the midst of that situation.  While in prison, Paul wrote letters to others to encourage them and build them up in Christ.  While in a refugee camp, Isaac wrote to us to encourage us and build us up.  We’ll never forget.

While we thought we knew God’s purpose for our lives, Linda and I recognized that God has more in store for us.  Recently, a Christian comedian we saw noted that he “won the lottery, because he was born in the United States”—one of the richest countries the world has ever known.  We immediately thought of Isaac.  We’ve never slept outdoors except when camping in a park in a nice tent and sleeping on an air mattress or in a nice motorhome.  We’ve never missed a meal due to lack of money or lack of available food and water.  We’ve never been burned out of my home, lost all of our possessions or wondered how we could protect our family and me during month-long riots.  We have, on many occasions, let far less than Isaac has endured cause us to worry, doubt and despair.  God humbled us by placing a man in our life that is truly filled with the Spirit and lives it out on a daily basis.

God’s message to me was pretty clear: Get this guy back into his work.  We certainly couldn’t fly to Nairobi to assist.  Even if we could, we wouldn’t know what to do and where to start.  That’s why God put Isaac there.  Linda and I did what we could to help, along with a few gifts and lots of prayer.  It was only a start, but it took Isaac, Robby, Precious, Treasure and their newest family member, Prince, out of the camp and into a home.  Isaac has since continued to rebuild his home and his ministry.  We wouldn’t have expected anything else.

We now know someone that God has called to serve and are glad to call him our friend. Foreign missions work is no longer something that we read about in the church bulletin.  It’s personal.  While we still place our tithes and offerings with our church home, we now set aside something each month to directly support Isaac and his work.  Someday, we hope to be able to visit Kenya and see Isaac’s work first hand.  Until then, we know that God wants me to support him the best way we can.

Isaac’s Vision

Isaac founded Angaza International Ministries to do God’s work.  His desire is to bring the message of Christ to those in need, particularly those that are the survivors of AIDS victims.  He and Robby have a heart for AIDS orphans and have adopted two children, Jeff and Paul.  He is currently spreading the gospel throughout Kenya and neighboring countries in East Africa.  Ultimately, he wants to build an orphanage, school and support center to provide for widows and single mothers living with HIV.

In recent months, despite financial hardships, Isaac has conducted a few trips to provide food, clothing and the word of God to areas around Nairobi.  On one of his trips, conducted with a few other ministers, over 50 people were won to Christ. He has know started a new church and has an attendance of over 50 and growing. Our music ministry recently purchased 100 new bibles for his church along with some teaching information to help his new congregation grow.  

Our Role

God has given Isaac his mission.  Our role here is to help Isaac raise funds to support the work God is doing through Isaac in Kenya.  For us, this is personal.  We are doing this work pro bono and will personally cover miscellaneous expenses related to this effort.  All contributions will go to Isaac and his ministry.  We will gladly make ourselves available to answer any questions that might arise from this letter and any ongoing efforts related to support of Isaac.

Jim & Linda Burnett