The Bible School Ministry is focused on a particular part of the body of Christ: Pastors and Ministry Leaders who live and serve in the urban slums. The entry requirements are simple: 1) you must be in Spiritual Leadership of some sort, and, 2) you must be serious and diligent. Otherwise, we have no other requirements. We do not ask applicants for a Statement of Faith, for tuition fees nor for academic credentials. If we did, we would not attract those we are called to reach: urban slum Pastors and Ministry Leaders. The vast majority of our students cannot qualify for any other Bible School in East Africa. And that is a good thing in this sense: we are filling a gap. Not duplicating what is already available in other Bible Schools. The gap we fill is in discipling slum Pastors of the Least...who minister to the largest number of people by far.
With such a low bar for entry, we attract Pastors and Ministry Leaders with all sorts of “deficiencies.” One being their education level. Or lack thereof. The average education level is akin to 6th grade in the States. Half fall below that midpoint. And it is here that we have every excuse to give up. To move on. To choose others with more “potential” or “gifting.” That’s what the Sanhedrin did...but not what Jesus did...
“Now when they (Sanhedrin) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were Uneducated and Untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Jesus poured His life into “uneducated and untrained men.” His disciples were disregarded, indeed disparaged, by the religious elite. “Unlearned” literally means “Illiterate.” And “Untrained”means “Intellectually Ignorant.” It was largely from this sort of people that Jesus selected His apostles. What mattered in the end was not their literacy, credentials or acumen. What mattered was this: “they had been with Jesus.”
Evangelist Kanyele Wambua came to us from such a segment of society. He was, in fact, very far down the qualification scale. He never graduated from primary school. He was semi-literate at best. He could not speak English at all and Kiswahili barely. His primary language was his tribal tongue. This instantly relegated him to the lowest echelons of Nairobi’s society: in work, in status, in opportunities...and unfortunately, in the “church.” He was an itinerant evangelist. Not connected with any particular church or ministry. Not because he did not want the discipleship, oversight, comradery or encouragement. But because he was “unqualified.” After wandering from church to church, and ministry to ministry, seeking opportunities to serve, he finally went out on his own. Not out of design, but out of desperation.
One of our students encountered Kanyele evangelizing on the streets, and invited him to the DSM Bible Institute. He came. Like most visitors, he was utterly shocked. Kanyele heard things he had never heard before. He was captivated by the Word of God. The next semester, he was one of the first applicants in line. That was January of 2011. He was accepted. The sojourn had begun.
Kanyele began his Bible studies with many obstacles: Semi-literate; no English; very little Kiswahili; operating alone in ministry; not connected to any specific church. He hadn’t been in a school since the age of 13. He is poor and has 8 children. It takes him at least 1½ hours by bus to get to the Bible School. The bus fare costs him a full day of wages. It would take an extraordinary effort to put this ball in the net. It would take Perseverance. Fueled by the Grace of God. And God showed up.
We recommended that he take only one class. He insisted on two. A full day of classes once per week. At that rate, he could graduate in 2 years. He explained, “I can’t afford to take 4 years to finish. It’s too much bus fare.” He began in January of 2011 with his two classes. He passed only one. Some new students give up at this point. But not Kanyele. He pushed through and the next semester he passed both classes. Then he disappeared. For a year and a half we heard nothing. When he showed up again, in the Fall of 2012, he explained that the bus fare had been too costly. He just couldn’t afford the expense. After prayer, we agreed to sponsor his bus fare. But under two conditions: he would be assigned cleaning duties before and after class each week; and he would have to pass two classes each semester. This would minimize the overall transport costs to the ministry. Kanyele readily agreed. And re-enrolled.
It should have taken Kanyele less than 2 years to complete his 9 remaining classes. Perhaps if he failed a class or missed a semester, it might take an extra 6 months. As long as he Persevered, we would do the same. Or would we?
It’s all fine and well to consider ourselves as Persevering. After all, if we are pursuing something of personal benefit, we are apt to be steadfast. But what about Persevering for others? When the only benefit accrues to them? When we derive no “payout” or “bump” in our status or ego. Are we willing to “pay the price” for someone else’s sole and exclusive benefit? Like Jesus did...on the Cross.
Kanyele did not take 2 years to finish. He took 9 years! At one point he failed every class for 2 straight years. And kept coming. His Perseverance was Exemplary, Inspiring and Sobering. His obstacles were innumerable. The litany of trials utterly indescribable. But then God...
God gave Kanyele something unique. Not Perseverance. God never gives that. God gave Kanyele the Grace to Persevere. It was up to Kanyele to exercise that Grace. And he did. He Endured. He was Steadfast. He Pursued without relenting. He Persevered...to the end.
We, as his encouragers and equippers, were called to do the same. It was discouraging, disappointing and disruptive all along the way. I was sure we could not continue with sponsoring his bus fare. After all, we had many others equally deserving. It was going well beyond what we could afford. It was getting to the breaking point. But then God...
“Because you have kept My Command to Persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
God righteously commands Perseverance. “Righteously” because He also has provided His “All Sufficient Grace” in advance. Which precludes any excuses on our part for being lazy, indolent or irresolute in any regard. We are to Persevere...when all foul winds blow against us. Persevering through illness, infirmity, physical pain, financial destitution, mockery, slander, accusations, betrayals, contentions, family/marital discord, faithlessness, rejection, temptations, addictions, anxieties, antics and lies. And not just of our own. But more importantly of those around us.
Perseverance is rarely a one-sided effort. And for this reason, many fail in their endeavors...in Ministry and in the Church. When fellow Christians, Churches and Ministries become inwardly focused, we readily “Persevere to the end!” At least if it benefits us and our agenda. But we quickly jettison Christ-like Charity towards others who can’t keep pace: “too slow”; “unreliable”; “unappreciative”; “undeserving”; “inconsistent”; “immoral”; “not serious”; “not gifted.” We are all too ready to move on to others we deem “more deserving.” All the while forgetting that none of us are deserving. No, not one.
Kanyele grasped the Grace of God...and got Perseverance in the bargain. For the sake of those God puts in our path, let’s grasp His Grace one more time. And Persevere alongside them...Steadfast to the end.
Postscript: Two years after graduating, Kanyele still attends the Bible School on a regular basis. Last year he planted a new church in a slum...where few dare to tread.
