June 1, 2023
Hello everyone,
By the time you get this, we are hoping to be home in the U.S for one month! However, we're still currently waiting for Matt and Zeke's renewed passports, and it doesn't look like they will be returned in time. Kelly may have to come on her own for a bit! Pray with us that Matt and Zeke's will come quickly.
Here’s some ministry updates:
Kuza
Ghetto Radio - Kuza now has a 7th radio partner to play our podcast weekly. The station is Ghetto Radio, which is based in Nairobi. Ghetto Radio is not a Christian station, but they have a Sunday morning DJ who plays Christian music along with our podcast. Ghetto Radio reaches the more low-income areas of Nairobi, and it’s frequently heard on buses around town. It has a reach of 1 million daily listeners. It’s been a blessing to have our podcast on this radio station because it reaches the heart of modern Kenyan popular culture. Everything from music, dance, dress, language, and pop culture comes from these lower-income areas of Nairobi. It is imperative for the gospel to be heard and understood in these cultural centers, because this is where the cultural movers and shakers come from. Ghetto Radio is a strategic partner for us to reach these key areas.
Kuza
Zambia Team - The third most represented country that visits Kuza’s website is the African country of Zambia. Amazingly, some visitors came from there recently to visit Kuza and find out more specifically what we do. We set up tables in a room at our office, made a nice lunch, and did a presentation for them. It was exciting to have international visitors get on a plane to learn about our online ministry. The more we do Kuza, the more we realize how rare it is to have an online ministry in Africa that is reaching to other African countries.
4:12, Kuza, SDM, & Pamoja House
Conference- Teaching at Advance Youth Ministry Conference - In April, there was a gathering of youth ministry organizations and youth pastors from around Kenya for the Advance Youth Ministry Conference. It was exciting to see many youth pastors and leaders gathered together. Matt was asked to speak about digital ministry in a breakout session and share about Kuza in the main session. Unfortunately, he got some sort of stomach bug the night before and was unable to share, but Vic (a Kuza staff member) stepped in. He did a commendable job. At the Advance YM Conference our 4:12, Kuza, SDM, and Pamoja House ministries all got to make amazing connections and develop partnerships.
Personal
Working Out Evangelism - Matt works out with two of his staff members, Vic and Kelvin, a few mornings a week at a local gym. They have made several gym friends, and have been able to share the gospel with them. One named Nelson was a Christian, but was struggling to grow in his faith. He joined Vic’s weekly bible study that he runs out of his apartment. Nelson was so excited at how intensely they have been studying the Scriptures and how much he’s grown in his faith. We’ve also shared with two guys named Vince and Edu, and are hoping to continue developing relationships with them. Vince recently accepted Christ and has come to church with us twice. Vince also introduced us to his neighbor Esther, and we shared the gospel with her. She's not ready to receive Christ yet, but she's been coming to church with us.
Personal
Spaghetti Bash - At Rosslyn Academy where Kelly teaches, they have an annual “Spaghetti Bash”. All participants anonymously bring in some form of a homemade pasta sauce, and then everyone votes on their favorite. Kelly’s alfredo sauce has won four times over the years, and she’s won the past two years in a row by adding bacon to the award-winning sauce. Of course, there were lots of jeers and sneers in good fun that she won. But bacon makes everything better!
We're grateful for all of you! Thank you for your continued support!
The Elmores- Matt, Kelly and Zeke
Prayer Requests
Ministry
Pray for more wisdom to teach God’s word to our followers on Kuza.
Pray for the people who received Christ with Nicholas’s Jesus film presentations to grow in their faith.
Pray for our fundraiser to be successful on June 4th.
Personal
Pray for Matt and Zeke's passports to come quickly!!!