Wow is about the best word I can think of to help you understand what God did. We are currently in Nairobi, Kenya, and about to get on a flight to London. Wednesday we went out to a village that we almost didn't get to. As a matter of fact, only half of our team made it because the road was so bad. The vehicle I was in called the other that was leaving about 34 minutes later and told them not to come because the road was so bad and if it rained we would all be stranded.
We got to the village and I taught the adults again through the life of Joseph. Jamie taught the baptism class and Abe taught the youth. Then we went down to the baptism time and that is where it got crazy. Jamie and I baptized 147 people. Yes, 147. It was amazing as the people were everywhere. 18 churches were represented.
Then we went back and I preached and had another 15 come to Christ. It was cool. That night we went to another village and showed the Jesus Film. That night I got to preach again and 75 responded to the Gospel. There are so many times I put limitations on God. How dare I?
We went to Lake Malawi yesterday and to a market for our fun day. But before we got there we visited the Baptist Clinic and Oprhanage. It was breath taking. The orphanage is still in the process of being built and it being built on land owned by a Muslim village. The Chief gave it to the Baptists to build. God works even when we think He won't. The lady running the clinic and orphanage needs our prayers. She is amazing. She sold her house to make sure the orphanage can be built. How much to we hord to ourselves when others need to hear the word.
Please keep us in your prayers as well. We fly from here to London to Detroit to OKC. Hopefully it will go by fast. I will post again when we are safe and sound in Terlton. Thanks so much and God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
amazing
Our God is amazing. We have had a great time. Yesterday we went out to a village about an hour from Lilongwe and in the morning went out with an interpreter each. Mine was Godfrey, or Bishop. We came to three men standing along side the road. One of them was a police officer. We began to share with them about Christ and all three men said they wanted to accept Christ as Savior, even the police officer. Godfrey, who is a pastor, told me that he has never seen a police officer come to Christ. It was pretty awesome.
We began to walk up a street and they stopped us and told us to go back down the street and we would see a market with a lot of people and we could tell them about Christ. When we got there I asked Godfrey if I could preach there and ask people if they wanted to receive Christ. He went in to ask the people inside if we could because everyone was outside trying to get in to the market. They said it was OK so I began to preach. I then led them in a sinner's prayer and asked them by a show of hands who sincerely prayed to receive Christ. Gedfrey said there was about 100 people there and about 60 raised their hands. We encouraged them to go to the church we were working at that day. It was fantastic.
Then we walked down the road and began to speak to two women who were selling peanuts. Godfrey asked them if we could talk with them for a minute. They said that is fine and we began to share with them. They told me that it took good works to get into heaven so we showed them Ephesians 2:8-9 where Paul tells us it is our faith in God and His grace for us and not by our works. They understood and wanted to receive Christ. We prayed with them and instantly their faces changed. What a day, actually morning it was, because the day was NOT over.
After this we had a baptism service and baptized 12 people. Then in the afternoon we went to "the projects" of Lilongwe and went door to door. Godfrey and I were able to lead 14 people to the Lord in the afternoon. God truly is moving in this nation.
Today three of us (myself, Richard "Tank", and Abe) went to Godfrey's church and ministered to them. There were three churches together to be in Bible study, Baptism, and a sermon. I taught the adults and led them quickly through the life of Joseph (Old Testament) in an hour. Then we went outside and had the baptism service. Tank and I baptised 52 people (26 each). It was great.
Then Godfrey had us come in and after we had them sing, which is utterly amazing, I preached a sermon from Romans 5:8 (God demonstrates His own love for us in while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us). It was the same as I preached in the market. Of the 100 or so people, 40 prayed to receive Christ. It was an amazing day.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We visited the Seminary here and there is much prayer asked for from the leadership. Keep the Baptist Theological Seminary of Malawi in your prayers. Their heart is to train pastors and their wives in how to pastor the church.
I love you and thank you for prayers. God is sooooooo good and it is my pleasure to serve Him.
Scott
Acts 4:13
We began to walk up a street and they stopped us and told us to go back down the street and we would see a market with a lot of people and we could tell them about Christ. When we got there I asked Godfrey if I could preach there and ask people if they wanted to receive Christ. He went in to ask the people inside if we could because everyone was outside trying to get in to the market. They said it was OK so I began to preach. I then led them in a sinner's prayer and asked them by a show of hands who sincerely prayed to receive Christ. Gedfrey said there was about 100 people there and about 60 raised their hands. We encouraged them to go to the church we were working at that day. It was fantastic.
Then we walked down the road and began to speak to two women who were selling peanuts. Godfrey asked them if we could talk with them for a minute. They said that is fine and we began to share with them. They told me that it took good works to get into heaven so we showed them Ephesians 2:8-9 where Paul tells us it is our faith in God and His grace for us and not by our works. They understood and wanted to receive Christ. We prayed with them and instantly their faces changed. What a day, actually morning it was, because the day was NOT over.
After this we had a baptism service and baptized 12 people. Then in the afternoon we went to "the projects" of Lilongwe and went door to door. Godfrey and I were able to lead 14 people to the Lord in the afternoon. God truly is moving in this nation.
Today three of us (myself, Richard "Tank", and Abe) went to Godfrey's church and ministered to them. There were three churches together to be in Bible study, Baptism, and a sermon. I taught the adults and led them quickly through the life of Joseph (Old Testament) in an hour. Then we went outside and had the baptism service. Tank and I baptised 52 people (26 each). It was great.
Then Godfrey had us come in and after we had them sing, which is utterly amazing, I preached a sermon from Romans 5:8 (God demonstrates His own love for us in while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us). It was the same as I preached in the market. Of the 100 or so people, 40 prayed to receive Christ. It was an amazing day.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We visited the Seminary here and there is much prayer asked for from the leadership. Keep the Baptist Theological Seminary of Malawi in your prayers. Their heart is to train pastors and their wives in how to pastor the church.
I love you and thank you for prayers. God is sooooooo good and it is my pleasure to serve Him.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Lilongwe
We are safe and sound in Lilongwe, Malawi. We got here around noon yesterday and went immediately to the churches. Our two groups baptized 15 yesterday and are going to have more services today hopefully baptizing around 60 or so. These people really love the Lord and you can see it in their faces as they sing and listen to the word.
My time is limited because we are leaving this morning in about 10 minutes. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts. God is truly moving in this area and we look forward to what He is going to do the rest of the time we are here. Thanks so much and God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
My time is limited because we are leaving this morning in about 10 minutes. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts. God is truly moving in this area and we look forward to what He is going to do the rest of the time we are here. Thanks so much and God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Saturday, February 21, 2009
nairobi
Today we are in Nairobi, Kenya. Our flight got delayed 5 hours last night because there was a problem with the plane. They had to fly the part in from Paris to repair it. I thought London was a big enough place that they could have just fixed it with British parts. I guess not.
So with that we missed our connecting flight to Malawi to Kenya Airlines put us up in a hotel in Nairobi and it is fantastic. They are feeding us and we just ate an amazing lunch. The room is great. They are going to pick us up in the morning at 6:00 for an 8:30 flight. BUT, we have to go through Zimbabwe first before we get to Malawi and we will get there at 12:30 and hit the ground running. It is going to be great.
I was very concerned about coming into Kenya because I was not able to get my yellow fever shot. But the customs people did not look at my shot records and I was OK. We are definitely being spoiled in this hotel. Tomorrow all that changes but we are ready for God to use us in Malawi.
Continue to pray for us as we believe God has us HERE in Kenya for a reason, beside just pampering us. We have become friends with a lady from UK traveling to Malawi. We are not sure she is a believer but invited her to eat lunch with us and such since she is by herself. Her name is Sue.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Thanks for your prayers and I hope to blog more during the week. As I have said before I don't know what my internet access will be like so I will update when I can. Thanks so much and God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
So with that we missed our connecting flight to Malawi to Kenya Airlines put us up in a hotel in Nairobi and it is fantastic. They are feeding us and we just ate an amazing lunch. The room is great. They are going to pick us up in the morning at 6:00 for an 8:30 flight. BUT, we have to go through Zimbabwe first before we get to Malawi and we will get there at 12:30 and hit the ground running. It is going to be great.
I was very concerned about coming into Kenya because I was not able to get my yellow fever shot. But the customs people did not look at my shot records and I was OK. We are definitely being spoiled in this hotel. Tomorrow all that changes but we are ready for God to use us in Malawi.
Continue to pray for us as we believe God has us HERE in Kenya for a reason, beside just pampering us. We have become friends with a lady from UK traveling to Malawi. We are not sure she is a believer but invited her to eat lunch with us and such since she is by herself. Her name is Sue.
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Thanks for your prayers and I hope to blog more during the week. As I have said before I don't know what my internet access will be like so I will update when I can. Thanks so much and God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Friday, February 20, 2009
London
Our group is in London now and about to leave for Kenya and then Malawi. Keep us in your prayers as we have another 9 hour flight. Thanks for all the prayers and we will report more when we can. God bless.
Scott
Acts 4:13
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER:
We are sitting in the London Airport about to leave for Kenya and then London. Really fighting jet lag right now. I could not sleep on the plane last night because we had a bunch of teenagers from England who had been skiing in Colorado talking and laughing loudly all the way to London sitting right in front of me. Then an hour before we land they are asleep. JERK KIDS.
Hopefully we will get sleep on this flight. It is nine hours and then we have about two hours and fly into Malawi. Looking at our itenerary it will be a busy time, which is good because we are only here about 6 days. Be in prayer for the churches we are working with. From my understanding they are excited about what the Lord is doing and wanting to see even more.
Also be praying for Shelly and the girls. I don't like being away from them so long, especially out of the country.
Lastly pray for my heart. I know it is jet lag but I am really weary and not wanting to do anything right now, even blog. I know God is going to do marvelous things and I don't want selfishness on my part to get in the way.
I hope to update this while in Malawi but I am not sure about internet access. Check back and we will have to wait and see. Thanks for your prayers and support and I will hopefully talk to you via blogspot soon.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Scott
Acts 4:13
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER:
We are sitting in the London Airport about to leave for Kenya and then London. Really fighting jet lag right now. I could not sleep on the plane last night because we had a bunch of teenagers from England who had been skiing in Colorado talking and laughing loudly all the way to London sitting right in front of me. Then an hour before we land they are asleep. JERK KIDS.
Hopefully we will get sleep on this flight. It is nine hours and then we have about two hours and fly into Malawi. Looking at our itenerary it will be a busy time, which is good because we are only here about 6 days. Be in prayer for the churches we are working with. From my understanding they are excited about what the Lord is doing and wanting to see even more.
Also be praying for Shelly and the girls. I don't like being away from them so long, especially out of the country.
Lastly pray for my heart. I know it is jet lag but I am really weary and not wanting to do anything right now, even blog. I know God is going to do marvelous things and I don't want selfishness on my part to get in the way.
I hope to update this while in Malawi but I am not sure about internet access. Check back and we will have to wait and see. Thanks for your prayers and support and I will hopefully talk to you via blogspot soon.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
leaving
I leave tomorrow for Malawi (SE Africa). I will be gone until Saturday, February 28. Please be in prayer for my wife and girls as I am gone. The last time I was out of the country for a trip like this for this length we only had one child. It was also on that trip that I found out that Shelly was pregnant with Sydney (found out via email).
I am really excited about what God is going to do. There are six of us going and I believe only 4 are ordained so I may end up doing more than I originally anticipated. If you are unfamiliar about what our trip entails, click on http://watkinsscott.blogspot.com/2008/10/malawi.html to read about it.
I recently found out that the average life span in Malawi is only 36 and the average person is under 16. AIDS has ravaged this nation so much. Pray for the Malawians that they will be able to truly comprehend the love of Christ. They are the 3rd poorest nation in the world but really don’t know that. They truly need Jesus.
I am going to try to blog while I am there but obviously my internet access will be limited. Have a wonderful day and I will tell you all about my trip when I get home.
Scott
Acts 4:13
I am really excited about what God is going to do. There are six of us going and I believe only 4 are ordained so I may end up doing more than I originally anticipated. If you are unfamiliar about what our trip entails, click on http://watkinsscott.blogspot.com/2008/10/malawi.html to read about it.
I recently found out that the average life span in Malawi is only 36 and the average person is under 16. AIDS has ravaged this nation so much. Pray for the Malawians that they will be able to truly comprehend the love of Christ. They are the 3rd poorest nation in the world but really don’t know that. They truly need Jesus.
I am going to try to blog while I am there but obviously my internet access will be limited. Have a wonderful day and I will tell you all about my trip when I get home.
Scott
Acts 4:13
Friday, February 6, 2009
random
This is something I found on Facebook. Feel free to read it, if you have time to kill. This is 25 random things about moi.
1. My name is Scott David Watkins and I was born on February 15, 1974, at Grady County Hospital in Chickasha, OK.
2. I have a wife named Shelly that I have been married to since September 18, 1999, and we have three girls. Taylor is 6 going on 17, Sydney is 3 and will be 4 in March, and Emiley turned 2 in December.
3. I played tennis all through out middle school, high school and played in college at OBU.
4. In high school I was a four time conference champion at #1 singles. I think I am the only person who has done that in the conference we played in.
5. I played on the Varsity tennis team at Oklahoma Baptist University. My senior year I was #3 on the team and Team Co-Captain.
6. I was the starting quarterback on my high school football team my senior year. My junior year I started at wide receiver. But I only started the first half of the season at QB my senior year and lost my position. I went back to WR. I was upset about it but I was still getting to play. I have the distinction of throwing a touchdown, running for a touchdown, and catching a touchdown all in the same season, in two different seasons (11th & 12th grades).
7. I was 8th grade spelling champion but I still need spell check.
8. My dad was my Middle School principal, my 10th grade U.S. history teacher, and my 12th grade government teacher. Oh, and my HS tennis coach. I got a lot of crap from people over that.
9. My sister, Stefani, is 4 ½ years older than me and used to beat me up all the time until I was about nine. Then I discovered WWF and learned the moves. I made her cry. She didn’t touch me after that.
10. I was a trombone major my freshman year in college. YES, TROMBONE. But I gave that up because I realized that I stunk at it. So I changed my major to Youth Ministry. Now I realize that I stunk at that too because I ended up with a degree in Pastoral Ministry which I am doing now. God has a funny sense of humor.
11. I was in Youth Ministry for 15 years. Now I am doing the one thing I DID NOT want to do. Pastor a church.
12. I Pastor the greatest church in the known universe, and the unknown universe, but how can I prove that if I don’t know what else is out there?
13. I was my oldest daughter’s t-ball coach when she was 3 and 4. I got volunteered to do that one. It was a hoot!
14. I have “retired” from pick up basketball because back in May of 2008, I sprained my ankle playing with college aged guys. The doctor said, and I quote, “You sprained the crap out of it.” Thanks for being clinical.
15. I met my wife Shelly at OBU, even though she denies it. She was with Walker Moore and Awe Star Ministries http://www.awestar.org/ and they were recruiting students for overseas missions. I know I met her and my college address is in their computers. But we “officially” met at a lock-in at Calvary Baptist Church in Tulsa on October 23, 1998. I spilled Coke on her. It was love at first spill.
16. I knew within two weeks of meeting her that she was going to be my wife. Seriously. I bought a ring 3 weeks after our lock-in experience.
17. I believe I have some sort of a speech problem. There are certain words and phrases I have a hard time saying without the words getting jumbled and such. But God has called me to communicate the Gospel and He uses what I think is an inability for His glory.
18. I was in a rap group in College called PNEUMA, meaning God-breathed.
19. My best friend is my wife. My best dude friend is Brandon McCombs. He has been there for me in difficult times and fun times. Even though he is a jerk when he beats me a NCAA football on XBOX and playstation.
20. I am going to Malawi on a mission trip February 19–28. I am extremely pumped about it. To get more information about it go to http://watkinsscott.blogspot.com/2008/10/malawi.html.
21. I have led mission teams all over the U.S. as well as into Eastern Europe and Peru. I love Peru and the Peruvians and hope to go back soon.
22. I believe the best way to watch a TV series is on DVD. That way you can skip commercials and watch the next episode immediately after the one you just watched. No better way. My wife and I watched the first four seasons of Alias in 5 weeks. Still waiting on the 5th and final season but I know it will be here soon. Thanks Jeremy.
23. My favorite movie of all time is The Three Amigos with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase. “One for each other and all for one, the three brave Amigos are we!” “They called us scum sucking pigs, us!”
24. My favorite TV show of all time is Seinfeld. I want to get the Seinfeld SceneIt game. They have it at Wal-Mart for $19 but my wife thought that would be a waste of $19. But my birthday is coming up (hint, hint)!
25. I gave my life to Christ at the age of 16, on August 28, 1990, at a Jay Strack Crusade in Bartlesville, OK. I surrendered my life to serve Him in the ministry about a year later. I wouldn’t change it for the world!
1. My name is Scott David Watkins and I was born on February 15, 1974, at Grady County Hospital in Chickasha, OK.
2. I have a wife named Shelly that I have been married to since September 18, 1999, and we have three girls. Taylor is 6 going on 17, Sydney is 3 and will be 4 in March, and Emiley turned 2 in December.
3. I played tennis all through out middle school, high school and played in college at OBU.
4. In high school I was a four time conference champion at #1 singles. I think I am the only person who has done that in the conference we played in.
5. I played on the Varsity tennis team at Oklahoma Baptist University. My senior year I was #3 on the team and Team Co-Captain.
6. I was the starting quarterback on my high school football team my senior year. My junior year I started at wide receiver. But I only started the first half of the season at QB my senior year and lost my position. I went back to WR. I was upset about it but I was still getting to play. I have the distinction of throwing a touchdown, running for a touchdown, and catching a touchdown all in the same season, in two different seasons (11th & 12th grades).
7. I was 8th grade spelling champion but I still need spell check.
8. My dad was my Middle School principal, my 10th grade U.S. history teacher, and my 12th grade government teacher. Oh, and my HS tennis coach. I got a lot of crap from people over that.
9. My sister, Stefani, is 4 ½ years older than me and used to beat me up all the time until I was about nine. Then I discovered WWF and learned the moves. I made her cry. She didn’t touch me after that.
10. I was a trombone major my freshman year in college. YES, TROMBONE. But I gave that up because I realized that I stunk at it. So I changed my major to Youth Ministry. Now I realize that I stunk at that too because I ended up with a degree in Pastoral Ministry which I am doing now. God has a funny sense of humor.
11. I was in Youth Ministry for 15 years. Now I am doing the one thing I DID NOT want to do. Pastor a church.
12. I Pastor the greatest church in the known universe, and the unknown universe, but how can I prove that if I don’t know what else is out there?
13. I was my oldest daughter’s t-ball coach when she was 3 and 4. I got volunteered to do that one. It was a hoot!
14. I have “retired” from pick up basketball because back in May of 2008, I sprained my ankle playing with college aged guys. The doctor said, and I quote, “You sprained the crap out of it.” Thanks for being clinical.
15. I met my wife Shelly at OBU, even though she denies it. She was with Walker Moore and Awe Star Ministries http://www.awestar.org/ and they were recruiting students for overseas missions. I know I met her and my college address is in their computers. But we “officially” met at a lock-in at Calvary Baptist Church in Tulsa on October 23, 1998. I spilled Coke on her. It was love at first spill.
16. I knew within two weeks of meeting her that she was going to be my wife. Seriously. I bought a ring 3 weeks after our lock-in experience.
17. I believe I have some sort of a speech problem. There are certain words and phrases I have a hard time saying without the words getting jumbled and such. But God has called me to communicate the Gospel and He uses what I think is an inability for His glory.
18. I was in a rap group in College called PNEUMA, meaning God-breathed.
19. My best friend is my wife. My best dude friend is Brandon McCombs. He has been there for me in difficult times and fun times. Even though he is a jerk when he beats me a NCAA football on XBOX and playstation.
20. I am going to Malawi on a mission trip February 19–28. I am extremely pumped about it. To get more information about it go to http://watkinsscott.blogspot.com/2008/10/malawi.html.
21. I have led mission teams all over the U.S. as well as into Eastern Europe and Peru. I love Peru and the Peruvians and hope to go back soon.
22. I believe the best way to watch a TV series is on DVD. That way you can skip commercials and watch the next episode immediately after the one you just watched. No better way. My wife and I watched the first four seasons of Alias in 5 weeks. Still waiting on the 5th and final season but I know it will be here soon. Thanks Jeremy.
23. My favorite movie of all time is The Three Amigos with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase. “One for each other and all for one, the three brave Amigos are we!” “They called us scum sucking pigs, us!”
24. My favorite TV show of all time is Seinfeld. I want to get the Seinfeld SceneIt game. They have it at Wal-Mart for $19 but my wife thought that would be a waste of $19. But my birthday is coming up (hint, hint)!
25. I gave my life to Christ at the age of 16, on August 28, 1990, at a Jay Strack Crusade in Bartlesville, OK. I surrendered my life to serve Him in the ministry about a year later. I wouldn’t change it for the world!
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