Hands and Eyes... Working Together

Just over a year ago, I was asked by the Kenyan leadership of FTT (Finish the Task) to come back into leadership to re-organize FTT into being a Network of (mission) Networks. In the past 9 months, I have seen the Lord help us in catalyzing and organizing the following Networks from scratch:

• National Missionary Training Network
• National Mission Mobilization Network
• Kenya Outreach & Research Network
• National Church Planting Network

Each of these networks are at different levels of development, and each involve multiple churches and organizations. All the churches are Kenyan churches, while some of the organizations are Kenyan, some are from other parts of Africa working in Kenya, and some are foreign mission organizations. It is very exciting to see the passion of these leaders as they are finding new opportunities to work together with greater collaboration than before. So many are seeing the potential of this new FTT structure as setting a whole new paradigm of how we work together, across the body, to see the Unreached peoples of this nation and beyond, reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This structure allows each entity to be themselves, but to be connected with others in a new way that brings greater levels of synergy and cooperation. Just as Paul says in Scripture, the hand can be a hand, and an eye an eye, as they each fulfill their mandates and assist the others in the process.

Each of these networks are unique, and bring together a different combination of church and mission leaders around specific areas of concentration. After I served to catalyze and nurture the development of each group they have all identified a team of members who serve as a Coordinating Team for the network, and one of those then serves as the Lead Coordinator.

In the next month I will bring together all of the Lead Coordinators for each of the various networks to form the FTT Coordinative Council which will allow now not just members within a network to know each other and work together, but will allow communication and interplay to occur between the various networks. The potential to see a coordinated and synergized national mission movement is great - and the impact of that on missions as a whole, in the region, is potentially far reaching.

Please pray with us as we work to continue seeing the "hands and eyes" of this nation working together for the cause of the Kingdom and its expansion.

Need a Match?

Transportation is crucial for our life and ministry! Whether I am fighting intense Nairobi traffic to meet with key Church and Mission leaders, or I am out in the bush among the least reached peoples of this region, transport is essential for the job!


We are currently raising funds for a "new" four-wheel drive ministry vehicle, and have sent proposals to several churches and individuals inviting their involvment in this very important project. We are needing to raise about $22,000 USD in order to purchase this much needed vehicle, which will likely be a 2002 Nissan X-Trail.

You can imagine our excitement when we received an e-mail ,just a few days ago, saying that the people writing the e-mail would match any donation towards our ministry vehicle, before September 30th, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000!

Would you like some of your dollars matched?

Donations can be made easily! Just write a note saying "Germo Four-Wheel Drive Fund", enclose in an envelope with a check made out to New Horizon Christian Church and mailed to:

New Horizon Christian Church
Germo Four-Wheel Drive Fund
23515 Old Owen Rd.
Monroe, Wash. 98272
ATTN: Carol or Mike

All donations are Tax-Deductible! and 200% of every dollar you give will be used towards the purchase of this much-needed vehicle. That is, every dollar you give will be matched by these other donors, up to $10,000. How often can you guarantee that your money will be doubled?

We put no pressure on anyone, but if you pray and feel led to give, we'll be truly grateful, and more so, our effectiveness in seeing the Gospel spread to the least reached of this nation will be greatly increased! So, if you need a match - we've got one!

The Bird of All Prey...

A couple of weeks ago or so - on our 18th wedding anniversary to be exact - we were doing what all couples do on such occasions - driving through the African desert, with all of our kids, our niece, and a good friend from the USA. (We did say, "Happy Anniversary" to each other along the way, though!) We were heading to North Eastern Kenya to visit our team of missionaries and mission students - the romantic get-away will have to wait for another weekend.

Along the way, however, as we were speeding along this deserted stretch of highway - it is actually paved, flat, straight and in good condition - but, so few people want to go to this region, it gets relatively little use and stays in good condition - we saw a site that, though moving at 120 KMH (75 MPH), made us stop and turn around for further examination.

A bird of prey was standing alongside the road - about 35 feet back - and seemingly standing about 2 1/2 feet tall, if not taller. It was the biggest Eagle that we had ever seen!

As we turned around and approached, it hunched down, making itself appear about half the size, but in a very defensive measure, as if warning us not to come closer. Those Eagle eyes kept focused on us with a stare that could cause one to think twice about any offensive action. In his talons, we noticed, was his fresh kill - a dik dik - the smallest member of the "deer family" in all of Africa. He was going to defend his lunch!

As we moved closer his wings came out. We drove away slowly once, and he relaxed and stood to his full height - a very impressive height. But, as we drove back closer again he hunched again in his defensive pose, and held that position until our sense of intrigue was satisfied and we drove off allowing him to enjoy his lunch in peace.

After getting to our destination and looking closely at the photos, and comparing to pictures in the Birds of East Africa book that my kids gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago, which I always travel with, we discovered that the Bird of Prey we saw was the Martial Eagle - the largest eagle in all of Africa (holding the smallest deer in Africa). We've seen a lot of cool animals on this continent, and have been blessed with a lot of memorable experiences, but this one will always stand out above many of the rest.

So, what is the moral of this story? There isn't one! Any spiritual application? Not yet! I'm sure that at some point, it will come in handy in some sermon, teaching or writing... but for now, it was just a cool experience to be shared with you, our good friends.

Hope you enjoy the photo!!

My Hat's Off!

It was a simple ceremony - if you can even call it that! A few words of explanation following the morning service, by me, laying hands on my successor, prayer, and a few comments from him. Just like that, and I was no longer Mission Pastor! (This is one of the hats coming off, which is referenced in "Hat Tosses & Transitions" posted below.)

It was in the Spring of 2005, as we were preparing to leave Kenya for our furlough and education leave that the mission program in our church in Nairobi ceased to exist! It was painful watching it die slowly over the prior years. I mentioned to our pastor that I'd be willing to help rebuild the mission program upon our return from the States. I was held to that promise!! Upon our return at the end of 2006, our pastor quickly reminded me of that promise, and soon I found myself baring the title of "Mission Pastor." I told the Pastor that I was willing to hold the role for 1 -2 years until there was someone to replace me, whom I could then train in and mentor.

My first job was to build a team of church members who would form the backbone of the mission program - ones who would understand missions, understand how to engage the whole church into mission, and understand how to begin the process of engaging an unreached people group. Within three months a strong team was compiled of key leaders in the church. Planning and development processes began, a mission conference was held, and a survey trip to visit the unreached tribe we felt committed to reaching was carried forth.

Two years on, and the team is strong, committed, preparing to expand to draw others onto the team. Plans are under way with the congregation we have in another part of Kenya, that is near an unreached people group, to develop a project as an entry point to that people group. (Specifics of who or where cannot be said due to security concerns). A partnership is in the process of being developed with our home church in the US to also be involved in reaching this difficult -to-reach people group. Our second Mission Conference is only two weeks away!

Yes, progress has been made! It was in the context of these developments, of the multiplying hats on my head (see posting below), and a major reorganization in the church that I saw it was time to make a transition. The church had hired new pastors, and one of them was chosen to take the role of Mission Pastor, and I was asked to then move to serve on the Elder board. The transition between me and the new Mission Pastor is to have three phases: 1. Handover of Title, 2. Hand over of responsibility, and 3. Continued Mentoring.

Above, the handover of the title was described. The handover of responsibility is continuing, and will for the next few weeks. And then from there I will continue to mentor this young, vibrant Kenyan pastor for several months, helping to ensure that that which I helped to begin and build remains for years to come as a an instrument of the Lord towards the completion of the Great Commission.

One of my greatest joys is handing over that which I have helped to develop to others who are able to run it in the long-term. My hat's off to Pastor Patrick Wanganga! (The new Mission Pastor).

Lug Nuts in God's Hands

Last weekend, we as a family were on the highway travelling to a destination 500 KM (312 Miles) from Nairobi. It is a relatively new highway, so we were thankful that we weren't bouncing around and bumping up and down like we do on most highways in Kenya. It was there on a lonely stretch of African highway that we realized simultaneously, the importance of both lug nuts and God's protection.

We had left home at 6 AM and we were having a great trip. Along the way there is a lot of beautful scenery. Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of the most famous mountains in the world, seemed to hover above the horizon giving a great view of its early morning splendor. We even had the chance to stop and watch some elephants drinking from a water hole alongside the road. Everything was going along seemingly perfect, until....

...until the van started jerking and jolting! We were out in the middle of nowhere, but happened be passing through a small village, so I pulled to the side of the road quickly. I got out, looked, expecting to see a flat tire. Everything seemed normal! So, I got back in, drove ahead a bit... normal is not what I found. Nancy said that she saw the tire wobbling. I got back out, looked and asked Nancy to get in and move ahead very, very slowly so I could see. The back wheel lurched with a grind. Now, I'm no mechanic, but I know that wheels are supposed to turn - not lurch and grind.

After jacking up the car - a great attraction for about 20 kids from the village - I popped off the hub cap and out fell three of the four lug nuts, with the ends of the bolts in them. They were sheered off completely! One little lug nut remained on the job, holding the tire on (sort of), but having kept us from losing our wheel while doing 65 MPH, and causing who knows what damage as a result. Lug nuts play a big role in keep cars on the road! By the looks of the surroundings, this was a village without vehicles, and therefore, a village without a mechanic. We were an hour and a half from our destination, but no way to get there. In that situation, that is a long way from help.

Fortunately, Kenya has very good cell phone coverage! I made a phone call to my mechanic, getting some advice from him. Just then, the lady who runs the guest house we were to stay at called to see what time we were to arrive - and I informed her of our plight. She then said, "Hey, another guest coming here is a mechanic, and he is right now in the town behind you ."(about 45 minutes back) She called him, and sure enough he was still there in that town - his own vehicle had broken down there, and he was having some work done on it. We then talked directly, I described the parts we needed, he found a parts store, bought the pieces. He then passed our way, stopped, fixed the van, and we were on our way.

I started "hearing" Willie Nelson singing about then... "On the road again..."

We did spend a total of 3 1/2 hours alongside the road in that dusty little village... but, if God hadn't provided a friendly, trustworthy mechanic, with access to a parts store, who was travelling just behind us... we could have been there a very long time, and probably spent a lot of time and money trying to get back on the road again.

It was a vivid lesson and reminder for us, and for the kids, of how God watches over us. He made sure that the wheel didn't come off while driving, that when we stopped we were in a village, that a mechanic was already on the way, and ultimately he taught us afresh that we can always trust our lives into his hands.

There is now a lug nut sitting on my desk - perhaps it will remain there for years to come - as a constant reminder of God's protection of our lives!

Hat Tosses & Transitions

A few years ago on furlough we went to the Minnesota Children's Theatre to watch my cousin act in the play, The 100 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. Each time young Mr. Cubbins took off his hat, another one magically appeared - time and time again. (Watching that on stage was quite something - how they kept making hats appear was a closely guarded secret, and even with a relative in the play, the secret was not divulged to us). By the end of the play, there were 100 hats laying around the stage, but each one had always been replaced by a new one on his head.

For the last year or two I (Dan) have been a bit like Barthomlomew Cubbins - except that "hats" have been been appearing on my head, without waiting for the other to disappear! My head has been collecting these hats for near simulataneous usage. It has been a juggling act at times keeping each hat straight, and being sure I was wearing the right one at the right time.

While in the US last summer, listening to the radio while driving, I heard about a juggler who doubles as an Organizational Consultant to top executives applying the principles of juggling to handling the multi-tasking required in business in this day and age. The emphasis of his teaching is not how to catch the juggled items, but to release the items - all success in juggling, he says, is in the timing and manner of the release.

After a year plus of wearing and juggling these hats, the time has come for the strategic release of select hats. For review, for the last year and a bit I have been:

1. Bethany International Ministries (BIM)
a. Africa Area Coordinator
b. Kenya Field Leader
c. Developing a Global Internship site for Bethany Interns in Kenya.
d. Chairing a Strategic Initiative Task Force for BIM, involving leaders from around the world.

2. FTT National Coordinator
a. Chairman of Kenya Outreach & Research Network
b. Facilitating the start of the National Missionary Training Network
c. Facilitating the start of the National Mission Mobilization Network

3. Agape Fellowship Centre - Mission Pastor
a. Developing a mission committee/team in our home church.
b. Preparing foundations for a long-term outreach project among an unreached people group in Kenya (can't state where due to security)

When we returned from furlough in November 2006, believe it or not, I was wearing just one of those hats. However, God has given the grace for this period of time to help catalyze some very strategic initiatives in each of these areas. In the recent weeks, the Lord has arranged for about 5 of these hats to be released, and others to transition into the roles. God has used me to start these things, but will use others to keep them going.

Watch for upcoming postings as we'll share more about the juggling and releasing of these hats!

From an Unreached People to a Sending Church

It wasn't much more than a couple of decades ago that most considered the Maasai an Unreached People Group. In the decade that we have been involved in mobilizing the African church for missions, and training African missionaries, we have NOT considered the Maasai as an unreached people (though with many unreached villages), neither have we interacted with them as a Church sending their own missionaries, either.



During the second and fourth weeks of February we were with one Maasai denomination, in two different locations, completing leadership training that we began two years ago. It was exciting as we trained many Maasai pastors and other leaders, all with a growing vision to see Maasai go deep into the interior of Maasai Land where the gospel has not reached, as well as sending to other unreached tribes as well. A shift is definitely occurring!!



We were there with my parents (who are on their first visit to Africa) - my Dad taught on Personal Evangelism - and with Ezekiel Jako; he and I taught on various mission issues related to the churches role as missionary senders. On the last day in our second location - last Friday to be exact - we met with the core leaders to begin planning with them towards the opening of a School of Missions specifically designed to train Maasai Missionaries and Church Planters. It has been their vision for the last few years - so it is exciting to help facilitate. We will continue to consult with them over the next several months as they prepare to open the school, and I am sure, long afterward as they train and send many missionaries from their own denomination as well as from other churches as well.



It is great to see the advancement in the Kingdom; and as I see other tribes that are currently unreached, knowing that one day we will be helping them to train missionaries to go out as well!!