Kropf February 2025

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ” (John 17:3).

Hope your year is off to a great start.

We would love to share with you one of the areas of focus in our service at Rafiki which is disciple making. One way we do this is through the study of God’s Word. At the Home Office, we begin each day with Bible study and prayer, keeping us personally in the Word. In the Villages, our children have a morning and evening devotion time studying the Word of God and in our Rafiki Schools the children begin their school day with Bible Study. It has been a passion of Rafiki since it began its mission to help people know God!

Last year, with the help of a neighbor, I began a ladies Bible study in my neighborhood. We began our study in the Book of James and had fifteen ladies attend. We were so surprised! The ladies have loved studying God’s Word and there are some who have never studied the Bible in this way before. Each week we are given a portion of scripture to read with a set of questions. Once a week we meet for one hour and discuss our answers. We are now on our third Bible study and have fifteen ladies still attending. We added a new lady this last study. One lady said last week as we were studying chapter 1 of Matthew, that she did not realize how much prophecy from the Old Testament Jesus fulfilled in just his birth alone and how important the Old Testament is. Another lady recently shared how God spoke to her through His Word as she was facing a difficult situation. It has been a blessing to help people know God and make disciples in our neighborhood.

Small group Bible study in the U.S.

All the staff in our Villages begin the day with the Rafiki Bible Study. They come together before they start work and sing a hymn, read scripture, and then discuss some questions about the scripture they have read. A Rafiki Mother who recently retired after many years serving in our Village said what she has valued the most during her time at Rafiki was studying God’s Word every day. This is especially important as we want to equip people to be disciples of Christ in Africa.

Renowned theologian Dr. Dennis Johnson and Rafiki national staff during Rafiki Bible Study

When I travel to Africa I have the privilege attending a Bible study with the children in their homes, going to the school and sitting in on Bible study in a classroom, attending a Bible study with our national staff, and another Bible study with the Rafiki Mothers. It is a blessing to see how the Villages are daily studying God’s Word and making disciples.

Students in Africa studying God’s Word

Would you consider starting a Rafiki Bible Study in your neighborhood, workplace, or church? Rafiki Foundation has Bible studies in three different versions: Sunday school, small group lessons, and classroom/homeschool lessons. Each version caters to the needs of the group and all sixty-six books of the Bible are available. Each lesson consists of printed notes by theologians with questions for discussion, and a recommended commentary for further study. Originally written by eighteen notable theologians over a period of thirteen years for English-speaking Africans, the lessons have been re-edited recently for world-wide use.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us and supporting us as we serve God’s work in Africa. If you are in Florida, we would love to have you visit us and to give you a tour of the Rafiki Foundation Home Office.

Praises

• The Tanzanian container arrived in January before school started.
• We had a wonderful time with our family over Christmas. We were able to spend several days with Lisa’s parents.
• God has been faithful to guide and provide all we need here in our roles.

Prayer Requests

• Lisa is traveling to East Africa February 21-March 15, 2025, visiting six of Rafiki’s Villages. Pray for safety, health, and opportunities and words of encouragement to all those we visit.
• Pray for Del as Lisa is away. She will be home six weeks and then travel to our West Africa Villages.
• Gods continuing equipping and wisdom for the work He has called us to.

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