Complete | July – Leadership Development

Complete in the Family of God

Mike Reynen, Africa

John, a Kenyan pastor, knows with greater clarity than most the completeness that can come through being a part  of the family of God.

John, an only child, lost his mother at a very young age. His grandmother took him to live with her. When he was five, his  father remarried. The new wife could hardly be called a step-mother. She completely rejected John – to the point of attempting to end his life. A Good Samaritan saved his life, and from that point on, John stayed with friends.

More pain entered his life. Loving to sing, John started to  practice with a church choir. But when time came for the choir to present their song in a service, he was told someone else would take his place. He had only sandals, and shoes were required when the choir sang in church!

Through an arrangement with a pastor, John was able to get through school – John worked for a month in exchange for being able to attend school for two months.

At the time he was introduced to the Free Methodist denomination, John lived where there was no FM church. Together with others, he helped to organize one. After moving to another  location, he was again encouraged to help start a church. In  addition to helping organize that church, he was involved in evangelism. It became evident to others around him God’s call was on John’s life. FM leaders encouraged him to keep ministering. He, too, began to recognize he was called by God to be a pastor. John has since completed ministerial training and continues to serve as a pastor.

From his early experiences of rejection that left him feeling incomplete, John found Christ, along with brothers and sisters who welcome and value him. He has come to know the
completeness found in the family of God.

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