Remember that verse in Proverbs 25 about apples of gold in settings of silver? This is how the writer of Proverbs describes a word fitly spoken. It’s about the perfect words spoken at just the right time – it’s something beautiful. Something remarkable.
When Chris Atkinson, VMC’s Liaison with Vision Ministries Kenya, and others like Matt Craig, Doug Loveday, and Gord Martin were planning the teaching content for the VMK trip this past fall, they decided to focus on maturing in leadership. Two years ago, the teaching was about being a pastor and a pastor’s personal faith in God. Last year, they taught about relationships – with each other, their marriages, and among the congregation. And so this year – it seemed right to focus on leadership structures and governance. They wondered if this information was appropriate or if it would be too much. They knew it wasn’t the most exciting topic but still – necessary information.
So Chris, Matt, Doug, and Gord dug into leadership structures and governance and designed teaching booklets for the trip to Kenya this past fall. They were diligent and enthusiastic in their writing – this wasn’t just an introduction, it was detailed and thorough.
And guess what?
When they arrived in Kenya, they found out that new rules are before the Kenyan government waiting to be implemented that would make it mandatory for all churches in Kenya to be proper institutions with governance structures, job descriptions, their own bank accounts and so on – or the churches will be closed.
The need of the VMK churches and the teaching from VMC – well, it was like apples of gold in settings of silver. It was exactly right. It was perfectly ideal teaching content for what was needed by the VMK churches at this particular time.