The last quarter of 2025 has been very exciting here at Lighthouse Baptist Church of Kitengela! The church is growing spiritually, and the unity that we have amongst the brethren has been a blessing. Please pray for our youth; around eight of them have taken their exams to go onto what we would view as high school in the States. Sadly, as a church, this means we have to say goodbye temporarily to those eight youths, as they now go to boarding school throughout the country of Kenya. Pray that what we have taught them will help not only to grow their walk with God but also to be faithful witnesses to those classmates and teachers God places in their lives in this new chapter of life. As a church and as a pastor, please pray as we invest in and train the next group coming up here at LBC!
In December, our youth were blessed to attend SMITE Camp. It was the first year for all of them, and they were a bit nervous when I dropped them off. Thankfully, by the end of the week, they were very much excited about the time they’d had, but mostly because of what they’d learned! They are now eager to take what they learned and use it to start reaching the younger children from our community. Pray that God will use them to reach others with the Gospel of Christ as they go out with their Bible Clubs.
We had three more sessions of our Pastors’ Practical Training Academy between October and December. I am pleased to report that these men who are still faithfully attending the program are spiritually maturing into Godly pastors. It has been hard work, but it is also rewarding to see where these men started at the beginning of the year and where they are now. It has also been a privilege to travel to their home areas and see firsthand the spiritual growth and maturity of the churches they are laboring in for the Lord. Every month, we have heard testimony after testimony of what God is doing in their personal lives, in their families, in their churches, and in their communities. Please continue to pray for this wonderful program of training pastors across Kenya!
Lastly, our family left for the States on December 15 and returned to Kenya January 19 for a short furlough. More will be said about that in our next prayer letter! As always, thank you for your faithfulness so that our family can be in Kenya on your behalf to reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ and to train new believers in their walk with Christ. Happy New Year! Together let’s continue to press on into 2026 for the cause of Christ!
Your co-laborers for lost souls across East Africa,
The HESELSCHWERDT Family
Brandon, Ali, Jeffrey, Hannah, and Esther
Romans 10:14
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This testimony this month is from one of the children from church.
He Writes:
I was believing that preaching is the thing that could make me to go to Heaven. I now see and believe in Jesus Christ only to make me to go to Heaven.
~ Hason
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Pastor Eliphas
Migori Region
This month, I personally would like to share an update from Pastor Eliphas, who serves Christ in the Migori Region of Kenya. Pastor Eliphas has taken what he learned from our first graduating class of PPTA and has been laboring for Christ in his home area.
Recently, he reached out to me for the need of some mabati sheets (corrugated iron) for the finishing of their new church building. Before this, he and his church people were meeting under a small, wood-built structure with some iron sheets over the top to give them shade. This recently fell apart, giving them no more shade from the sun nor any cover from the rains.
He and the people decided it was time to get their own plot of land, and they were able to raise the money to secure a small plot. Pray for them, as they now need to raise the remaining amount to purchase the land in full. They have also raised the money together to buy the timber and most of the iron sheets to build a church structure. They only needed a handful more of the mabati sheets to complete the siding and roof of their new church building. Pastor Eliphas reached out to both Bro. Peter Morris and me to see if we could loan any funds to purchase the iron sheets and help them complete their church building.
Bro. Peter was able to help with some of the remaining cost, and then our church, Lighthouse Baptist Church of Kitengela, was able to provide the remaining amount needed. It was exciting to see a local church here in Kenya have the ability and desire to help another church in need get started with their building!
Pastor Eliphas has shared with me the photos of the construction and the finished work of their official church property and building. Continue to pray for Pastor Eliphas and the church there as they continue to reach souls for Christ, disciple new believers, and grow together in their walk with the Lord.
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Pastor Erick
Bungoma Region
I thank the Lord, for I was able to see two souls saved. Both of them have also come forward for baptism. I was also blessed to witness to a gentleman who was from the Seventh Day Adventist church. I was able to take him through the Gospel and see him turn to Christ alone. He is now seeing the truths from God’s Word instead of what he has been taught from the SDA church.
Pastor Ambrose
Bungoma Region
It has been a blessing to see a great change in our church since applying what we have learned through PPTA. We have seen new visitors every Sunday this month.
Pastor Antony
Bungoma Region
God is truly working a miracle in our church. Since starting soul winning as a church, we have seen our church multiply. Our church people have been growing spiritually through the Bible teachings.
Pastor David
Kuria Region
I personally am thankful for this PPTA program and every class. It has been so useful in my life. Although I was shy when I first started this program, I now have the confidence to stand and preach God’s Word before others.
Pastor Collince
Homa Bay Region
This month, we have been able to reach many people that have been confused in false doctrines. Now, by teaching them God’s Word, they are growing in Christ.
Pastor Jackson
Kisii Region
Since joining the PPTA program, it has taught me how to be humble as a pastor, especially as I meet different people while out witnessing. The soul-winning classes have really helped me know how to first approach others and begin a conversation and to now share with them the Gospel. This month, I have continued to take back to my church what I have been learning in the program. We as a church have had good training and sessions in the church this month. Many church members have been participating, and we have witnessed a steady growth in our church.
Pastor Geoffrey
Kisii Region
Since the PPTA program, our church has focused more on soul winning and discipleship of new believers. From this, we have witnessed our church and ministry grow.
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- of our teens was baptized—we had several baptisms on that day.
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- Special during main service
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- This is the framework of their new building.
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- They are just finishing up the final touches!
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- Men’s Sunday School Class
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- Before buying property, Pastor Eliphas and his congregation were meeting under this metal roof till the structure fell.
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- Pastors’ Practical Training Academy
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- Teen activity
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- Teens at SMITE Camp
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- The roof is being put on.
