Paul and Betty appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader in East Africa
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7
The apostle Paul went back to tent-making. The Eleven went back to their boats and nets. They didn’t turn their backs on God, but they turned away from their all-out, full-time, sold-out attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.
Paul Nthei, East Africa missionary and church-leader, went back to photocopy machines.
Paul had at one time been leader of the church in the East African pearl of Uganda. He walked away from the full-time ministry, his heart heavy and his dreams crushed. He didn’t turn his back on God, but he turned away from his all-out, full-time, sold-out attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. He returned full time to repairing and servicing photocopy machines.
God blessed him with a beloved wife, Betty, and the two relocated in order have a fresh start. But a light on a hill simply cannot be hidden—not for too long, at least. In the Kenyan town of Eldoret, Paul and Betty’s faith in God and love for people resulted in a great impact among the sisters and brothers. They were asked (back) into the ministry. Previously unthinkable to Paul, he responded as he had when studying the Bible in 1992. He responded as he had when requested to leave his home country Kenya and go lead the church in Uganda. He responded as he had to umpteen opportunities to give and serve—“Here am I. Send me!”
Photocopiers no longer his main focus, the copying that Paul is now committed to is imitating Christ. He and Betty stepped up to the call and were sent to lead the church in Kenya’s burgeoning lakeside city of Kisumu. From there, Paul and Betty have inspired the church to tremendous growth and strength. They oversee the family of churches in Western Kenya that has seen multiple plantings and rapid growth over the last few years. When post-election instability last year led to Kisumu becoming the national epicenter of wanton brutality and widespread insecurity, they held the church together and helped maintain a sense of calm and safety among the saints.
On Sunday September 2, 2018 Paul and Betty were appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader. This was the first time in the history of the church in Kenya that a couple was appointed outside the pillar church in the capital city, Nairobi. And it is nothing less than Paul and Betty deserve.
Of returning to the full-time ministry and remaining in an area that has twice experienced brutal post-election violence in the last 10 years, Paul says, “What motivated my wife and I is that we love seeing people’s needs met, and we love seeing people getting better and being happier.” Restoring marriages means more to Paul than repairing machines. Raising up leaders means more to him and Betty than fixing up copiers. The photocopy machine repair industry has lost one of its best. But no-one in the Kisumu church is complaining. Please keep Paul, Betty and the disciples in Kenya’s Western Region of churches in your prayers. Website of the East Africa churches: icocea.org
