Westminster Presbyterian Church: Missionaries: Bush Prayer Letter April 23, 2002

October 7, 2003

Letter to Anthony Dresser

Dear Anthony,
Hello from Dakar, Senegal. It is good to hear from you. Please be sure to greet everyone at Westminster for us and let them know we think of them often.

We pray that the missions conference goes well this year. As per your request, I have included some information for you to use at the conference. I remember well how letters were read when I was there, so I have put something together that can be easily used.

As you know, God supplied all of our support needs in order to leave for Senegal at the end of June this year. Senegal is the country the furthest west in Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It was the capitol for all of France's colonies in Africa and remains a very important economic, cultural, and political power. The current population is about 10 million. We live in the capitol city of Dakar which is a city of about 3 million. We are finally settled into some kind of routine here and learning how to get around Dakar and get to know this part of Africa better. Our kids just started school at Dakar Academy are enjoying their new lives here. We have 4 kids, but had to leave our daughter Elizabeth in the US where she attends Covenant College. She is in her junior year.

Presently, we are waiting for the passing of the short hot season that happens September until about the end of November. It is not a dry heat by any measure!

Senegal is approximately 95% Muslim, but the church is active and alive. The MTW team here is experiencing God's blessing as they are seeing Him move among the peoples of Senegal. We currently have approximately 10 works going in the area about 2 hours south of the city of Dakar, as well as the city of Dakar itself. This has all come about very unexpectedly in the last several years. The churches that have been started are officially known as the l'Eglise Presbyerienne du Senegal (The Presbyterian Church of Senegal).

Many significant things are happening right now. At the end of this month, our 4 pastoral candidates will undergo examinations for ordination. This is a crucial time for the church and for these men. Please pray for them to succeed in this process. The church just had it's first all-church conference at a Baptist conference center in the town of Ngaparou which is right on the ocean. The theme was the Church of Jesus Christ. It was the first full explanation these people have ever heard about the church, Christ the head of the church, the government of the church, the mission of the church as well as many other topics. Most of these people are villagers and have very hard lives. It was amazing especially to see village women, whose lives are especially hard, have nothing to do for 3 days except eat, sleep, and hear God's word taught.

What is the work of our team here? We are planting churches, but are following a different vision for church planting. We are working and praying that God would start a Church Planting Movement. In short, this is a fast multiplication of churches facilitated by us but lead by national ordained leadership who will as quickly as is possible train up local church leadership. The 4 candidates mentioned above will continue to start new works in villages and wherever God leads us to go. We believe that we are seeing the beginning of such a movement now! Please pray that He would establish this here in Senegal. Pray often for this emerging church as they will inevitably know persecution as they grow in numbers and influence.

Pray also for Muslims in this country. There has always been good relations between the various Muslim brotherhoods here and the few Christians in this country. But we want to see many more come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thanks and God's abundant grace to everyone at Westminster PC in Gainesville. Your support and prayers and having a great impact among the people of Senegal. We pray your vision for missions, especially for Senegal, will increase.

Your servants in Christ,
Keith, Debbie and all the kids


	Keith and Debbie Kanavel, Prayer Letter
	October 7, 2003 Letter to Anthony Dresser Dear Anthony, Hello from Dakar, Senegal. It is good to hear from you. Please be sure to greet everyone at Westminster for us and let them know we think of them often. We pray that the missions conference goes well this year. As per your request, I have included some information for you to use at the conference. I remember well how letters were read when I was there, so I have put something together that can be easily used. As you know, God supplied all of our support needs in order to leave for Senegal at the end of June this year. Senegal is the country the furthest west in Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It was the capitol for all of France's colonies in Africa and remains a very important economic, cultural, and political power. The current population is about 10 million. We live in the capitol city of Dakar which is a city of about 3 million. We are finally settled into some kind of routine here and learning how to get around Dakar and get to know this part of Africa better. Our kids just started school at Dakar Academy are enjoying their new lives here. We have 4 kids, but had to leave our daughter Elizabeth in the US where she attends Covenant College. She is in her junior year. Presently, we are waiting for the passing of the short hot season that happens September until about the end of November. It is not a dry heat by any measure! Senegal is approximately 95% Muslim, but the church is active and alive. The MTW team here is experiencing God's blessing as they are seeing Him move among the peoples of Senegal. We currently have approximately 10 works going in the area about 2 hours south of the city of Dakar, as well as the city of Dakar itself. This has all come about very unexpectedly in the last several years. The churches that have been started are officially known as the l'Eglise Presbyerienne du Senegal (The Presbyterian Church of Senegal). Many significant things are happening right now. At the end of this month, our 4 pastoral candidates will undergo examinations for ordination. This is a crucial time for the church and for these men. Please pray for them to succeed in this process. The church just had it's first all-church conference at a Baptist conference center in the town of Ngaparou which is right on the ocean. The theme was the Church of Jesus Christ. It was the first full explanation these people have ever heard about the church, Christ the head of the church, the government of the church, the mission of the church as well as many other topics. Most of these people are villagers and have very hard lives. It was amazing especially to see village women, whose lives are especially hard, have nothing to do for 3 days except eat, sleep, and hear God's word taught. What is the work of our team here? We are planting churches, but are following a different vision for church planting. We are working and praying that God would start a Church Planting Movement. In short, this is a fast multiplication of churches facilitated by us but lead by national ordained leadership who will as quickly as is possible train up local church leadership. The 4 candidates mentioned above will continue to start new works in villages and wherever God leads us to go. We believe that we are seeing the beginning of such a movement now! Please pray that He would establish this here in Senegal. Pray often for this emerging church as they will inevitably know persecution as they grow in numbers and influence. Pray also for Muslims in this country. There has always been good relations between the various Muslim brotherhoods here and the few Christians in this country. But we want to see many more come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Thanks and God's abundant grace to everyone at Westminster PC in Gainesville. Your support and prayers and having a great impact among the people of Senegal. We pray your vision for missions, especially for Senegal, will increase. Your servants in Christ, Keith, Debbie and all the kids
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