The Journal: News of the Churches of God

UCM to visit Kenya; founder plans Kenya evangelizing trip

By Mac Overton

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Ray Wooten, founder and director of United Christian Ministries (UCM), has announced plans to spend the spring feast days in Kenya, East Africa, to advise Church of God members there on how they might want to observe the annual festivals.

Mr. Wooten said UCM has received several requests and "emotional appeals" asking for someone to come to Kenya.

Mr. Wooten told The Journal UCM has received requests for tapes and literature from four or five Sabbatarian groups in Kenya over the last four years.

One is a congregation formerly associated with the Church of God (Seventh Day). Those members' pastor broke with the CG7 when he learned about the feast days from UCM literature, said Mr. Wooten. The other groups that asked UCM to visit also are independent.

Road to Nairobi

"After much prayer and consideration, we have decided to try to work it out to visit there for Passover and Unleavened Bread" this spring, Mr. Wooten said. "A few brethren have offered to make the trip with us at their own expense."

They include Texans George Crow of Katy; Charles and Cindy McLendon of Hawkins; and Terry and Judy Post of La Vernia.

"We realize this is a major endeavor," Mr. Wooten said. "It will be physically taxing on us, to say the least. But it will be a fantastic opportunity to work more closely to God by observing His festivals, which portray His plan of salvation for all mankind. No doubt [the Kenyans] will be thrilled and certainly will consider it a wonderful blessing from God if it [the trip] materializes."

He asked Church of God members to pray for the group's safety and God's guidance.

Mr. Wooten said donations toward the effort would be appreciated. Tax-deductible (for Americans) contributions may go to United Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 361725, Hoover, Ala. 35236, U.S.A. For more information call toll-free (888) 985-9066.

Many in Kenya

Mr. Wooten quoted from one of the Kenyans' requests: "Elder, you know very well that [he names a Sabbath-keeping church] are against God's Annual Festivals. There are many here in Kenya, among whom I have been with before I decided to keep God's Feasts. I studied through the help of God's Holy Spirit and found that they are still for Christians to keep them [the feast days] for Christ did not nail them to the Cross as they claim Him to have done so."

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