In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations.
David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com.
He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany.
He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991.
Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania.
David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”
Sunday’s message did not include the photos of the mission trip to Kenya. Here, below, is a slide show that goes with the Bible passages and major points:
Our Mission trip to Kenya was an expression of Jesus’ promise for the Mission of God.
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Our Mission trip to Kenya was a kairos moment in the lives the mission team and of the people of Kenya
Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Our Mission trip to Kenya was a manifestation of the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 11:2-6 (ESV)
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Our Mission trip to Kenya was a witness to God’s love for the whole world.
John 3:16-17 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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This map shows a rough outline of the country of Kenya. Nairobi is just south of the Equator.
A map of Africa showing where Kenya is located.
Jerusalem to Houston – The Good News of Jesus traveled some 7100 miles to reach us here in Texas.
Houston to Nairobi: we traveled from 8745 miles to share the Gospel with the people of Kenya.
A view inside the bus on the way from the airport to our lodging on the first night in Kenya.
A zebra in the Nairobi National Game Park. We visited the park on the first morning we were in Kenya before heading out to the optical clinics.
Lions on the prowl at the Nairobi National Game Park.
The group from Trinity & St. John Lutheran Churches on our visit to the Nairobi National Game Park.
The “road” to the Lutheran Church was almost impassible. We did not use the actual road at this point in the trip for the entire week we were there.
The “driveway” to the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya where we set up our optical clinic.
The church building of the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
One of the doctors waits for patients inside the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya. We saw more than 1000 clients during our 5 day free clinic.
Carl Benton greets people as they gather to register for the free eye clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
Kenyan people listen to a Gospel presentation by a local evangelist at the optical clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
Ray Tacquard, Suzanne Driskill and Martha Warnasch staff the glasses assembly area at the free optical clinic.
Martha Warnasch rejoices with a Kenyan woman who has just received new eye glasses. Those who received new glasses were deeply thankful to see well – some better than 20/20.
People line up for eye chart testing at the optical clinic in Kilgoris, Kenya.
A Kenyan evangelist prays with a client at the optical clinic triage station at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
A happy Kenyan boy near our clinic site.
Three Kenyan children outside our optical clinic.
Two Kenyan children at the optical clinic.
A Kenyan man waits for glasses.
One of the many children at the optical clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
A child and her mother in the church building that served as a station for the optical clinic in Kilgoris, Kenya.
A Kenyan man and his cane.
A Kenyan man and his cane.
A Kenyan man and his cane.
Pastor David Bahn shares the Gospel presentation with the people who are waiting to visit the optical clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
Children mug for the camera at the optical clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
A loaded wagon blocks the driveway as we are trying to leave for the day.
A young Kenyan man tries out his new glasses.
A young Kenyan boy mugs for the camera.
Three children outside one of the stations at the optical clinic at the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
Carl Benton enjoys his new Kenyan/Massai-style shirt!
Evangelist Joshua visits with Flora Tacquard and Mike Driskill during a lull in the activities.
This young Kenyan would receive eye surgery and experience remarkable vision relief the following day.
The mission team.
The group of evangelists, pastors, members of the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, and mission team members from Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein, Texas and St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas.
A Kenyan man waits for his eye glasses.
Young Kenyan girls outside their school near the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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