“Since 1997, we have answered the call to be involved in short-term missions work in Africa”

WHO WE ARE

Pastor Stan and Gevena Rutkowski are both ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God, and both are graduates of Central Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. They have been involved in pastoral ministries since 1971, and have served in various areas of the United States, including the central part of the country and both the west and east coasts.

In 1997, Pastor Stan and Gevena answered the call to be involved in short-term missions work in Africa. Since that time, they have continued to partner with Assemblies of God Missionary Evangelists, Mike and Marigold Cheshier with Firewind Ministries. Their almost yearly missions trips include, but are not limited to, the following areas of ministry:

  •   Crusade Ministry

  •   Church Planting

  •   Evangelism/Reaching unreached people groups with the Gospel

  •   Conferences and training for pastors and church leaders

  •   Teaching Bible school students

  •   Working with children's orphanages and schools in the slums of Nairobi

  • Preaching at established churches

  • Team Ministry

TESTIMONY

“Pastor Stan, do you remember me? I was the local witch doctor, when you came to our village to tell us about Jesus. Your Gospel team sang and acted so happy, and you told us about the 'God of the Blue Sky.' You said He had a Son whose name was Jesus, and that He died on a cross, that we might be forgiven of our sins. He was dead, but three days later He rose again! Jesus' power was even greater than mine, as the village witch doctor. I believed what you said! I believed your message, and now I am a Christian! But much more than that, I am now the pastor of the local Kenya Assemblies of God Church! I am so excited to see you after these many years!"

PROGRESS

A number of years ago, Mike Cheshier and Pastor Stan stood looking over a piece of wild land in the bush country of the Masai Mara. Mike shared with him his vision to purchase nearly 40 acres there and develop it into a conference and training center, complete with a large tabernacle, classrooms, and a base camp for team members who came to help with the ministry. It was an ideal location in the heart of Maasai Land, where they could reach those who had never heard about Jesus!

Since that time, the land has been developed into a beautiful ministry center and campground, and is indeed used to train and develop Christian leaders and new pastors, who are in turn able to minister to their own people.

Have there been challenges? Yes, from elephants and lions in the camp, to encounters with deadly snakes, and even to thieves and those wishing to do our ministry leaders bodily harm! Oh, but the victories have been awesome! Many, many, many new churches have been established, and every two years a new class of 20+ students are taught and graduate from the Bible school that has been established. As they graduate, they become credentialed ministers with the Kenya Assemblies of God, and are launched into ministry as pastors, evangelists, teachers, etc. Children have been rescued from the slums of Nairobi and given a place to live, food to eat, and an education. The list could go on!