Remembering the Persecuted Church
On May 1-12, Calvary Old Bridge sent a team of eight people to Kenya! The team was able to partner with Pastor Josh Lawrence, Founder of Great Commission Ministries and Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel, Eldoret.
Testimonies From The Team Members:
“What touched me deeply was the love & faith of the wonderful people we met, how they greeted us with smiles & hugs. Instant connections even though we never met before & lived worlds apart. Our brothers & sisters in Christ.
Most importantly, was seeing how powerfully God was working thru CC Eldoret with new church building being built (by hand) and ‘Hope Homes’ for rescued children. Only God!
The conference was amazing too with so many turning out for worship & Bible teachings all 3 days. This was a trip I will never forget & God touched me deeply through it. So thankful I could be a part of it.” - Carol Van Patten
“One of the most impactful moments of my trip occurred while I was on security duty for the conference. Outside the gate, I noticed a group of kids using glue as a drug. It was a heartbreaking sight, but what unfolded next was truly transformative.
A member of the Miami team approached them and began preaching, sharing words of hope and encouragement. Remarkably, about ten of these kids responded to the message, willingly surrendering their bottles. Witnessing that moment of change and the power of compassion left a lasting imprint on me.” - Kaio Silva
“It's really hard to pick ONE special moment of the trip because you truly see God working in so many aspects. He is doing amazing work through the Lawrence family and their staff. Going there with a Martha mindset and coming home as Mary. I went there to do... to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to help serve, and pour out His love to people. Although we did do that, we were blessed abundantly.
I specifically bonded with the staff and ladies in the kitchen. As they are already believers and have the same servant mindset, seeing their dedication and servanthood was so inspiring and encouraging to me. From cooking in candlelight to staying up all night around a fire to feed a thousand people for the conference–doing it without grumbling and with smiles making sure we were well taken care of.
Another high point was to see our younger servants speaking and praying with the street kids. As one particular kid gave his life to Christ and was taken in to be cleaned up and fed. When I saw him walking into church for the conference, I was filled with emotions! Lord willing, we will reunite with our brothers and sisters in coming years!”
- Mary Estrada
“Our recent trip to Kenya powerfully captured the heartbeat of our church’s commitment to missions—not just as one of our ministries, but as a defining mark of who we are as a church.
As we ministered to churches throughout the region and partnered in the Love the Bible and Change Africa conference, we saw the deep hunger for God’s Word and the transformative power of equipping pastors and leaders with sound doctrine. The unity and passion among believers reminded us that missions is not just about sending help—it’s about strengthening the global Church, fulfilling Christ’s command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19–20).
This trip reignited our conviction that the gospel is for every tribe and tongue, and that the Word of God truly changes hearts, churches, and nations. If you haven’t been on a trip, I would highly suggest considering the opportunity as it will change your heart and life forever.” - Jonathan Manning, Bridging the World Missions Director
