Salvation Testimony and Consequent Call to Ministry
as told by Peter Njoroge Chege

It is with great humility that I have the privilege to share my testimony with you. I am a Kenyan national. I was born and raised in a very rural setting. The first letter of the alphabet I remember scribbling was on a smooth, dusty ground in the school compound using my tiny, dirty fingers for my “pen.” I was born first in a family of ten. Eight of us lived to be adults; two of my sisters died as infants. My immediate sister, Veronica Wangari, died of measles and the other one was still-born. I still recall the picture surrounding their demise.

I am so proud of my mum and dad. My mum never learned to read or write after losing her dad at the age of seven. But, she (along with my dad) was determined to change history. My dad had secured a job from the government to cater for trees in the Forest Department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the new, independent Kenya in the early seventies. His earnings back then were a meager five dollars per month. As you can imagine, this was hardly enough to raise a family of ten. At that time, we were not the only responsibility he had. He was struggling to take his youngest brother through high school. My dad, therefore, had to supplement his government income with charcoal burning and staple farming. I remember working alongside him in both fields as I was growing up. This is where I learned some of the most valuable lessons of life. My dad instilled in me the value of hard work. As early as I can remember, my dad repeatedly told me that if a man does not work, neither should he eat and should be left to die. Well, I did not want to die; therefore, I had to work in order to eat.

Even with the hard work, sometimes the ground did not always yield. Prolonged times of draught were not uncommon. My mama and dad, though, made sure that we had a good meal daily before we went to bed. During the day whether at school or in the field, it was not unusual to be very hungry. Often, we would be so hungry we would go to the bushes to find wild fruits – we knew of all kinds of small and big fruits. When the trees had no fruit on them, as it would often be during the drought season, we would result to eating the leaves. Sad to say, that story is today true to many of African children.

My mother had a tough job at home of raising us and cultivating the land alongside my dad. Growing up in that setting, I knew only how to be abased, as the Apostle Paul puts it. We were poor and I knew it. Even as a seven year old boy, I recall wondering about God and His purpose for my life.  In the year 1990, I graduated from high school which was a miracle by itself. I am one of two children in my family to go through high school. In a family of 10, only one of my siblings and I went to school through high school. This was not due to lack of academic ability or will, but lack of finances. To the contrary, most of my siblings were brilliant. One of them was more like a genius.

In less than one year after school, I was very angry with myself, my parents, and the government, and sorry to say even with God. I used to ask myself, “Does God really make sense?” I, therefore, resulted to drugs and alcohol to soothe and calm my fear and my anger. I have nothing to be proud of for that short spell of my life. It is all shame and regret. One of my uncles had a welding garage in the city of Nyahururu (formerly Thomson Falls). In anger, I asked him to allow me to work there for free and let me learn the trade. However, “God is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness but is long suffering towards us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”. 2 Pet 3:9close2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV) close2 Peter 3:9close2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV) 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

As I as giving up hope in the world around me, God was searching for my soul. On one sunny day in August 1992, the caring Father sent his messenger to me. My Pastor came to my uncle’s store looking to see if we could make him a church sign. On that day, I became an interpreter for my trainer could not converse at all in English, nor could my Pastor converse well enough in Swahili, my national language. Little did I know this was going to be a part of my job for the rest of my life.

In two weeks time, he came back and picked-up his church sign and on the same day ordered a baptistery. On September 12th 1992, my pastor came to get his baptistery. I found a hand cart to help transport the tank to what was going to be his new home. On the way back to town, he offered me a ride in his car (an offer that was too good to turn down). Little did I know that another special offer awaited me once on-board.

Once in his car, the Pastor engaged me in a very friendly conversation right away and asked me a question nobody had ever asked me before. He asked me, “Peter, if you died today are you sure you would go to heaven?” Honestly, I did not know that one could have an answer to what sounded like a perplexing question. Then, my pastor took out a Bible and verse by verse he led me through the Romans Road. He, first of all, shared with me Romans 3:23closeRomans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) closeRomans 3:23closeRomans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) , “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God…” I did not need to be convinced that I was a sinner. I very well knew that there were some things I was involved in that I would never want my dad to find out.

He then shared with me Romans 6:23closeRomans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) closeRomans 6:23closeRomans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) , “For the wages of sin is death…” He explained this death to be more than physical. He showed me from the Bible from Genesis, in the fall of man, through Revelation, the final Judgment, how this death was an eternal separation from God in a place called hell. This was very depressing. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. But, he quickly turned the bad news to good news as he told me the story of Jesus with great zeal and finality.

He showed me from the Bible how Jesus was my only hope using various Scriptures. The one that struck me the most was Romans 5:8closeRomans 5:8 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) closeRomans 5:8closeRomans 5:8 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) , “But God commendeth his love toward in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Up to this point in my life, I could not ever recall anyone using the language of loving me. My parents had demonstrated their love to me time and again by the sacrifices they had made for me. They are my heroes. They gave their won life for me. They went without necessities of life to send me to school. They gave me great abilities in life. I am forever indebted to my mama and dad even for giving me the ability to speak in a foreign language. I can never thank them enough nor even try to pay them back. However, on this day I heard of one who had made even greater sacrifice for me, the Lord Jesus, by dying for me and telling me he loved me (John 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) closeJohn 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) ).

When he gave me the invitation to ask Jesus to my heart to save me, I could not wait. I was thirsty for love and forgiveness. On 12th September 1992, with a simple child like faith, I prayed my first meaningful prayer. I repented of my sins and asked Jesus to forgive me and to save me. As we pulled from the parking lot I knew a great renewal had taken place. For the first time in my life, I experienced true peace and joy. As the Hymn goes, I was blind but now I could see. Everything took a different dimension. The sun shone brighter. The birds sung sweeter. There were just no words to explain the joy of that first day. The next day was a Sunday and I was the first to be baptized in the tank that I had made. That week I received several visitors. But one visit that I will never forget was from my dad. Somehow he had found out of my new life and he had come by my house to affirm that the decision I had made was the best.

GROWTH

The desires and goals of my life were instantly changed. I realized that God had a perfect will for my life and I, therefore, embarked on prayer to seek that perfect will (Romans 12:1-2closeRomans 12:1-2 A Living Sacrifice 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) closeRomans 12:1-2closeRomans 12:1-2 A Living Sacrifice 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) A Living Sacrifice 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) ). My pastor played a major role in my growth as he began immediately teaching me Bible lessons related to the basic tenets of the Christian life. I was thirsty for the truth and by the first year I had read through the entire Bible from cover to cover. I had also memorized many verses and witnessed to many of my friends and family. I had led cousins, brothers, uncles and other friends to the Lord as well. The crowning of it all was when my dad walked the down to the altar on a special Friend’s Day and was gloriously saved. Then he followed the Lord in baptism and added to the church.

CALL TO THE MINISTRY

About four months after my salvation, the Holy Spirit started dealing with my heart about giving my life for the Gospel ministry.

STRUGGLE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Although I knew that the Lord wanted me to preach the Gospel, therefore calling me, I continued giving all excuses to myself why I could not be called to preach as lack of training, experience etc.

SURRENDER

One evening while visiting with my pastor, he shared with me Isaiah 6:1-8closeIsaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah's Vision of the Lord 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah's Commission from the Lord 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (ESV) closeIsaiah 6:1-8closeIsaiah 6:1-8 Isaiah's Vision of the Lord 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah's Commission from the Lord 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (ESV) Isaiah's Vision of the Lord 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah's Commission from the Lord 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (ESV) and I realized that the Lord was speaking to me just as He did to Isaiah, though not in a laudable voice. I still wanted to wait. Later that year in November, a visiting preacher from America came to our church and preached a sermon on the miracles of Jesus and the feeding of five thousand. He explained how the apostles had to distribute the bread and fish to the multitude. Then he made the application of how God is looking today for willing disciples to distribute the bread of life – the Gospel – to the hungry multitudes.  After this message, I could not say no anymore. At the end of the service during the invitation, I went forward and surrendered to the will of God and to the call of ministry. The next couple of years were a great revival in my heart and my life. I just could not have enough of church and scripture reading and witnessing.

JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Prior to the meeting the missionary, the United States of America was way, too far away. I had studied parts and bits of the U.S. History. I had undoubtedly studied the American Civil War and the role of President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. I had studied some history of Martin Luther King, Jr., the icon of the civil rights movement. I had even studied with fascination the Americans conquest of the moon. However, all those had barely served to bring America close to me. The United States of America was still way, far away from this village boy, the son of a peasant, forest worker.

However, after meeting this young enthusiastic missionary couple, the history of America was rewritten in my heart. America became closer as I inquired from them about their land, as I ate their food and as I watched their movies. I developed an earnest desire to go to America and pursue the American dream: education, a better life for my children and my parents and partners for the Gospel call I had responded to. The desire and the dream were born. I made it a matter of daily prayer. After I met my wife to-be and we took our wedding vows in February of 1996, I shared with her my dreams. God opened the doors wide when my wife and I were given missionary visas in 2004. Although all has not been easy, we have watched the Lord Bless our family beyond our wildest imagination since that decision to trust Christ.

If you have not given your life to Jesus, I urge you to do that today following the plan as presented to me above. If you are already saved, please join with me in sharing Christ with those around you. Then pray for us and look for ways that you can partner with us wherever you are. May God bless you.

In His Service,

Pastor Peter Njoroge Chege