Visual summary of Kenya mission!

Wow! Our Youth Education Strategies team had an absolutely amazing time sharing the Gospel in Kenya! Thank you so much for the prayer and support. Please enjoy this visual summary of our mission.

Great week sharing the Gospel in rural Kenya!

Wow! What an absolutely amazing week we have just had! Our Youth Education Strategies team has been able to speak in 24 schools with 13,500 people and saw more than 9,000 professions of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. My Kenyan brothers in Christ, Pastor Jonathan and fellow Gideon Alfred, and I have also been able to distribute 7,000 Biblical tracts and 1,800 New Testaments. Words can’t describe how great this week has been! We have seen some amazingly big things this week, but it was one of the smaller schools that touched my heart the most.

Sometimes you can just feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as soon as you enter a school, and sometimes you can feel the presence of the enemy, but I knew a spiritual battle was raging at Kikoma Middle School as soon as we arrived. We had spent this Wednesday outside the city of Migori traversing some of the most rocky, muddy, and bumpy roads I have ever experienced in order to share the Gospel in some of the most remote hills in all of Kenya near the southern border. In fact, just before we arrived at Kikoma, my phone received an automated text message that said, “Welcome to Tanzania!” When we arrived, the principal quickly showed us to his office and explained the situation. He said, “More than two-thirds of the students at the school have already lost at least one of their parents due to HIV/AIDS, and many of them are orphans. We have tried to teach them how to do the right things, but most of these 4^th through 8^th graders are following down the same path as their parents and many of the students are already HIV positive and many of the girls are already pregnant. Several members of the teaching staff, including myself, also pastor churches on the weekend; we are doing everything we know in hopes of reaching the students, but we feel like it isn’t making much of a difference.” I knew that this man’s heart was breaking for his students, and my heart immediately began to break for them as well. Before we started the assembly, we prayed together that God would do something miraculous this very day. God certainly answered our prayer!

As we began the program, the 215 students were simply excited to see a Mzungu (white person). However, their faces quickly changed as they were cut to the heart by the conviction of their sins. I knew that God had already begun to work in them. When it was time for the invitation, more than 150 of these students made the commitment to turn from their sins and give their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior. As the program concluded, I could see in the students’ faces that God had done something mighty this day. After the assembly, we joined the staff in the small school office. The principal came to me with tearful eyes and thanked me for coming all the way out to his school. Then, I believe we all teared up as we prayed together for God to continue moving in the students’ hearts. In fact, I am tearing up right now as I write and remember this school! I wish we had been able to take some photographs here, but I know I will always remember their faces anyway.

Also, we spent Friday sharing the Good News in Naivasha. This is the city that was at the center of the violence after the 2007 Kenyan presidential election. I have been told horror stories of when more than 300 members of the Luo tribe were brutally slaughtered right in the middle of the town market. In one day, we were able to share the life-changing message of Jesus in 5 schools with 6,000 people and saw more than 4,500 make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. We also hosted a revival meeting on Friday and Saturday evenings in which God moved mightily and helped to heal some of those who were involved in the post election violence.

Please join YES in prayer for God to continue working in those we have already reached, and for Him to move mightily as we minister this upcoming week in the city of Kisumu. Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)

In Christ,

Steven Stockwell

Galatians 2:20
If you have ever wondered what it is like to be in the middle of more than 2,500 Kenyan students saying the Sinner's Prayer in Swahili? Well, check out this video! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=600406494206

Quick turn-around; on my way to Kenya!

I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your Name forever and ever. Ps 145:1.

Dear family and friends:

Greetings to you in the eternal name of Jesus!  The Youth Education Strategies team has just finished another great mission project proclaiming the Good News in the Philippines.  Thank you so much for the prayer and support as we have shared with these people.  I was blessed to share the Gospel in 18 schools, 3 churches, and in 2 community outreaches with a total of more than 9,000 people and I’m excited to report that more than 5,000 of these people made the commitment to turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  In total, our team was able to speak in 34 meetings with more than 15,000 people and saw more than 9,000 professions of faith!

Also, I am excited to announce that God has reopened the doors for YES to complete the project in Kenya that was originally scheduled for August.  The teacher strike has ended, the schools have commenced their normal schedule, and our team in Kenya has been able to reschedule our program for these schools.  I will be on a three week mission to share the Good News from Saturday October 27 through November 19.  During the first week, YES will be working in schools and churches in some of the poorest slums in the world in the capital city of Nairobi.  Then, we will be sharing the Gospel in Kisumu, the second largest city in Kenya during the second week.  And we will finish our mission by assisting Gideons International members with school Bible distributions and reaching out to some of the more rural areas in Kenya through the final week of this project.

We are anticipating another mighty move of God in Kenya.  Please join YES in prayer for the Holy Spirit to convict the multitudes of sin, and to draw many toward a life-changing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Also, please pray for God to give me the strength and perseverance to complete this project; this is by far the quickest turn around I have experienced from one mission to the next.  Thank you once again for your prayer and support.  God bless!

In Christ,
Steven Stockwell
Galatians 2:20

Thank you from the Philippines

More than 100 "thank you" notes written to Youth Education Strategies

Mabuhay! Greetings from the Philippines. I want to say thank you to all my friends and family who have been supporting and praying for our mission. YES has had a great time sharing the Gospel with the people here in Laguna province. At the halfway point in the project, I have been blessed to Share the Good News in 12 schools, and several other meetings, with more than 6,000 people and more than 3,000 of these people have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

My highlight of the trip so far has come from an unexpected source. On Monday, I spoke in a small school with less than 200 students. We had a great program and many of the students made the commitment to follow Jesus; it was another great, normal school program. The surprise came later in the week when I received a package containing more than 100 “thank you” notes from students who attended our program.

Words can’t describe how humbled and moved I have been while reading the incredibly kind words from all these students. Everything they said was great, so I want to share some of my favorite comments with you. It wouldn’t be possible for me to complete projects like this without the prayer and support of people like you who help to send me. So, ultimately, all these notes are written to you just as much as they are to me!

“I was really glad and excited when I have heard about your team. Your team was really good and funny but I felt happier when I saw you on the stage. I really admire you, your testimony, amd all your inspiring thoughts about Jesus. Your message truly touched my heart and I know it will remain in my heart forever. I wish you could stay here for a longer time.” ~Alex

“Thank you for the word of God, Mr. Steven Stockwell. Because you and your friends, I learn how to receive Jesus and open the door of my heart for Him. Thank you for loving the Philippines. God bless you sir.”

“Thank you for sharing us the word of God, we have learned a lot from what you have preached and we can apply all of that in our own lives and it can serve as our guide… I wishyou can teach the word of God in different places around the world so every people in the world can have a chance to know God and experience the love of God.” ~Ivan

“Thanks for imparting your knowledge with us. I really appreciate your effort that you visit us in school and share something that can change our lives. Even though I’m still a student I can also share to others what I’d learn from you sir. Continue to spread the word Mr. Stockwell. God bless you guys (-:” ~Allysha

“I would like to thank you for opening our hearts and mind through bringing your ministry here in the Philippines… Thank you for being a part of our spiritual life and molding us as true Christians. Thank you for loving the Philippines. Continue to fulfill the Lord’s mission in sharing the word. May the Lord continuously bless and guide your ministry. Your words will remain in our hearts. We will also share the word to other people as you did.” ~ Zyril

“Thank you for all the things about God that you have shared to us… I want to be like you when I grow up, I want also to about God. When I grow up, I want to be a missionary. Thank you for appreciating our country.” ~Camille

“Thank you for all the encouragement, advices, and good words you all have said. I hope you will come over on our school again in the future. I really love your way of speaking because it is not boring. I really appreciate your team’s effort on telling us things that can help us to grow spiritually. This was the first time to see and hear a foreign speaker. Again, thank you for your good heart that you’ve shared with us.” ~Vea

“Thank you for visiting our school and appreciating our country. Thank you for sharing the word of God to us, I learned a lot from it… I will apply it to my life and I will trust God for everything. Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy your time here in the Philippines.” ~Allyssa

Mission Philippines 2012

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I am excited to announce that God has provided an opening for Youth Education Strategies to proclaim the Gospel in the Philippines.  I will be traveling with David and Amy Stockwell to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in schools and churches in Laguna City from Oct. 3-22, 2012.  Our team is scheduled to speak with more than 10,000 students, so we are anticipating another great project and a mighty move of God in the Philippines!

I would like to take a moment to update everyone about Kenya.  Three days before I was scheduled to begin the mission in Kenya, we learned that teachers across Kenya had gone on strike and that classes had been cancelled indefinitely.  Because the primary focus of our mission is reaching people in schools, we felt led to postpone this project until the situation was sorted out.  This type of strike is unpredictable and not uncommon in countries like Kenya.  We encounter many challenges like this while doing international mission work, and we are comforted in knowing that God is in control and that all things will work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose according to Romans 8:28.

YES has just learned that the strikes in Kenya have ended after three weeks, and our team is optimistic that we will be able to complete our mission in the upcoming months once we have finished our project in the Philippines.  We believe that it was God’s grace that allowed the strikes to begin the week before departure rather than occurring while we were in Kenya.  As a bonus, because we postponed our flights due to “political unrest,” the airline says they aren't going to charge us to reschedule our trip!

Please join Youth Education Strategies in prayer for the Holy Spirit to give our team wisdom and guidance as we reschedule our project in Kenya, and for His power and provision as we share the Good News in the Philippines.  Thank you so much for praying and standing with Youth Education Strategies as we proclaim the Gospel to the nations!


In Christ,
Steven Stockwell
Galatians 2:20

100,000

Wow, I just realized that at some point during our recent mission project in Malawi, the overall number of people I’ve had the opportunity to reach with the Good News of Jesus Christ totaled 100,000!  God is so good, and I am beyond humbled that God has chosen to use me to share His message with so many people.  I just want to say a big “thank you” to everyone who has prayed for me and for those who have helped send me out into the world to share the Gospel.


It is difficult to put into words how much I have learned and grown since my first mission project with David Stockwell Evangelistic Association in 2008.  I still vividly remember the school program where I shared the Gospel for the first time.  I was just a twenty-two year old kid who had recently graduated with a degree in physics, and planned to become an electrical engineer.  I’ll never forget that moment of panic when I learned at 10:00PM that I would be the main speaker at a school with over 800 students the next morning at 8:00AM due to an overbooking.  I’ll also never forget the feeling of absolute peace I quickly experienced when I realized that I was completely incapable of successfully speaking with those students on my own ability, but knowing that God would never call me to do something without giving me the strength to accomplish it.  Most of all, I’ll never forget leading more than 700 of those students in the Sinner’s Prayer after sharing the Good News using notes I wrote the night before from a Gospel tract and a few other Bible verses I had memorized.


My understanding of the Bible has deepened, and my experience with public speaking has increased, but I am still well aware that I can accomplish nothing without the power of Christ working through me.  I don’t consider myself to be anyone particularly special.  I know that I am a worthless sinner who has been saved by grace through faith in my Lord Jesus Christ.  I am nothing, but I am willing to be used however God chooses!  If you know me at all, I hope that you know my passion in life is to tell as many people as possible how Christ has changed my life, and how He can change any life.  And that’s what I intend to keep doing for as long as God allows.


I am amazed and humbled by what God has done in the past, and I couldn't be more excited about what God has in store for Youth Education Strategies in the future.  YES has open doors to share the message of Jesus with potentially hundreds of thousands of people in the next few years.  Once again, I can’t adequately express how grateful I am for everyone who has prayed for, and supported YES these past few years.  Please join me in prayer for wisdom, guidance, and provision as we plan mission projects in Africa and the Philippines.  If God has you in a position to help YES financially, any gift will be greatly appreciated, and it will help us share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with many people.  Thanks again, and God bless!

In Christ,

Steven Stockwell

Galatians 2:20

Amazing Time Sharing Jesus in Malawi

Praise the Lord! Our team has had another amazing week sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ here in Blantyre, Malawi. I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak in 11 schools with more than 12,000 students, faculty, and staff; and more than 8,000 of them made the commitment to turn from their sin and trust  in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior! In total, our team was able to share the Gospel in 38 schools, with more than 35,000 people, and more than 25,000 made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. We were also able to distribute 75 New Testaments and more than 15,000 Gospel tracts.  Words can’t describe how amazed and humbled I am by what God has been doing through Youth Education Strategies and how grateful I am to all those who have prayed for us and helped to send our team to share Jesus with this hungry and completely open part of the world.

Jesus died on the cross for your sins!

There is no doubt that it will be a great week when you lead your taxi driver to the Lord before the first day is complete! As we got into the car to begin our week of ministry, we said a prayer for God to work mightily during the day, for the students to have open hearts prepared to receive God’s word, for each member of our team to daily crucify their flesh so that they can be empty vessels to deliver God’s word, and we declared victory in the name of Jesus just like we do at the start of ministry every day. However, I noticed that Enoch, our driver, had a strange look on his face during some of the things we were saying in the prayer. I asked him several questions about his church and his life, but the conversation really got interesting when I asked him if he is 100% sure that he would go to heaven if he were to die today. He said, “Well, I’m certainly not 100% sure, but that is what they teach us in church.” After several more questions and sharing the complete Gospel with him, I said, “I’ll let you think about this for a while and we can talk more after we speak in this school.”

Spoke to 3000 students, only God knows how many said YES to Jesus that day!

When we finished with the school, Enoch said, “I believe everything that you said is true and I want you to help me through that prayer you said with all those students.” I reiterated that it is not simply the words in the Sinner’s Prayer that save us; it is the change that happens when Jesus comes into our heart and washes away our sin that makes us able to enter Heaven. Then I had him repeat this prayer after me: “Father God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that I deserve to go to Hell for those sins. But I believe that you love me so much, that you were willing to take my place. You died on the cross to pay for my sins. And on the third day, you rose from the grave to achieve victory over death. I accept your gift of salvation; I could never earn it on my own. Jesus, come into my heart; I give you my life. Change me. Forgive me. Save me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. I will follow you for the rest of my life. Amen.” The other four days of the week Enoch has seemed like a totally different person!

Today, we are recuperating, fellowshipping and planning with our NEST(National Evangelist Support Team) partners, and preparing to speak in churches tomorrow. Then we will begin the long journey home on Monday. Hopefully, we will be able to stop and see beautiful Lake Malawi on our way home! Thank you once again for all the prayer and support; what we do would not be possible without people like you. Please join Youth Education Strategies in prayer for the thousands of people who heard God’s word this week. Zkomo, salani bwino!

Steven Stockwell

Galatians 2:20

Precious, precious people!

Mighty move of God in Malawi!

Moni, mulebwange! Greetings from Blantyre, Malawi. Words can’t adequately describe how God has moved this past week through Youth Education Strategies! I am always humbled and amazed that God has called me to be a part of what He is doing in the world. Our team has been doing double duty this week. We have been sharing the Gospel in schools along with scheduling more schools to speak with for next week when my brother, Sean, and my father, David, arrive here. It is my joy to share with you what God has been doing.

Before I specifically mention any numbers, I want to say a few things. The most important number is one – One God, one Gospel, one way to salvation, one purpose to life (bringing glory to God), one orphan finding the love of his Heavenly Father, one teenager dying of AIDS receiving eternal life through Jesus Christ, one police officer wanting to shut down our ministry opening her heart to the Gospel, one person who turns from their sin and receives salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone as Lord. We can’t determine what is really happening in individual hearts, so we never report “salvations,” but rather report “commitments,” or “professions of faith.” With this in consideration, we do our absolute best before the Lord to accurately account for all ministry done, then round DOWN everything we report.

Since arriving here last week, I have had the privilege to share the Gospel in 13 schools with more than 12,000 people, and over 8,500 of them made the commitment to turn from their sin and trust in Jesus as Lord and savior! Words truly can’t describe what God is doing here in Malawi, and I can’t properly describe how blessed I feel to be a part of it. I would love to quickly share with you two specific things that happened this week.

After arriving to speak at a high school that shared grounds with a middle school, I asked the pastor I was with if we would be speaking at the middle school later. He told me that when he tried to book the middle school the headmaster said, “Our students are too busy to fit in anything extra.” We invited him to hear our talk with the high school. After we finished, he brought us into his office and told us to, “Please come back and share with the middle school students as well.” When I asked him which day would be good for us to come, he said, “Any day is fine. We can rearrange anything so the students can hear this message.” I guess they aren’t too busy after all! Now, we are scheduled to speak with the 3,000 students at his school next week. God is so good. I love it when He turns things right around right in front of our eyes!

Yesterday, we were at the last school we would be speaking with for the week; we were originally scheduled to be here earlier, but the school asked us to come late instead. While sharing the Gospel with this high school, I began to notice some of the kids who were playing on the street nearby had begun to sit down and listen along with the students. It was at this moment I had the thought, “If we would have come to speak at this school any other time, these kids wouldn’t be here to hear the Good News.” When it came time for the invitation, almost all of these twenty kids raised their hand to say that they were committing to follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. These twenty kids on the street might seem insignificant compared to the 12,000 others I spoke with this week, but God loves each and every one of them every bit as much as He loves you or I. And He arranged our schedule for the entire week in order that we would share with them. This moment reminded me that God is in control of every little detail of our lives, and that we should find comfort in putting our trust in Him.

See the kids to my right?

Later today, my father and brother are beginning their trip to Malawi, and it looks like we are set up for another great week of ministry next week. We would greatly appreciate prayer for our team and the people we will be sharing Jesus with in schools here in Malawi. Thank you!

~Steven Stockwell

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Leaving for Malawi in one week!

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus.  It is time once again for Youth Education Strategies to begin a mission project in Africa!  YES is going to be traveling to share the Gospel in Blantyre, Malawi from May 15 through June 6.  My heart becomes exceedingly happy when I am preparing to travel to Africa – even more so when I am going to a new area. This will be the seventh country in Africa where I have been blessed to minister.  Our Malawian team leader, Pastor Alex, has scheduled our team to share the Good News in thirty-five schools with several thousand students and staff.  I am very excited to see how God will move in Malawi!

On this mission, I will be working along with my father, Evangelist David Stockwell, and my brother, Sean Stockwell.  My dad has been ministering in Malawi since 2001, and has helped train and establish a team of evangelists there who preach the Gospel and disciple those who receive Christ on an on-going basis.  I am always happy to work with my father, and I am especially excited to work with my brother, as this will be the first time we have had the opportunity to go on mission together.

Our recent project in Belize was definitely successful.  God worked in mighty ways, and many lives have been permanently impacted.  Our team was able to share the Gospel in ten schools and four churches with more than 3,000 people.  Many of these individuals made the commitment to turn from their sin and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Our team was also able to distribute 2,000 tracts and over 400 New Testaments.

Please keep our team and the people of Malawi in your prayers.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom, protection, and provision as we minister the Gospel in Blantyre, Malawi.  Many blessings to you in the name of Jesus!

In Christ,

Steven Stockwell

Galatians 2:20

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Great mission in Belize!

Thank you so much for your prayer and support as our team traveled to share the Gospel with the people of the Central American country of Belize!  God worked in mighty ways, and many lives have been permanently impacted.  My father, David Stockwell, and I partnered with Evangelist Paul Vick to share the Gospel in ten schools and four churches with more than 3,000 people.  Many of these individuals made the commitment to turn from their sin and follow Jesus for the rest of their lives. Our team was also able to distribute 2,000 tracts and over 400 New Testaments.

My favorite experience of the project was being able to speak with thirty homeless men and women at a weekly event focused on feeding needy people - body and soul.  They were one of the most receptive groups I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with!  Twelve individuals made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that day.  Then, we shared a delicious meal of Belizean stewed chicken and rice with this hungry group and went on our way with many great memories.

Another unique experience we had was being able to visit pyramids at the site of a Mayan ruin.  Seeing a place where they performed human sacrifices in hopes of appeasing angry gods made me reflect on how happy I am that Jesus offered Himself in my place to make atonement for my many sins.  Also, it is very interesting to consider the well-known Mayan prediction of “the end of the world” on December 21, 2012.  Matthew 24 clearly states that “no one knows the day or hour the Lord will return.”  However, seeing these ruins was a great reminder that Jesus is indeed coming again, and every single day that passes means we are one day closer to His return.  Are you ready?  I know I am!

My goal in life is to share with as many people as possible exactly what they need to do in order to be prepared for the end of this age.  Thank you so much for standing with Youth Education Strategies as we share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.  Please join YES in prayer for guidance and provision as we plan upcoming mission projects in Africa and Asia.

In Christ,Steven Stockwell

Galatians 2:20

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