Kenya Team Testimonies
Kenya Testimony 2025
In case you missed Sunday morning, I wanted to take the time to post the team testimonies for you to read. It was such a wonderful trip and the stories are worth hearing. As we went to teach about stewardship, it’s only fair, that we too, are good stewards of the stories God gave us while we were gone. I hope this can help encourage you this week and this year as you see how it changed our lives to go to Kenya this summer. Thank you for taking time out of your lives to read what we all have to say about the great opportunity we got to share together the past couple of weeks.
Faith Crabtree
Hi, my name is Faith Crabtree, and for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go to Africa with my parents. They always came home with these amazing stories, and this year, I finally got the chance to go with them. It was such a blessing!
While I was there, I had the opportunity to teach Sunday school to the children at Ezekiel’s church. I also got to share my testimony with children at a school in Kilgoris and teach the story of David and Goliath at VBS. I was able to pray over some women during street evangelism, and on the last day of VBS, Robert and I led a boy to the Lord.
I am so happy I finally got the opportunity to go to Africa, and I just want to end by saying thank you to everyone who gave to the trip.
April Quick
Satan tried everything in his power to keep me from going on this trip but he didn’t win the battle .
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. ”
Psalms 34:4
I was humbled by the way the ladies catered to everyone. One of my spiritual gifts is acts of service so it was very hard for me to humble myself but I did it .
The Lord allowed me to use my spiritual gift of acts of service and hospitality to bond and minister to the ladies at the church one morning when they were prepping food, I went over there to help them and they told me that I was a hard worker. They even gave me a name is Swahili they called me Nashasoa which means hard worker.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.
Robert Quick
First I want to thank Todd for his leadership, friendship, trust and the church for your prayers and Support.
It was a great time hanging out with Faith (seeing Faith in a dress or wrap all week) and Uriah watching them interact and give testimony all week.
I cannot tell you how proud I am of my wife and how she over came her fears of this trip.
Africa is a beautiful country inside and out. The people love you and serve you the minute you walk into there church.
I had the privilege to preach the revival for 3 nights .
God was on the move. I saw the entire church confess sin on night one telling me what they struggled with on stewardship. There struggles are the same has ours.
Time
Financial
Gods word.
Gospel.
Night 2 - 2 people got saved.
During the day we did VBS, evangelism and taught on Being a good steward.
Couple of quick stories from those couple of days.
I taught 500
Kids how to say Boomer Sooner.
Then I shared the Gospel.
April wanted to stay and work with the women of the church. I chose to stay and not go do evangelism. I took my chair to the road and shared with people walking down the road. I had one man after he got saved immediately asked me how he could learn more about Jesus and asked me what if he had to work on some Sundays.
I took the man to Pastor Ezekiel to start immediate discipleship.
VBS I got to share the Gospel with many children and teach the Africans how to share the Gospel in many different ways.
Parents make sure you are sharing and teaching your children about the Gospel.
The last day of evangelism we went into the town.
First I met a man that did not want to hear the Gospel or anything we had to say.
Then a women named Joy, I asked her if she died today would she go to heaven or hell? She told me I don’t know. I gave her a hug and thanked her for being honest. I shared the Gospel with her and she is now going to heaven.
Just like Pastor Eric has told us, if you want to change your perspective go on a mission trip. Sometimes we feel like we’re in a rut and we’re not growing as Christians. When you remove the noise of your normal world and allow God to speak to you clearly things will change in your life. Thank you.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Mark 16:15 NIV
Brian Mills
This year in Africa, I had more opportunities to preach and teach, and that was amazing! Even more amazing than that, I got a chance to step out of my comfort zone doing street Evangelism and sharing The Gospel as well as some of my own personal testimony one on one with many people. I even got to see some of those people turn to the Lord for salvation! It amazed me last year, and still did again this year, how welcoming the people of Kenya were to us. We go there with a mission or goal in mind, and we leave blessed beyond anything we could have imagine!
Uriah Crabtree
Hello, my name is Uriah Crabtree, and for many years my mom and dad have been going to Africa on this mission trip. I had always wanted to go to Africa because every year they would bring back a lot of stories. We have been working all year to raise enough money for me to be able to go, and we finally raised enough so that I could go to Africa.
So I would like to thank everyone who gave money to help pay for this mission trip, and also thank anyone who prayed for us before or during the trip.This is a list of things that I got to do while we were there: I got to share a few testimony’s at the church, I taught Sunday school, got to help with VBS all 3 days that we did it, gave a testimony at an open air in town, and we did door to door evangelism throughout the town.
This is just some of the things we got to do on this amazing mission trip, so thank you for giving and for allowing me to be able to go on this journey to Africa.
Rachel Crabtree
I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who supported through prayer and finances to make this trip possible for our family and the others who went. We worked hard all year to raise the money and to prepare our kids spiritually, mentally and physically for this amazing mission. And let me tell you, it was worth it!
My kids have been on many mission trips in their life in the states and Mexico And have done wonderfully in each place.
From my first year to Kenya to just a few days ago Todd and I desired to take our children. This was the perfect year. They were ready!
Getting to watch as my children taught Sunday school, shared testimony with the church, taught at a local school, help lead VBS, teach at VBS, share the gospel, pray over others, share testimony at a open air and speak out during street evangelism was the most amazing experience. These kids stepped up big time on the mission field and we could not be more proud of them. Watching them grow and learn so much in such a short time was very inspiring.
They weren’t just kids on a trip there to have fun. They worked hard each day and got to see many come to Christ, learn and grow from their hard work. Now they had fun too!
They now share a love for Africa and the people as Todd and I do. I can not wait for us to be back serving along side each other again.
I just love that Robert and April were with us in Mexico for the kids first trip and now Kenya for their first trip there too. It’s great to have church family who invest in your children spiritually and financially. So thank you church for making this possible.
I checked in on the ladies that we purchased sewing machines for last year and they are each sewing and making money. One of the ladies actually has a small shop in town and was able to make me and April dresses and Todd, Uriah and Chip shirts. She did great work.
If you haven’t gotten a chance to read the daily updates on the church app I would encourage you to go back this week and read them. Todd did an amazing job stepping you through each day we were there. He will continue to post updates as Ezekiel shares with us the progress of the projects you each gave towards. And all the new exciting things to come.
Thank you church from the bottom of my heart- Rachel Crabtree
Chip Elms
Good morning
This is my second year to go to Kenya. It’s a awesome experience. The first time I went with the intention that I had something to offer them. It didn’t take long to figure out I learned way more than what I taught last year. So I was excited to go back this year. So just a couple of weeks ago I got to spend 12 unforgettable days in Kenya on a mission trip that forever marked my heart.
We started our journey in Nairobi adjusting to the rhythm of the new culture sounds and the pace of life that was refreshingly different from back home. But it was in Kilgore a rural town in the hills of western Kenya where our mission truly took root. I was there with a amazing group Todd, Rachel, Uriah, Faith, Brian,Robert and April. Each person bringing their unique gifts, energy and heart for service. Together we poured ourselves into VBS for the children. Smiles and laughter were just some of the most pure moments of joy you can experience. Every day brought new lessons, many of them spiritual whether we were teaching bible stories, doing crafts, singing, or playing soccer out in the dust. The children taught us just as much as we hoped to teach them. Their openness and hunger for the Lord is truly undeniable. We also took part in door to door missions. Walking through villages, praying for families and sharing the love of Christ. It was in the simplest most powerful ways. Conversations that started with shy smiles turned in to deep spiritual connections. It was in these quiet dirt path moments that I felt God moving the most. Last year I had no idea what these men could do as far as evangelism but I was able to spend more time with Brian this year and what the Lord has blessed him with is incredible.
After the mission portion of our trip we ended with a safari in the Masa Mara. Where the beauty of Gods creation was on full display. One unforgettable moment was seeing a Rhino, wild majestic, massive and rare. It was awe inspiring in a different way. A reminder that the worlds vastness and intricate wonder of creation.
The trip was more than a service it was a spiritual awakening. Being removed from our usual routines, immersed in a different culture it gives you the ability to untie. For 15 years of my life I’ve probably dipped at least a can of snuff every day. It was an addiction, part of my life, part of my routine. But before leaving on the trip the Lord asked me to give it up. Told me I didn’t need to take it with me. I would be with great people to support me. So it took again going to Kenya to give up dipping snuff and make a change in my life. I will remember it forever. Thank You.
Todd Crabtree
Good Morning Church,
It was a honor and blessing to lead our Kenya trip, once again, this year. From the long flights and big city traffic, to the sugar cane fields and rural farms of the Trans Mara escarpment, the gospel went with us to bring freedom to those who chose it, and we all felt the life it brings.
This years trip was designed to minister to the church family in Kilgoris. The main event for our trip actually being a time intensive VBS. Taking the students through the life of David. From his anointing as a boy to his being an adult on the run from Saul. With over one hundred pounds of crafts, color pages, games, and supplies, we set off from our home here in Texas and started our long journey to complete the ministry to these children. Having over two hundred attend two of the three days. Many young lives were changed as we worked alongside the church in Kilgoris to make this VBS successful.
Along with the VBS we did teaching all week on stewardship. Each of us focusing on different areas in our daily lives that we could better manage. Spiritual gifting, family, work, environment, and time were all discussed. My teaching seemed to deal mostly with time, and the VBS schedule helped me to flesh out the importance of working together on a schedule to achieve efficiency. As the week progressed we discussed daily that communication and preparedness can be the difference between a successful day of ministry and chaos. Kenya time is ok sometimes, and the famous motto “no hurry in Kenya” can be wonderful if your on a relaxing day of vacation, but it creates a lazy and unorganized design for ministry. From day one of VBS taking more than six minutes to transition station to station, to day three averaging only forty-five seconds, we could visibly see the impact and change happening as they learned time management in the midst of our VBS program.
Evangelism was one of our biggest events of the mornings. Door to door in the countryside makes for a lot of walking…but it was successful each day and we saw many salvations. Once we moved into town it was an entirely different experience. We saw large groups of men accept Christ as we interrupted their work days to tell them the story of Jesus. It was a blessing to be a part of the evangelism, and to be fortunate to see my own family sharing and aiding in the process of salvation in the Kenyan streets.
I know this trip will forever be one of the sweetest times of my life. At 41 year old I’ve been ministering in Africa for almost half of my life. I first traveled to Africa 20 years ago to the country of Tanzania. Just south of Kenya. Ten years ago Rachel was able to finally go with me as I went, and that was a highlight of the ministry I was able to do there. Now I have another milestone to tell and write about, as Faith and Uriah were finally able to go with us. It was a long year of raising money, writing letters, praying, and feeling at some moments like it might not work out. But we trusted God to provide and He did. With the help of so many of you, and others around the country, we finally met our goals and it was a beautiful experience for my heart and my family.
My favorite moments of the trip are moments seeing my son, Uriah, standing behind the pulpit, in a small African church, and sharing testimony and the gospel of Jesus with boldness…seeing Faith, my daughter, teaching the Sunday school class and the smile on her face as she told large groups of small children how much Jesus loves them.
I’ll never forget these moments. God has blessed me more than I deserve, and I look forward to many more moments like these in my future. The work we did was life changing, not only for the Kenyans but for our team from America as well. I know my kids lives will be forever changed as we move forward from this trip. They will see the world through a different pair of eyes. Knowing more than they used to about the world and Gods beloved people in it.
Thank you church for sending us, for praying for us, and for trusting me to be the one to go. It’s an honor I don’t take lightly, and one I hope to steward for years to come. If you want to go experience this with us next year, please come find me…let us take some time to discuss what you need to do to go with us and experience the work God is doing in Africa.
Thank you.
Todd Crabtree
In case you missed Sunday morning, I wanted to take the time to post the team testimonies for you to read. It was such a wonderful trip and the stories are worth hearing. As we went to teach about stewardship, it’s only fair, that we too, are good stewards of the stories God gave us while we were gone. I hope this can help encourage you this week and this year as you see how it changed our lives to go to Kenya this summer. Thank you for taking time out of your lives to read what we all have to say about the great opportunity we got to share together the past couple of weeks.
Faith Crabtree
Hi, my name is Faith Crabtree, and for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go to Africa with my parents. They always came home with these amazing stories, and this year, I finally got the chance to go with them. It was such a blessing!
While I was there, I had the opportunity to teach Sunday school to the children at Ezekiel’s church. I also got to share my testimony with children at a school in Kilgoris and teach the story of David and Goliath at VBS. I was able to pray over some women during street evangelism, and on the last day of VBS, Robert and I led a boy to the Lord.
I am so happy I finally got the opportunity to go to Africa, and I just want to end by saying thank you to everyone who gave to the trip.
April Quick
Satan tried everything in his power to keep me from going on this trip but he didn’t win the battle .
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears. ”
Psalms 34:4
I was humbled by the way the ladies catered to everyone. One of my spiritual gifts is acts of service so it was very hard for me to humble myself but I did it .
The Lord allowed me to use my spiritual gift of acts of service and hospitality to bond and minister to the ladies at the church one morning when they were prepping food, I went over there to help them and they told me that I was a hard worker. They even gave me a name is Swahili they called me Nashasoa which means hard worker.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.
Robert Quick
First I want to thank Todd for his leadership, friendship, trust and the church for your prayers and Support.
It was a great time hanging out with Faith (seeing Faith in a dress or wrap all week) and Uriah watching them interact and give testimony all week.
I cannot tell you how proud I am of my wife and how she over came her fears of this trip.
Africa is a beautiful country inside and out. The people love you and serve you the minute you walk into there church.
I had the privilege to preach the revival for 3 nights .
God was on the move. I saw the entire church confess sin on night one telling me what they struggled with on stewardship. There struggles are the same has ours.
Time
Financial
Gods word.
Gospel.
Night 2 - 2 people got saved.
During the day we did VBS, evangelism and taught on Being a good steward.
Couple of quick stories from those couple of days.
I taught 500
Kids how to say Boomer Sooner.
Then I shared the Gospel.
April wanted to stay and work with the women of the church. I chose to stay and not go do evangelism. I took my chair to the road and shared with people walking down the road. I had one man after he got saved immediately asked me how he could learn more about Jesus and asked me what if he had to work on some Sundays.
I took the man to Pastor Ezekiel to start immediate discipleship.
VBS I got to share the Gospel with many children and teach the Africans how to share the Gospel in many different ways.
Parents make sure you are sharing and teaching your children about the Gospel.
The last day of evangelism we went into the town.
First I met a man that did not want to hear the Gospel or anything we had to say.
Then a women named Joy, I asked her if she died today would she go to heaven or hell? She told me I don’t know. I gave her a hug and thanked her for being honest. I shared the Gospel with her and she is now going to heaven.
Just like Pastor Eric has told us, if you want to change your perspective go on a mission trip. Sometimes we feel like we’re in a rut and we’re not growing as Christians. When you remove the noise of your normal world and allow God to speak to you clearly things will change in your life. Thank you.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Mark 16:15 NIV
Brian Mills
This year in Africa, I had more opportunities to preach and teach, and that was amazing! Even more amazing than that, I got a chance to step out of my comfort zone doing street Evangelism and sharing The Gospel as well as some of my own personal testimony one on one with many people. I even got to see some of those people turn to the Lord for salvation! It amazed me last year, and still did again this year, how welcoming the people of Kenya were to us. We go there with a mission or goal in mind, and we leave blessed beyond anything we could have imagine!
Uriah Crabtree
Hello, my name is Uriah Crabtree, and for many years my mom and dad have been going to Africa on this mission trip. I had always wanted to go to Africa because every year they would bring back a lot of stories. We have been working all year to raise enough money for me to be able to go, and we finally raised enough so that I could go to Africa.
So I would like to thank everyone who gave money to help pay for this mission trip, and also thank anyone who prayed for us before or during the trip.This is a list of things that I got to do while we were there: I got to share a few testimony’s at the church, I taught Sunday school, got to help with VBS all 3 days that we did it, gave a testimony at an open air in town, and we did door to door evangelism throughout the town.
This is just some of the things we got to do on this amazing mission trip, so thank you for giving and for allowing me to be able to go on this journey to Africa.
Rachel Crabtree
I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who supported through prayer and finances to make this trip possible for our family and the others who went. We worked hard all year to raise the money and to prepare our kids spiritually, mentally and physically for this amazing mission. And let me tell you, it was worth it!
My kids have been on many mission trips in their life in the states and Mexico And have done wonderfully in each place.
From my first year to Kenya to just a few days ago Todd and I desired to take our children. This was the perfect year. They were ready!
Getting to watch as my children taught Sunday school, shared testimony with the church, taught at a local school, help lead VBS, teach at VBS, share the gospel, pray over others, share testimony at a open air and speak out during street evangelism was the most amazing experience. These kids stepped up big time on the mission field and we could not be more proud of them. Watching them grow and learn so much in such a short time was very inspiring.
They weren’t just kids on a trip there to have fun. They worked hard each day and got to see many come to Christ, learn and grow from their hard work. Now they had fun too!
They now share a love for Africa and the people as Todd and I do. I can not wait for us to be back serving along side each other again.
I just love that Robert and April were with us in Mexico for the kids first trip and now Kenya for their first trip there too. It’s great to have church family who invest in your children spiritually and financially. So thank you church for making this possible.
I checked in on the ladies that we purchased sewing machines for last year and they are each sewing and making money. One of the ladies actually has a small shop in town and was able to make me and April dresses and Todd, Uriah and Chip shirts. She did great work.
If you haven’t gotten a chance to read the daily updates on the church app I would encourage you to go back this week and read them. Todd did an amazing job stepping you through each day we were there. He will continue to post updates as Ezekiel shares with us the progress of the projects you each gave towards. And all the new exciting things to come.
Thank you church from the bottom of my heart- Rachel Crabtree
Chip Elms
Good morning
This is my second year to go to Kenya. It’s a awesome experience. The first time I went with the intention that I had something to offer them. It didn’t take long to figure out I learned way more than what I taught last year. So I was excited to go back this year. So just a couple of weeks ago I got to spend 12 unforgettable days in Kenya on a mission trip that forever marked my heart.
We started our journey in Nairobi adjusting to the rhythm of the new culture sounds and the pace of life that was refreshingly different from back home. But it was in Kilgore a rural town in the hills of western Kenya where our mission truly took root. I was there with a amazing group Todd, Rachel, Uriah, Faith, Brian,Robert and April. Each person bringing their unique gifts, energy and heart for service. Together we poured ourselves into VBS for the children. Smiles and laughter were just some of the most pure moments of joy you can experience. Every day brought new lessons, many of them spiritual whether we were teaching bible stories, doing crafts, singing, or playing soccer out in the dust. The children taught us just as much as we hoped to teach them. Their openness and hunger for the Lord is truly undeniable. We also took part in door to door missions. Walking through villages, praying for families and sharing the love of Christ. It was in the simplest most powerful ways. Conversations that started with shy smiles turned in to deep spiritual connections. It was in these quiet dirt path moments that I felt God moving the most. Last year I had no idea what these men could do as far as evangelism but I was able to spend more time with Brian this year and what the Lord has blessed him with is incredible.
After the mission portion of our trip we ended with a safari in the Masa Mara. Where the beauty of Gods creation was on full display. One unforgettable moment was seeing a Rhino, wild majestic, massive and rare. It was awe inspiring in a different way. A reminder that the worlds vastness and intricate wonder of creation.
The trip was more than a service it was a spiritual awakening. Being removed from our usual routines, immersed in a different culture it gives you the ability to untie. For 15 years of my life I’ve probably dipped at least a can of snuff every day. It was an addiction, part of my life, part of my routine. But before leaving on the trip the Lord asked me to give it up. Told me I didn’t need to take it with me. I would be with great people to support me. So it took again going to Kenya to give up dipping snuff and make a change in my life. I will remember it forever. Thank You.
Todd Crabtree
Good Morning Church,
It was a honor and blessing to lead our Kenya trip, once again, this year. From the long flights and big city traffic, to the sugar cane fields and rural farms of the Trans Mara escarpment, the gospel went with us to bring freedom to those who chose it, and we all felt the life it brings.
This years trip was designed to minister to the church family in Kilgoris. The main event for our trip actually being a time intensive VBS. Taking the students through the life of David. From his anointing as a boy to his being an adult on the run from Saul. With over one hundred pounds of crafts, color pages, games, and supplies, we set off from our home here in Texas and started our long journey to complete the ministry to these children. Having over two hundred attend two of the three days. Many young lives were changed as we worked alongside the church in Kilgoris to make this VBS successful.
Along with the VBS we did teaching all week on stewardship. Each of us focusing on different areas in our daily lives that we could better manage. Spiritual gifting, family, work, environment, and time were all discussed. My teaching seemed to deal mostly with time, and the VBS schedule helped me to flesh out the importance of working together on a schedule to achieve efficiency. As the week progressed we discussed daily that communication and preparedness can be the difference between a successful day of ministry and chaos. Kenya time is ok sometimes, and the famous motto “no hurry in Kenya” can be wonderful if your on a relaxing day of vacation, but it creates a lazy and unorganized design for ministry. From day one of VBS taking more than six minutes to transition station to station, to day three averaging only forty-five seconds, we could visibly see the impact and change happening as they learned time management in the midst of our VBS program.
Evangelism was one of our biggest events of the mornings. Door to door in the countryside makes for a lot of walking…but it was successful each day and we saw many salvations. Once we moved into town it was an entirely different experience. We saw large groups of men accept Christ as we interrupted their work days to tell them the story of Jesus. It was a blessing to be a part of the evangelism, and to be fortunate to see my own family sharing and aiding in the process of salvation in the Kenyan streets.
I know this trip will forever be one of the sweetest times of my life. At 41 year old I’ve been ministering in Africa for almost half of my life. I first traveled to Africa 20 years ago to the country of Tanzania. Just south of Kenya. Ten years ago Rachel was able to finally go with me as I went, and that was a highlight of the ministry I was able to do there. Now I have another milestone to tell and write about, as Faith and Uriah were finally able to go with us. It was a long year of raising money, writing letters, praying, and feeling at some moments like it might not work out. But we trusted God to provide and He did. With the help of so many of you, and others around the country, we finally met our goals and it was a beautiful experience for my heart and my family.
My favorite moments of the trip are moments seeing my son, Uriah, standing behind the pulpit, in a small African church, and sharing testimony and the gospel of Jesus with boldness…seeing Faith, my daughter, teaching the Sunday school class and the smile on her face as she told large groups of small children how much Jesus loves them.
I’ll never forget these moments. God has blessed me more than I deserve, and I look forward to many more moments like these in my future. The work we did was life changing, not only for the Kenyans but for our team from America as well. I know my kids lives will be forever changed as we move forward from this trip. They will see the world through a different pair of eyes. Knowing more than they used to about the world and Gods beloved people in it.
Thank you church for sending us, for praying for us, and for trusting me to be the one to go. It’s an honor I don’t take lightly, and one I hope to steward for years to come. If you want to go experience this with us next year, please come find me…let us take some time to discuss what you need to do to go with us and experience the work God is doing in Africa.
Thank you.
Todd Crabtree
Posted in Africa Updates