“I personally was given a calling, after a long night of wrestling with the Lord in prayer....”
--Nathan Reincheld, CCO missionary in Kenya
Go and Teach
The Reincheld family knows a thing or two about waiting upon the Lord. Stacy relates that God revealed to her His plan to call them into the mission field, but He did not disclose where He would lead them. Stacy says God told her to be patient while He worked on her husband. It wasn't until two years later that Nathan received his calling.
Nathan describes a long night wrestling with the Lord in December 2002 before discerning His voice. “Go teach my children,” is what Nathan says God told him. “We prayed about it for some months and felt led to Rift Valley Academy. However, our calling is not to a place, but to do a certain thing.”
That “thing” is serving as dormitory parents at the Rift Valley Academy, an international boarding school in Kenya. The school accepts the children of missionaries, nationals, and diplomats from East Africa.
But God has also used the Reincheld family beyond the school's walls. Nathan explains:
“God has used us to help free 15 people from illegal imprisonment in 2005. God has used us to help feed, clothe, and provide for up to 3,000 refugees from the Kenyan Election Crisis in 2007/8 (CCO provided $5,000 towards that effort). The Lord has led us to establish a friendship with a Masai community, about one hour from our house. It is a family where the husband is not a Christian and many others in the area have been targeted by the Seventh Day Adventists. We feel the Lord has brought us there to share TRUTH with them.”
The Reinchelds came to CCO in March of 2002. They were drawn by the style of worship at the church. “It was obvious that the Holy Spirit was moving and we were looking for evidence of His work in a church…and beyond the walls of the church!” says Nathan.
Now, serving in Kenya may be like returning home for Nathan: he was raised there. Stacy was brought up in Kentucky. Serving at the Academy appears to be a good fit for this couple who seem to value the importance of education, Stacy has degrees in French and History. Nathan is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Education. They both feel that God has given them a love for youth.
Click here to send a message of encouragement to the Reinchelds.
Nathan and Stacy