Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I am so excited to be writing, in order to announce some incredible news for 2026 that unfolded one day before I started writing.

Great Awakenings has committed to come alongside Manna College in Kenya to completely replace the roofs of its two main buildings (100 x 20 ft each). We will do this during our 4th Annual Evangelism Training and Outreach ministry trip, July 30-August 13, 2026.

This will be the largest ministry project in the history of Great Awakenings, and we will need your help like never before.

This summer while our construction crew was demolishing the ceiling of the computer lab classroom they were told why, “When it rains, the water leaks through the roof and then onto the computers, desks and students.”

When I flew back to the United States, I called Dr. Bishop George Muguro, Principle of Manna, about the water leaks in the classroom. I wanted to know if they were in other rooms also and how extensive they were, which led to numerous exchanges with Manna.

Manna College’s Water Leak Problems

• The metal sheets on both buildings are over 40 years old. They are the original ones that were laid during construction in the late 1980s.
• The sheets are completely rusted through with many holes, and the wooden framing they sit on has deteriorated from the water leaks and insects.
• There are approximately 11 rooms in the two buildings, and all of them have leaks.
• For many years they have managed with the leaks through creative means: putting sealant on holes in the roof; annually painting the sheets; placing plastic above the ceilings in some rooms so the water runs down the walls instead of through the ceiling; continually painting walls and ceilings to cover up the water leak stains.
• During the rains, students in the dorm rooms have to push their beds around to avoid the leaks while buckets are brought in to catch the water.
• When it is raining while teaching students, teachers sometimes move their class to another location.
• Because the leaks are so extensive, it has caused the college to loose students.

As part of the process in seeking God’s will with this project, Manna secured a local contractor to look at their roof for a bid. It will cost $45,000. That includes steel trusses, lumber, metal sheets, guttering, fasteners, flashings, facia boards and more.

Keep in mind, the cost of the roof project is just one aspect of our ministry trip. Like in past years, we will also be doing various teaching, preaching, and evangelism outreaches. And right now, we have a team of three going, which we are expecting more to come. Because our team is not gathered yet and all the ministry plans with Manna are not finalized, I do not have a firm budget total, but it will likely be somewhere between $70,000-$100,000.

Eddie and Mariah are Part of Team 2026!

One team member you are likely familiar with is Eddie Darby from Belleville, Kansas. He came with us this summer as part of our construction crew. While in Kenya, God had so moved on his heart that he told me, “Clint, I’m planning to come back next year.” I urged him to wait until he flew back and to pray and process things. After some time went by I called him up and he had not changed his mind, “Yup, I’m still planning on going back.” Kenya has a hold on Eddie’s heart!

Our second commitment is from Mariah Mazur from Rogers, Arkansas. She is a 19-year-old young woman that is passionate for Christ. For the last couple of years when I came to her church (Rocky Branch Baptist Church) and shared about my trips to Kenya, there was a witness in her spirit that urged her to go.

It started back in 2019 when she came to faith in Christ after a difficult homelife. Then it really took formation in 2023 during a church camp worship service when the speaker was talking about African mission’s and called students to respond. She did!

Mariah has a passion for children and youth and will be helping to serve them through Manna College and Manna Church.

The Biggest Needs for The Manna Roof Project

In November, Manna had 187 students graduate from its various programs. These students are part of over 15,000 that have graduated since 1984 and are scattered all over Kenya and East Africa. For 40 years Manna has been helping to advance the gospel in Africa and this roof project will be an incredible help to their mission.

The Scripture teaches, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Heb. 13:16) We want to do good to our brothers and sisters in Christ at Manna, and share our talents, time and treasure with them. There are two things we need over the next nine months.

• We will need both large and small donations. We need those who have the capacity to give large gifts, as well as those who can provide smaller donation. We need everyone’s help. Whether you are a local church, businessperson, or individual, prayerfully seek the Lord in how you can help invest in Great Awakenings, Manna College and East African missions.

• We need four construction workers.  We need workers who will join with Eddie, and local workers to help demolish the existing roofs and install the new ones.  If you or someone you know would like to get more information contact me at cdecker@greatawakenings.org.

A Gospel Response to Charlie Kirk’s Death

On September 10^th Charlie Kirk, a figure known around the world at just 31 years old, was shot and killed before a live in-person audience of thousands of college students, and an internet audience in the hundreds of millions. Amidst tragedies that had been already happening, his death grabbed the world’s headlines unlike anything else in recent memory. Charlie wore many hats, but one of those he wore all the time was his faith in Christ, which he spoke about regularly, including the morning of his death. This prompted thousands of grassroots led prayer gatherings around the world that were woven in with people going to church for the first time, buying Bibles, getting baptized and making professions of faith in Christ. Observing how Kirk’s death impacted our own small rural town, I felt led by God to organize a prayer vigil to help people process his tragic death. For the Scripture says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15) I wanted to come along side people in their grief and point to Jesus.

It was amazing was God did in our little town through it. Some estimate that 300-500 people showed up at our town square, along with several thousand who watched online. Here are some comments I received…

* “Thank you to all who helped in any way to put this together. It was truly a blessing.”

* “Very powerful small-town event.”

* “It was amazing seeing so many…people come together!”

* “I needed this time of reflecting on what happened [to Charlie].”

* “It’s beautiful to see all the people who came together tonight and a beautiful message.”

I was also grateful to our local police and sheriff’s departments, that to my surprise, volunteered to jointly cover the event in case there were any disruptors.

God’s Mysterious Ways

The beginning of 2025 I felt God leading me to preach a series of messages on His plan for marriage and family, and provide a biblical response to the cultural chaos over it. As I write, I am on message nine so far. In March, one of my first messages on this was at a small church outside of Topeka, Kansas. The congregation received it as a “breath of fresh air,” but the pastor I was filling in for watched online and condemned my message. I called him to offer thanks for allowing me to preach when he firmly expressed his rejection of my sermon, then hung up on me, and later removed the message from the church’s Facebook page. The whole event caused quite a stir.

Interestingly, within a couple months after I preached, the pastor chose to retire and by July they had a new Bible believing pastor that embraced God’s Word, including His plan for marriage and the family. At first, the pastor’s response was a mystery, but then later I understood what God was doing. The Bible says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Gen 50:20)

Your Partnership

Thank you for this incredible year of ministry you have been part of. Every week I have been traveling, preaching in small and rural churches while faithfully delivering God’s Word. Every week I also have been prayerfully crafting biblical based articles for small town newspapers in the central United States that is reaching the lost and building up the church surrounding some of the most important issues of our day.

If you supported or prayed for me and the work of Great Awakenings in the last year, thank you so much. I am eternally grateful for your financial and prayerful partnership in the gospel. Kathe and I, along with our board of directors, wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Living for Christ this Holiday Season,

Clint Decker
President
Great Awakenings, Inc

P.S.: Would you consider making an end of year donation to join us in our work at proclaiming Christ in rural communities for 2026?  Pray and seek the Lord if He would have you give a donation of any size. Maybe God has given you the capacity to provide a $20,000 or $10,000 gift toward the Manna roof project, or maybe He has given you the ability to make a $500, $100, $50 or $25 gift. Whatever it is, give by faith and for the glory of God. Learn how you can give by clicking the donate button above.