Ministry History

Call to Preach

I was 19 or 20 when God first started working on my heart to call me to preach. My family and I were assisting in planting Open Bible Baptist Church about 30 minutes outside of Thika, Kenya. Our main ministry was teaching Sunday school and junior church. The pastor, Matthew Nyaga asked me if I was ready to preach several times but each time the answer was “No.” Finally he set a date, and I prepared. I thought I would fail miserably, because I am quiet, shy, and reserved by nature. I had even planned to swear an oath to God after that sermon never to preach again, so that I would be bound by that oath and could not turn back! My first sermon was from Jeremiah 9:23-24 and my outline was a sorry outline. I believe there were only 5 or 6 people in attendance that day. But Pastor Matthew was thoroughly impressed and wanted me to preach again. I remember feeling like maybe preaching wasn’t so bad after all. I never did make that oath! God had other plans. In my devotions soon thereafter, God used Amos 7:14 to call me to preach. I surrendered and soon began preaching at least once a month. I praise God for the opportunities He has given me to preach His Word.

Higher Education

In 2014, I joined Independent Baptist College of Ministry in Nairobi, Kenya, (a daughter school of Baptist College of Ministry) and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts. I went on to pursue a Master of Arts at Baptist Theological Seminary near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which I completed in 2022.

Church Planting

Nothing has prepared me for ministry more than the practical experience I have gained by helping with local church plants in Kenya. Throughout my life, I have witnessed and participated in the planting of several independent Baptist churches. These churches were either closely connected to or directly founded by my father, missionary Rick Simonsen. I was baptized at Victory Baptist Church, was given my first opportunity to preach at Open Bible Baptist Church, interned at Lighthouse Baptist Church, and taught my first teen boys Sunday school class at Trinity Baptist Church.

Bethel Baptist Youth Camp

Much of my ministry history has been focused on teens and youth. God allowed me on at least two occasions to be one of the main speakers at Bethel Baptist Church’s youth camp. This church, which hosts Independent Baptist College of Ministry, hosted these camps on the church property. Each year we had from 15 to 30 campers from several independent Baptist churches in the area. During these camps, several trusted Christ or received assurance of salvation, and many made key decisions for God.

Ukambani Youth Camp

In August of 2019, a group from our college was invited by several local independent Baptist pastors to conduct a youth camp about 3 or 4 hours away from the capital city of Nairobi. Here we found the young people’s hearts tender and open to the preaching like we had rarely experienced before. Approximately 150 attended during the course of the week and 67 young people responded to the Gospel invitation the first night! Several more important faith steps were taken during that week as well.

Minutemen Ministries

During the spring of 2019, God gave me the unique opportunity to travel with Evangelist Jim Van Gelderen and the War of Special Forces team. Based out of Falls Baptist Church, this evangelistic team hosts revival meetings and competitions in Christian schools all across the US. I had the privilege of being a team captain for the entire tour. I learned priceless truths about revival, faith, prayer, spiritual warfare, and the victorious Christian life. Those five months were a life-changer for me.

Call to Missions

After returning from traveling with Dr. Jim Van Gelderen, my heart was aflame for revival and the evangelization of Kenya. A small group of missionaries and nationals at Lighthouse Baptist Church began gathering weekly to seek the Lord for revival. I remember keenly those times when God would burden me to pray for those regions of Kenya where the Gospel was sparse. A year later, in a class on missions at BCM, Pastor Mark Gillmore challenged us with the question “Where has the Gospel not yet gone?” As I examined Kenya, I felt that the coastal region, with a heavy Muslim population was one such area where the Gospel had not yet gone. God later confirmed His leading to this area by saving a soul while taking a survey trip there. In the future, I hope to see churches started along the coast among the Muslims of that region, and to reach out to more areas in Kenya where the Gospel is sparse and solid churches are non-existent.