I first heard the name Jeremy Strang shortly after arriving in Kenya. It was December of 2016, and after years of having an unquenchable desire to leave the U.S. for Africa, and through much answered prayer, God had now seen fit to bring me to the unknown in Kenya along with my wife and our seven youngest children. By God’s providence, we settled in the small village of Kaya and out of our God-given passion to care for orphans and needy children, our family-built Mercy Home. Now approaching four years since our arrival, I can only say with even greater surety than before, that God is good. Through every trial, including being attacked by an angry mob led by prosperity gospel “pastors” intending to chase us out of Kenya and take over our project, and even being jailed, God has been so good and gracious to us. He has provided for our every need and we would not want to change a thing. He has drawn near to us as we have drawn near to Him (James 4:8).
Through everything, God has continued to provide for the needs of our growing family of over 100 children. God has provided for us to establish a primary school to be a blessing to our community, including providing for the church we have planted in our village. God has provided through Gospel preaching, souls who are being saved. God also provided a great friend, brother, and encourager through Jeremy. Having heard about us while we were in the air on the way to Africa, Jeremy soon contacted me out of the blue (from my perspective); but what a blessing God has given us in Jeremy. Even before I finally got the chance to meet him face to face in 2019, I had already felt a closeness to him that can only be explained as of the Lord. I thank God for all of His loving provision to us, His children. But no matter where we are, or what we do, I can say that most importantly, God has provided a Lamb (John 1:29).
It is this Lamb, this mediator, this Savior Jesus Christ that we can, and must, place our entire dependence upon His merits, not having any of our own. And God is faithful to keep His promise to save sinners, among whom I consider myself to be the greatest. We can do nothing but be in awe of our God who seeks us when we do not seek Him (Romans 3:11), who became sin for us so that we may become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) and who died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). It is this King of kings and Lord of lords that we owe everything, even our lives. To serve Jesus is no sacrifice, it is the only sensible thing to do; it is the greatest privilege. We can say with Paul that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” We have absolutely nothing to lose. In Christ, we gain everything. A life lived for ourselves is a life wasted. It is only a life spent walking with God, in Christ, that has any value.
For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13
I believe what Jeremy has beautifully captured in the pages of this book is a personal approach to live life authentically “before God.” Coram Deo is the Latin phrase in the Vulgate in this Psalm meaning “before the face of God” or “in the presence of God”. It is as R.C. Sproul put it, “to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.” I trust you will find in these pages what I have found from my dear brother Jeremy; an encouragement, a motivation, and a call to live life coram Deo.
Jeff R. Bys, Missionary in Kenya and Pastor of Mercy Baptist Church, Kenya
