We visited this village on the last Tuesday. We had run out of minus glasses but a friend's contribution allowed us to purchase 95 pair of eyeglasses so we could do the clinic. The "under construction" church, sprinkled with Believers when we arrived, filled up with the unconverted "spectators". At the conclusion of the Gospel Message, 20 people indicated they were accepting Christ as the one true God and as Lord and Saviour. As people poured in for the clinic, it seemed on the verge of uncontrol at any moment. As the day wore on, more an more people crowded in. Benjamin saw we were running low on glasses, and knowing that more would be coming as the workers came from the fields, he suggested we close up (hurriedly). It's always hard to leave those latecomers begging without giving something to show the love of Christ. But all the suitases were closed, and we loaded up the van. Still onlookers were begging with actions indicating pain and poor eyesight! The village women at the well had been arguing for a while, so tension was high. As we left the church (praying for the Pastor, his family, and the ministry, they had such sweet smiles of rejoicing on their faces. (127 of the 250 seen in the cinic had prayed to receive Christ).
In the van, Benjamin told us the "rest of the story". A few weeks before, some of the opposing religion in the village had beaten the Pastor and his wife. They said they counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ and had welcomed the opportunity to do good to their enemies that day. Some of those who had beaten the Pastor were in the congregation and/or clinic, and they came to him and assured him that it would never happen again as they had seen him give so willingly and joyfully that day.
How long since you suffered for the Gospel?
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Privilege to Suffer for Christ
We visited this village on the last Tuesday. We had run out of minus glasses but a friend's contribution allowed us to purchase 95 pair of eyeglasses so we could do the clinic. The "under construction" church, sprinkled with Believers when we arrived, filled up with the unconverted "spectators". At the conclusion of the Gospel Message, 20 people indicated they were accepting Christ as the one true God and as Lord and Saviour. As people poured in for the clinic, it seemed on the verge of uncontrol at any moment. As the day wore on, more an more people crowded in. Benjamin saw we were running low on glasses, and knowing that more would be coming as the workers came from the fields, he suggested we close up (hurriedly). It's always hard to leave those latecomers begging without giving something to show the love of Christ. But all the suitases were closed, and we loaded up the van. Still onlookers were begging with actions indicating pain and poor eyesight! The village women at the well had been arguing for a while, so tension was high. As we left the church (praying for the Pastor, his family, and the ministry, they had such sweet smiles of rejoicing on their faces. (127 of the 250 seen in the cinic had prayed to receive Christ).
In the van, Benjamin told us the "rest of the story". A few weeks before, some of the opposing religion in the village had beaten the Pastor and his wife. They said they counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ and had welcomed the opportunity to do good to their enemies that day. Some of those who had beaten the Pastor were in the congregation and/or clinic, and they came to him and assured him that it would never happen again as they had seen him give so willingly and joyfully that day.
How long since you suffered for the Gospel?
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Miracle of Kibale (The rest of the story)
To read the first part of the story, click here.
This is the rest of the story... Sunday Nov 11, 2012, at the Kibale BC (God’s Plan BC), we arrived to a temporary shed with a grass mat ceiling and walls, which was expanded to include an orange-tarped area added on the side to hold over 140 people. (Tarps are not as cool as grass mats). The people were already worshipping and celebrating when we arrived and greeted us excitedly. Songs continued, all teaching the biblical truths that will keep these people strong while living life in difficult circumstances: “Though I lose everything, still I will serve Him”. (This is the church GOD planted in June when the vans both broke down in the ONLY town inside a one hour drive. 19 young men gave their lives to Christ as the team had their own impromptu Crusade (minus us leaders who had returned to town to solve the problem of petrol in a diesel powered van)). There were about 60 adults, Youth and 60 children present for the service. We were planning baptism, and, as the question was asked for a show of hands on who would be baptized, I asked how many of the original 19 men converts would be baptized. Nine men stood, indicating they were part of the original 19. Today 36 new Believers of that new church were baptized.
After the service, we loaded up and drove to other new churches where about 300 people piled into a rented cattle truck to go to a stream for baptism. 127 adults and youth were baptized from 5 churches: 36 from Kibale. When Agnatius had gone to the Kibale Baptist Church the first time after we left in June, there were only men in the church. He asked where the women were. The men said that their wives were waiting to see if Christ really did make a difference in their husbands’ lives before making that commitment to Christ themselves. We returned to Kibale for lunch served by the church (just to us). We had bought 10 loaves of bread in case there wasn’t food for the masses. We broke each slice in 2 and the kids impatiently pushed for their ½ slice. (The Pastors helped finally with a "line”). I had given out candy to the 40+ kids in the church and shared a Bible story with them. About 15 of the older kids indicated a decision for Christ.
Tonight we had a impromptu mini-Crusade under a large tree. After a message on Ps. 40, 111 more people gave their lives to Christ. (Time for another baptism). It was the ONLY day it didn’t cloud up and rain in the afternoon. One man said, “Take those cigarettes out of my pocket. I’m giving my life to Christ.”
After lunch on Tuesday, we attended Simon’s Discipleship class at Kibale. 27 adults, 6 Youth and about 30 children listened attentively. Two men read out of the 2 Bibles in the group, and people eagerly answered questions (and applauded the correct answer). After 1 ½ hour of class, a man raised his hand and said that he had missed baptism on Sunday (cooking for us, I think) and asked, “What shall I do?” Two more said they had missed it too, and Hugh commented, “We’ll just go do it now”. So we loaded them in the car, drove a wild 15 minutes back to the stream again and baptized the 3.
As we did the baptism, of course, a small crowd had gathered. The thought crossed my mind as I looked over at them, “And what hinders YOU from being baptized?” After the Lord whispered it 3 times, I went over and explained to them what had just taken place, preached the Gospel to them and 5 of the 7 gave their lives to Christ. As we laughed about all the "coincidental", unplanned things that had happened, none of which we had planned, we realized "God DID have a plan". The Pastors decided to name the church God's Plan Baptist Church.
This is the rest of the story... Sunday Nov 11, 2012, at the Kibale BC (God’s Plan BC), we arrived to a temporary shed with a grass mat ceiling and walls, which was expanded to include an orange-tarped area added on the side to hold over 140 people. (Tarps are not as cool as grass mats). The people were already worshipping and celebrating when we arrived and greeted us excitedly. Songs continued, all teaching the biblical truths that will keep these people strong while living life in difficult circumstances: “Though I lose everything, still I will serve Him”. (This is the church GOD planted in June when the vans both broke down in the ONLY town inside a one hour drive. 19 young men gave their lives to Christ as the team had their own impromptu Crusade (minus us leaders who had returned to town to solve the problem of petrol in a diesel powered van)). There were about 60 adults, Youth and 60 children present for the service. We were planning baptism, and, as the question was asked for a show of hands on who would be baptized, I asked how many of the original 19 men converts would be baptized. Nine men stood, indicating they were part of the original 19. Today 36 new Believers of that new church were baptized.
After the service, we loaded up and drove to other new churches where about 300 people piled into a rented cattle truck to go to a stream for baptism. 127 adults and youth were baptized from 5 churches: 36 from Kibale. When Agnatius had gone to the Kibale Baptist Church the first time after we left in June, there were only men in the church. He asked where the women were. The men said that their wives were waiting to see if Christ really did make a difference in their husbands’ lives before making that commitment to Christ themselves. We returned to Kibale for lunch served by the church (just to us). We had bought 10 loaves of bread in case there wasn’t food for the masses. We broke each slice in 2 and the kids impatiently pushed for their ½ slice. (The Pastors helped finally with a "line”). I had given out candy to the 40+ kids in the church and shared a Bible story with them. About 15 of the older kids indicated a decision for Christ.
Tonight we had a impromptu mini-Crusade under a large tree. After a message on Ps. 40, 111 more people gave their lives to Christ. (Time for another baptism). It was the ONLY day it didn’t cloud up and rain in the afternoon. One man said, “Take those cigarettes out of my pocket. I’m giving my life to Christ.”
After lunch on Tuesday, we attended Simon’s Discipleship class at Kibale. 27 adults, 6 Youth and about 30 children listened attentively. Two men read out of the 2 Bibles in the group, and people eagerly answered questions (and applauded the correct answer). After 1 ½ hour of class, a man raised his hand and said that he had missed baptism on Sunday (cooking for us, I think) and asked, “What shall I do?” Two more said they had missed it too, and Hugh commented, “We’ll just go do it now”. So we loaded them in the car, drove a wild 15 minutes back to the stream again and baptized the 3.
As we did the baptism, of course, a small crowd had gathered. The thought crossed my mind as I looked over at them, “And what hinders YOU from being baptized?” After the Lord whispered it 3 times, I went over and explained to them what had just taken place, preached the Gospel to them and 5 of the 7 gave their lives to Christ. As we laughed about all the "coincidental", unplanned things that had happened, none of which we had planned, we realized "God DID have a plan". The Pastors decided to name the church God's Plan Baptist Church.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thank you to all who gave and prayed for
Uganda
Pastor Agnatius is so
thankful for the screens on the Dorms, saying the number of malaria cases has
really dropped with the addition of the screens. (VBS & FBC gifts). We took pictures of as many of the FBC
sponsored kids as we could get together.
It was exam time for some and others had finished the school year.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Pallisa Christian School, Uganda
Just wanted to let you know GOD ANSWERS PRAYER! (In case you didn’t know it already).
I recently posted 1 time on our high school class FB page regarding the great need for Sponsors for SONshine Kids in Uganda. I had 2 responses and wrote them back via e-mail. One replied immediately & sponsored 2 kids. I didn’t hear from the other., but that was o.k.
As I had been thinking about the needs of the kids, I was really concerned about the requested (and unavailable) $5000 needed for beans to be purchased NOW since it was harvest time. Being especially frugal, I hated to think of paying almost twice as much when we purchased them later. I decided to just pray for that $5000 to come in.
I returned home late Saturday night. Hugh asked me, “Are you ‘on mission for Jesus’ “? Perplexed, I said “what?” He repeated the question again - a couple of times. (I kept thinking, “That sounds familiar”.) **There's a line under my phone numbers on my e-mail). I finally said, “Well, that’s my blogspot name”.
He slowly passed a check at me. I looked at it, frowning in confusion?? It was made out to “OnMIssion4Jesus”, and it was for $5000!!!! It was from the other person to whom I had sent the e-mail about sponsoring kids.
I said to Hugh, in amazement, smiling, “I’ve been praying for the money to buy beans for the kids. Do you know how much the beans are?”
He answered, hesitantly, “$5000?”
I nodded yes. I was just amazed!!!! Lord, you are soooo good. Why do I doubt your abilities?
Then I thought, “Now, how am I going to get a check made out to ‘OnMission4Jesus” cashed?” LOL But I’ve got that simple problem solved.
Thank you, Lord. I believe! Lord, help my unbelief!
For information on sponsoring a child, got to TCWM.org and click "Sponsor a Child". Mark it Uganda child.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Budaka Baptist Church, Uganda
This 30' x 60' church, being built by FBC Mabank, has the potential of having over 200 members upon completion. It is a GIANT step from the termite eaten wooden shed with tin sheets in which the church started. It has been struggling along as town churches costs much more than village churches.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Kapala Baptist Church
On our first visit to this village in interior Uganda, we did nightly Crusades for 3 nights. As a result of the many people who trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior, a church was planted there the net Sunday. The people rented a space which was immediately too small! The men sat inside on benches provided for the occasion, the women and children sat outside on a pile of rocks! And this young man listened (joining in the singing and prayer time) at an air hole in the side of the building where the sound also came out. I thought of the wailing wall in Jerusalem where the people write their prayer requests to the Lord and place it in a slot in the bricks. The people love to worship and their musical instruments are often their hands.
A chair can serve as the platform for the preacher, so all can see and hear the message, as well as a "table" to hold the offering box as the people give (out of their poverty) obediently.
6 years later a permanent church still has not been built and the church struggles to reach the people of the community. Meanwhile other religions (NOT denominations) come in and build beautiful buildings to encourage the people to deny the Christian faith. Please pray for the people of Uganda, especially the pastors, that they would not become discouraged by the hardships.
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