The Journey Begins

13 October 2011 

We have had quite the adventure so far on our way up to South Sudan. We have faced hardships and trials and had some really incredible times of ministry as well. Every step of the way the Lord’s hand has been in it all as He has given us opportunities to share the Gospel with people along the way. We had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a Muslim man who really was hungry for the Gospel the other day due to a delay that we had. It was really amazing to see that, this man was the whole reason we were right where we were at that moment in time. He had a Christian father and a Muslim mother and he believed that both religions were basically the same. We were able to challenge him gently and lovingly with some truth and he went away saying that he was going to have to read his Bible and stop taking for granted what his imam told him to be true about Christianity. It was so good to be able to speak the truth to someone who was so hungry for the Lord.

            The farther north we are getting the more and more I am feeling like I am in Africa. When we got into Tanzania I felt for the first time since being here that I am now really in Africa as everything is very rural and undeveloped. Now that we are in Uganda I feel even more so that I am in Africa. Kampala is absolutely the most chaotic yet intriguing place I have ever been. There are cars everywhere with pedestrians and bicycles mingled into the mix. There are about 30 shops in a space that in the States would only have 5 stores in a shopping center. And these shops are mostly about 20 square feet with things just packed on every square inch of the walls. But the country is absolutely stunning, beautiful, lush with vegetation, and the people are also much happier than the other countries we have been in.

            Now as we are preparing for the ministry that lies ahead of us, we would greatly appreciate your prayers. Pray that we would be used to bring glory to our Lord and Savior and that He alone would be glorified through us. Pray that He leads us every step of the way as we continue to work our way to South Sudan and as we prepare to do leadership training in the world’s newest country.   

Hungry For the Truth

6 October 2011

While we were still in South Africa before we crossed the boarder I had the chance to share the Gospel with a man who was very open and ready to hear about Christ. The man was a security guard who was watching people’s vehicles in the parking lot. I handed him a tract and I asked him what he thought would happen to him if he were to die.

He told me very plainly, “I don’t know.”

 I said to him, “Isn’t that important to know since we will spend much more time dead than we will alive?”

He told me yes but that he maybe someday when he went back to church he could go to heaven then. I told him that going to church won’t save him and neither will all the good works he ever could do. I asked him if he had ever told a lie. And I began going through the Ten Commandments with him. He knew that he was guilty and deserving of hell. So I asked him if he knew what Jesus did for him. He somberly shook his head and said, “no.” So I told him that God sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for his sins to take the punishment that he and I both deserved. He died and was crushed for our sin and after three days rose from the dead, which proved that he was God. Now Jesus is alive forevermore and is reigning at the right hand of the Father. I told the man that the only way we could be saved is by trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. When we do that we can know for sure that we are saved. Not by our works or going to church or anything else but solely by the work of Jesus.

            Immediately the mans’ face lite up. A smile grew across his face. He said that he was so happy to hear that. Looking down at the tract he said, “I must go tell my friends about what God has done for them.” I told him, “yes you should!” I also left him with a gospel of John because unfortunately I didn’t have a whole bible.  It was such an incredible experience and I feel blessed that God would have been so gracious to put a man so ready and hungry for the truth in my path.

I am reminded of what Jesus told His disciples in John 15:11: “These thing I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” When we begin to follow the Lord in obedience we experience His joy. When out of the overflow of our hearts we serve Him, He gives us joy that is inexplicable. I encourage you to walk in intimacy with the Savior today and to follow Him in obedience. He will give you a joy that can only come from Him. We are loved perfectly by our Lord Jesus Christ because He has died for us, that is why we live for Him. He has redeemed us (1 Pet. 1:18-19), He has adopted us into His family (Eph. 1:5), He loves us unconditionally (Rom. 8:31-37), He died for You while you were a wretched sinner (Rom. 5:8), You were dead and by His power alone He made you alive (Eph. 2:1-10), You deserved Hell but now will receive heaven, and this is all because of Jesus not anything you have done! Serve our Savior today who has given everything for us. It is a joy to live and walk with Him the Only One, Who could ever love us perfectly.