We are experiencing problems with
our website hosting and the website is not viewable or editable in Uganda
because of security issues; it seems the host sees it best to block access to their
sites in Uganda and that this will be a permanent situation. We are safe and
there is no threat towards us. For now you can see our communications online
at: https://missionafricajk.blogspot.ug/.
Thanks for your patience and as always we need and appreciate your prayers! Outside of Uganda see our website at: www.missionafricajk.net.
July 2018 Mission Africa Prayer Letter:
“...fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV
Friends: Greetings! We are rejoicing as I (Jim) have arrived home after
what we hope will be a very fruitful ministry trip to Sierra Leone, W. Africa
as we have sought the Lord to fulfill our ministry. Sierra Leone (which means
‘mountains of the lion’) is considered one of the poorest countries in the
world and suffered the ravages of war in the 1990’s and most recently an Ebola
outbreak in 2014. It is an ex-British colony and was founded as a haven for freed
slaves returning from America to Africa, slaves who had fought on the British
side during the American
revolutionary war from 1775 to 1783. Sierra Leoneans are 63%
Muslim, 23 % Ethno religionist and 13% Christian though the people were
evangelized beginning in the 1780’s. Life expectancy is about 51 years of age.
Freetown is the capital.
I was blessed to meet Maurice Bangura and his wife, his son Lamin, Gabal
and Maurice’s fellow national church leader Solomon (top 2 photos). We five men
traveled to and served in four areas in Sierra Leone and I was blessed to teach
and preach to Bible College students, pastors and regional leaders and their
wives in two-day ministry times. The pastors and students received teaching and
encouragements in evangelism, church planting, discipleship and—with their
wives—on the second day of the meetings, teaching and encouragement about
marriage. Pastors and wives in Makeni and Kamakwie are seen in the lower two
photos at left. We were told that the teachings are timely and important; the
national leaders selected these teaching topics to address real needs in the
churches.
Pray that the Lord will work through the ministry to help the people there
that:
Evangelism will take place as it isn’t much now and that God will save
through His Gospel.
God intended churches will be planted in 92 areas that were indicated as
areas without existing churches.
That the hindrances to these ministries in a land that is extremely poor,
Muslim and Freemasonic dominated will be overcome.
Discipleship and especially Bible reading will be implemented in a land
where there is fear of the church’s failure.
Marriages especially among pastors/wives will be strengthened and become exemplary
to the churches.
Ministry in the Kamakwie Church on the Lord’s Day will accomplish God’s
purposes in repentance, edification and conversion of the people.
Maurice and Solomon’s families will be protected, provided for and blessed
as they serve the church in such a challenging condition and time. We thank the
Lord for our new friends and the open ministry opportunity in Sierra Leone.
Please pray for very good fruit from this work.
Pictured at the right are our good and long-time friends Jim and Gretchen
Louden of Stockton, Ca. Jim has gone home to be with the Lord. For now we will
miss his keen humor, his authentic Scottish brogue and anecdotes about Scotland,
and his zeal and warmth for the Lord, His Word and His people. We served
together years ago in prisons and the rescue mission. Jim faithfully ministered
for years as a Chaplain at the rescue mission. One year we marched in the
‘March for Jesus’ and Jim and Gretchen had us laughing often during this
blessed and enjoyable time with them. We were enabled to visit with Jim and
Gretchen on all of our furloughs and remember the times the Lord gave us
together fondly. Please pray for dear Gretchen for our Lord’s joy and grace
today.
KAPPY’S CORNER —Can Do, Can’t
Do
Sometime during the night the power was cut. At noon the
power came back and shortly after that the city water was cut. If there’s one
thing I’m learning in a land where power and water are unpredictable it’s to
use what I have while I have it. I’m also learning to patiently do without—most
of the time.
Jim and I have been contemplating this business of growing
older. Every once in a while he lets me know what new thing has happened to his
aging ‘tent’. I concur. But one day recently I realized I was spending too much
time and energy thinking of all the things my aging body can no longer do. It
was depressing.
Some years back I made a list of all the things I can do
with electricity and all the things I can do when there is no electricity. That
way I wasn’t stuck twiddling my thumbs when the power went out. Something
connected in my brain the other day and I decided to make a list of all the
things my body can do instead of the opposite. That simple act put things into
perspective. Happily, there are many more things I can do than things I can’t
do.
Here’s the thing—when God wants us to do something He gives
us the ability to do it. He’s always here, enabling, empowering, motivating,
guiding. But there are also things He wants us to do with the help of other
people to whom He also gives abilities. Then again, there may be things God
simply doesn’t want us to do at all anymore. Someone said, maybe it’s time to
let someone else do those things.
It’s hard to let go of something we really enjoy doing, but
I realize that if I don’t let go I may be holding someone else back from
fulfilling what God has for them. What
it boils down to is submission. Life changes aren’t easy, but when we submit
the whole thing to God and obey Him and leave the results in His perfectly
capable hands, we will be happy.
The Lord opens doors but He also closes doors that no one
can open. We thank the Lord for a continued open door to serve Him here in
Uganda. And we thank Him for you, our partners in the gospel, for your support,
encouragements, and prayers. We rejoice as we grow older for the grace to
continue to serve our Savior as He sees fit. And after that, heaven!
_____________________________________________________
A
Trustworthy Name
"I
will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they
shall trust in the Name of the LORD" (Zephaniah 3:12).
“When true religion is ready to die out among the wealthy it finds a home among the poor of this world, rich in faith. The LORD has even now His faithful remnant. Am I one of them?
Perhaps it is because men are afflicted and poor that they learn to trust in the name of the LORD. He that hath no money must try what he can do on trust. He whose own name is good for nothing in his own esteem, acts wisely to rest in another name, even that best of names, the name of Jehovah. God wilt always have a trusting people, and these will be an afflicted and poor people. Little as the world thinks of them, their being left in the midst of a nation is the channel of untold blessings to it. Here we have the conserving salt which keeps in check the corruption which is in the world through lust.
Again the question comes home to each one of us. Am I one of them? Am I afflicted by the sin within me and around me? Am I poor in spirit, poor spiritually in my own judgment? Do I trust in the LORD? This is the main business. Jesus reveals the name, the character, the person of God; am I trusting in Him? If so, I am left in this world for a purpose. LORD, help me to fulfill it.”
“When true religion is ready to die out among the wealthy it finds a home among the poor of this world, rich in faith. The LORD has even now His faithful remnant. Am I one of them?
Perhaps it is because men are afflicted and poor that they learn to trust in the name of the LORD. He that hath no money must try what he can do on trust. He whose own name is good for nothing in his own esteem, acts wisely to rest in another name, even that best of names, the name of Jehovah. God wilt always have a trusting people, and these will be an afflicted and poor people. Little as the world thinks of them, their being left in the midst of a nation is the channel of untold blessings to it. Here we have the conserving salt which keeps in check the corruption which is in the world through lust.
Again the question comes home to each one of us. Am I one of them? Am I afflicted by the sin within me and around me? Am I poor in spirit, poor spiritually in my own judgment? Do I trust in the LORD? This is the main business. Jesus reveals the name, the character, the person of God; am I trusting in Him? If so, I am left in this world for a purpose. LORD, help me to fulfill it.”
-C.H. Spurgeon British
Preacher 1834-1892
