Mission Africa Prayer Letter July 2018

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!

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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.”

-C.H. Spurgeon  British Preacher 1834-1892