The new way some churches do missions

10 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by in Missions Today, Orphans, Uncategorized

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I have witnessed something I will put in the category of phenomena. In April I attended 4 weeks of Sunday services at 2 mega-churches that captured the attention and the hearts of its people for serving needs around the world through a modern approach. For me, an updated missions conference was born.

Getting church people to become passionate about winning people to Christ outside our borders, the issues of poverty, and needs in the world is a tall order. We, North Americans often want to cloister in our safe places. We desire to only get as close to international issues as the evening news or maybe an extra few minutes of CNN coverage. But something happened in the month of April to help me learn that a church can shepherd its people to care about people around the globe and even the most pressing issues in the world.

Our youngest daughter’s church, Church of the City in Franklin, TN was the place I experienced watching a church decidedly choose to challenge and educate its 5000 members about Children at Risk. This is how they did it in 3 weeks. The first week (April 3) the pastor introduced the title of the emphasis, “What If?”, the concept of taking on a different subject every year and asking themselves, What if they could make a difference in a huge world issue in Jesus’ name. The pastor used Acts 1:8 to teach the concentric circles of outreach…local, regional, and international in direction and scope. We are familiar with this strategy that Jesus spoke of when it comes to missional outreach.

This year the congregation would learn about children at risk and how to help meet the needs of children orphaned by war, AIDS, poverty, and family crisis. The first week the church brought in two church partners from Malawi who operated a school and an orphanage. The congregation could be proud of what their church was doing there. After a great introduction by the senior pastor, they sat together on a couch and he interviewed this couple about the facts, complexities, and stories of the progress in caring for hundreds of kids. God was given the glory for the wonderful ministry that we heard about.

I asked myself, is this hour long experience enough to ignite the energy of 5000 suburbanites? The answer is, I’m not convinced in would be done in just one week alone. This is how it continued.

  • There would be 3 weeks to process this subject.
  • There were projects to do for young families. We picked up an inexpensive kit for kids to collect money for this three weeks and instructions for the parents of how to teach at home.
  • The church purchased a shipping container, that they would fill with care packages and school supplies for the 500 families of the school in Malawi.
  • Families could come in the evenings of the 3 weeks to paint murals on the container’s walls that would be shipped to the school, which the school would repurpose for use at the school in  Malawi (picture below).

What is also a key factor is giving the reports of how the project went a few weeks later. I copied this from the Facebook page the week after the container was launched.

Our shipping container is packed to the brim & headed to Malawi! We are so thankful for your generosity in giving to our friends in Adziwa. Nearly 500 families will receive care packages & educational supplies from this container, and then the container itself will be transformed into a science lab for Adziwa Christian School.13179424_681351798670380_1683207597664952017_n

I listened online to the next two weeks anxious to see how this would play out. The second week a couple from the area, who had moved to Haiti after the earthquake devastation were interviewed about their decision to adopt children orphaned by the earthquake. Their story was riveting. The followup mini-sermon by the pastor was full of teaching the scriptural mandates for taking care of orphans and widows.

The third week was where the rubber met the road. People were challenged to step up to apply what they had learned at home. Exploring local foster care, they heard a story about a church in Denver that had been challenged to take seriously this mandate to care for orphans. It seems that Denver churches have actually adopted all the adoptable children from their state’s foster care system. Could Franklin, TN be the next place to take on this challenge?  Because of this serious challenge, my daughter tells me that 300 couples came to an information meeting that next week about the numbers of children available for adoption in the state of Tennessee. In the next weeks, 72 families had pursued adopting children from the foster care system of TN.

My theory was validated that individuals in the evangelical church will step up to the challenge of scripture if they learn and understand how to do so. Without a vision, the church perishes. Certainly, without a vision, people sit idly by. Learning about a need and then being given ways to do something specific…is the key.

The next week I was helping with an exhibit for Kerus Global Education at the 3 week missions conference called Celebration of Hope (COH) at my former church, Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL.   A few years ago I was surprised to learn that about 11 years ago Willow started the Celebration of Hope. It is a 3 week series to celebrate what Willow’s international partners are doing in the 12 countries in which Willow partners. (When I was on the global board of Willow Creek in the 1990’s, I must admit that I never thought this could happen. Back then Willow began its missions ventures with partnerships in 2 countries, and I wasn’t sure they would grow beyond that.)

For the 3 weeks of Celebration of Hope the gigantic atrium is full of exhibits show-casing the “technical partners” who empower and bring the expertise to the nationally lead projects and ministry in these countries. They also bring in many of the nationals who lead these efforts, (somewhat like the missionaries in more traditional missions-oriented churches do annually). To give an actual picture of the work going on, there is a weekly video of the partners on site talking and showing the work and also some live interviews with partners. The music and the backdrop set enhance the theme.

Besides the annual financial giving, Willow has found something everyone can do to contribute towards the needs of the world. During one of the weekends of Celebration of Hope, people sign up for a couple hours of packing seed packets that will go to African villagers to plant in their gardens. This year 20,000 people showed up to pack over a million seed packets that were shipped last week.

The church offers a 5K run where people find sponsors or pay to run or walk or stroll the 5k around the church neighborhood. This year that money raised went to their refugee ministry. The first week of the COH people are encouraged to collect what will be their financial gift to the COH at the end of the three weeks. I learned from some children brought to see our exhibit during their Sunday School hour that their families save up to give during the year. People can designate their gift to their interest area: Education, Health and Hunger, Leadership and Pastoral Development, Refugee and Peacemaking, or “Greatest Need”. People own this responsibility and explore the atrium for 3 weeks learning what is being done in each arena.

This year with the refugee crisis of Syria and the Congo, these two realities were emphasized. Ways to get involved with this crisis were spelled out. The pastor had recently visited Europe and reported on the Syrian refugee crisis with a personal word of challenge as to our position as believers in Christ. Connecting the dots from our biblical commitment to real situations in the world as well as the local area is the key to making this relevant to the average person.

My Opinion as a Former Missions Pastor

It is my observation that missions-minded evangelical churches around the country, find it hard to focus or showcase what their partners and missionaries are doing on the field. The tradition is often to bring in an outside speaker who is a missions enthusiast to cast the vision for serving overseas instead of hearing from those in whom the church invests.

I believe it is usually the aim of the more traditional church that this effort will challenge a couple young people or families to consider serving overseas. I think that the potential of these conferences is lost on 99% of the congregation who sit by and listen to or may even checkout emotionally while asking themselves ‘what does this have to do with me’.

There is often no challenge for actual involvement or even investment in what is happening for the average person. I think that most people from historically missions-oriented churches think that these issues are being  covered by their church’s budget or handled by the professional missions staff of the church. Having been in a leadership role for years, I have heard friends say that this special emphasis on global work is intimidating to the average person, as it is miles beyond their interests or realities. Why is that so?

I believe it does not have to be this way. I have just experienced 6 weeks of preaching and teaching and educational interviews and exhibits that have been revered as “the favorite weeks” in the church calendar in both churches I am referring to. The people from the two churches I have highlighted can proudly boast about:

  • what they see God doing overseas,
  • what they are investing in personally through their church,
  • what their churches are doing to combat the problems in the world,
  • what they personally learned about poverty or needs in the world
  • and how these ministries lead people to faith in Jesus Christ.

I have a renewed hope in the local church. I hope that leaders will take a fresh look at how to challenge and disciple their people. I have always believed that people rise to the level of the challenge they are given. Jesus never held back when he said,

JOHN 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

 

 

 

 

Male dominated tribal groups learn to value women

18 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in AIDS in Africa, Hope for Life Kenya, Uncategorized

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My dear friend Josephine K. is a brave and courageous woman who lives in a small town near Nakuru, Kenya. She has been in my life since our church began a partnership in which she remains a key leader for the last 16 years ago. God continues to use her in miraculous ways. She doesn’t settle for less.

As I have shared before, Josephine oversees Hope for Life, a community based program for children at risk in her own neighborhood where HIV/AIDS ravages childrens’ lives. Many of you sponsor her high schoolers. Josephine could remain at the center mentoring these 125 children, feeding and discipling them as she does so well, without stepping outside her community. But that is not her way. She is compelled to teach and empower people to their full potential as they understand from God’s word that they are God’s image bearers.  .

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A number of years ago she was mentored by an incredible American missionary woman in community development principles. She was trained to teach a fantastic curriculum in Transformational Development principles and methods that she now uses and teaches wherever she is invited around Kenya. She receives many invitations to teach womens’ community groups, church groups, and often in communities where no one else seems to want to go. It has been difficult to believe anything progressive can happen among some of these tribes.

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one of the many women’s groups that are changing their communities

I am going to share an unbelievable story I received recently from Josephine.  My church helped sponsor this training event a few weeks ago and we received this report upon her return. I have asked her permission to share it on my blog. I know you will be blessed and even more so,  you will be amazed at how God used this time in February to change lives.  (I will mark in bold the statements that demonstrate strong development principles.)

“We arrived in Eldoret at 8 p.m. on Monday, the 1st of February. At 8.30 p.m. the first group of 30 arrived from Northern Kenya. The next group of 30 arrived at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. We started the training at 8.30 a.m. with 74 participants. (These individuals would be facilitators of new methods upon returning home.) It is tradition in some areas that women must be escorted by husbands and other leaders from their community. We embraced this as a good opportunity to involve these men in group discussions together with women.

Initially, it was very difficult for the men to allow women to speak in their midst. So as a method of teaching, we used a ball and tossed it to both men and women to answer open-ended questions. Men realized that women were sharp and were giving better opinions and ideas. At the end of the second day the men formed discussion groups to critically analyze resources (or assets) within their locality—untapped resources that could be utilized to improve their livelihood and quality life. We were surprised when they said how much women have been untapped wealthy resources in their communities.

There were five groups represented from different regions of Kenya: some near Eldoret including some well known groups like Turkana and Pokot. There were 76 women in all and 14 men. Realizing how much other people are gifted in creating ideas of different projects and how important it is to respect others by accommodating their ideas without discrimination or prejudice, facilitators were then asked to revisit their culture and analyze the good and also the harm it has done as pertains to women and development. They realized as facilitators that they are donors to development projects in the manner of mobilization, sensitization, planning, and assignment of different roles to willing people.

 

There were those present who could only communicate in the vernacular. We were amazed at how members from the two groups from Northern Kenya volunteered to interpret to their groups. Women translated while men sat and listened, something previously unheard of. One man who came representing a peace forum in his locality stood and said, “What I like about this seminar is women empowerment.” I asked why. He said, “This training is uncovering what we men have been covering for so long—not regarding women as God’s image bearers. When we go back to our place in the Chief’s meeting, we shall allow women to give ideas just like we do.”

This forum group wrote the following resolutions:

  1. No more marriages of young girls 14 years old.
  2. No more training boys to be raiders, because our girls are left as widows at an early age.
  3. There is no need for inheriting widows because they are capable of taking care of their families. They even have more money from the income generating groups of theirs and they manage families better.
  4. Those women who refused to be inherited are better than men.
  5. Our attitudes towards women must change from now to create space for improved livelihood.
  6. Abandoning the practice of ‘Disco Matanga’ a dance done a day before a funeral where people do sex with any partner in belief to replace the dead but which spreads HIV/AIDS, they resolved to do rational and appropriate projects.
  7. Raiding and killing of neighbors during raiding results in many children left as orphans and very young women as widows. So no more raiding. Social projects would immediately start for both women and men, as women will train men on initiating income generating projects.
  8. Women decided that they will present poems in public forums, teaching how important women are and, given a chance, they can sustain families.

There arose a question about intermarriages. One member of Turkana said that their girls get married to Pokots 80%, but Pokots give only 10% to  Turkana. One woman quickly stood up and said, “When we Pokots get married to your boys, once the women get to old age after giving birth, according to your culture, you kill them, so this is why we don’t get married to you.” The room was deadly silent.

I called upon one of the old men who was a moran (warrior) escort to tell us the way forward. He said, “That was the only good we knew before we came here. It has dawned on us that you women are just like us and even better because several of you take care of families after the death of husbands. You still bear with us when we take you like our wealth of cows and goats. You bear with us when we marry many of you in a homestead and leave you without taking care of you and your children. Now that we have known how valuable you could have been and having learned what we have learned, we shall revisit our culture and discard those parts that overlook and demean you women. It is important that when we leave here we call a forum to put things in order.” Everybody shouted with joy. It was very impressive to see women come forward to tell what they have done to keep the lives of their children moving. 

There was one who some years ago after the first training started an Early Childhood Development School. Partnering with her husband who is one of our facilitators, a pastor and now appointed as an assistant chief, the school has grown to a secondary school.  She was kicked out when the school grew, but she vowed to start another school the same way. She said, “Women are donors of brains and visions but men have refused to accept.” The male representatives of different groups stood and said, “From now on, we are partners, and even in any public meeting, we shall listen when you share your ideas.” The women sang and sang.

When we came to the close of the seminar, one moran (young warrior) stood and boldly came forward. He said, “’No more guns, no more killing, but the Bible.” He came and knelt down and lifted his hands up ready to get saved. All the rest did the same and women sang praises. He got saved and 10 others confessed they want “the Bible way”. They do not know salvation. They said, ‘You Mum (Josephine), you have regarded us with respect even if we are dirty. You always ask whether we have had enough food and you don’t eat until we have eaten. You have taught us about a God who is very different from our gods of the sun, moon, mountains, lakes and the rivers. All our gods have been created by your God,. We want this God who is not as evil as us who have oppressed our women. Tell your God to accept us and we shall liberate these women of ours.” It was so touching.

I called upon one of the reverends who had come to join us to close the training officially and he prayed for them. They conducted a song in their vernacular and wrapped a green sheet on me and three of our facilitators as a sign that they have discarded all the evil they have been doing to women and girls. They promised to change and utilize every untapped resource to do development with women. One elder said that every one of his girls that will be married in his locality shall be given land to plow just like he would do to his sons.

I had ordered a cake for them to cut for the women as a sign of faithfulness to their vows. Both communities cut the cake and fed the women. They fed me, too, and it was great.

The funding done for such forums is God-planned because such a training was the first of its kind and the attitude towards women totally changed. The women felt so empowered that they sang songs of liberation and deliverance. They will now go to facilitate those interior areas that have women still downtrodden.”

I belive we have been privileged to read an account of God doing a miracle among some of the hardest African tribal people to reach with the gospel.  It has been done through Transformational Development teaching. I know you are praising God for being allowed to read this testimony of what He has done. To God be the glory.

I will add that if you feel so moved to help Josephine in her many endeavors to teach in her community, you can visit this website to help support her. 

Dubai and back

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Missions Today, Thrive Ministry

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As a volunteer who went to Dubai, UAE to serve 80 global workers at a Thrive retreat, I am back home with a full heart to share some things I observed about the women I met. You’ve heard me talk about Thive before. I went to Tanzania in 2013 on one of these  retreats for women serving in Africa. (You can learn more about Thrive from my blog here as well). Ministering to women in Dubai was somewhat different since the Mideast is so unique. So many of these women were so incredibly commited to the hard places and hard people that they live among and want to reach out to. Many of these women were young moms who were raising their families in a land of sand and grey buildings… sacrificing not only green spaces and modern conveniences, but friends and fellowship.

The first evening I met my small group of women and I soon realized that they work within the stress of young families and traveling husbands.That may seem common in the suburbs, but remember they live with few supportive friends, hostile neighborhoods, abusive social practices, and many strict cultural restraints on women. Some had seen co-workers killed. Yet in the midst of  this these women understand a calling from God to love and reach their neighbors with the good news.

Over the many years that I have personally observed those going to serve overseas, I am more optomistic and impressed by this generation and their desire to work in difficult places for the sake of bringing God’s love than ever.  It is very difficult in their world to step out and create a homebase for their families while trying to serve the needs of those hurting and in need of hope in such bleak circumstances. In my group there were two Physicians Assistants, a nurse practitioner, a family doing translation, church planters and they were all moms with little kids. One had adopted two of her Ugandan neighbors’ orphaned children. These women became my new heros.

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Besides Bible messages, small group processing, singing in meaningful worship, and precious time spent in prayer, the women also had the option to make various kinds of appointments. Some options were counseling with a professional, getting a massage, a haircut, a pedicure (by a non-professional like me), a health consultation with a nurse, or even to have their “colors” done. The troup of volunteers served for long hours each day. Each appointment ended with prayer. Our evenings were filled with laughter telling stories and playing games. One game was called “Taste of Home”, which involved a white elephant gift exchange of things that global workers crave and cannot find in their countries. The fights over Cheezits and marshmallows were hilarious.

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I will add that as the new chairman of the Board of Directors of Thrive Ministries, I am proud of the effectiveness of this ministry in providing retreats that create a safe place for global women to come and be renewed. Our desire is to serve their needs and keep them doing what they are doing in their roles in the “great commission”. During the days together, I watched God meet their unique needs. The burdens they were carrying seemed to lighten as they were shared and were surrendered to Jesus in new ways.

I enjoyed being a part of the 30 volunteers who poured out a formidable gift of love and attention on these servants who deserved it so much. It was my great privilege to meet these women and pray for their needs.

You may want to consider serving these global women on one of the 4 annual retreats…encouraging and empowering them and being their advocate. Check out the opportunities on the Thrive webpage. 

 

Sharing thoughts on our black brothers and sisters

20 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Uncategorized

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To me it is a very good thing that the U.S. remembers Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 3rd Monday of January each year. It seems good that it launches us into a time in February called Black History Month.

A very special church service at Willow Creek Community Church on Martin Luther King weekend is something you may want to see. The interview with James Meeks from Chicago’s famous Salem Baptist Church of Chicago is fantasic.

May we learn more about this people group with whom we share our path. And in the learning, may it hopefully result in deeper understanding, compassion, and action.

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Here is a good piece from a blog that I follow called, Tip of the Iceberg. Has anyone seen my old friend Martin?

I would love to have you share good articles with me that move us to understanding and about what it means to be black in a majority white culture in America.

The told and untold stories

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Uncategorized

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Last month, I had a conversation with Michael Kelley about his book, Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life. Michael tells the story of Bert Elliot, brother to missionary Jim, as an example of what faithfulness over a lifetime looks like. For those of us who are not “meteors streaking across the sky,” it serves as a reminder of how we can be a steady light for the gospel no matter where God has placed us.

 

Have You Heard of Jim’s Brother, Bert?

Jim Elliot’s story is a familiar one, but have you heard of Bert? I had not. But by God’s grace, I have now, thanks to a message given by Randy Alcorn fifty years after the men died on the beach in Ecuador. Bert is Jim Elliot’s older brother. He’s the one who isn’t famous.

He was a student at Multnomah Bible College in 1949, and he and his young wife were invited by a missionary to come to Peru and join the work there. Other than an occasional furlough, there they have stayed. Now in their eighties, they are still there.

According to Alcorn, if you Google Bert, you find less than seventy entries. But over the years, Bert and Colleen have planted more than 170 churches. And when asked to reflect on his brother, Jim, Bert’s response is stirring: “My brother Jim and I took different paths. He was a great meteor, streaking through the sky.”

Bert was not. He did not go streaking through the sky. Nobody lined up with their telescopes to watch his life. Instead, as Alcorn puts it, he was the faint star in the distance that faithfully rises night after night, always there. Always faithful. Always doing the same, boring thing.

Streaking Meteors and Faithful Stars

In the kingdom of God, there is a great need for streaking meteors, but most of us won’t be that. We will instead be faint stars—husbands and fathers, wives and mothers. We will be accountants and teachers, business people, and students. We will go through life, day after day, doing very much the same thing tomorrow that we did today.

The important thing for us to remember is that we are needed. There is a great need for people willing to chase the little donkeys of life, not because it’s exciting but because they believe in the constant presence and purpose of God. There is a great need for people willing to stand in the midst of the boring, convinced that there is no such thing as ordinary when you follow an extraordinary God.

Rise and stand. Then tomorrow, do it again.

‘Tis the season for Conferences

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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In my humble opinion there are 3 of the best  Christian conferences created just for college students in these winter months. I still have a keen interest in college kids that dates back to my roots with Cru back in the 70’s. College kids are the future. My own kids were affected by these conferences.

There is nothing like challenging a college kid to give his/her life to something big. God uses these getaways to transform lives and He has great things for these kids to do in this world. I’m sure we all know students who we can encourage to attend or even check out the wealth of incredible talks given at these conferences, either by attending or listening online.

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Urbana (over this post-Christmas break, which just concluded in St. Louis) and Passion (happening right now) ( one that you can watch Jan. 2nd and 3rd), which is streamed live and then a conference in February called  Jubilee in Pittsburg. Each one speaks to college kids in its own style. These three are my favorites.

Check out what’s happening with these conferences in the lives of thousands of our university and liberal arts college kids online. Don’t take it from me….check out their websites.

Urbana – InterVarsity’s tri-ennial Conference begun at Champaign/Urbana U of IL campus and now held in St. Louis…a place where students were and are challenged to commit everything to the Lord and follow Jesus anywhere. Exploring hundreds of mission organizations’ opportunities is a highlight. It was my first conference in 1967 and God used it mightily. Check out the speakers. 

Passion – is described like this, “20 million college students across the globe awaken to the reality of an omnipotent and glorious Creator. For the past 19 years, Passion (begun by Lou Giglio in Atlanta) has hosted over 50 gatherings in more than 16 countries, and millions of students have united across ministry and denominational lines to seek the face of God in worship and prayer. Passion’s core Bible verse, Isaiah 26:8 states, “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your truth, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our souls.”

Jubilee – a Pittsburg linked conference put on by the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). This ministry reaches particularly mid-Atlantic campuses and this conference challenges students to consider their marketplace futures as a place of great potential ministry. Jim and I have done a workshop a few years ago at Jubilee when our daughter and son-in-law were on their staff. The roster of speakers was exceptional.

Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?

29 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

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This controversy has been around a long time. The recent Wheaton College professor debate has brought it the front this month. Here is a very good article by Ravi Zacharias associate. Click here.

Welcoming the Stranger

14 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in Missions Today

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It’s the season for compassion and lifting others’ spirits. We give a bit more thought and energy towards those in need during the Christmas season…and I believe we are looking for ways to make Christmas special for those who don’t understand the reason for the season.

I hope that I am that person and you are too. I know I get very caught up in my own family and friends. I want to be one who reaches out.

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Because of the rare period of history we are experiencing right now, there are ways to welcome those in need, to take a stand for those who are desperate and in extreme circumstances.

One way is to use our Christian voice to affirm taking in the stranger and loving the unlovely. As for refugees, we have no other option than to do as Jesus told us, to welcome the stranger. We are not to live in fear. We are to trust in what He has told us in His word.  If you have questions or doubts about this subject, be an active learner, not one lives in reluctance to think about it and get perspective.  Here are just a few of the many places in scripture that inspire and direct us.

  • Deuteronomy 10: 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
  • Leviticus 19:34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
  • Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.
  • Matthew 25:40 Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me.
  • Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
  • Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
  • Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them.”
  • Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
  • Hebrews 13: 1 Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
  • Colossians 3:11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
  • Matthew 25: 35 I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
  • Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

We all can be an advocate and a volunteer. Women can stand for women in vulnerable places around the world. There are things we can do.

There are also good things we can share about God moving in this world that will bring encouragement and praise to the Christ we love and honor in this season. God is moving in mighty ways in the Muslim world.

Let us rejoice in that fact as much as we can and share it with those who only feel discouragement, as if God has abondoned this world. He has not. Praise to His glorious mercy and grace on all of us.

Check out some of these links….they will fill you with hope and new perspective this Christmas season.

Christmas Gift Catalog for Ugandan friend

29 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Robert Sityo Uganda

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Here is a follow-up on my previous blog entry. As you read Robert Sityo’s wife, Sarah, is expecting triplets in Uganda, (the date was originally on Dec. 20). The babies came on Nov. 30, dad flew home on Dec. 1st and all went well. Two baby girls and a boy…went home with mom and dad on Dec. 3rd…all doing well. Babies weighed 3-4 lbs…and now the fun begins. Read below to see how you can help this couple.
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Some of you might want to help with the hospital expenses of $2500+ as her delivery will be in a big, professional hospital in the capital. Click here if you want to help. 

Besides the babies coming I want to add a link to a Christmas Gift Catalog for the Sityo’s ministry, Fountain of Hope. As you may be familiar with these catalogs, you or your child may choose an animal or another interesting item to be given to a child or someone in the ministry of Fountain of Hope in Bukeeka, Uganda.  

Just click the link below to see the catalog choices and directions. Consider choosing something that you can give in someone’s name (like a teacher, grandparent, aunts and uncles, a co-worker, etc.) Children can cut out the picture of the item from these pages and make a Christmas card for whoever they are buying for with the picture. It’s a great way to instill the joy of giving in children, as well as help them grow a bigger heart for the world.

adopt-a-goat
Just click this link to the catalog…

May your giving this Christmas reflect a heart for those under-resourced sisters and brothers in the world and may your heart grow.

 

 

 

 

Often God blesses those who wait patiently for Him

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Missions Today, Robert Sityo Uganda

≈ 2 Comments

Robert S. is studying at Wheaton Graduate School with a Billy Graham Scholarship for international students. He is from central Uganda and lives in a village that is predominantly Muslim. His dear friend and ours, Emmanuel N. was here for the two previous years and is now back in Rwanda serving his many churches.

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Robert and his wife were praying about how they could start a church. God spoke to his wife, Sarah through a dream and told her that they should start a school. Now many years later, the school has 1000 students, mostly Muslim kids. Their Christian school is such high quality that the parents pay to have their kids study there even while knowing that the kids will hear about Christ. About half of the school kids are Christians now. Sarah is the headmaster and Robert oversees many church plants. Their church is booming with new Christians.

They always wanted to have their own children but after 11 years of marriage, they still did not have any of their own, but God gave them a huge family.  Many years ago they began adopting orphans. Once Pastor Robert read someone’s Last Will and Testament after he had done a couple’s funeral service. The will said, ”We leave our 5 children to our pastor”. Instant family! Those 5 and 13 more have been adopted. They now have 18 adopted children….and quite a darling family it is. Here are a few of them.

Robert's Family

Last year while Robert was studying at Wheaton, he prayed that Sarah would get pregnant even though she never had been and was now 38 years old. Last spring Robert went home for the summer break and to everyone’s surprise, God answered Robert’s prayer, as Sarah is now pregnant… and expecting triplets. They are so thrilled. Praise the Lord that Robert finishes at Wheaton this semester. It is hard to keep his mind on his finals work this last month. Please pray for him.

But as you can imagine, Sarah needs prayer. They could use some help with the cost of the c­-section that she is scheduled to have on Dec. 12. Pray that Robert can get home in time and pray for a safe delivery.

Robert has a ministry/medical account in which you can give online with a click. This account with a not-­for­-profit organization in Wheaton will also take checks. The check should be written out to Faith and Learning International  and can be mailed to: Faith and Learning International 209 E Liberty Wheaton, IL 60187 Include a message that it is for Project: Fountain of Hope