Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Spearhead


(Written last week, but Matt dropped the ball on publishing this. Sorry. :( .... )


I never get tired of this place. This is my second time to Uganda and it’s always worth it—the airline food, the lack of sleep, the cold “bird bath” I take here every morning, the bug spray—the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Speaking of, you should know that I haven’t slept very well since being here (possible side effect from malaria medicine) so this could all sound jumbled.

My heart has been filled with joy as I’ve seen many familiar faces from last year. Ugandan Believers that were our translators and co-laborers last year greeted us once again with excitement, “You came back?!!” and “Praise God you are here!” But I have been most thrilled to see a young man I shared the Gospel with last year named Opoka Bob Francis. We had some great discussions last year and we exchanged email addresses upon leaving. Francis has just recently come to Christ this past month (before we arrived this summer) and has joined the church plant, New Life Presbytery! We looked at how to study the Word last night, and he is very zealous to “preach the Word to others” as they say here. “We need to reach all of the schools and all of Kagadi with the Gospel!” Francis tells me.

And just as Francis was hoping, our team already had numerous appointments with schools planned this week. Spencer and KK did a great job telling their testimonies at a high school, so much that a great number of students crowded around them to ask questions afterwards. Platt and Beth did the same with a primary school later in the afternoon, causing numerous students to want to put their trust in Christ later. Can you believe the schools initiate to us to come explain the Gospel to them here?

Most of all, I’ve been filled with passion to go out to the shops and market places of Kagadi to share the Gospel. As soon as I see a Muslim walking my way something in me nudges my translator to join me in talking with them. Many Muslims have listened intently to the Gospel, only to ask about the church afterwards so they can learn more. What I love here is that Banyoros always ask honest questions—they never have an agenda. “Should I pray to Mary?” and “Where did God come from?” and “Is Jesus more than a prophet?” are simply questions they do not know the answers to. This testifies to Africa’s lack of church leadership and the necessity for Bibles to become available to them. Thank God for the seminary currently being planted in the capital, and I believe our generation will watch Uganda become the spearhead of Christian leadership for the millions of Africans coming to Christ all over the continent.

‘Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” – Prov 25:25

Jeremy

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