In the last week we have identified two  nearby communities with no church. In Carol’s last newsletter, she shared about Obongi which just has a few new believers in it. There is a strong village church in Otobonga about 4 miles from Obongi which was planted in the latter months of 2009 and is pastored by a dear brother named Bosco. Abraham has a strong working relationship with this church and I have ministered there on a number of occasions. Through the joint efforts of Otobonga church, Abraham, and others there are now a few believers who live in Obongi. Our goal is to see a vibrant church planted in Obongi to be a witness there and which would also work with Pastor Bosco and RAU to plant churches in the many  villages near Obongi with no church. Obongi is a Muslim dominated area.

This past Sunday Carol, Sam, and I had a wonderful time  with Moyo Town Baptist Church. Many, if not most, of the members of that congregation are Dinkas, so the translation of my sermon was English into Ma’di and then English into Dinka. Many Dinka’s came to the Moyo during the war in southern Sudan. This congregation loves Jesus!  After the service we had a nice lunch with the pastor and associate pastor. At one point our discussion turned to neighboring Yumbe District which is over 80% Muslim (Yumbe). There are a few churches in the district. In 2004 two American medical missionaries and one of their Ugandan  students were killed outside Yumbe. From that point on in our discussion my heart  burned to see churches planted in Yumbe town. Yumbe town (Obongi is somewhat smaller) has approximately 35,000  people in it . Both Yumbe and Obongi are about a two hour drive away from us when the dirt roads are dry. 

We believe the Lord has given us a strategy to reach these communities and others like them. It has been my experience that in a room with, lets say, 10 people there are usually 8 or 9 who say something can’t be done and will lay out a multitude of reasons (excuses) why it can’t be done. Then there are those one or two who state it can be done and who lay out a strategy of how it can be done. A good biblical example of this is when the 12 spies were sent into the land of Canaan and only Joshua and Caleb supported the task given by God, in their case, to take over a land filled with “giants”. They said it could be done because it was ordained of God! I see great parallels of this with Christ’s Great Commission given to us. Some of the “reasons” given as to why there are no churches in Yumbe and Obongi are: 1.”It is a very difficult area” 2. “They are dominated  by Muslims”. 3. “The Muslims  will not let you do it!”. Christ says “Go”! Is that not enough for us? Please stand and pray with us as we seek to plant churches in Obongi and Yumbe!

Our strategy to reach Yumbe and Obongi , as well as other unreached areas and tribes, includes bringing local missionary candidates (preferably those who are from the targeted area and who know the local language already) here to RAU for intensive, one-on-one discipleship for about 6 weeks and who then, at the end of their training, would go and live among the the targeted group with the intended purpose of being shepherds in a newly planted church. We would work together with the pastor in evangelism and discipleship. RAU would also give some financial help with the understanding that the financial help would not be given indefinitely, but only until the church could be self-supporting. We have such men in the pipeline. Please be in serious prayer for Obongi and Yumbe. There are strongholds of the enemy there which must be broken  by intercession and proclamation of the gospel!

Godfrey, the young man Carol told you about, is moving into one of our unfinished tukalus on the 26th of September and has already begun his biblical study assignments. He is very familiar with Obongi and has a willing heart to be in there. He has left a well paying job. Two other brothers are possibilities for Yumbe. They  both speak Lubara which is the main language of Yumbe district. They, too, would stay in our tukalu’s as well. I look forward to studying the Word with all whom the Lord sends our way! Please pray that the Lord would raise up others for the many other unreached areas that do not  have the gospel and will not have it unless someone physically goes to them and  are willing to live with them to help establish a Christ-exalting, local church. Where there is a Christ-honoring local church the orphan and widow will be cared, the suffering and needy will be given lasting and Christ-honoring love, oppression will be resisted, and, most importantly, the living and true God will be worshiped in Spirit and in truth!

Just recently a friend on a social media site wrote an encouraging note about us and our church planting desires. In one of the comments a person stated that the West needs more churches planted than Africa does. I often hear this or other variations of it. I would have agreed with the comment if it had stated that both the West and Africa need churches planted. My disagreement with the statement came with the word “more“. In my  58 years, with most of it being in the USA, I have yet to see even the smallest town without a church. In fact, in most cases,  there are many, many churches even in the smallest towns. People in America have easy access to evangelical churches.  In contrast, while Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa, (PTL!) there are many, many villages, towns, and tribal groups (some have estimated the number to be 3,000 tribes) with NO church at all in them. So on that basis I would say Africa and other places in the world are in greater need of church plants than the West (e.g., How many towns in the United States have a population of 30,000 without one church?)

Please don’t misunderstand, I am a firm believer that the West (USA) does need church planting. My only plea for prayerful consideration for denominations, churches, and individuals in the West is to consider placing a larger portion of their prayer commitment and resources to help see that churches are planted in areas of the world which are devoid of believers worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords. What percentage of prayer and finances are actually being used by churches and individuals to help see that churches are  planted where there is no church? In this vein of thinking  missionary Oswald J. Smith‘s exhortation is appropriate “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” and “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”

I know that because of your active and prayerful support  I am “preaching to the choir”. Thank you so much for your on-going help and intercession! Together with you we are “laying up treasures in heaven”!

I just had another triple bunker bed and single bed made, so slowly by slowly we are getting RAU ready for guests and teaching retreats. Our first large group will be here the week of October 20th. It looks like we will have 15-18 pastors. Ron Zeiner, a good friend and former missionary to South Africa will be our main teacher. His primary topic is Ezra-Nehemiah and Principles of Leadership. We have a lot to accomplish to be ready for this first group. We also have several other teams which will be coming in November. Pray for these times of discipleship and ministry and for the funds needed to get the RAU facilities in a position serve in a Christ honoring way (see below). Please also pray for the safe arrival of the ’99 Land Cruiser on its way from Japan and the container from Texas. Thank you!

There is a short and powerful video posted here of William Booth’s vision of the lost perishing without the gospel. The video exemplifies God’s call given to each and every follower of Christ Jesus. Let us shake off our complacency and set our eyes upon Jesus lifted up  and seated at the right hand of God. Surely as our eyes are opened to see Him who died for our sins  the the things of this world which we are chasing and living for will be seen as trite as they really are! There is also a 32 minute  message posted here by John Piper on missions which is very encouraging. It is one of my all time favorites! You too will be encouraged in your pursuit to be obedient to Jesus mission (John 20:21)!

Web Site: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.com
Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

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Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

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