On this Monday, March 2nd,  we, at Reaching Africa’s Unreached, are very busy preparing for our 13th RAU Leaders’ Retreat. Eighteen men from the Northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo will be spending four days with us, for strengthening in the fundamentals of the faith. Our contact man in Maracha, Joseph, has helped to identify these men and organize their transport. The Lord has blessed us with key men such as Joseph in various places to work hand in hand with us. As Zorah packs the resource bags for the pastors I am acutely aware of our dwindling supplies of resources (most notably, the ESV Global Study Bibles) we freely give to pastors who attend the retreats. These resources also go with us on outreaches.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Mack Stiles rightly states, “Missionaries become missionaries when they are about the business of making disciples.”  It is one of the most effective ways you can help us make disciples here in Northwestern Uganda (West Nile Region), Southwestern South Sudan, and Northeastern D.R. Congo! Most shepherds and teachers have no resources whatsoever! Would you pray about helping us place ESV Global Study Bibles into church leaders’ hands? Plans are set in motion. We just need men and women of God to walk this journey with us!

It was February 2014 when the first container arrived on the  Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) compound.  What an exciting day!  The container was filled with many things but, most importantly, with all the ESV Global Study Bibles and other books (especially from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach) for which we had been eagerly waiting.  These resources are the heart of RAU’s ministry.

RAU’s main purpose is to come alongside pastors and church leaders in order to strengthen and equip them so that they can “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).  [Many of the pastors in the West Nile region have not had the blessing  and benefit of attending Bible College or seminary and they are very eager to receive resources that will aid them in their work.] Our model is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 where the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to entrust to faithful men (who will also be able to teach others) what he has taught Timothy.  Everything is passed along.  In this way, the truth of the Gospel does not become a stagnant pond, but a life-giving, outward-flowing river of life.

Paul demonstrated this model in his own life when, as recorded in Acts 19:10 by Luke, he taught daily in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, “so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”   Paul himself did not reach each resident of Asia, but those who heard Paul told others who told others.  This is the ministry fruit we hope for at Reaching Africa’s Unreached.  We want the Gospel and all the truths of the Bible to be that life-giving river making its way out to all the West Nile Region and beyond!

You might wonder, given the beautiful cornucopia of languages that are spoken in this region, whether English Bibles and literature would even be helpful.  They are!  Because of the presence of the British in the late 1800’s and the first half of the 1900’s, English is widely spoken and is the language in which education is done in schools across the nation.  Therefore, many Ugandans as well as a good number of South Sudanese and even small numbers of Congolese  have a working knowledge of English and are able to benefit from the materials they are given.

The first container held 1100 ESV Global Study Bibles as well as thousands of  theologically sound books.  Each of our 13 pastors’ retreats has been an opportunity to give these resources out.  Pastors also come by for discussions almost on a daily basis so it is helpful to have resources to give them.   As we see the supply dwindling we are made aware of the need to replenish the supply so that no pastor will be turned away from receiving these books.  Most of the books we give cannot be bought in Africa.  Bibles are available, but Study Bibles are not…at least, not readily and at an affordable rate.  That is why this project of filling another container with mostly books is so urgent.

At this time, Crossway Publishers has offered a 70% discount on ESV Global Study Bibles if bought in bulk (5000).  Broken down, this comes to $10/Bible (including shipping) to have them delivered to Seguin Texas and placed in a container under the care of Lifegate (our home church), but we must buy in bulk to receive this rate. Usually, one ESV Global Study Bible costs close to $30 in a retail store.  The funds for purchasing the container and the shipment of it to RAU are available. All that is needed are the resources to be put in the container. Will you help? (Update March 2nd: We have $14,600 of the $50,000 needed for the 5,000 ESV Global Study Bibles )

The Gospel Coalition (TGC) International Outreach has once again given a large number books!  The Gospel Coalition International Outreach Theological:Famine Relief for the Global Church is doing an amazing ministry in providing resources where there is a famine of the Word of God and is worthy of financial and prayer support. Thank you  Gospel Coalition (TGC) International Outreach !

Another resource we would love to see coming in the container is the 9 Marks of Healthy Church  series.  This series describes nine characteristics which should be evident in every church that is seeking to live biblically.  It would be a wonderful resource to give to pastors.

Also helpful would be many copies of Wayne Grudem’s, “Bible Doctrine.”  For those for whom Bible College seems an impossibility, Bible Doctrine could be the next best thing and an effective tool in purifying pastors’ understanding  and application of the Word of God.

We already have 80,000 Gospel tracts printed by Literature Ministries International  which will be delivered to the container, sixty thousand of John Piper’s, “Quest for Joy” in English, Ma’di and Aringa (20,000 each) as well as 20,000 of Richard Bennett’s tract, “What Every Catholic Should Know.”  We have found it helpful to include photographs  in the tracts that are taken locally to catch the eye of the reader and draw him in to the wonderful message within.  A tract is an effective means of outreach because, for one, people have very little to read and snatch up any reading material that is available, and, two, each tract will be passed along to a dozen or so other people. We just finished translation work of the“Quest for Joy” in Lugabara and Kakwa. Layout and printing is in the works by the fine folks with Literature Ministries International.   It would be a great opportunity, especially while we have a container coming, to include these and greater numbers of each tract if anyone has the specific vision to provide for more. Each tract costs only 14 cents.

Since we have a container coming over, we have an item we would like to see included which is not a resource for pastors, but a help to the physical facilities here at RAU:  T-posts and barbed wire.  Termites are fierce around these parts and wooden posts are typically demolished within a year or so!  A clear and strong fence line is very important here to demarcate property as well as keep grazing animals out.

Please consider contributing towards these resources.  Every bit helps us reach our goal.  For example, Mrs. Falor’s elementary class at Lifegate Christian School has already jumped on board and has had two successful bake sales with proceeds going towards Bibles.  So far we have $1400 in that fund!  For the ESV Global Study Bibles, you may go to our donation page and follow the instructions for donating, making a special notation that the money is for Bibles.  If you want to give to any other item which we have listed please designate it, whether it be via PayPal or check.  We are trying to keep the contents very specific to these specific books and bibles as weight and space are at a premium.  When the funds have reached what is necessary to buy the Bibles/books we will place the order and have them delivered to Lifegate Seguin Texas. When the container is full it will be shipped to RAU. It will provide a safe, dry, and rodent free place to keep the literature.

You may mail or bring any of these items to:

Lifegate Ministries

395 Lifegate Lane

Seguin, TX, 78155

We are privileged to have the best partners in the Gospel and we appreciate your enthusiastic response to the requests we put out there.  Thanks so much for giving and going and praying and sending!

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our  power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Jacob Lee 

Tax deductible  charitable donations may  be made via PayPal.  PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so  please click their link below. PayPal deducts  a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization.  If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155