April 2015 – Reaching Africa's Unreached

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father”

Colossians 1:2

I hope this post finds you with your hope secure in Christ Jesus and your feet taking the good news of the Savior to whoever crosses your path. Carol and I and all of us here at Reaching Africa’s Unreached are forever grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and support in the mission of strengthening church leaders, bringing the gospel to unreached areas and demonstrating gospel love through medicines, medical care, and education. Because of your prayers and support the fame of King Jesus is spreading in this region of Africa. Thank you!

By God’s grace we have been able to have 13 four-day retreats at RAU for pastors and church leaders. The retreats help us walk out our theme mission verses, 2 Timothy 2:2 and Acts 19:9-10. Most leaders have come from the various districts of the West Nile of Uganda as well as several districts from Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

A group of pastors getting ready to head back home from a RAU retreat with many helpful resources.

As a result of the retreats we have made many friends and have been extended many invitations to hold leadership seminars away from RAU. Thus far we have done so in Moyo, Yumbe, and Koboko Districts. Later, we are looking at more in the West Nile and as well as in the Congo and South Sudan. The new addition to the tukalu near the Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus is nearly complete. We are going to call it “Lydia’s House” based upon Acts 16: 15b, which says, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” It will allow us to host an additional eight leaders to our current 18 capacity. Twenty six will max out the Hall of Tyrannus.

Being able to place ESV Study Bibles and solid biblical literature into the hands of these leaders is great help in strengthening their churches and denominations. These materials are “missionaries” which never die and never tire. At this time, we have 50% of the funds needed for 5,000 ESV Global Study Bibles which will be shipped in a container to us. Because we are buying them in bulk we are able to get them for $10 instead of $30! Will you and/or your church help us get these bibles here? They all will be freely given to leaders as well as to believers in Muslim areas most notably Obongi, Yumbe, and Koboko. At the website there is a list of other things still needed. There are not many opportunities where you can place a study Bible into the hands of a believer where there is a theological famine!

Link for container information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending some time with two young men, Shiloh and John, from Koboko. I often have young men and pastors come by to “visit”. Shiloh and John are both on fire for the Lord and are maturing in their faith. Both of them of are voraciously reading everything I place in their care. We discussed several questions which had come up from their reading and study, but spent most of time on the theme of being saved by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. I had an extra copy of the works of Jonathan Edwards and have been waiting for the right person to give them too. Shiloh is the man! He has become a good “Berean” and I see him as a potential “leader of leaders” in the West Nile. One of my greatest joys as a missionary is times like I had today!

Shiloh13 — Great fellowship centered around the Word of God

This week we closed a deal for one hilltop acre overlooking the beautiful Gbari/Arapi valley in the Metu Mountains. Amazing Grace Baptist Church, outside of Seguin, Texas gave the money for the land and the completion of all the legal paperwork. Carol and I have written much and shared many pictures the last months about how the Lord has been saving many people Gbari/Arapi and in other remote village areas in the Metu Mountains. The Lord is establishing His presence in these mountain tops in the lives of people and now in physical ways. The rains have begun and everything is greening up. I am told that at certain times of the year one can find gorillas, chimps, and all sorts of monkeys in the surrounding hills. The Lord has given a beautiful spot for this newly birthed church in Arapi. Gbari believers are close enough to fellowship together with Arapi believers. We would like to build a structure that can serve both communities, stand the test, and be a lasting testimony of the grace of God. We are looking to raise $6000. If you would like to help, you may go to our website and make a special notation on your gift: Gbari/Arapi Church Building…thank you!

Gbari7 — The Lord is saving many in these mountains

RAU partnering with Aya Baptist Church has started seven churches remote villages (Gbari, Arapi, Duku, Oyo, Chinya, Lea, and Oku) in these nearby Metu Mountains where there was not a single one. Three young men Aya Baptist have committed to help oversee the young churches under the supervision of Aya pastor, Tobias and Ijujo pastor, Pasquino. RAU is also facilitating training and financial help. When went to these villages via Land Cruiser and by walking and it was if they were ripe fruit ready for picking. The Lord has opened many, many hearts! Here are several short videos from recent evangelism trips in this area. Please pray for these young churches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EcQ5mT6CLg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UdvvsQzUpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rDQ7giLx8I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmkpRzIn96Y

My heart is greatly burdened over the lack of pastors for these new churches and the many more that I believe will be birthed. While I trust that we will always have retreats I see also the great need also for more in depth training for those God is raising up to be shepherds. Please pray with us on the possibilities of how RAU could be part of the solution to this problem.

Soon Carol and I will make a short trip back to America to see family, friends, and share in a few churches. Most of our time will be in Texas. Please pray for us in our preparations. Like our last visit if there is anyone in the Seguin, Texas area who could lend a vehicle to us that would be greatly appreciated.

In God’s Loving and Sovereign Grip,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

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

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our name or email address)

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 W. 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 the PayPal link. 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

By Carol Lee

“Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].”

Psalm 92:13-14 (Amplified Version)

In the context of current societal values, the elderly can often feel obsolete…docked…useless. However, in the Kingdom context, this is not to be. At a time in their lives when “older” Christians have the most wisdom, perspective and, by God’s grace, spiritual growth, “old age” can be the time of greatest fruitfulness or effectiveness in the Kingdom of God!

And that’s what Jacob and I are telling ourselves…and each other! Hmmmm!

Never have we experienced more clearly the truth of the scripture in 2 Corinthians 4: 16: ^“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” We keenly feel the reality of our outer self wasting away and, yet, by the grace of God, we have never seen the prize so clearly or felt a continually renewed yearning to press on in the things that really matter. So…if you see Jacob and me getting a little “sappy” and “green” you’ll know what’s going on!

A week ago, Jacob, Zorah and I, along with a vehicle full of passengers, went to Gbare and Arapi to follow up with the new believers there. One of the main items on the agenda was negotiating with the elders (leaders in the community) the details for the land which is to be purchased for the Gbari/Arapi church meeting place and a home for its Pastor, Geoffrey, and his family. That took up most of our time there, but it was important to make headway on this project.

Members of the Gbari/Arapi community greeting us with song.

Negotiation process…walking out the boundaries.

Descending from their “mountain top” experience

After agreements were reached everyone met together for a lunch prepared by the Pastor’s wife and other ladies. Following lunch, Jacob encouraged the gathered crowd with an excellent teaching on some of the attributes of God while I met with the healthcare workers to divide up the medicines which we had brought along. Our friend and fellow missionary, Denise Carlsen, had brought us a box of Ma’di Bibles from Yei. We were able to distribute some of them at this time.

Gathered for lunch followed by a teaching on some of the attributes of God.

Geoffrey, missionary Pastor of Gbari Community Church

Medicines being divided between two clinics

The two healthcare workers (Aya and Gbari).

Three Pastors, Geoffrey, Tobias and Pasquino: dividing up the Ma’di Bibles so that each area where churches are springing up can have copies of the New Testament. (The Ma’di language still does not have a translation of the Old Testament, although it is in the works.)

Finishing out such a day as we enjoyed in Gbari brings with it the satisfaction that fulfilling of one of the central goals of Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) – strengthening local pastors so that they can strengthen their people – has made progress.

In between outings, it has been one of Jacob’s greatest joys to pour himself and resources into young men who show promise and a calling to being a shepherd/Pastor. The two pictures below show Jacob and a young man, Patrick (full of zeal and promise), talking under the mango tree. It was Jacob’s pleasure to provide him with a bag of resources from RAU and a Kindle library of books through the ministry of Delmar Hager (Study To Be Approved).

Last Friday, as planned, we traveled to Yumbe District to a town called Okpotani where we had received permission by the township leaders to set up near the local market to do open air preaching. While we were waiting to receive instructions as to where to set up the sound equipment, the Youth Group from Pilgrims Church (Church of Uganda), Jacob, Zorah and other members from the local Church, handed out copies of John Piper’s “Quest For Joy” (in Aringa and English) and talked to many of the people making their way to the market.

While the sound equipment and instruments were getting their final adjustments, a worship team from the Okpotani Church of Uganda drew the crowds with some rousing worship songs. They are a faithful and joyful group of men and women!

A message from the Word of God from a local Pastor

Members of the Youth Group from Pilgrim’s Church in Yumbe

Jacob’s favorite perch from which to preach

Calling for a response from the listening crowd. There were nearly 50 who came forward. Follow up is forthcoming.

We thank each of you who specifically prayed for this outreach! Please continue to pray for the discipleship process. Pray for the men of this area to find a meaningful life in Christ along with meaningful work rather than a mind-numbing existence in alcoholism . Pray for the women who struggle to maintain their families that they would find hope and help in the Savior. Pray that they all would be “oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal His splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3)

Thank you, too, for the prayers you offered up for the outreach to Oku, in the Metu Mountains. This last Tuesday, Jacob, Zorah and Mindra accompanied Tobias and some of his church members to the very remote village of Oku – so remote, in fact, that they had to park the vehicle and hike over hill and dale to reach it! It was only slightly comical to see, the next day, some hobbling men who weren’t use to the rugged terrain of these mountains! However, 10 people responded to the offer of salvation through Christ as it was shared in that village! That makes every aching muscle worth it! Here is the link to several videos and photos which Zorah took of the trip:

102_9568 — Waiting to set out to Oku…in the rain. Thankfully, the rain did not continue for long.

102_9574 — Along the steep and rocky trail

102_9615 — Meeting a young girl who just lost her mother. RAU hopes to provide some help for her.

102_9697 — 10 people responded to the offer of salvation through Jesus

Short YouTube Videos of time in the Metu Mountains Oku/Ijujo region:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UdvvsQzUpM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rDQ7giLx8I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmkpRzIn96Y

When they finished up in Oku they hiked back up to where the vehicle was parked and headed to Ijujo where several hundred people were waiting at Ijujo Baptist Church to be refreshed in the Word of God and to receive some medicines. There are no end of opportunities in the Metu mountains. It is the goal of RAU to come alongside the Pastors and leaders in this region to ensure that solid discipleship happens and that the church becomes firmly rooted in the knowledge and love of Christ. The prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesians is what we pray for the Church scattered throughout the Metu Mountains (specifically) and in the West Nile region (generally)!

Oku 3 — Words of truth and encouragement

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

What an overwhelming and impossible task – from a human perspective! But… thanks be to God who did not leave us without hope, but gave us a mighty Savior who did not leave us alone but gave us the awesome Holy Spirit to empower us for that task which He called us to do!

^”Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3: 20-21

April 2, Jacob, Zorah and Pastor Henery set off for Obongi where Pastor Godfrey had arranged for a meeting with some of the Imams and other Muslims with whom Godfrey has been in dialogue. In past visits, RAU had been able to supply some literature to these men, including an ESV Study Bibles, a Arabic story book highlighting stories from the Bible, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (by Nabeel Qureshi) and others. They wanted to meet to discuss what they have been reading.

Obongi4 — Receiving a message from God’s Word in Luke 15

They met under a large Muvule tree along the main road through Obongi. Jacob gave a teaching from Luke 15, directing everyone’s gaze to Jesus. Afterward, a local healthcare worker handed out medicines which were provided through the generosity of those who support RAU and are a “fleshing out” of the love of Christ to the many Muslims in Obongi. Jacob also handed out some of the last reading glasses we have (limited to number 2.00’s). There was one more person who just could not read without the help of reading glasses, so Jacob gave him his own pair. By the end of the visit there must have been at least 100 people who had gathered. Our prayer is that the Lord would open their eyes to the beauty of Christ and that faith in His life and sacrifice would find a place in their hearts.

Obongi25 — Medicines to be given (for Malaria, dyspepsia, worms, fungal infections and other diseases)

Obongi33 — Crowd gathered around the healthcare worker who was prescribing the medicines to those who came with ailments

Obongi44 — Handing out reading glasses and tracts (John Piper’s “Quest For Joy” in Ma’di

Obongi 38 — Women and children also came

Obongi46 — New sight with the help of Number 2.00’s!

Obongi48 — Reading a John Piper book in Swahili

Today, Zorah, Jacob and Godfrey headed out to Gbari (not without a few “knots” to untangle beforehand) to finalize the transaction on the land for the Church building. It all went well. Now for a few signatures from the sub-county department. That is worth celebrating!

Gbari 24 — A view from the top of the property looking down

Gbari27 — Due to the rain the Land Cruiser became the “office” where papers were signed

Speaking of celebrations, I had my 55th birthday “the other day” and we were blessed to celebrate it with our good friend, Denise Carlsen, who is living in Moyo for the time being – until it becomes clear where the Lord wants her to settle. She had shown the folks where she is currently staying how to make guacamole and chips…man! That was good! Thanks, Denise, for that memorable celebration.

The expansion of the tukalu near the mango tree is coming along nicely. It is as beautiful as it will be useful in the future when we are either housing visitors from the States (or elsewhere) or added room for 8 more pastors for a retreat bringing our total number of beds for pastors at retreat to 26.

The tractor which Jacob was wanting to hire for plowing the ground finally arrived today.

Thank you to all who have given towards the goal of getting 5000 ESV Global Study Bibles to load in the container! We are making headway towards that goal. Don’t forget about the other resources we have requested that will benefit pastors here in the West Nile region. Bosco, a Pastor/friend of ours (who is a teacher as well as a pastor near Obongi) and we (RAU) were featured in an article which was written for The Gospel Coalition International Outreach. The article highlights why filling up and getting another container out here is so important.

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/

It’s rainy season now…it rains pretty much every day, turning this place, once again, into a lush and green paradisaical location! A great place to grow “sappy” and “green” in our old age!

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

Reaching Africa's Unreached

Month: April 2015

The greatest evil….

Planted In The House Of The Lord