Dear RAU Friends and Family,

It has been said that we do not remember years,weeks, or even days, but moments. Those special moments are forever written into our minds and hearts. One such “moment” for me was back in 1977. I was in the office of Leonard Ravenhill. Behind him, set in the middle of his many books, was a very large world map. I remember that somewhere in the midst of our conversation he looked directly into my eyes and said, “...many in the world have never heard of Jesus…“; then he turned around and pointed at the map and, turning back around, quoted Romans 15:20 where Paul says, “I make it my ambition to preach Christ where he is not known…” Then, looking deeply into my eyes, he said “Jacob, what are you going to do about that?”

Since that time, no matter what I have been doing or where I am, those words continue to stir me. Long story short, by God’s grace the Lord set us in here in Afoji/Moyo of the West Nile in Uganda, just mile off the South Sudan border. At 62, I look back  gratefully upon all the people, especially Carol, that God has put in my life. Without question, Carol has been the greatest blessing I have received here on this earth. Carol’s role in the ministry of RAU is immeasurable! At the end of our multi-day training sessions, Carol rightfully points out to our guests that there were many people who were “behind the scenes” which made the training a success and blessing. Without Carol, the “engine” of RAU would come to grinding halt. She is a grand blessing not only to me but also to the ministry of RAU. In your prayers please lift her up as she carries many burdens of the ministry unnoticed all the while dearly missing family and local church.

Our local church and providential experiences have prepared both Carol and me to live out our sunset years seeking to ensure that the unreached are reached and discipled with local churches in their midst. Where we are located gives us the logistics to do just that. Also by God’s grace, He has called those who sacrificially give to and pray for our ministry which gives us the means to walk out the vision!

In the last newsletter Carol beautifully shared about the six young men from North Sudan who spent a couple days at RAU. Their testimonies of God’s grace in bringing them to faith and their desire to return to their homeland to preach the gospel and plant churches stirred my soul greatly. The young men are from four North Sudan “unreached tribes”: the Fur,  Nuba,  Ingassina, and Tungur.  Their tribes are listed as 100% Muslim by the “Joshua Project”with the exception of the Ingassina which is listed at 99.5% Muslim. 

This coming Monday through Thursday (Nov. 6-9th) these same brothers along with others, totaling 24 (from North Sudan), will be here for training. I look forward to the interaction and teaching time I will have with them. We will be transporting them here from four different refugee camps in Uganda. This is added cost but the trade off is worth it. These  young men first had to leave North Sudan and stay in camps in South Sudan. And now, again, they recently had to leave South Sudan to come to camps in Uganda. Also joining us for the training will be Omar from the Aringa tribe.  The entire group will be men from five “unreached” people groups who have a desire to establish churches in their “unreached” tribes. “Unreached” in missions language refers to a group of people with less than 2% evangelical Christians in their midst.

Ravenhill’s words echo in my heart and mind! “What are you going to do about it?” I bounce that question right to you as well…“What are you going to do about it?”.

Uganda is now hosting over one million refugees with most of them residing in our immediate area. While RAU continues to focus on our host community of Ma’di and Aringa we cannot ignore those who have been thrust into the area through the devastating circumstance of war in South Sudan. Next week’s training is one of the divine opportunities we have to minister the love and grace of Jesus. We also are focusing on bringing Bibles and other written resources to pastors in the camps.  By God’s grace we now have given out (to leaders who had to flee with their congregations with only what they could carry) over  700 ESV Global Study Bibles , many books , 50 Kindle Fires loaded with books and with the “Jesus” film in their native tongues (via “Study To Be Approved” ).  Many of you remember several years ago when we prayed and believed for 5,000 ESV Global Study Bibles and instead were able to get 6,586 for the same price. Those are the very Bibles that have been going into the hands of church leaders from Uganda, D.R. Congo, South Sudan, and now, also, North Sudan. Praise God for His favor and grace and for those faithful servants who have given and prayed!!

Along with Biblical training provided for refugees, RAU, through  Emma, is providing agricultural training to men, women and families.

We had a great time last night (Nov. 1st) on the Moyo TBS radio station. I gave Omar my hour long spot and he shared a heartfelt, passionate message on how he came to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He preached, this his first message, in Aringa and co-worker Pastor Henry translated it into Ma’di. From reports, many Christians as well as Muslims were tuned into the station for the message and were touched by the message. Omar, a former long-time Sheikh and Imam, had spent 17 years in Saudi Arabia. He is an expert in Arabic and the Qur’an. He was saved two years ago after one of my dialog meetings with Sheikhs and Imams. For these two years he has been diligently studying the Scriptures. Brothers in the Lord, as well as myself, have been discipling him…seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2 with him. Pray with me that the Lord will continue to use Omar to spread the fame of King Jesus! Pray also that God’s shield of protection will cover him.

In closing, we have begun to clear the newly purchased land for a RAU school.  Praise God for His provision. The money given has enabled us to purchase the land (which is not a easy thing to do here), clear, and fence it. We move forward slowly by slowly, step by step in faith.

We are grateful for all our supporters. God is using you and we are grateful to be a part of your sacrificial giving. We commit to be good stewards of God’s grace through you. Carol’s and my prayer is that you will not grow weary this act of grace….”giving”.

With gratefulness,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org