“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.“

Hebrews 4:12-13

I am pleased to announce that as of now, the $200,000 goal has been reached for 20,000 TruTone ESV Global Study Bibles, a container and shipping from USA to RAU on the Uganda/South Sudan border!! A lavish “Thank You” to all who participated: encouraged, prayed and gave! What a great way to start the new year. Any extra funds beyond what is needed for the Bibles, container, and shipping will be used to add more Bibles or other literature for pastoral module trainings and regional language tracts.

Now, the next step is to strike a deal to have a special printing of 20,000 Tru Tone ESV Global Study Bibles which will be put into a 40-foot container for shipping from USA to Mombasa, Kenya then overland to Kampala and then north to the RAU campus.

As Carol and I have written in one of our previous posts, many American Christians trade out their current study bible for the latest “study bible” (I know I have) as often as folks upgrade their vehicles! Can you imagine what even one single study Bible can mean to pastors where such resources are very, very scarce or beyond their ability to buy?

This study bible will be a great help in the Reaching Africa’s Unreached in walking out 2 Timothy 2:2 in our module curriculum for pastoral/church leadership in the Hall of Tyrannus. Part of our training includes instruction on how to best use a study bible. The study bibles coming in this third container would be primarily for church leaders in the West Nile of Uganda, South Sudan, the Republic of (North) Sudan as well as local government leaders,teachers, and Imams/Sheikhs. English is widely read, spoken and understood! With peace being established in the Republic of (North) Sudan recently and with trusted Sudanese brothers we know personally, it will be even easier to get Bibles into Sudan as well.

A study Bible, in particular, has qualities that can serve a pastor or leader well who has little formal Biblical training. An overview of an ESV Global Study Bible may be found here: https://biblebuyingguide.com/crossway-esv-global-study…/ . In this article by Tim Challies entitled, “What Makes a Really Good Study Bible?,” https://www.challies.com/articles/what-makes-a-really-good-study-bible/, Challies highlights how a study Bible can be a great tool for leaders in the church.

“The word of God is not a trifle; it is a matter of life and death. If you treat the Scriptures as a trifle or as empty words, you forfeit life…our physical life is created and upheld by the word of God, and our spiritual life is quickened and sustained by the word of God. How many stories could be gathered to bear witness to the life-giving power of the word of God!

Indeed, the Bible is “no empty word for you” — it is your life! The foundation of all joy is life. Nothing is more fundamental than sheer existence — our creation and our preservation.

All this is owing to the word of God’s power. By that same power, he has spoken in Scripture for the creation and sustenance of our spiritual life. Therefore, the Bible is no empty word, but is your very life — the foundation and kindling of your joy!

John Piper, Desiring God

Now that we have completed the fundraising step by God’s grace and the love of his people, please pray with us for the best deal to be made on the printing/purchase of the Bibles and for their expedited journey to northwestern Uganda for distribution to Pastors and Leaders. Any extra funds beyond what is needed for the Bibles, container, and shipping will be used to add more Bibles or other literature for pastoral module trainings and regional language tracts. Once purchased and packed into a container, the Bibles will have a long and potentially eventful passage by freighter. Once they are brought to Uganda, they have to pass muster with the Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) which usually requires some form of tax. Finally, the container has to travel from Kampala to Moyo on less than ideal road conditions. In thinking about the potential difficulties, holding fast to the sovereignty of God brings much comfort and hope.

“There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after you.” (A. Judson 1788-1850) 

With love and godly affection,

Jacob & Carol Lee

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal or check.  PayPal also has a way to make recurring monthly gifts. Recurring monthly gifts are very helpful to the ministry. To do so, please click on the PayPal link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal and by check are tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501c3 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/RAU Bibles, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.    

PayPal Link for donations: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WAR99DL4JFWXQ    

Go to RAU’s Facebook page for up to date reports, pictures, musings, and exhortations: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached  

RAU YouTube Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRmHafoBSemE7jS8kEHCG6Q/videos  

RAU’s Mission and Vision Statements/Statement of Faith: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!

Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!

When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it! 

I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our  ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named! 

Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through! 

Jacob Lee