June 2026 – Reaching Africa's Unreached

“Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!
The prudent carefully consider their steps.” (Proverbs 14:15 NLT)

“Prudence is an essential quality for navigating the complexities of life. It involves making decisions that reflect a deep understanding of God’s Word and a commitment to living according to His principles. Prudence helps believers to discern truth from error, to manage resources wisely, and to build relationships that honor God.” ( Bible Hub)

It is widely recognized that there has been a significant outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC shares its eastern border with Uganda, and as a result of this geographical closeness and porous border, several cases have also been confirmed in Uganda. During our stay in Uganda, Carol and I witnessed prior outbreaks of Ebola within our home country of Uganda. On those occasions, Uganda effectively managed to contain the virus. Uganda appears to be addressing this outbreak in a similar manner. Notably, what sets the situation in 2026 apart is that the outbreak was identified late in the DRC, resulting in a marked increase in infection rates in the DRC. Note the chart below, which was generated on June 5th:

Due to the recent and significant escalation in travel risks, the United States has issued a Level Four travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda. Consequently, we deemed it prudent to cancel the Leadership training events scheduled at Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) Hall of Tyrannus on campus, as well as in Yumbe and Bidi-Bidi Zone One, from June 10th to 22nd, in conjunction with the Forest Hill Presbyterian (PCA) team from Maryland. This decision was regretful and challenging to accept. We have had to remind ourselves, as we did during our previous experience amid the Covid pandemic while in Uganda, that in God’s economy HE has No Plan B’s–only Plan A ! At RAU, we adhere to what I refer to as God’s two “P’s”, prayer and prudence. This includes diligently following all of Uganda’s established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Uganda is arguably the best country in Africa to manage Ebola; however, as we are all aware, it is ultimately Jehovah who can bring an end to the Ebola threat. We kindly request your prayers for our RAU team and that the ongoing Ebola outbreak may be swiftly contained. Thank you!

Furthermore, we may have to postpone our departure date for America, initially scheduled for July 3rd, to a later time, as KLM, our carrier, has temporarily canceled all incoming and outgoing flights from Entebbe. Additionally, certain countries, such as the UAE, are currently prohibiting transit through their airports, and it is possible that other nations may implement similar restrictions. This situation may change should the Ebola outbreak be contained. Carol and I had been looking forward to spending quality time with our three children, their spouses, and our ten grandchildren. We also anticipated reuniting with friends, engaging with our home church, Lifegate, and connecting with our supporters and partnering churches. We also need some rest.

Updated Ministry Events

We are diligently advancing our ministry efforts. Recently, we sent off 20 boxes (totaling 400) of Arabic Bibles, one box of Arabic Study Bibles (4-Van Dyke Translation), and one box of Africa Study Bibles (eight) to Darfur, Sudan, through the Bidi-Bidi refugee camp. These resources were entrusted to our colleague, Darfurian Joshua Abraham, and subsequently to Adam in Juba (another brother from Darfur), before being transported overland to Darfur. Following the removal of Bashir from power, there was a brief period marked by peace and openness. During that time, we managed by God’s grace to send hundreds of Bibles and Arabic literature, such as J.I. Packer’s “Knowing God” and others; many individuals experienced salvation and baptism. I had been planning a ministry trip with Joshua and Adam when the civil conflict between the RSSF and the government erupted. Thousands have tragically lost their lives in what remains a largely unreported war in the international arena. Numerous believers with whom we had established contact have sought refuge in Chad and South Sudan. Given the ongoing conflict, it is a testament to God’s sovereignty that we were able to deliver these Bibles to their destination. We implore you to pray for their safe arrival. We extend our gratitude to Christianbook International Outreach and our generous donors for their support in facilitating getting these bibles to RAU and the transport of them to Darfur.

Getting Bibles and Study Bibles into church leaders hands has been RAU’s ongoing vision and ministry plan. We were blessed to have this picture of a Congolese pastor ESV Global Study Bible he received 2016 (sent to us by oy our dear Congolese brother, Sam who spent several years with us). I first started bringing Study Bibles into our region back in 2007.

From Reaching Africa’s Unreached Mission/Vision page: “…we will endeavor to place ESV Global Study Bibles, ESV Study Bibles , Reformation Study Bibles, Africa Study Bibles, and high-quality doctrinally sound Christian literature into the hands of believers. R.A.U. also continues to partner with Study To Be Approved by placing Kindles loaded with Study Bibles and many sound books into the hands of key Christian leaders/Pastors in the region. In February 2022, a container of 20,861 ESV Global Study Bibles arrived to RAU campus. This brings the total which has come in previous containers and teams to nearly 30,000+ ESV Global Study Bibles for leaders. God be praised! Recently (in 2021), R.A.U. received 16,000 books and Arabic Study Bibles from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach and Christian Book International. Also 600,000 dual language tracts , Madi, Aringa, Arabic-English and nearly 7,000 Christian books for pastors arrived in 2022. In July 2024 and August 2025 a total of 43,000 ESV paper backs Pew Bibles were received. Currently by God’s grace to we have received over 16,000 Africa Study Bibles which primarily for local Ugandan and Sudanese church leaders. Each year more Study Bibles, Bibles, theological books, and dual language gospel tracts will continue to arrive, Lord willing, to RAU. With four shelved 40 foot containers RAU is equipped to be a distribution hub to get these resources to church leaders…”

3,224 Bibles/Study Bibles Distributed

3,224 Bibles/Study Bible Distributed.Many hundreds of ESV Pew Bibles have been going to students in community schools as well many Africa Study Bibles and ESV Global Study Bibles to church leaders in both West Nile Uganda and refugee resettlement camps in Uganda and South Sudan. Zorah, our RAU co-worker who been helping facilitating the transfer Bibles out from RAU states around 3,224 bibles/study bibles have gone out from the RAU campus. Praise God!

10,000 Aringa/English “Message of Hope” Booklets Printed

Ten thousand copies of the “Message of Hope” booklet have been printed, with the majority now at RAU for distribution in support of Aringa discipleship and evangelism initiatives. The Aringa are listed as a “unreached people group” by the Joshua Project. This publication is available in English, with the reverse side featuring the Aringa translation. We express our gratitude to Blackhawk Ministries Church for their generous funding of this endeavor. Originally published by ABWE Good Soil, the Aringa translation was skillfully translated by our Aringa co-worker, Onduga Charles. We successfully obtained permission from ABWE and extend our appreciation to our friends at Ekisinga Publishing in Jinja for facilitating the printing in Jinja, Uganda.

Leadership Training in nearby Bidi Bidi Refugee Resettlement Camps Continues

Co-Worker Joshua Abraham continues to lead two group church leaders in a one year study, one in Bidi-Bidi Zone One and one in Biddi-Biddi Zone Two. Please be in prayer for them as well.

Arapi/Gbari Church Building Progress

Work on the Arapi/Gbari Community Church building continues to progress steadily. We express our sincere gratitude to those who have contributed to this endeavor. This picturesque remote valley had very few Christians when began home to home evangelism late 2014, leading to the birth of the church. Initially, gatherings took place under a tree at a school, followed by another tree at a clinic, and in 2015, a hillside covered with thorns was acquired, which has since been transformed. A concrete slab was poured in 2015, and a modest home was constructed for Pastor Geoffrey, who relocated his family from Aya, where he served as the youth pastor at Aya Baptist. At that time, financial resources were limited, and the church met under a carpet (tarp) . Later in 2015, a used tent was provided and transported within one of RAU’s containers that came from Texas, allowing the church to gather under it from 2017 to 2026, which served the church well. In 2019, funding was obtained to extend the structure to beam level, and subsequently, in early 2026, additional funds arrived to complete the building—just in time, as the tent was in tatters. Plaster work currently is ongoing. Our aspiration is for this facility to also serve as a church leadership training center for the northern section of the Metu Mountains. There are three smaller village church plants in the area, and by God’s grace, we hope to establish more in villages that currently have no church presence. The Lord has been pouring out His Spirit throughout these remote Metu Mountains, and many individuals have come to faith. The significant need is for biblically trained church leaders to ensure these new churches grow both in number and in spiritual health. We request your prayers for these discipleship and evangelism goals and elsewhere where RAU works alongside local churches.

Pictures below: April 2015- June 2026

Recently, an additional parcel of land was integrated into the existing plot, measuring 50 meters by 50 meters; it now extends to 50 meters by 58 meters (refer to the satellite photo taken prior to the roofing work). This expansion will facilitate further development. Acquiring land involves a complex process that necessitates meetings with clan leaders, local political figures, sub-county leaders, and district officials. This process demands considerable patience and adherence to cultural norms. One of the accompanying images illustrates a meeting at the church, where all attendees, including myself as a representative of RAU, spoke. Later in the week, I requested my colleagues, Aaron Langworthy and Onette Zorah, to represent me and RAU at the sub-county level, which they executed effectively. Additional paperwork was completed. Aaron delivered a sermon, and all participants were provided with African Study Bibles (ASB). Furthermore, additional ASBs were brought for the police and political leaders.

Another Borehole (Water Well) Refurbished

This borehole (water well) has recently been refurbished by Reaching Africa Unreached (RAU) to serve the remote villages of Arapi and Gbari located in the Metu Mountain region. The refurbishment was necessitated by the corrosion of steel pipes due to the presence of minerals and iron in the water, which ultimately caused the pump to seize. As a result, village and church members have been forced to revert to the stream for their water supply. Children, particularly the younger ones, are disproportionately affected by the consequences of unclean water. Initially, we removed debris from the borehole. Our efforts began last year, and, by God’s grace and love of his people, our desire is to replace the existing steel borehole pipes with stainless steel alternatives. Although more expensive, stainless steel pipes ensure a longer lifespan for the borehole. While local communities manage minor repairs, larger issues such as this exceed their capabilities. This refurbishment marks our fifth such endeavor. By God’s grace, RAU has successfully established 26 boreholes in challenging locations, providing clean water to the residents of various villages. Your assistance in this initiative would contribute significantly to the long-term well-being of these communities, particularly the children. RAU’s mission is to reach difficult areas with both the gospel and mercy ministries. As John Piper has aptly stated, which resonates profoundly with RAU’s mission, “As Christians, we care about all suffering, most especially eternal suffering.”

On a side note to my fellow Christians and friends, it is important to disregard the unfounded and illogical assertions that individuals who advocate for pro-life perspectives solely care about the unborn in the context of abortion. Pro-life Christians are committed to valuing all human beings, from conception through to old age.

Here is RAU’s Mercy ministry page for you to peruse: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/agriculture-project/

Last report and prayer request: RAU Yumbe On the Ground Branch

As previously reported, our vision and commitment focus on establishing a physical presence in Yumbe town. This initiative aims to significantly enhance our efforts to strengthen the Aringa Church and effectively reach out to the Aringa community, which predominantly consists of Muslims. Also it would put a RAU team closer to the refugee resettlement camps for training for leaders there as well. A plot of land is purchased but what we need is the Land title before any building can proceed. We have working closely and faithfully with our Aringa co-worker Charles. We have hit road block after roadblock. I think you can understand why without me spelling it out. Please be in fervent prayer for this tile to be completer. We have money in holding which can nearly complete our first phase. If you have not read my write up on please go to this page and see how we seek to flesh this vision out, the whys of vision, and plan forward as the Lord wills and opens the way. Here is the page: “Proposed RAU Yumbe On-the-Ground Branch”.

Here is beautiful answer to prayer! Our ABWE co-workers Aaron and Amanda Langworthy have been granted a three-year Ugandan Work Permit. They leave early the morning to get it put in their passports as well as to take care of some other business. Now they can work on getting their children dependent passes to stay in the country. We are grateful for RAU CFO , Kalunda Thomas, for his tireless work in connecting all the governmental dots to make this happen.

RAU Opportunities to Serve

Take a moment to explore the meaningful long-term opportunities to serve with RAU/ABWE found on this page. Our hearts and prayers are dedicated to those who feel called to serve here at RAU for the long haul. The needs are significant, and the hands willing to help are few… Matthew 9:38.

RAU Opportunities: https://abwe.org/serve/browse-opportunities/country-uganda/

With so much gratefulness for all of you who partner with us in their financial support, prayer, encouragement and physical presence,

Love, from Jacob and Carol Lee

Mission and Vision Statements: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/

Our Mission is to reach Africa’s unreached, once-reached, and mis-reached people groups with the glorious Gospel of Jesus by planting Christ exalting churches in their midst. Furthermore, we will endeavor to strengthen local churches and their leaders through careful exposition of the Scriptures in the in the primary (first tier) doctrines of the Christian faith that they may be strengthened to plant churches in nearby villages with no church and unreached peoples in their geographical regions.