Imams and Sheikhs

On June 21, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

“You also must help us by prayer, SO THAT many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (Emphasis Mine)”

2 Corinthians 1:11

I write with a heart that is full of joy “giv[ing] thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” I know many were praying and even set their alarms so that they would be sure to be interceding while we were in our Yumbe meeting….thank you!! Zora, Mindra, and I left RAU at 8 AM Saturday morning (June 19th) for Yumbe and arrived at Pilgrim Church at 9:45 to meet Charles. We then proceeded to a Muslim-run secondary school where we met by Brother Barnabas and Yaphad. Charles said the school is their “model Muslim school” in Yumbe. We waited under a tree for awhile and then were able to move all our things into a large classroom. By 11 AM most all the Imams and Sheikhs were with us.

There were 24 Muslim men at the meeting all of which were either Imams or Sheikhs. They, as well the school officials, were all very cordial and hospitable. We met in a large science classroom. Charles and Barnabas both interpreted for me. They all knew English but in varying levels of understanding.

The very first thing we did was to give reading glasses to those that needed them (about 90% did) using the Aringa New Testament’s to test for the right strength. The Aringa New Testament celebrates its first year this month. Three of the men were national Islamic leaders, a number were northern Ugandan regional leaders Some of the Imams were also “evangelists“. Most Muslims in Uganda consider Yumbe to be the center of Islam in Uganda. I believe it is fair to say that one would have to go to (North) Sudan to find as highly a concentrated number of Muslims as are found in Yumbe. These Muslim leaders all gladly received Aringa New Testament’s, ESV Global Study Bibles, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi and gospel tracts in English, Aringa, Arabic and Swahili. Throughout the meeting they pledged read the literature!

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After we all introduced ourselves I was given time to give my testimony and proclaim the gospel without compromise along with a passionate call to trust in Jesus. An outline of my message is at the bottom of this post. A number of them shared as well, asked questions, made challenges, and gave comments from the Qur’an. We are looking to meet again maybe next Saturday. Numerous ones commented that this type of meeting has never happened in Yumbe… a white Christian meeting with them together in their own setting. Truly, this type of gathering could not happen except it be sovereignly designed. Brother Charles was key instrument of the Lord in organizing it. Oh, how I love the sovereignty of God! God is BOTH “sovereign” and “loving“. Muslims fully believe the former but do not fully understand God’s sovereignty and love as co-existing. Keep praying for these men that they would see the beauty of Jesus!

Positive change has been occurring in Yumbe, especially in the last couple years. In a previous personal note to some of you I shared that Yumbe Town has a population of over 35,000. Our brothers from Yumbe town tell me there are under 200 Aringa who are born again in the town which makes them .6% of the population. In the rural areas (in small geographical pockets) there are more Christians but according to believers in Yumbe the number is far lower than government estimates. Whereas most of Uganda has many evangelicals, Yumbe District, along with neighboring Koboko and Obongi Sub-County is very different in this regard. These areas certainly fit the description of a harvest field with very very few followers of Christ.

Also as mentioned in previous newsletters, Yumbe Muslims are very ardent in their beliefs. We have had three separate groups of church leaders here at RAU for retreats and they have told me many of their personal stories of persecution. I have deep love and respect for Yumbe believers! It is an honor to count them as friends.

Since our arrival here in July 2013 we have had many opportunities to be in Yumbe churches throughout the country side as well as in Pilgrim Anglican Church in Yumbe town. The Lord has also opened the door for open air preaching in and outside the town along with one-on-one evangelism in the town and rural markets. We are grateful for the Ugandan constitution which recognizes freedom of religion. This gives us and others an open door to preach in Yumbe. I long for and sense that the Lord is going to bring many to faith in these districts. You, along with us, have the privilege to be a part God’s sovereign work!

Let me affirm again, for our mutual encouragement, that God is on the move in the Muslim world and I am excited about it. Since the beginning of Islam there have been 82 movements of Muslims to Christ with its shared history with Christianity. The first of these did not occur until 13 centuries into the Muslim-Christian encounter. Of these 82 movements, 69 (84%) have taken place since 2000. ( page 230 in A Wind In the House of Islam: How God is Drawing Muslims Around the World to faith in Jesus Christ ).

We sense the Lord doing the same thing in Yumbe and Obongi! The excellent book we have been giving to Muslim seekers is Seeking Allah,Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. We brought about 30 back with us from the States. We now are almost out. The Lord is using it to open eyes and save. It has also been a great help to me in understanding the Muslim worldview and it was a delight to read about the power of God’s Spirit at work. If anyone is so led you could buy copies at Amazon and have them shipped to Lifegate-RAU (395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin TX. 78155). They would then be packed in the RAU container which is leaving Seguin for us on July 10th.

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Other encouraging and helpful works have been Any-3: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime — Win Muslims to Christ Now! , DREAMS AND VISIONS: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? , Breaking the Islam Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of Every Muslim and The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World . Carol has read and been helped by the following books: Simple Ways to Reach Out to Muslims and Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love With Jesus. Most likely you have Muslims in your neighborhoods which you called to be a witness too. I know these books would be helpful to you too.

Please allow me to touch on a different but related topic. The Lord has put it on our hearts to establish an Interdenominational Bible School here at RAU which is adapted to our cultural setting. Since January of 2016 we have been a part of 7 new church plants and we see God pouring out His Spirit, establishing many more in unreached places, (e.g. Yumbe and Obongi.) The problem is that there is no place/opportunity in our region for local ones who are called to lead to get basic biblical training. Also the pastors who are here have had little to no biblically training as well. The Bible School would work hand in hand with our retreats and outreaches; RAU’s 17 acres has the perfect setting.

This how you can pray with us going forward. We are going to begin saving money little by little for two classrooms (turn key bid is at $25,000). We currently have 29 beds for students and a good library (books I have been collecting/reading since I was saved as well ones which have been given). The classrooms would help make the RAU facilities acceptable to the Ugandan gov’t so that we can give country wide acceptable certificates which is just another means of helping in the establishing new churches and strengthening current ones in our West Nile region. Please pray for us in this and be open to the Lord in helping us construct these classrooms.

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and support!

Jacob (Carol) Lee

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Below is the outline I used with the Yumbe Imams and Sheikhs

**Note: This outline leans heavily on the methodology found in Mike Shipman’s book **Any-3: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime — Win Muslims to Christ Now! My adaptations fit it into our Northwestern Ugandan culture, bringing in the concept of honor/shame (See helpful treatment on this topic: The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World by Werner Mischhke) which is prevalent in the Majority World societies like ours and which is also common in the Bible. I also interpose the need for “inner cleansing”. There is great importance placed in Islam for outer cleansing. J.D. Greear in his book Breaking the Islam Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of Every Muslim has also been a great help.

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Thank you for your hospitality! Salaam Alekum!

Jacob William Lee Introduction: In September I will be 60 years old. I am married to Carol Ann for 34 years and have three grown children with two married. We have four beautiful grandchildren back in Texas USA. I grew up on an Iowa farm and worked as a builder in my 20’s. I went to University in my 30’s and received a Bachelor’s Degree. In my 40’s I received a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. I was a teacher and headmaster for many years as well a pastor in our local church in Texas.

When I was 20 years old I became a true follower of Jesus. Jesus took away my shame and debt of sin through His sacrificial blood. Jesus has delivered me from the power of evil and has given me abundant life. I was raised in a religious home. I used to try to be a good person, so I could please God. However, I was never quite good enough. One night, after having read our Holy Book, the Bible, to help me fall asleep, I had an experience of God’s forgiveness of my sins and I knew God wanted me to have a relationship with Him and live for His glory. Even at that time I had a feeling that God wanted me to tell others about Him who have never heard about His forgiveness. I was overwhelmed because I knew God is holy and I was not. It was a joyful experience to know that a Holy God would want me to be in a relationship with HIM.

(** See note above) God is in heaven and is holy, but we on earth are unholy. Through our religion, we try to please God with our good works, but it is never quite good enough. We climb, and then fall. Climb, then fall. It is frustrating, isn’t it?

Most religions are alike, aren’t they?

We are all trying to please God, to get our sins forgiven. We are all sinners aren’t we? Even good people sin. Sinning is easy, but paying off our sin debt to God is much more difficult, isn’t it? Our sin brings shame and inner uncleanness before a holy God, doesn’t it?

In your Muslim religion what are you doing: to pay off your sin debt? To remove your shame from sin and inner uncleanness? To please God?

1). Are your sins forgiven yet?

2). Is all your shame before God now gone? Is your inner man been made clean?

3). When will your sins be forgiven, your shame be gone, and your inner man be made clean?

4). On Judgment Day, do you know for certain that your sins will be forgiven or that you will be without shame of sin and your inner man completely clean?

What I believe is different. I know my sins are completely forgiven, my shame before God has been taken away and my inner man has been made perfectly clean. This is not because I am a good person, even though I do try to be good. My sins are forgiven because God Himself has paid for my sin. The outcome of this forgiveness is that my shame before a holy God is gone and I have been cleansed within from the filth of sin through Jesus’ sacrificial blood. Satan’s power over me has been broken in my life by Jesus. I have been set free through Jesus.

Part One: Jesus

Jesus, the Word of God, was in Heaven with God from the beginning. He was born into this world through the Virgin Mary. Both the Bible and the Qur’an teach this. Jesus never sinned, even though He was tempted in every way imaginable. Jesus overcame the desires of His flesh. He never married; never killed anyone; never gathered riches for Himself. Jesus once fasted 40 days and 40 nights while being tempted by the devil, yet He never sinned.

Jesus performed great miracles. He cast out demons; healed the sick and blind; Jesus even raised the dead.

It is interesting that, though Jesus was not yet old, He began prophesying about His death. To his followers He said, “I must die, but I will rise again.” Do you know why Jesus said, “I must die?”

Part Two: Why did Jesus have to die?

The answer is found in the Taurat (the first 5 books of the Bible). The Taurat tells us about the first persons God created, Adam and Eve. God put them in a perfect paradise, called the Garden of Eden. They were given great freedom to eat fruit from any tree in the garden except for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned them that if they ate of that fruit they would die.

A covering for sin

One day, Satan visited Eve in the form of a serpent and tempted her to eat the fruit that God had forbidden. She ate the fruit, and gave it to Adam, who also ate it. Immediately, they were afraid, so they hid from God. But because God knows everything, He found them and punished Adam and Eve for their disobedience.

God’s Punishment

As punishment for their disobedience, God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden paradise, and eventually they did die. God’s desire had been for them to live forever, but because of their sins, they lost paradise and died.

It is interesting that the Taurat says Adam and Eve committed just one sin and it resulted in their judgment and death. Adam and Eve seemed like good people, probably better than us. Perhaps they had already done hundreds of good works. They hadn’t killed anyone, committed adultery, or stolen anything. But they disobeyed just once and it resulted in death. Sometimes we think that if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds that our sins will be forgiven, but that is not what the Bible says.

Promised Savior and New Clothes

Yet God still loved Adam and Eve. So He made a way for their sins to be forgiven. After pronouncing His judgment on Adam and Eve, God also judged the serpent (Satan) who had deceived them. God promised that from the woman’s descendent a Savior would come who would crush Satan’s head, although Satan would also injure Him. Over the centuries that followed, many prophets of God foretold the coming of a Savior who would take away the sins of the world.

Then God did something very interesting. He changed Adam and Eve’s clothes. God replaced the clothes made of leaves that Adam and Eve had made with new clothes made from animal skins. Of course, to make these clothes, an animal had to die. The death of an innocent animal was the price that God paid to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. Because He loved Adam and Eve, God Himself offered the first sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins. The Bible teaches us that apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22.) Since that first sacrifice all of our forefathers have offered sacrifices to have their sins forgiven: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and others.

Part Three: “That is why Jesus had to die!”

And then Jesus came, born of a virgin, the descendent of a woman. Jesus lived a sinless life, and performed great miracles. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, a prophet named John looked to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

That is interesting, isn’t it? Jesus was called “the Lamb of God.” Why? Because a lamb is an animal used for sacrifice. Do you remember my question: “Do you know why Jesus said, “I must die”? That is why Jesus said, “I must die.”

Jesus came to be God’s sacrifice to pay for our sins, remove our shame from sin, and give us inner cleansing from the filth of sin. This is why He surrendered Himself to the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers to be crucified. He was God’s sacrifice for your sins and mine.

As He was dying, Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” meaning that our sin debt had now been paid for. Then Jesus bowed His head and died. But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead, just as He had promised. For the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers and then was taken up into heaven. We know that one day Jesus will return to earth as Judge over all mankind.

Conclusion

“That is why I know my sins are forgiven.” The Bible tells us that if we surrender our life to Jesus as Lord and believe that He has paid for our sins through His sacrifice and that God has raised Him from the dead, our sins will be forgiven. And that is why I know my sins are forgiven.

It makes sense, doesn’t it, that we cannot pay off our own sins but that God made a way for our sins to be forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice”?

Do you believe that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins and was raised from the dead?

The Bible says in Romans 10: 9-10 says “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

The way people usually surrender themselves to Jesus is through prayer. Prayer is speaking to God what is in your heart. Romans 10:9-10 is a good guide for a prayer of surrender.

May I pray for you and your personal needs?

Thank you and God bless you!

Salaam Alekum!

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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

6,576 ESV Global Study Bibles and more to Africa!

On May 31, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Our time back in America is fast coming to a close. Carol and I are so grateful for many friends! The Lord has blessed us with wonderful times with supporting churches: Lifegate Church, Good Shepherd Evangelical Church, Seagrove Baptist Church,Rocky Point Baptist Church, Faith Lutheran Church, Amazing Grace Baptist Church,Dayspring Fellowship, and Gospel Life Church. Our last Sunday before leaving for RAU on Tuesday morning will be back with our home sending church, Lifegate. We have also had sweet fellowship with many dear friends and have made many new friends whose hearts are stirred for the Nations. Our time with family,especially the grandchildren, was very precious. We are sad and sorry about the many friends and family members we were not be able to be with. We return back for Christmas. During Christmas ’14 we we were with a beautiful Yumbe District church. Lord willing we will be able to connect with many on our next visit that we missed on this trip.

Enjoying the Grandchildren

The Lord has blessed in so many ways during our visit back here in the States. First, the Lord has graciously supplied the funds through His people for the ESV Global Study Bibles for which we have been trusting God . When I contacted the good folks at Crossway Publishing this week they said that because of close-out prices they would be able sell the Bibles for less than their first quoted price when we first started raising the funds last Fall. With the lower prices we are now able to get 6,576 ESV Global Study Bibles instead of 5,000 for the same amount of money! Some Bibles will be Hard Back and some TruTone Brown. Thank you, Crossway! Now I know what the disciples felt when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. Thank you to all who prayed and have given to bring these Bibles to the West Nile of Uganda. The bulk of them will be given to church leaders which exponentially increases their multiplication effect! Lord willing, the shipping container will start its journey the first part of July.

In addition to the Bibles, we have been able to purchase another 180,000 Search For Joy gospel tracts written by John Piper in English, which we have had translated into Madi, and Aringa, bringing the total number of tracts to be placed in the container 480,000! Keep in mind that when we give out a tract in our area it is read by multiple people. These tracts will be joining many rich theological and Biblically sound books donated by The Gospel Coalition International Outreach.. These books will be given to church leaders which also multiplies their effectiveness for God’s glory. Several churches have also donated many good books for the RAU library, among them are Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle set! In addition, Delmar Hager, with Study To Be Approved, is sending back with us more Kindles for pastors. These Kindles have over 300 great books along with several Study Bibles loaded on them. They will join the many other Kindles which are already enriching pastors and furthering the gospel. The Gospel Coalition International Outreach and Study To Be Approved are ministries worthy of ardent support by the church of the living God!

Other resources have also graciously been provided for and will be shipped out in the container. As the Lord provides through His people I would like to see more of Grudems’s Bible Doctrine and more 9 Marks books. In addition I would like to place in the container Anyone, Anywhere,Any Time: Lead Muslims to Christ Now! This resource will help equip God’s people in reaching Muslims in our area. At our container blog link here you can read about how to help: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/ If you prefer, you may send these resources directly to: Lifegate, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin, TX., 78155 and they will be placed into the container by our Lifegate friends.

The Lord is on the move in the West Nile (Northwestern Uganda) and it is honor to be riding the crest of His wave. Church leaders are being strengthened, lost souls are being reached and new churches are being planted, and the Lord is opening the hearts of many Muslims in Yumbe District and Obongi Sub-County! Your prayers are a part of breaking the hard ground and seeds of the gospel being planted. It is an honor to be partnered with you! What we do now for Christ in His love will echo throughout eternity!

With the Lord saving many and new churches being established, there is a need for a place where the Lord can train new shepherds for those He is bringing into the Kingdom of Light. We also are seeing what I believe is an outpouring of God’s Spirit in the Muslim areas of Yumbe and Obongi Sub-County. It has become a deep and increasing burden to me to establish a Bible School on the land which the Lord has given to RAU for the training of leaders. My thinking now is that it would be a short-term, 3 months of intensive training which would work in tandem with our 4-day retreat sessions. Currently, there is very very little access to in depth biblical training in our West Nile Region. This means more building but it can provide for ongoing ministry that will, Lord willing, endure for generations.

The first project would be to build two classrooms and then more housing where pastors would stay while in the Bible School. Because of the economic situation in the area we would need to get sponsors for the pastors. In the midst of this building we would continue our retreats and our discipleship and evangelism outreaches in cooperation with local churches. Please be in prayer for us in this! We are also in serious prayer for another couple or other team members who would share the vision and come and be a part of the RAU team. Together we can make an eternal impact in this area of the world for God’s glory!

We have the best friends!

In Jesus’ Sovereign and Loving Grip,

Jacob (Carol) 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

The greatest evil….

On April 9, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

“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)

Planted In The House Of The Lord

On April 3, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Building Projects, Discipleship, Evangelism, Mercy Ministries

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!

Plodding With Purpose

On March 18, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Mercy Ministries, News and Status Updates

Plodding With Purpose

by Carol Lee

“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.“

Galatians 6:9

Jon Bloom wrote this in an article about “plodding“: “Purpose to be a plodder. A plodder keeps moving. A plodder perseveres. A plodder presses on. A plodder knows the disappointment of unrealized ideals, feels the fear of failure and exposed deficiencies, and the ambiguity of too many demands, options, and tasks. But a plodder isn’t immobilized by them. He or she presses on in the faith that God will supply the needed strength (1 Peter 4:11), wisdom (James 1:5), and direction (Proverbs 3:6).“

Most of what we do here at Reaching Africa’s Unreached is a “plodding” along in the tasks we have been given (and have chosen) to do. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe says, “In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm… in the real world all rests on perseverance.” What is recorded here is our day to day, doing-what-we-know-to-do activities (done, hopefully, in a faithful and joyful way).

Child — A young girl who came with intestinal troubles to receive help

Since our last retreat the pace has slowed, but only long enough to plan the next thing. So often, too, the “next thing” just shows up, so we are learning flexibility and an attitude (I don’t say we have these attitudes down pat – but we are ever learning) of servanthood and compassion for whatever situation or person that shows up! Many times it is a Pastor or Christian who needs a resource or some encouragement. And often it is someone with a medical/physical issue which needs care and resources. Both of these things happened just today: Jacob received a young man who was looking for helpful theological resources; I received an elderly woman with conjunctivitis who needed help with the medication; also today we both spent time counseling a young man who was having pastoral and personal problems. That is life – no matter where one lives – and plodding on faithfully and joyfully is our calling.

Our young student was happy to see us and greeted us enthusiastically with vigorous hugs. I am sure she thought we might not come since it was so late. It was a joy to see her and her environment and to provide her with some treats and supplies which she needed. Her mother sent along some home-cooked goodies (which also tells of the work of the Holy Spirit in the softening of this mother’s heart for her daughter!). It was a joy to also have an outlet for motherly love and encouragement and prayer for “N.” Please keep praying for her to grow in her new found faith and her mother and other family members that they would know and experience the love and grace of Jesus through the Word of God and through the love of Christians in Yumbe.

Meanwhile, back at the mechanic shop, Jacob and Zorah, as mentioned above, were hanging out, waiting for an ever-growing list of problems to be found and fixed. This story, though it could be seen as a frustration and delay, has the providence and kindness of God written all over it! Along the bumpy and dusty patch of road between Yumbe and Koboko, one particular bump brought about a particular sound which, though it had a sort of musical clang to it, was NOT music to Jacob’s ears! When he checked he found a broken stabilizer bracket in the the front end. The reason we can see God’s kindness in this is that it happened on our way to a place where something could be done to fix it – rather than on some remote “road” in the Metu mountains where, apart from a miracle, nothing could have been done to fix it and no wrecker would have been available to come and haul the Land Cruiser to town! Even the ever-growing list of problems was a blessing because the problems were identified in a place and at a time where they could be seen and fixed. This is a blessing indeed as we look forward to some rugged outings in the near future.

102_9156 — Working on a double battery system. Jacob also wants to get a winch install to be prepared for the bush roads in the rainy season.

This Friday, March 20th, Jacob has been invited by some Koboko Pastors (who attended a RAU Retreat) to come to Koboko for a day of teaching for them and fellow shepherds. I can’t think of many groups of Christians who would do this, but these men asked him to come and teach on the Biblical view of suffering, a topic which Jacob normally includes in the Retreat curriculum but which was left out due to a time crunch. He may be able to provide 2 sessions of teaching so that their organizational effort can be maximized. We so appreciate the desire of these leaders to grow in their knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God! Please be praying for this event. Jacob, Zorah and Joseph (who organized the event and is spending some time here with us) will go Friday morning and then Jacob and Zorah will come back on Saturday. There will be 50 or more leaders present.

10933840_10203634359035383_1017661201354656450_n — Angurini Joseph, organizer, song leader

Next Tuesday, March 24th, we will head to Gbari (“Bah-ree“) for another day of discipleship teaching for new believers and medication distribution in the community. (One of the bounties of our visit to Arua was finding a wholesale pharmaceutical shop where we were able to get de-worming medicines and to fill a wish list of medications for a nurse in the Gbari area whose clinic was in desperate need of medicines.) Gbari is the place in the Metu Mountains where a fledgling church was started and where Geoffrey, from Aya Baptist, has been sent as a missionary Pastor along with his family. Nothing short of revival has been happening in this remote and rugged region. It is RAU’s commitment to stand with men who are sent to hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay places so that the living Church of the Living God can find a firm and growing foothold in a spiritual desert.

“The work of evangelism is never complete until the one evangelized becomes an evangelizer.”

Dr. Herschel Hobbs

Working together to spread the fame of King Jesus!

With regard to this, we are asking for financial help on behalf of the Gbari church for $1000 which would purchase one half acre, build of a simple grass thatched church structure, a tukalu for Geoffrey and his family and a latrine for the church members to use. Please pray for a desire and means to supply this need.

On Friday, March 27th, Jacob will do some open air preaching in a village market somewhere near Yumbe town. It is a market Friday so more than the usual amount of people will be there. Virtually all of the listeners will be Muslims. Please pray for “plowed ground” in the hearts of those who will hear the Best News Ever and for heart-penetrating and wise words from the preacher!

One resource that has been an immense help in the Yumbe and Obongi area is the book called, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi. It is an autobiographical story of a young Pakistani man whose journey took him from a sincere devotion to Allah and the tenets of Islam to deep faith in the saving work of Christ over a long period of questioning, searching and with the help of a humble, loving Christian friend. We have placed this book into the hands of several Imams and other Muslims as well as into the hands of Christian leaders for whom this resource will be a benefit in their interactions with Muslims. Just this weekend we heard of the testimony of the son of a Muslim man who died. The son came to stay in his uncle’s home (who is a Christian) and, after reading this book, converted to Christ from Islam because the questions that he had were answered in this book. Please consider purchasing copies of this for us to bring back from our Stateside visit which is coming up soon and/or to be placed in the container.

On the following Tuesday, March 31st, we (and I am tentatively including myself in the “we“) will, once again, head up the Metu Mountains and then hike over rough terrain to another remote and virtually unreached village called, “Oku.” From what we have heard, there has been little or no reach of The Best News Ever into this village. Pray that as the Gospel Story is shared hearts will “see and savor Jesus Christ” (John Piper) and will gladly trust in His lavish love and sacrifice for them! Pray that lasting fruit would be borne and that a thriving Church could grow there with the help of faithful disciple-makers.

We are so happy to report some fruit and progress on the medical need and provision of treatment that was written about a good while ago. Many of you may remember “Mildred Forgive,” the young baby girl with hydrocephalus. Recently, her mother brought her by for us to see her progress and to receive some help to get Mildred Forgive to her next appointment. Oh. My. Goodness! The transformation is amazing, as you will see in the photos below! Thank you for giving and praying and loving!

Prayers and love for Mildred Forgive bear fruit

The building and renovation of the tukalu near the house is coming along nicely. Once finished, it will accommodate 4 double bunks and a queen-sized bed. It will have an enlarged bathroom and a sitting room attached. Not only will we be able to include 8 more pastors at the retreats, but we will have a nice set-up for a visiting couple or family who wants to stay for a while for ministry.

The expanded Tukalu; the slab to the right is ready to receive the 2nd container. The roof will extend over both containers to make a handy-dandy work space between the two.

Please also remember our “Fill the Container Drive.” Praise the Lord, we have funds for 2000 of the 5000 Global ESV Study Bibles we are hoping for. It is $10 per Bible, including shipping to Seguin, if we buy them in bulk (5000). The money for purchasing and shipping the container here is already in place. We only have to fill the container with the hoped for supplies.

As we look towards the rainy season, we have as a major priority the mounting of a winch on the front of the Land Cruiser to help extricate us out of any “muddy situations” which may arise.

Jacob is also hoping soon to get the ground plowed and ready for planting another crop of soybeans and a good number more of grafted mango trees. This will happen once there have been some ground-soaking rains to soften up the dirt.

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 17th) Jacob took the whole day to refresh his soul in reading Jesus Continued…Why the Spirit Inside You is Better Than Jesus Beside You, by J.D. Greear. Jacob reported that it is one of the BEST books he has ever read on the work and role of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life. He was personally encouraged, refreshed and enlivened by it. He highly recommends the book!

I am enjoying Zorah’s love for and interest in guitar, music and worship. We have a growing, common repertoire of songs and are enjoying practicing it has been refreshing to harmonize and play “the eggs” (percussion instrument in the shape of colorful eggs!) Maybe, ONE DAY, we will include a video of us singing one of the songs!

We don’t hear as often from Sam these days. He is very busy, immersed in his Nursing studies. We are continuing to pray for him that the Lord would bless his mind and that Sam would be prepared for even greater service as he fine tunes his skills as a nurse. He has been such a blessing to us at RAU and we are grateful for his partnership and leadership in RAU.

Patrick Bukenya is doing well, along with his family. He is doing a fabulous job of leading at First Presbyterian and is a vital liaison for RAU. His children, Genesis and Gabby are growing and blossoming beautifully. Vickie continues to show great wisdom and leadership in her profession as a Pharmacist. Patrick has given us a good report on the 8 children that were sponsored to attend the school which was started by First Presbyterian Church of Uganda. See them looking “smart” (the Uganda term for “beautiful”) in the photos below!

Patrick, Vickie, Gabby (left) and Genesis (right)

The Moyo area children at First Presbyterian Church’s School who are being sponsored.

Richard, from South Sudan at First Presbyterian; standing straight on his feet after club foot surgery.

The men and women who help us here at RAU on a daily basis are such a blessing to us. Our love and appreciation for them grows daily. We are blessed to have them as co-workers with us in this West Nile Region of Uganda. They, especially, understand the daily plodding in faithfulness, but they are seeing the bigger picture which is a steady progress in the Kingdom of God and blessings that come through faithfulness.

102_4767 — Working on the front fence line.

Odendi (Zakeo), Mindra, Pastor Henery, Mundrugo, and John

We cannot end a newsletter without also expressing our gratitude for the Rope Holders without whom we could not plod faithfully and joyfully! Your financial support, prayers, love and enthusiasm are to us like the air we breathe – absolutely vital! May the Lord bless your lives as you bless us!

Thanks for reading this.

Love, Carol (and Jacob)

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

Reaching Africa's Unreached

Author: Jacob Lee

Imams and Sheikhs

6,576 ESV Global Study Bibles and more to Africa!

The greatest evil….

Planted In The House Of The Lord

Plodding With Purpose