“10 Reasons to Expect Great Things and Attempt Great Things” By David Sills

On January 5, 2015January 5, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

A great word of encouragement from Dr. David Sills!

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10 Reasons to Expect Great Things and Attempt Great Things

“William Carey was a Baptist pastor in England toward the end of the 18th century. Reading Captain Cook’s journals, he was profoundly moved by the spiritual needs of the world. Specifically, he was burdened about the need to convert the peoples of India. However, Carey found that some of the other Baptist pastors in England believed that God would save the heathen in His own time without their help. Carey could not accept the decision to leave them in spiritual darkness. He challenged them through a sermon entitled, “Expect Great Things, Attempt Great Things.” He led the way by sailing to India in 1792 and launched such a remarkable missionary effort that he became known as the father of modern missions. In that day when many English Baptists considered the work God had given to them to do at home to be sufficiently challenging, going to another continent to minister among peoples of different languages, worldviews, and religions was too great a challenge.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because that mentality is alive and well and sometimes resides within us. Perhaps you wonder why should we go elsewhere when there are still lost people among us, indeed even in our own families. Why invest elsewhere when our own buildings need improvement or expansion? Why go to preach truth in places where people already have a religion and don’t want us to come? Why attempt such an audacious task? What hope do we have of success? What should we expect? The same Bible that spoke to Carey still speaks to us today. Why should we expect great things from God and attempt great things for God?

Sovereignty
There is no danger that attempting what our sovereign God has commanded His people to do will fail. I do not mean that every plan we devise will succeed in ways that we measure as success, but when we are prepared instruments in His hands seeking to bring Him glory, there is nothing that will prevent Him having His way in His world. Never be afraid that the Enemy’s gospel-hostile mean people will prevail against the sovereign hand of God. When you’re sure that that hand holds you, never fear to step out and walk by faith.

Mission
The mission we set out to accomplish is not our own, it is His. The mission Dei, encompasses more than we can fathom, but He shares a part of it with us. When you attempt great things, you are not inventing a missions idea and asking Him to bless it, you are joining Him in His mission. His mission will not fail. You are joining the mission of the invincible, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent Creator and Ruler of all that is

Authority
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said that all authority has been given to Him. With His authority He commands us to go to all peoples and obey all the Great Commission. Because He has all authority, no earthly pretender to authority can deny us or stay His hand. There are creative access countries in the world, including some that are mistakenly labeled as closed countries. “You can get into any country, but you may not be able to get out. There is no such thing as a closed country to one who does not care if he gets out again,” famously responded Bible smuggler, Brother Andrew, to a warning that his work was too dangerous to do in Communist countries. Brother Andrew understood that because Jesus Christ has all authority, no government ruler and no human heart can thwart His mission.

Imitation
Many of us live our lives wondering what Jesus would do in various situations we face. A better guide for us would be to look in to the Bible to see what Jesus did do, and then seek to imitate Him. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Christ cleansed the Temple when the court of the Gentiles had been appropriated for the ease and profit of the Jews, He healed those outside Judaism, and said that when He was lifted up that all kinds of men and women would come to Him. Jesus was and is concerned for the nations. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Imitate Him.

Holy Spirit
We can attempt great things for God expecting Him to do great things through us because of His indwelling Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God lives within us to guide us, empower us, endow gifts, encourage, and bless our efforts to glorify Christ. Christian workers who seek to obey Christ’s command and walk in step with the Holy Spirit go forth in Jesus’ name and authority and in the power and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. Such knowledge provides hope when discouraged, the needed word when we do not know what to say, and insight into all the truth we are to teach to others.

Calling
Everyone is not to be a mega-church pastor, serve in a soup kitchen, plant churches, be a pioneer missionary, or teach in a seminary. The unique and God-given mix of gifts and burdens, life experiences, opportunities, and His guidance leads each of us to the paths we walk in our Christian life. Some are more zealous to know and fulfill their role in God’s plan for the world than others. But no matter how God calls you to serve Him, you can serve Him with all you are to attempt great things. If He has called you to be a housewife in suburbia you cannot glorify Him more by being martyred in Somalia. The highest and best use of your life is to do what He has called you to do in the place He has called you to do it. When you know His calling on your life, embrace it fully in faith and obedience. Jim Elliot challenged the called ones in his generation, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation that you believe to be the will of God.”

Needs
The world is in desperate need of the gospel, of hope in the midst of hopelessness, and light in darkness. Lost and dying people need to hear the Good News that though God hates sin He loves us and gave His Son to save us. Over half of the world has not heard the gospel. Just in the Americas there are 999 people groups, with over 2/3 of them unreached and over 1/3 unreached of them unengaged. The numbers of peoples who do not know Jesus is heartbreaking. Many others may have heard but have no Christian churches with trained pastors to teach them the truth of God’s Word and help them apply it to their lives. Other crises are growing as well. Flesh trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry around the world. Tens of thousands of children die of starvation and hunger-related diseases daily. Thousands of people die from the lack of clean drinking water. Globally, millions of orphans live in the streets. Amy Carmichael said, “Missionary work is a grain of sand, the work untouched is a pyramid . . . Face it. Look and listen, alone with God. Then go, let go, help go. But never, never, never think that anything short of this is being ‘interested in missions’” There are so many needs, so little time, and so few responding to help.

Love
When asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” If you love the Lord with your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you will want to see the peoples of His world bring Him honor and worship. And if you love your neighbor as yourself, you will want to see them find forgiveness and enter into eternal life, and be at peace with God through Christ. John wrote in his first letter, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Let us attempt great things and expect great things because of the love of God that the God of love has put in our hearts—love for Him and love for others.

Obedience
We say we love the Lord. But to step onto a plane to leave the land of Walmart, family, friends, and all that is familiar seems a giant leap. Who would do that? Why would they do that? Because He commanded and true disciples obey Him. Prompt obedience has been a characteristic of God’s faithful servants since the days of Noah built the ark and Abraham offered up Isaac. The first disciples Jesus called left their nets and boats and obeyed His call to follow. Sometimes His call to us seems a bit too radical in a world that promotes comfort zones and safety. The last command Jesus gave us was the Great Commission. His word to His church is clear. Is our obedience as clear? Remember that you can say “No,” and you can say “Lord,” but you cannot say “No, Lord.” The minute you do, He’s not; you are. Prompt obedience is a mark of a true disciple. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?”

Success
We should expect great things and attempt great things in full assurance that success is certain. Isaiah 11:9 prophesies, “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” And a confirming repetition comes in Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Notice the absence of even a hint of “maybe” or “hope so.” I love the scene that John describes in the Revelation, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”’

We may expect and attempt great things because a successful end is certain.

God’s people make choices daily. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Decision magazine reminds us of the reality of Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” What a cause for praise and thanksgiving we would have if the whole world had heard the gospel in a way that they can understand and now dwelled in the valley of decision. But they haven’t. And the sad truth is that God’s people have read the Great Commission, the Great Commandments, and the great compassion of Jesus in the Bible, and many have heard the call to give or go, spend or be spent, yet they remain in the valley of decision. Don’t waver any longer in indecision, if God is the Lord of all, commit today to expect great things and attempt great things. Here are ten reasons to do so. Hundreds more could be presented. Only one is needed. Who will expect and attempt great things for the glory of Christ and the advance of His kingdom?”

http://davidsills.blogspot.com/2015/01/10-reasons-to-expect-great-things-and.html

“YOU (YES, YOU!) SHOULD CONSIDER GLOBAL MISSIONS” by Jason Carter

On January 2, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

A much needed message for the church today!

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Guest blogger: Jason Carter at Kevin DeYoung’s Blog

“Thinking of missionary service? Maybe you should. It’s not as farfetched as you think. So, you have a spouse and kids? Moving to the other side of the globe is a not a manned-mission to Mars. People still breathe oxygen in Mongolia, Mozambique and Malaysia – and actually everywhere in between.

I know, I know all this comes with enormous caveats: “You can serve God anywhere.” “Moving overseas doesn’t make you a missionary.” “Your missionary field is right next door.” If you’ve attended a missions conference at a local church, speakers nowadays usually go out of their way not to lay a big guilt trip on the whole congregation for not moving to Timbuktu.

Would that be so bad? Maybe we don’t need a guilt trip, but how about a challenge?

Yes, Jesus did say: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem” (Acts 1:8). But he didn’t stop there. He proceeded to wildly expand the geographic vision of these Israel-centric young-buck disciples: “and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”.

The message: “Be my witness in downtown Chicago (where you work) and in your suburban Chicago neighborhood (where you live)” is a truncated message. Jesus came to save more than suburban soccer moms and urban hipsters. The North American church is dangerously close to making provincial what Jesus meant to be global.

I think it started with good enough intentions. We’re all called to be participate in Christ’s mission. (Yes, we are.) You can serve Christ right where you are. (Yes, you can.) Over and over, Christians are being told that their mission field is right where they are. That’s true. But only partially so.

Let’s not gloss or oversimplify the Great Commission into a metaphor for “going across the street” or “being bold for Jesus at the water cooler.” It’s so much more than that. It’s a global clarion call for disciples to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all nations.

In our good intentions to help people serve right where they are locally, let’s not stamp out the few remaining embers of fire in the local church for global missions.

There are dangers in making “the mission field” a provincial little place to mean “wherever you happen to be now.” This kind of thinking, if left unchecked, has the potential to cripple the cause of global missions by reducing the global message of Jesus to your circle of acquaintances.

Yes, your “mission field” is, in one sense, right where you are. But it doesn’t have to be. You could move! Your mission field could be at-risk children in the favelas of São Paulo. Your mission field could be a network of HIV/AIDS support groups in sub-Saharan Africa. Your mission field could be a people group in Southeast Asia with no access to the gospel. Your mission field could be training indigenous leaders for ministries of the gospel. (I am especially fond of this last one.)

Churches who continuously indoctrinate their people with “your mission field is right where you are” without simultaneously challenging the congregation to follow Christ into cross-culture missionary service are effectively splashing an ice-bucket challenge on the global, ethnē-centered words of the Great Commission. The cross-cultural response of “O Lord, send me” is silenced in the local church when the cross-cultural question is never seriously considered.

A house payment and having kids settled in a good school need not be IRS ironclad exemptions from participating in global missions. Don’t assume that college-aged kids have a monopoly on obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus called Simon Peter and his business partners James and John to drop everything at the least opportune time – on the verge of becoming a regional powerhouse in the first-century fishing industry (Luke 5:1-11).

You should consider that global missions is a real vocational possibility. But not from a place of guilt nor to muster up some radical desire to “really” follow Christ like some modern-day desert father or medieval monk. It’s a possibility because Christ has already commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” And as we “go” and step out in obedience, Jesus promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:20).

Mission is not just about you and where you happen to be at this particular moment. It’s about the Lordship of Christ. He’s King. And not just of your neighborhood or office suite. But of the whole earth.

Global missions? Don’t take it out of the realm of possibility.

Don’t exclude the possibility that God might want to call….you.”

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/12/30/you-yes-you-should-consider-global-missions/

2014 Year End Mission Report: Looking back as we keep moving ahead

On December 30, 2014December 30, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

Reaching Africa's Unreached Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus December 2014 — Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus December 2014

It’s amazing, the seeming paradoxes that exist in scripture. Jesus said that the one with his hand to the plow should not look back or he is not fit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:62). The Apostle Paul said that, forgetting what lies behind, he strained forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). On the other hand, the scriptures also exhort us to remember the past! Throughout Deuteronomy the Lord drilled it into His people not to forget, but remember His goodness and sovereign grace in delivering them and covenanting with them. Psalms and Proverbs often command us not to forget the Lord’s benefits and teachings. Peter reminds us that forgetting those things from which we have been cleansed makes it difficult for us to move ahead without pride and growth in grace (2 Peter 1:5-9). So, once again, context is everything. We can do both! We forget and leave behind those things which keep our gaze and energy upon the prize of Christ for every tongue, tribe, people and nation, and we look back and remember the kindness, faithfulness and mercy of the Lord in all that is accomplished so that we can strain forward to what lies ahead with hopefulness.

As Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) looks back over the past year of ministry, we are remembering the faithfulness, grace and goodness of our God and, in so doing, stirring up faith (as John Piper so eloquently writes in his book, The Purifying Power of Living By Faith In Future Grace) to trust in God for the “ever-flowing river of grace” through Christ for RAU’s future in 2015. Our hope is that this report will give you reason to continue to support RAU or to become a new supporting partner as we look forward to open doors of opportunity in the year 2015 and beyond.

Below, you will read about and see all that the grace of God has allowed RAU to accomplish for His glory in 2014. We have documented RAU activities in two separate reports, RAU Ministry events and RAU Mercy Ministry.

RAU Ministry Events

January 2014

*Ministry with John Howarton from Seguin in Yumbe

*Teaching/Encouragement in Obongi

These new believers are hungry for the Word of God

February 2014

Receiving and Offloading the Container

The tractor was on top of the shredder. They were also wedged so tightly we could not move either one until we jacked the tractor up and unloaded things in front of them.

The garage was became full and very unorganized quite quickly.

Over 1100 Global Study Bibles, over 3500 Biblical sound Christian books, over 40,000 gospel tracts are now ready to be placed into hands of pastors,evangelists, and church planters. Pray that the Lord would use these materials to strengthen His people and bring people into a saving relationship with God Almighty!

Resources supplied to Pastors and Church Leaders at Retreats. ESV Global Study Bible as well as many wonderful books received from The Gospel Coalition’s International Outreach

*Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat at RAU

*Yumbe Outreach – Evangelism, Teaching, Medical

Pilgrim's Church-Yumbe — Pilgrim’s Church-Yumbe

*ESV Global Study Bibles to Yumbe

March 2014

*Obongi Town church ministry/discipleship and baptisms

April 2014

*Adjumani Pastors’ Retreat

*Resurrection Day in Yumbe

June 2014

*Obongi/Maracha Pastors’ Retreat

*Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat

*Production of Aringa Tract, “Quest For Joy” (based upon John Piper’s English tract)

*Onduga Charles, translator of Aringa Tract

*Investment in first ever translated and publishedAringa New Testament

Charles Onduga was on the translation team and also part of the team which translated the Quest For Joy tract into Aringa.

*Dedication on June 24^th, 2014

*Retreat with Church of Uganda, Moyo Town

July 2014

Ministry in Yumbe and Moyo

*Sunday Ministry at Eleke COU

*Sunday Afternoon Open Air in Kerila

*Sunday Ministry in Rodo COU, Kei Sub County

*Purchase of land in Obongi Town for future brance of Hall of Tyrannus and meeting place for Obongi Town Church

*Sunday Ministry with Preston and Laurel Sink at Coro (Choro) Pentecostal Church

*Handing out Aringa tracts on Main Street, Yumbe

*Ministry at Moyo Prison (Gift of Soap and Gospel sharing) with Preston and Laurel Sink

*Ministry in Obongi Town Church with Godfrey

*Handing out Ma’di and Aringa Tracts in Obongi

*Sharing Gospel in Odendi’s village with Preston and Laurel Sink

*Sunday Ministry in Pakayu, Pakayu COU

*Handing out tracts after the service at a nearby market area in Pakayu

*Open air preaching in town near Yumbe

*Teaching Ministry in Obongi

AUGUST 2014

*Ministry at Aya Baptist Church August 3rd

*Pastor’s Retreat Moyo Baptist Churches (Nicholas)

*Pastor’s Retreat Moyo Baptist Churches (John Michael)

September 2014

*Youth retreat with evangelism – First Presbyterian Church of Kampala, Uganda (7 youth) Ministry: Aya, Obongi, Yumbe, Moyo Prison

Clothes from the youth were given out at Aya Baptist

*Trip to Obongi

Each of the youth shared and led in some songs

*Ministry at Kokobo COU

October 2014

Furlough, USA

November 2014

*Provided for ministry needs in Aya

*Radio Gospel Outreach (Dominic)

*Ministry needs in Maracha (Joseph)

*Day ministry visits with American Team (Ron, Mark, Doug) to Aya, Yumbe, Obongi.

*One case of ESV Global Study Bibles and numerous tracts were left each of the pastors for leaders in their churches.

December 2014

*Pastors’ Retreat (Moyo Area, Pentecostal Pastors and other denominations) with Ron, Doug and Mark from USA

*Gift of theological books to ****and ****** for ministry in Obongi

*Numerous ESV Global Study Bibles given to pastors who visit RAU throughout the year.

*Ministry in Palorinya: Teaching at the Baptist Conference with Paul George and Sam Dec. 16-17

*Distribution of 32 ESV Global Study Bibles to Pastors

*1 Kindle for a Pastor at Palorinya

*Exploratory Outreach beyond Aya (Gbare) for establishing church in unreached area – Gbari (with Paul George, Sam, Jacob and Tobious) December 19^th, 2014

*Gift of ESV Global Study Bibles and Gospel tracts in Gbare

*Itulu Baptist church – 12 ESV Study Bibles

*Work on translation of “Quest for Joy” Gospel tract into Lugbara and Kakwa with Joseph of Maracha/Carol Lee (time and gift of money for expenses incurred in translating.)

*Gospel tracts to Joseph of Maracha

*Bibles for key police officers in Moyo

*Resource bag of books/ESV Study Bible and Kindle to *********

*Financial support to pastor ******* for church plant in Gbari as well as resources to develop pastoral skills

*Paul George and Sam to Obongi for Sunday gathering. Paul preached sermon

*All 17 acres of RAU land were cleared; 2 seasons of crops have been planted and harvested and around 300 mango trees were planted with the hope of providing for RAU ministry’s ongoing needs

*On-going building projects to increase the scope of ministry as well as to protect what has been invested in the ministry

RAU Mercy Ministry 2014

Help has been given to repair three neighboring wells which serve our neighbors with water.
$7,500 was donated in August to drill a well in Aya at Aya Baptist Church. There is no clean water there and in 9 surrounding villages. Water Harvest International (WHI) will be drilling the well. When they give the word the money will be sent to them. RAU and WHI have had a preliminary meeting with the village’s elders, local political leaders, the chief of the area, and church leaders on the drilling and upkeep of the well. Previously people just collected water from holes and streams which become rare in the dry season.
Almost on a daily basis, pain medicines, malaria meds, antibiotics, nutritional aids, de-worming meds etc.
When a pastor or his family has a medical need we try to help.
When good opportunities arise to improve/upgrade someone’s education we try to help some.
Most of the funds for these needs were given specially for them. However, some funds have needed to come out of the general fund, too.
Giving out of reading glasses to pastors and other elderly who have difficulty reading and do not have funds for glasses.

February

*Kerwa ministry at clinic (assessment, diagnosis and provision of medicines)

Carol and Sam spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ's love through loving care and dispensing medices RAU had purchased with donations from faithful givers — Carol and Sam spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ’s love through loving care and dispensing medicines RAU had purchased with donations from faithful givers

March 2014

*Prenatal care for Pastor’s wife…300,000

*First cleft lip/palate surgery

Before

After

April 2014

*Refugee Camp Ministry – Collection of Food 1.85 Million UGX

Justin is our man inside the camps — ****** helped to coordinate effort of food supply to refugees in Adjumani

*Assistance to a friend of the ministry – medical needs of his wife

May 2014

*Cleft palate/lip surgeries

******** – Congenital cataract surgery

With Anzo and Mindra in Kampala — With *****and ****** in Kampala

*Distribution of food to South Sudanese Refugees

June 2014

*Little ******** – treatment (surgery) for Hydrocephalus

July 2014

*Distribution of De-worming medicine at Rodo COU

*Distribution of De-worming medicine to congregation’s women and children – Choro Pentecostal

*Ministry and distribution of soap at Moyo Prison

September 2014

*Continued follow-up care for Anzo (Congenital Cataracts)

*Follow-up care for child with cleft palate, from Yumbe.

*Educational needs for a Pastor’s children

*Medical care for a RAU worker

*Widow in Yumbe, given some shillings to help with her needs

*Help for RAU worker’s wife/pregnancy and childbirth

*Food and lodging for refugees (28) caught in middle of tribal conflict (Ma’di/Kuku)

*Shillings given to RDC to help with transporting back to Moyo those who fled during the tribal conflict.

*Ministry (distribution of clothing) by Presbyterian Youth at Aya, Obongi and Moyo Prison

Distributing clothes brought from Kampala by the youth group

October 2014

*Surgical repair of bilateral club foot at CoRSU Hospital, Entebbe for ********; he still requires further surgery to make his healing complete.

Before

After

*Medical care for ******’ child with head injury

*Travel money for child with hydrocephalus (return to Mbale/CARE Hospital)

*Assistance to Muslim Imam and family to replace items stolen during tribal conflict.

*Met with medical personnel to try and coordinate help for children who require corrective surgery.

*RAU meeting with village leaders of Aya to discuss and explain bore hole for which money was given through RAU

At Aya Baptist Church

November 2014

*Continuing supply for medical needs of ******* (bilateral club foot)

*Medical needs provided for (******* – pastor)

*Medical Care for young Muslim man (head injury)

*Travel expenses for child with hydrocephalus

*Travel expenses and Bibles for Solar pump engineers

*Help for daily needs for Muslim man in Moyo

*Gift for birth of child (********)

*Anti-viral eye drops (from USA) for wife of Pastor ********

December 2014

*Retreat for Moyo Pastors with Ron, Doug, and Mark (provision of food, medications, and eye glasses

*Gift of Drip Irrigation kit to each attendee (25) by Doug Neel and M.A.R.S.

*Provision of reading glasses to pastors attending retreat, as well as others who came by.

*Provision of funds for bicycle for ****** Pastor, ******, for ministry needs

*Provision of bed sheets, towels, kitchen needs and toothbrushes for Pastor ******* for ministry needs

*Provision of ox plow and team for Ijuju Bpatist Church

De-worming medicine for 150 children and 50 adults in Palorinya

Reading glasses for pastors and elderly in Palorinya

Money for grocery needs for elderly woman (mother of ********)

*Gbare outreach: 300 children de-worming

*Gbare outreach: 50 tubes of antifungal medicines

*Reading glasses for Gbare outreach

*Pastor’s wife with scoliosis, large bottle of Ibuprofen for pain

*Camera for ********: for police detective work and documentation

*2 irrigation kits for pastors doing church plant in Gbari

*Sunglasses for young girl with congenital cataracts

*Assistance for contact in Yumbe, *******, to receive medical care for longstanding infection on scalp

*Frequent distribution of medictions (Coartem, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, anti-fungal cream, eye drops) to people in surrounding areas

*Distribution of de-worming medication at Obongi Town Church

*Provision of sheets and kitchen items to Pastor ***** of Obongi Town Church (OTC)

*Return to Kampala for Anzo to have eyes evaluated for redness and irritation

We hope that all of you that have taken a personal interest by supporting RAU through funding and prayer will be encouraged by what has been accomplished by the grace of our God. We also hope that it will stir you to continue to pray and support and even “come over and help us” in 2015. For those of you who have been considering adding your support, we hope that this will give you confidence that your investment will be used in a way that glorifies God.

Blog: http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: http://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

Special Prayers For Carol Please!

On December 28, 2014December 28, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized10 Comments

Carol sharing the gospel in a rural Yumbe District market

Please be in prayer for Carol. We had quite the scare late Saturday. While I was reading in our bedroom, (which is our home within our home here at the Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse) I heard a loud noise in the attached bathroom. To my horror I saw that Carol had fallen and she was flat on back with her head propped in a weird angle along the wall. My first thought was that I had lost my beloved. I went to her immediately not knowing her condition…she was in a daze and not able to communicate well. After some time, which felt like an eternity, she could talk and we assessed that nothing was broken. We stayed together awhile longer on the floor. My heart was beating very rapidly. I must say God’s grace was with us in an amazing way! Carol is an extraordinary woman! She remained calm and with her medical knowledge was able to give me instructions on do’s and don’ts.

Working together, I got her to bed. She could hardly walk. While in bed Sam helped assess a very large hematoma on her head. Fortunately, our small solar powered fridge had a little ice in it which we immediately put on the swollen part of her head. We monitored her pupils. In bed she was not able to move herself without me helping her. She almost passed out during the night during a trip to the bathroom. Her neck, back, hip, and elbow were hurting very badly. Since Carol is “bleeder” we knew we could not give certain medicines and knew that bad outcomes for such a head trauma can be serious. Both of us were remembering Natasha Richardson, actor Liam Neeson’s wife. After conferring with a doctor friend she took some acetaminophen. Throughout the night I monitored as best possible. Here in the northwestern bush of Uganda there is no immediate care for such injuries. We do have some options in getting a helicopter here which is difficult to do but still is a choice if need be.

I don’t think I ever felt so helpless! This spurred on some very serious praying! Others here, as well as family, have been praying! Your added prayers are called for.

This morning she is somewhat better. The edema on her head has lessened and there is no headache pain. Her muscles, especially in her neck and shoulders area, are still very, very sore with severe spasms. She ate something when she woke up and felt it was now OK to take a muscle relaxer. With the help of that medicine she is resting well now. I am waking her every 15-30 minutes to monitor her. The Lord is good and He is good all the time. Please fervently pray for my precious wife Carol!

We were due to go to Obongi today (Sunday) for services. Paul George from Dayspring Chapel Austin Texas was going to share, I preach, and then we, along with Nurse Sam, were to give out de-worming medicines to neighborhood children. We also were planning to have another prayer meeting on the land RAU has purchased there, asking God’s mercy and persuasion to be upon those in the community opposing our gospel work in Obongi town. I thought it important for me to stay here at RAU with Carol. Paul and Sam left this morning via private hire for Obongi. Paul has stepped up and, I know, will preach a Christ exalting message, children will still be de-wormed, and intercessions will go forth. Paul and Sam are such timely blessings! Paul leaves us Monday and in mid January the Lord has graciously opened the door for Sam for medical upgrading. Please pray for these dear men.

Nurse Sam (in the Texas shirt) and Paul with the Gbari/Arapi outreach team

The challenges we face do not surprise us as we know they are part of proclaiming the glorious gospel where there are so few who worship the King of kings and Lord of lords! We are upheld by God’s grace and your prayers.

The Lord has opened and is continuing to open many doors of opportunity for the advancement of the gospel in this area of the world. In the next day or two I will put out a report and put it on the web site, reviewing what took place by God’s grace in 2014. In brief, since we have been here full time (July 2013), we have had 10 four day pastor retreats at RAU, given out many Study Bibles and resources to church leaders, had many evangelism outreaches in Moyo and Yumbe Districts, medically assisted children and adults, are a part of bringing clean water to a communities, cleared 17 acres of bush land and planted crops/fruit trees to bring in income for the ministry. There has also been continual building work on facilities throughout the year. We have had the honor to be part of starting two churches both in places where there is no evangelical church, Obongi Town and Gbari/Arapi. Last Sunday was the first service for the Gbari/Arapi church plant which had 44 in attendance. Of the 44, 37 were new believers from previous days of evangelism and medical outreaches in those two villages and surrounding area!

We praise God for all these open doors. God used your prayers and support in 2014 as a means to accomplish great things for His glory. Please continue to stand with us in 2015. Our most immediate goal is to get a second container here full of ESV Global Study Bibles and other resources. See this link for more information on that need:

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

May the Lord richly bless you! Thank you!

Jacob and (Carol) Lee

Blog: http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: http://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)

Jacob W. Lee

“To and Fro”

On November 17, 2014November 17, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized1 Comment

“Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.“

Daniel 12:4

Jacob and I have often discussed with amazement how the “increase in knowledge” (technology) has made it possible to “run to and fro” the opposite sides of the world in a matter of hours or to be connected electronically in an instant with people on the other side of the world. It gives life a surreal quality. The New English Translation reads this way: “Many will dash about…” We have certainly done our share of “dashing” over the last 6 weeks.

We hit the ground running in our home town of Seguin where we were reunited with some of our family (Anna, Kenny and Keira, who picked us up from the airport in Austin, and Josh, Becca, Eliza, Ben and Vera.) Vera was kind enough to hold off her entrance into the world until we arrived – she was born 3 days after we landed in the States. It was a special experience to be present at her birth and to be able to photograph the event of her arrival. In spite of jet lag and loss of sleep during travel, Jacob and I jumped into grand-parenting duties with great relish! Skype and videos help us to keep up with our kids and grand kids, but nothing beats real time hugs and kisses and singing and story-telling and all of the normal, everyday stuff of being there! We are so proud of Josh and Becca and the family they are raising.

We were reunited also with our dear church family, Lifegate Ministries. What a joy it was to receive their warm and enthusiastic welcome and to give and receive hugs! Jacob had the privilege of preaching there on our first Sunday back. Over the next week and a half we also made it a priority to connect with other individuals and churches (Amazing Grace Baptist and Good Shepherd Evangelical) who have partnered with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) and who had become amazing prayer warriors during the harried weeks of the tribal conflict and unrest in which we found ourselves. The tensions and uncertainty made our home coming all the sweeter.

The dashing about had only just begun though…we had places to go and people to see! Our first stop was Iowa, Jacob’s home state. In addition to connecting with family we had not seen in years, we were there to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Jacob’s parents, Keith and Gert Lee. The number of friends and family who came to help celebrate were a testament to the measure to which Keith and Gert have endeared themselves to many.

Our next stop was Stephenville where Anna, Kenny and Keira live. The last time we were there, Keira was just a baby and going through a difficult time. This time, she turned the corner from baby to toddler, was a bundle of energy, learning to take her first steps and picking up new words almost every day. Grand-parenting joy! As parents we were also overjoyed to, again, see the answers to very specific prayers we had prayed for our daughter, Anna, before we made our move to Uganda: that she be settled with a godly husband and family and cared for in a God-fearing and loving church family. We love to tease Kenny about his being such a treasure and we love his family, too. Rocky Point Baptist Church has become a very special place to us as we have met the godly folks who love Anna and have taken her under their wings and whom she loves and cares for as well. We personally experienced their care as they gave us a whole Sunday to share RAU’s vision and passion and shared with us how earnestly they had prayed for us during the tribal conflict and for the region in which we live. Kinship expands beyond blood when the bond is the Spirit of Christ.

Next stop: Chattanooga, where our beloved son, Josiah, lives and with whom we were very keen to carve out special time. October was a great month to visit – the leaves on the trees were changing. It was truly beautiful and perfect for photo ops! Josiah was able to take time off of work giving us the opportunity to take walks, enjoy a variety of cuisines, take a road trip and picnic, just hang out and meet his girlfriend, Melinda. We cherish every opportunity to take part in his life as he has lived further away from the epicenter of our lives in Seguin.

In no time we were back in Seguin! It must be told what a miraculous gift it was to fly to each of these places. Jacob’s heart dropped when he looked at the price of the tickets, which would have been about $3500. However, when he put in his accrued travel miles (we have stuck with Delta airlines through the years and have rarely used them) his jaw dropped as he saw the total amount due: $0! Praise the Lord!…and, thank you Delta!

The last week and a half in Seguin was beautiful and busy as we tried to make the most of the time left by soaking up the last dregs of grand-parenting joy, enjoying sons and daughters, making special appointments with loved ones and shopping for supplies for Africa till we felt like dropping! Again, we were reminded of our kinship in Christ as we fellowshipped with our friends from Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, Gospel Life Church in New Braunfels and the final Sunday with our beloved “Lifegaters.” We are “blown away” by the increasing partnership with so many people and churches.

Phew!!!!

Just like that!….it’s over and we have crossed back to the other side of the world! We are in Kampala with Patrick Bukenya and family. Jacob and Sam are dashing about Kampala trying to cross everything off their “to do” list before we head back to Moyo/Afoji on Tuesday. We will be receiving our first team from the States this weekend and then hosting a pastors’ retreat the following week.

As we look back over our whirlwind tour, we are shaking our heads in amazement at what the Lord allowed us to experience and accomplish. We are encouraged as we look forward to the busy months ahead and anticipate the pleasure of seeing many of you come to visit and minister with us. We are encouraged about the provisions and plans that the Lord has made clear. We are thankful for the pastors in the West Nile region who are working under difficult conditions and show a deep desire to grow in their faith. This morning I was reading in Philippians 1 where Paul says, “And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith.” This verse so beautifully states the purpose and passion of RAU – to come alongside pastors in the West Nile region for the sake of their progress and joy in the faith.

We labor energetically in the day because we know the night is coming (John 9:4). There will come a day, maybe very soon, when doors of opportunity may close or when another kind of technology will be at work and we will be whisked away, not to the other side of the world, but to the other side of time. How surreal and beautiful THAT DAY will be! We know, however, there is much to be done before THAT DAY and, so, we work! We thank each and everyone of you that shares that urgency and vision and who has prioritized and partnered with us in this particular course we have taken.

We especially want to thank Sam who has done of great job of “holding down the fort” and keeping things going at RAU in our absence. We thank Patrick for his wisdom and help and his family for their hospitality (our home away from home.) We are grateful for our friends who have continued to work at RAU to keep things looking good and to provide security. Thank you, Delmar Hager (Study To Be Approved), for your on-going contribution of Kindles which come fully loaded with hundreds of books to help pastors in their progress and joy in the faith.

We have several praises to report! The money for a solar powered water pump was provided and it will be brought and installed soon as well as funding to build a protective outer wall on the outside of the veranda. Also, the Lord (through the love of a family in the States) made a way for little Richard, with bilateral club foot, to receive corrective surgery on both feet. Due to the severity of the deformities, he has to receive a total of 4 surgeries. He has received two now. It will prolong his stay, but, thankfully, it is getting done!

While we were Stateside, the American RAU Board of Directors met to review RAU activity and to look at and approve future projects.

Here are some of the upcoming projects and events:

1. Fundraising for another container of Bibles and books. Jacob has spoken with Crossway Publishing, which has supplied the ESV Global Study Bibles in the past. Once again, they will give us a great discount on an order of 5000 bibles, bringing the cost down from $29.99 to about $10 which includes shipping to Seguin (TX) if we buy 5,000. We have friends in Seguin who are working on the purchase and placement of a container at Lifegate, where it will stay until it is filled. Jacob has touched base with Bill Walsh from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach for more books for pastors. Jacob has also contacted a representative of The 9 Marks series of books that would be an effective tool for pastors in leading their churches.

2. As mentioned above, our good friend, Ron Zeiner, along with two others (Doug Neal and Mark Borman) will be visiting RAU for several weeks and arriving this weekend. Paul George, from Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, will be spending about 3 weeks with us in December. In January, Dave Jones and Michael Lambert will make a return visit and John Howarton will be back in the latter part of January and into February. We are hoping that the Turner family will be able to make their visit in December and January. Did I mention that it will be a very busy and exciting next few months?

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)

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