“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.“
Ephesians 2:20-22 (New Living Translation, NLT)
There is no greater joy and privilege than to be among those about whom God says, “you are my chosen, holy and dearly loved ones.” (Colossians 3:1) We are recipients of His grace and mercy, and, from God’s glorious, unlimited resources we are empowered through the Spirit in our inner being (Ephesians 3:16 NLT), being “made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God,” (Ephesians 3:19 NLT).
There is no greater travesty than to have been given such an inheritance only to horde it. It is a joy and a privilege for RAU to come alongside Pastors and church leaders to teach, remind, encourage and exhort them concerning the richness of God towards them in Christ Jesus and towards the people they serve in their churches and communities. “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16) and, mutually, with one another, we may share the grace so richly received.
Above: 20,861 ESV TruTone Global Study Bibles arrived to Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). Their next destination: leaders from Uganda, South Sudan and the Republic of (North) Sudan. Praise God for His love for His people!
While Jesus Christ is building His church, we–His church–also have work to do. We are not a stone-cast structure, but a living and growing dwelling for the Spirit of Christ, “...growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4: 15-16) RAU’s deepest desire and purposeful plan is to take part in that process here–in northwestern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Republic of Sudan among local churches whose leaders have had limited access to spiritual building tools, resources and shoulder-to-shoulder encouragement. The teaching and discipleship process allows both teacher and student to experience the global nature of God’s people, His dwelling place.
Just recently, we completed another retreat here on RAU campus with 49 pastors and leaders from the Metu Mountain churches, surrounding communities (such as Moyo, Adjumani and Eria), Yumbe and numerous Refugee settlements within Uganda for South Sudanese and refugees from The Republic of (North) Sudan. A teaching team from Maryland (Jason Van Bemmel, Bob Brown, Shawn Trautman and Philip Pugh) arrived safely with many wonderful resources for Pastors and leaders who took part in the 9 day retreat, covering Systematic Theology and Church History. On the Monday following the start of the retreat, Jacob took the teaching team up into the Metu Mountains to visit several of the churches that have been planted in partnership between Ayaa Baptist Church, Ijujo Baptist and RAU. Meanwhile, back at the campus, our Agricultural Production Officer, Odendi Zakeo and mission partner, Paul George, gave the retreat attendees a full day of learning on grafted mangoes and vegetable gardening (both classroom and hands-on). It was a marathon 9 days, but we pray that, out of the many topics that were covered, each one will take away something which equips them more and is an encouragement or source of strength.
Resources continue to be given out or sent to many leaders within Uganda and to those in South Sudan and the Republic of (north) Sudan. At least 2-3 times a week we receive requests for Bibles and send them off from the large container of Bibles that we only recently received after a two year process of fundraising, printing and shipping. It is a contagious joy with which recipients hold an ESV Global Study Bible in their hands, or other pastoral literature. In places where there is a “famine for the word of God” (here it is a famine of access; in the USA, it’s more like a famine of priority), we are seeing a growing appreciation for what is made available to leaders in the church and a cry for more–how can a building be built without tools?!!
Pastors within Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement who are working through the 18 different books which RAU provided; currently, they have gotten through Chapter 5 of “The Family Life of a Christian Leader“, led by Joshua Abraham
These last weeks and months have been full–especially for Jacob as he oversees ongoing building projects given the short timeline of our returning to the USA and the reality of two families making their way here to serve with us. In order to make room, two buildings have needed renovating. Once Jacob and I move to our new spot and Zorah and Josiane move to theirs, we will be able to make the homes for the new families ship shape. Paul George, our dear friend and co-worker, continues to be as flexible as a well-cooked noodle–moving wherever is needed! Jacob is also setting up the process of fencing the newly acquired land (upon which we hope to build a private hospital) so that it can be finished by the time we come back from the USA.
Please be in prayer for the Aaron and Amanda Langworthy and their family and Ben and Sara Pryce and their family as they itinerate and raise funds to meet their budgets; both families are being sent by ABWE and are actively working to join us. Prayerfully consider supporting them. As you know, it has been the fervent prayer for Jacob and me that the Lord would thrust forth laborers into the harvest fields (with us, in particular) so that the work that has been started can be completed. There is yet so much to be done and it requires a relay team–ones to whom we can pass the baton. In the fullness of time, God has seen fit to send other “builders”–please speed their way here!
God, from the very beginning, has been all about dwelling in relationship with His people–from the Garden, to Tabernacle and Temple and then in human form, through Christ Jesus. Up until the time of His return, Jesus dwells in His people through His Spirit. God wants His glory spread throughout the world and He has chosen us to be emissaries of that commission. We are well aware that, in the grand and glorious scheme of history, the part that Jacob and I play or that RAU plays is small. But, it’s in that context that we rejoice to do our part in the building up of the Body of Christ, comforted by the promise that Christ Jesus, Himself, is building His Church. Whatever God does is good (James 1:17) and whatever He begins, He completes (Philippians 1:6)! Praise God!
Consider these needs of RAU as you pray: Grace, guidance and wisdom for Paul George and Onette Zorah as they manage things in our absence; safety and well-being for Anzoa Gift as she and her father travel back to India for re-placement of her pacemaker; guidance in progressing toward the goal of a hospital; blessing upon all the ministry events coming up upon our return which include: an Old Testament survey, a medical outreach into the Metu Mountains and more.
Please be in prayer for Jacob and me as we travel, spend time with family and friends and visit churches (3 new ones). Pray that, in spite of all the travel, we would be refreshed in the Lord and through His people and receive strength to continue all that God has prepared in advance for us to do. Please intercede for us that we may be instrumental in the building up of the body of Christ by encouraging and exhorting her to obedience and sacrifice. Pray for safety and divine appointments. Pray for our own growth in the Lord, in wisdom, godliness and thankfulness.
The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named!
Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through!
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, when Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) was just a Gospel-inspired seed in some people’s thoughts and a hope-filled vision of love in their hearts, it seemed like a well-rounded plan to have a ministry that spread it’s branches in 3 directions:
At times, this idea seemed too grand and unattainable. BUT GOD! has been showing those people that their plans were not just “lofty ideas“, but His “good works, that they should walk in them.“
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.“
Ephesians 2:10
Through the years, two of the 3 branches seemed to wither on the tree, BUT GOD! is bringing each branch to life. He is making everything beautiful, appropriate and right in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
“…when the speed of God seems slow to us, or when his timing doesn’t make sense, we must “not overlook this one fact”: God-time is different from man-time. God-time is relative to his purposes, which is his frame of reference. And God, according to his wise purposes, makes everything beautiful in its time — the time he purposefully chooses for it.” [emphasis mine]
The seed which germinated has become a tree under whose shade many have gathered–to come alongside on the groundAND to be “Rope Holders” from a distance–to fulfill RAU’s ministry in northern Uganda, just 2 kilometers south of South Sudan. By God’s grace, the modular approach to leadership training and discipleship (in which we long to present leaders mature in Christ–Colossians 1:28; 4:12) has been well established and in progress and also includes the opportunity to learn good farming practices on the Demo Farm (for pastors and community members). Several years ago, RAU purchased a 3-acre tract of land across the road for an Education Center. At the moment, it is just a field with maize and mango trees, BUT GOD!, we believe, will, in His providence and timing, make a way for an Education Center for tutoring children in academic excellence and adults in literacy and other beneficial life skills. Most recently, financial partners have given toward another 6-acre plot (directly adjacent to the East of the 17-acre campus) where RAU hopes to build a small, state-of-the-art hospital. The seed is becoming a burgeoning tree of ministry.
Our feet laced up with the shoes of readiness to take the Gospel of Peace, the Land Cruiser shod with new, heavy-duty tires to deliver us there!
Jacob and I see the good in the timing of God’s plan more clearly with each passing year. As we have watched the ministry grow, part of His plan has been the answer to our fervent prayers for help—a team of laborers! RAU is blessed in the group of men and women God has already given us here–Ugandan and American–AND He is answering our prayer for other missionaries to join us in growing RAU into a multi-generational ministry that will, by God’s grace and providence, bear fruit that remains!
Recently, TWO families with the sending agency, ABWE (Association of Baptists for Worldwide Evangelization) were commissioned by their local churches to join us. They are in the process of fund-raising to that end! Jacob and I are thrilled and hopeful! We knocked on that door for so many years with no sign of an answer, BUT GOD! was at work and is graciously opening the door through ABWE. In these coming months, we hope to introduce you to Aaron and Amanda Langworthy and Ben and Sara Pryce who are being sent through this Rock-solid, mission-sending organization. RAU and ABWE have formalized a partnership which, we pray, will strengthen RAU’s ministry and influence into the coming decades.
When we consider all the regions that would benefit from discipleship in the context of local churches, the burden is overwhelming. This motivates us to pray that these two families (both eager to come) will be able to reach their budget goals quickly. The harvest–the urgent needs–are plentiful and the laborers are few. May the Lord provide abundantly for those who are willing to come!!
Upon hearing the news of the two families, Jacob’s brain immediately went into problem-solving mode for accommodating a family of 5 and and family of 8!! We are all happily re-arranging ourselves into different spots so that we can welcome the Langworthy’s and Pryce’s in the most comfortable manner possible! This requires some renovation of existing buildings, but the work is coming along well. This is a “problem” worth having and solving!
Additionally, we had all but given up the idea of a hospital , BUT GOD!! has also revived the life of that branch by providing, through gracious donors, the funds to purchase 5.6 acres directly adjacent to the eastern border of our current 17-acre campus. Though it will likely take years for the branch to become full-grown, the first steps have been taken: the land surveyed, the papers for the land signed, landowners paid, land bulldozed and cleared and, now, awaiting the completion and delivery of the official land title.
The newly purchased land and access road for the proposed hospital
Though RAU has not had a functioning clinic or hospital, this lack has not been an impediment to helping those with serious medical needs. On FaceBook and through newsletter, we have been following the story of Anzoa Gift, a young, 12-year old girl from the Metu Mountains (Abeso, where RAU was able to sink a borehole for water). Having been born in a remote, northwestern village of Uganda, her congenital heart defects were not immediately diagnosed and went untreated for 12 long years. As she grew, it was apparent that she could not live a long, healthy life without intervention. Normally, treatment is nearly impossible because of access and funding, BUT GOD! had his eye on Anzoa Gift and, with the help of two NGOs (Acdipe and RAU), Anzoa was able to travel with her father, Amanzuru Richard, to Bangalore, India, where life-saving surgery was successfully completed through corrective surgery and a pacemaker. Anzoa and her father are now back in Uganda. Pastor Tobious, Richard and RAU are looking at ways that Anzoa Gift can be cared for and guarded so that, in the crucial months following the surgery, she will be able to follow all the safety guidelines that accompany such a surgery. Richard must return to work and his wife just gave birth to twins, so it is our hearts desire to remain standing with this family! We all continue to pray that Anzoa Gift remains free of infection and complication and lives a long, fruitful life, to the praise of God’s glorious grace!
We will also finish off this term of service with our 3rd retreat for the year. COVID and other complications threatened to scramble our cherished plan to come alongside Pastors and Church leaders and strengthen them in knowledge and practice, BUT GOD! has opened the doors for us to continue. Jason Van Bemmel, Bob Brown, and two new team members, Shawn Trautman and Philip Pugh, coming from three sister PCA churches, Forest Hill Presbyterian, New Covenant and Living Hope Presbyterian, will travel to RAU to teach the next module: Systematic Theology intertwined with Church History. As always, we will have pastors and potential leaders from the Metu Mountains, Moyo, Obongi, Yumbe and several of the Refugee settlements which care for Displaced Persons from South Sudan and the Republic of (North) Sudan.
Jacob and I are rounding the corner to the day we return to the USA for a furlough–visiting our precious family (including a newborn grandson, Rylan), traveling to and visiting our supporting churches and adding 3 new churches to our itinerary. We will be gone for about 3 months.
New Grandson, Rylan James Danley, with older sisters, Keira and Clara. Jacob and I now have nine precious grandchildren.
In our absence, we are grateful that ministry in various forms will continue as Paul George returns from his furlough and Zorah continues development of a Sunday School program and a young men’s book study (The Measure of a Man, by Gene A. Getz). While we are gone, Paul will also watch over the continuing renovations as we prepare for our growing team.
Jacob and I are thrilled to see our faithful brother, Joshua Abraham, making the most of exile from his home country, (Darfur) Sudan. Joshua might have every worldly reason to be embittered or discouraged, BUT GOD! has given him a steadfast spirit in his studying to show himself approved and following an opportunity to further his theological education. He has been a faithful liaison between RAU and Pastors from the Sudan in distributing Bibles and theological literature to strategic leaders. Additionally, he is prioritizing the training of 10 faithful brothers within the Refugee settlements using resources (18 different books) provided through the ministry of RAU (which means, through you all who support us and through you who provide resources). The first book study is Nine Marks of a Heathy Church , by Mark Dever. It encourages us to see, in practice, what has been emphasized over and over–faithful people teaching other faithful people who, in turn, will teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Sudanese Pastors who received ESV Global Study Bibles
The Pastors participating in the discipleship process with Joshua Abraham (in the green shirt, bottom row, left)
The 18 books through which Joshua will take the Pastors!
Continue to pray for our co-workers and ministry partners–Pastor Ojji Tobious (Metu), Pastor Amani Godfrey (Obongi) and, brother Onduga Charles (Yumbe)–as they labor with love in difficult circumstances and many challenges. Pray that they would not grow weary in the work, but be refreshed by the Holy Spirit as they do important things which can only be measured eternally and the things that display the kindness of God!
“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12
An update on the latest of two boreholes (water wells) that RAU was able to sink (through donations from a Canadian organization, Toucan Ventures): there is now clean, accessible water in the villages of Aliodranisi and Lama. You might remember the photos we posted of the method of gathering water in Aliodranisi where women were dipping water out of a hole in the ground to fill their jerry-cans. We praise God for His love displayed to these two communities. Hopefully, we will be able to visit these two villages and provide photos of the working boreholes!
Proverbs 19: 21 states, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” This proverb is NOT instructing us to avoid making plans but, rather, it is encouraging us to make plans–with wisdom and in dependence on the Holy Spirit–and with trust in a great God whose good plans are NEVER thwarted: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2: 13)
Jacob and I are very attuned to the truth that RAU can be and do nothing eternally significant apart from the team (on the ground and those holding the rope) abiding in THE VINE, who is Christ Jesus. Our heart’s cry is much like that of Moses who said, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). The task (the flourishing of this tree) is too massive to move ahead without the power and presence of God energizing us. We are weak, BUT GOD! is strong. We are short-sighted, BUT GOD! sees and knows the end from the beginning. Please pray with us and for us as we work all these plans out “with fear and trembling.” Stand with us in provision and, if you are not already a financial partner, consider taking part with us to make the RAU “Tree” grow strong and provide benefit for many.
With gratefulness, love and our prayers for your blessings in Christ,
The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named!
Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through!
Feb. 2021 Satellite view of RAU’s current properties: 17 acres and 3 acres across the road
Dear Friends,
I hope this post finds you well! A belated happy Mother’s Day to you mothers and those that are playing that important role in someone’s life. I remember, with fondness and gratefulness, my mother, grandmothers and great grandmother. I have seen first hand how these “mothers”, as well as Carol, have been examples of Christ’s love. I will forever be grateful for them!
Recently, it has been pressing on my mind to add some acres to RAU’s campus for future development. From the very beginning, Health Care has been one “branch” of our vision to have some kind of medical facility and outreach into the community. Many in our area suffer as a result of the lack of high level care, having to travel a good distance at great expense to reach a hospital which can provide for their medical needs. I am envisioning a small, well-equipped, well-managed health center or small private hospital that can serve both our local community members and, possibly, those across the border in South Sudan. Providentially, a landowner with 6 acres adjoining the eastern boundary of RAU, has agreed to sell it to us at a reasonable price. Both our RAU American 501c3 Board and our RAU Ugandan NGO Board gave their “Amen” to move ahead in raising funds for this development. Even though it may be some time before any building takes place, I have a sense of urgency to get the land now while prices are still reasonable and it is available. The road going north between our two current properties is soon going to be upgraded and become a major thoroughfare for Ugandan-South Sudanese commerce, from many cities in Uganda to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
RAU’s location on the map!
As the years pass, Carol and I have come to the conclusion that one of the reasons the Lord has sent us to Uganda and near to South Sudan is to be “road builders” for the generations to come who will follow in the vision of RAU. Whether it is in RAU’s pastoral/church leadership modules in the Hall of Tyrannus, development of the land as an example for “farming as a business“ for church leaders, host community and refugee farmers, or ongoing renovations on campus making the way for long term missionary families, it is our heart’s desire to do all that we can so that RAU “bears fruit” until Jesus’ return!
In light of this, I am asking you, our faithful partners, to please pray and consider “jumping in” on this opportunity to help us raise the $20,000 needed to purchase the land, process a clear land title, clear it, fence it, plant eucalyptus trees along the perimeter and plant grafted mangoes within the land. Then later, in God’s timing, the medical facilities can be set in place. Can you help us?
Tax deductible, charitable donations may be made via PayPal or check. To give, please click on the PayPal link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. Make a notation: For Land. All gifts given through PayPal and by check are tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate/RAU , 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.
Proposed Land Purchase outlined in red (with road access marked by dotted line); current property outline in Aqua. The road will soon be upgraded and become a major thoroughfare between Uganda and the capital of South Sudan-Juba
YouTube video Carol and I made so that you can see it first hand…
“Opportunity to Buy 6 Acres to Expand RAU’s Ministry Scope“
We are still in the midst of mango harvest. The trees have done very well and have much fruit on them. There are 11 varieties of grafted mangoes among the 640 trees on the RAU 20 acre demo farm which will keep maturing up until August. We may be able to add 300+ mangoes to the new land (until building begins–after which we would sacrifice any mango trees where construction would be done). We have had a good number of vendors coming to buy mangoes at well below market price. Some mangoes have made their way to Juba! We are eager to hear from a juicing plant between Yumbe and Koboko which has said they will come and clear all mangoes off the trees. That will be a wonderful opportunity for RAU as well as the many farmers/church leaders who have received training at RAU and have been strongly encouraged to plant grafted mangoes.
As you know from past newsletters, we have, as one of our goals, economic empowerment for the church and community via agriculture with grafted mangoes and our 18 box gardens for vegetable demonstration. In the last two months we have had 868 farmers from Refugee settlements and host communities to our demo farm for learning, in addition to the pastors/leaders who have received hands-on training during modular theological retreats. We hope to do this more and more and to be able to see with our eyes that socioeconomic conditions have changed for most.
Some recent events have been very encouraging to us:
On Monday, we received friends from our partner ministry, ABWE (Association of Baptists for Worldwide Evangelization): Caleb and Alair Mitchell and two of their children, as well as Ken and Eileen Lorow. Caleb is the Regional Director for East Africa and Ken is the Member Care and Leadership development coordinator for Africa. It was a great time of fellowship, getting to know one another, vision-casting and strategizing for the future, especially when, Lord willingly, the two ABWE families are able to join us.
We met and enjoyed 7 South Koreans serving as missionaries with “Better World” in the Moyo area! We so appreciated their hospitality and friendship and fellowship
Many of you have been praying for Anzoa, the Metu Mountain village young girl needing heart surgery in India. Thank you for helping make this possible. She has been admitted to the hospital, has undergone tests and is scheduled to have surgery on either the 14th or 15th. Please continue your prayers, especially that follow-up care will have long-lasting results and well-being.
Survey work has been done for two more boreholes (water wells). Soon, drilling will begin and two more villages which had no access to clean water will have clean water! This brings the number to 25 boreholes, the project to which many of you donated your hard earned money.
Tax deductible, charitable donations may be made via PayPal or check. PayPal also has a way to make recurring monthly gifts. Recurring monthly gifts are very helpful to the ministry. To do so, please click on the PayPal link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal and by check are tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate/RAU , 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.
Seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2,
Jacob and Carol Lee Love and Blessings from both of us!
The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named!
Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through!
Recent open air preaching in one of Yumbe village’s markets. Next door Yumbe District is primarily Muslim.
Time flies and Carol and I realized it has been over a month since our last update. We are very grateful for your prayers and generous support. From my first trip in 2007 to the Uganda/South Sudan border to our permanent move in 2013 and up until now we have seen, over and over, God’s grace being poured out to us, our Ugandan and Sudanese co-workers, and Reaching Africa’s Unreached ministry! Receiving God’s grace in the past and also His present grace fills us with confidence for His future grace! Over the almost 9 years of living here in Moyo-Fodia village has challenged and humbled us in so many ways. Carol and I know that it has been your prayers which have buoyed us in times of loneliness, missing family/friends, and evangelism/discipleship/cultural challenges.
“To be alive is to be thrown in a blender, the scars of the blade are the inevitable reality.”
Tyler Braun
Please keep praying for us that our hope always remains strong in the Lord, no matter the outward circumstances. “Slowly by slowly,” as our friends say here, we are growing in our cultural awareness so that we do not make as many missteps. At the same time, we want to challenge our friends here to see Scripture as king over culture so that Jesus reigns as King over all. May that be true for you in America or wherever you currently are as well.
I am happy to report to you that Christian Book International’s container arrived in Uganda and RAU has received the remaining ESV TruTone Global Study Bibles that didn’t fit in our Bible container which came last January. That brings the total number of ESV TruTone Global Study Bibles received in 2022 to 20,864, and the total number of ESV Global Study Bibles that have come our way since 2013 close to 30,000! In addition, we have purchased or have been given numerous local language Bibles/NT’s and Arabic Study Bibles over the years. These have primarily gone to church leaders in our West Nile, Uganda as well as to both Sudan’s and even some to Chad.
Sudanese pastors with their new ESV TruTone Global Study Bibles
Praise God! Included in the Christian Book International’scontainer for RAU were 172 Crossway Pastoral book sets. Included were also several books we purchased from Christian Book International:1,008 of Plummer’s 2nd Ed. 40 Questions on Interpreting the Bible, Clason’s Richest Man in Babylon with Dave Ramsey, Gene Getz’s The Measure of a Man and three other titles. Additionally, there were 60,000 of the 600,000 dual language tracts printed by LMI. All these resources were offloaded into one of our containers. We have just finished putting a roof over the two new containers. Here is a quick YouTube Video I did on the fly of the offloading of the books/Bibles/tracts:
The roof over the two new containers as well as outside work is nearing completion.
All four Containers in a row, covered with metal roof
The side is only lacking the design stone and some paint to match the other buildings
The rest of the dual language tracts as well as 1,008 Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus books will come in Christian Book International’s next container to Uganda. It has been close to a two year process for these books/tracts, just like the 20K+ ESV TruTone Global Study Bibles, to arrive at Reaching Africa’s Unreached. We are praising God and are grateful for God’s grace and the love of his people…you!
We are in the midst of mango harvest. The trees have done very well and have much fruit on them. There are 11 varieties among the 640 trees on the RAU 20 acre demo farm which will keep maturing up until August. As you know from past newsletters, we have, as one of our goals, economic empowerment for the church and community via agriculture with grafted mangoes and our 18 box gardens for vegetable demonstration. In the last two months we have had 868 farmers from Refugee settlements and host communities to our demo farm for learning, in addition to the pastors/leaders who have received hands-on training during modular theological retreats.
One of our grafted mangoes compared to a local variety. Sales are ongoing.
One of our best customers coming for a load
A current look at our demonstration box gardens. Carol picks from them each evening for supper. We eat far more healthy here than we did back in Texas!
Some visitors from the UK told us (and showed us) that one large Jack Fruit such as this sells for 160 British pounds!! Can you imagine?
Recently, we have had ministry in both Obongi and Yumbe Districts. In Obongi, we were with Pastor Godfrey and Obongi Town Church. On Monday, the 25th, we were a part of the Youth Conference at Pilgrim Church Yumbe. Our good friend, Onduga Charles, leads the Youth and mission outreach there. The growth and zeal for Jesus is a great encouragement to me. They soaked up the teaching. Co-worker Zorah taught from 1 Thessalonians 4. My teaching sessions were taken from the Seven “I AM’s” of Jesus in the Gospel of John…”A Beautiful Necklace“. In my beginning session I also taught about how to use the study Bible to its maximum potential and went over the dual language (Aringa-English) gospel tracts and how to use them in their communities and in small group studies. We also gave out ABWE’s Good Soil “Message of Hope” translated into Aringa which was printed in Kampala.
Easter Sunday with Pastor Godfrey in Obongi–with Obongi Town Church
Here are my teacher’s notes on Seven “I AM’s” of Jesus in the Gospel of John:
Late on Monday afternoon, we went to a market (primarily Muslim ..guessing 97%) and the youth lead in vibrant worship and praise. Gospel tracts were also given out by us with the hope of an engaging conversation. People enjoy the Aringa-English side by side and some even came to ask for them. Carol had a great conversation with one of the Muslim leaders in the crowd. Charles and I went up to the Land Cruiser rack and began preaching..it was going well and then rain came. At first I was saying to myself, “Why Lord? So many are listening.” Well, we were forced off the rack and the rain became heavy. The Youth moved the sound equipment quickly to a veranda and Charles and I went to a section of veranda where the iron sheets jutted out and made a covering. There we picked up right where we left off…Charles, who was translating, and I have been doing this together since 2014 so we are now like a couple well-tuned pistons together. As I looked about I saw the crowd, now under the verandas, not wanting to move because of rain…maybe the preaching too? I saw, then, we had a “captive audience” which gave me great encouragement. Our Lord has His ways. In these open air preaching events where we go to different markets, I usually preach from Mark 2:1-12 or John 10:1-18.
From our newsletters, you are likely aware that we have been praying since our arrival in 2013 for long term missionary partners. Our friend, Paul George, has joined us and now two families ,the Pryce’s and Langworthy’s, are looking to move to the RAU campus in 2023. They are coming through our mission partner ABWE. After much review and consultation with each other we both consider ABWE and RAU a great link up. ABWE has been around for nearly 100 years and has around 1,000 missionaries. They are able to fill the gaps we cannot in recruitment and vetting and we have on-the-ground work ready for long term missionaries. Carol and I are greatly enjoying getting to know Pryce’s and Langworthy’s. The Pryce’s are bringing with them six of their children and the Langworthy’s are bringing three. Please be praying for them as they are currently raising funds for their move to RAU. Ron Washer, Ken Lorow and Caleb Mitchel, all of whom we have met, are amazing, experienced and gifted leaders: Ron and Ken lead ABWE’s work in all of Africa and Caleb is the East African leader.
With these two new families joining, my construction mode is in the “on” position for housing for them as well as for Zorah/family, Paul George, and us. Fortunately, over the years, much has been done so that it involves doing just some renovations and add on’s to current structures. Currently, we are working on expanding the small house–“Lydia’s House” (it was a bunkhouse used during pastor training)–into the container right next to it. It was the container which came in December of 2013. This is where Carol and I would move. It will be much smaller than where we currently are but we are just two. My main concern is making room for our books–LOL. The side of the container has been cut and we are progressing well.
Using one of the containers in our home renovations
This leads me to an appeal I wish to make to you. The major cost involved in all this is the needed upgrades in our solar power system. It is the only source of power except when using our generator for our power tools and welder. I estimate the total cost for all the renovations to be $15,000.00 +/-. Would you please consider helping us financially with this so that we do not have to take it out of the general ministry budget? We are playing the “long game” here so, when we build, we are doing it to make things last for generations and, Lord willing, until Jesus returns. As I have told many of you, I believe the Lord has called us in our latter years to be “road builders” to help pave the way for those coming after us. Please continue to pray with us and consider giving to this special need. Thank you!
On a note of thanks (to the Lord and for donors who gave), Anzoa and her father, Richard, are now on their way to India for Anzoa to have much needed heart surgery. Thank you to each of you whose heart was touched toward this special need! Please, please be praying for successful surgery and recovery and return home. They are from Abeso in the Metu Mountains–where RAU was able to put a borehole.
On their way to India for heart surgery for Anzoa
Tax deductible, charitable donations may be made via PayPal or check. PayPal also has a way to make recurring monthly gifts. Recurring monthly gifts are very helpful to the ministry. To do so, please click on the PayPal link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal and by check are tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate/RAU , 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.
Seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2,
Jacob and Carol Lee
Love and Blessings from both of us!
This picture was taken this last Monday in Yumbe at “Open-Air”
The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named!
Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through!
I really wanted to entitle this post, “Suffering By Design: Taking Risks That Are Foolish or Appear Foolish Unless There Is A Resurrection From the Dead“. However, Jacob said I was born in the wrong century (it should have been the 17th!) for such a long title. So, let it stand as “Suffering By Design“!
The inspiration for this title came from a message to which I had listened many years ago by John Piper called, “Live to Die.” This sermon would easily qualify as pivotal in my being willing to join Jacob in Uganda on a more permanent basis when he had been simply going back and forth on short-term ministry trips. This is an excerpt of John Piper’s powerful, prophetic words:
““Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” [Colossians 1:24] Paul labels his suffering as “the filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” Suffering is designed to accomplish something called, “filling up” what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions….What is lacking in the afflictions of Christ is not the perfection of the value of its atoning worth, but the personal presentation to those for whom he paid the price. Christ, by the Father’s design, means for his atoning sufferings to be offered and presented to all those for whom he died, in every people group in the world; and this is to be done through suffering. However, this suffering must be accompanied with joy, because without it one will never survive. For the joy that was set before Christ, he endured the cross. And for the joy that is set before you, you will endure the choices that you make, which make no sense if there’s no resurrection from the dead. Joy is the only way you’ll survive your mission in this world if you decide to suffer for Christ. The joy of the Lord will be your strength through choices that nobody understands.“
John Piper, Live To Die
We all take risks for one reason or another–some are noble, some are vainglorious and thrill-oriented ones (which, in my mind are foolish)–but I cannot think of a better reason to joyfully risk than for the sake of living out our original purpose as the Father‘s beloved, glory-spreading creation, heralding the self-giving love of a living-dying-resurrected-ascended Savior-Son who will gather for Himself a people from every tribe and tongue through the power of the Holy Spirit who was sent by Jesus to indwell, teach, comfort, convict, illumine and secure us for God. Every other risk has its merit by degree, but God’s glory beats all as worthy of our time, vision, priority, passion and resources.
Sometimes, this risk-taking looks like going to a place where, in case of emergency, there is little hope of a good outcome without the gracious sustaining hand of God. Such was the case for Randy Southwell, Overseas Director for ABWE’sGood Soil Evangelism & Discipleship Ministries (story shared by his permission) who came with the other members of the Teaching team (Dan Cook, Dave Drullinger) and ABWE East Africa Director, Caleb Mitchell. They had come to train and certify our Leadership Retreat attendees in “The Roots of Faith: Old Testament” ABWE curriculum. Little did Randy know that, on Day Two of the training he would suffer what was suspected but only later confirmed to be a heart attack. In Moyo.With no critical care unit. No oxygen. Few medicines. Far from a well-quipped hospital.
The teaching sessions were going so well–running like a well-oiled machine–and the attendees were loving the fast-moving, interest-holding, interactive lessons beginning from Creation. By Day Two’s end, they had worked through Genesis 3:15–the Fall of Man and the hopeful Promise of an Offspring that would come to rescue fallen humanity from the ruin of disobedience and self-orientation.
And then the machine came to a sudden stop.
The team had finished for the day and they were enjoying another round of rice, posho, beans and cabbage with the retreat attendees. Randy was not feeling well and had retreated to his room, thinking he might lose the little he had eaten for supper. After collapsing in weakness and severe chest pain, crawling to one of the beds, realizing that he needed to let someone know of his condition and finally ending up on the floor near the hallway, he pounded on the wall and floor hoping to get someone’s attention. Thankfully, our friend, Greg Helms, heard the pounding and went to investigate, thinking someone had fallen. What happened from that moment displays functionally and picturesquely Ephesians 4:16, “From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.“
Greg sprang to action to find Dan or Caleb. Dan, with critical thinking, gave Randy the first doses of Baby Aspirin that is recommended with a suspected heart attack. Greg came to fetch me (Carol) and, fortunately, I had a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter that would be useful in monitoring Randy’s condition. Dave went into prayer warrior mode while Caleb administrated the necessary calls to ABWE’s Medical Director, Dr. Miriam Wheeler and to family members. Dr. Wheeler was instrumental in coordinating care and ensuring a safe trip to the States. I was able to call Dr. Neil Browning, a missionary physician and friend in Moyo who came to examine Randy, start an intravenous site with fluid and to give him a potentially life-saving medicine, Enoxaparin (long-acting subcutaneous blood-thinner). We got through that evening to MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) and arranged for an emergency Med-evac flight scheduled for the earliest possible time the next morning. That still meant that Randy would have to push through the night with ongoing chest pain and fluctuating blood pressures and oxygen levels. By God’s sustaining grace, he made it through (albeit with little to no sleep). The next morning, crowded into the Land Cruiser, Jacob took us (with not a few bumps) to the Moyo airstrip where, within some minutes, the MAF plane arrived and we were taking off.
The flight from Moyo to Kajjansi (in between Entebbe and Kampala) felt like the longest hour and a half of my life–and, most surely, Randy’s. Though his pain abated somewhat, as he would drift to sleep in exhaustion, his oxygen levels would dip dangerously low after which I would awaken him to take deep breaths to bring the saturation level back to normal. I kept praying during the flight that the Lord would “whisk us away” to Kajjansi as He did Philip after he had preached to and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza. That didn’t happen. The captain’s announcement that we were soon to land in Kajjansi elevated our joy and hope AND seeing a very well-equipped (personnel and treatment wise) ambulance waiting to carry Randy, Dan and Caleb to IHK (International Hospital of Kampala) brought a rush of relief. Randy was soon transferred from IHK to Nakasero Heart Hospital where he underwent a procedure to break down a clot that had formed in one of his heart vessels. A number of days later, Randy was cleared to move out of the hospital to a hotel NEAR the hospital and then, later, to fly home with a traveling companion (Caleb Mitchell).
As of the writing of this newsletter, Randy is back in the States, enjoying a reunion with his family and friends. He suffered not grudgingly, but with peace that could have only come from Christ-centered hope and trust. We all praise God for His sustaining grace and for the outcome of this “event” which could have been grievous. When you prioritize the Gospel to every tribe and tongue, you are suffering by design because of a “joy set before you”–as Randy did. Caleb and Alair Mitchell write in their newsletter about Randy, “You would think after such a traumatic experience our patient would never want to step foot in Uganda again. On the contrary, he is talking about bringing his wife with him next time!” Jacob and I were impressed with ABWE’s leadership and support team who orchestrated day and night all that was necessary to return Randy safely home. We praise God for making His will clear that Randy should “remain and continue” for “the progress and joy in the faith” of many more people (Philippians 1:25).
Without diminishing our joy and relief in Randy’s story, we were sad to have to release our retreat attendees back home without completing the training (though they went home with a beautiful resource). Before they left, however, they were used greatly by the Lord through their immediate, fervent intercession in Aringa, Ma’di, Kuku, English and Sudanese Arabic for protection and healing for Randy. We hope, one day soon, to have another team back to finish the training that was started.
Not all risk-taking is that dramatic; suffering by design can simply be a long 3-day journey (times 2) to a place you have never been in order to visit people you don’t really know so you can ascertain if THAT is the place of God’s calling for a future that may demand greater risks and suffering by design.
The week after the retreat, Jacob and I welcomed Andrea Scruggs and Claire Williams to RAU. We met Andrea at an ABWE event while we were in the States called, “24-Hour DEMO“, where those who are interested in the missionary calling can explore opportunities with ABWE and potentially get connected to other missionaries or ministries. In our short time together, there was a definite bond with Andrea and we invited her for a “come and see” visit. Claire, her cousin, accompanied her here–which was an answered prayer for Andrea.
They both got a taste of the wide range of “missionary activities” from ministry to money to mundane! The day after their arrival, we headed up the Metu Mountains to meet with the political leaders of the newly formed Otce (pronounced “Oh-chay“) Sub-County to receive a certificate of appreciation from them for the work (Bible training, Agricultural training and Borehole placement) that Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) has done in those hard to reach geographical regions.
From there, we traveled to Ayaa to participate in a Women’s conference hosted by Ayaa Baptist Church. Both Andrea and Claire shared a brief word of encouragement while I took long (though not “until dawn“–like the Apostle Paul who, in one short paragraph “kept on talking” and “kept on talking” and “talked a long time“, during which time someone fell asleep and fell out of a window–I think some of my audience may have, indeed, fallen asleep as well, though without injury)!
During the week or so that Andrea and Claire were here, they witnessed everyday missionary life–plumbing and building challenges, financial management, listening to the needs and pleas of a father for his 13-year old daughter with a heart defect and discussions of how and when to help, work in the garden and quiet times of walking the campus, reading and praying. We enjoyed conversation, laughter and opportunities to get to know Andrea, her faith-walk and her experience of the calling to the mission field. It was a privilege to encourage her in that calling and through our own hard-learned lessons, guide her in ways of further preparing for what might lie ahead.
We were hoping that part of their experience would include the answered prayer of a container of Bibles delivered safely to RAU campus and the joy of participating in the unloading of 1260 boxes (which, sadly, happened days after their departure). Our hope and prayer is that Andrea’s short visit will not be the last chance for her to “come and see” and serve with us at RAU!
A well-purposed risk may look very much like setting an “outrageous” funding goal for 20,000 ESV Global Study Bibles costing over $200,000 , receiving the funding and praying for and working through the logistics of getting those Bibles from the print shop in China to the USA to Uganda during a COVID pandemic which has stalled many operations, including shipping. [Valued object(s) + risk-taking x Providential grace = joy-filled realization of goal]. Seeing the following image in the news reminds us of what could be lost. Thankfully, we and all those who graciously gave to this task did not suffer this loss…
…but, rather, we were given the opportunity to celebrate this successful delivery of 20,000+ TruTone ESV Global Study Bibles to the RAU campus.
We praise God for the many brothers and sisters in Christ who have shared the financial burden, who believe in the value and power of good literature; Christian Book, Crossway and LMI have been among those beloved partners through the delivery of:
1,260 cartons of 20,160 TruTone ESV Global Study Bibles which equals 53,700 lbs. = over 26 tons of Bibles!
In a Christian Book’s container which has arrived in Uganda there are: “leftover” Bibles that didn’t fit in Container #1 which equals 44 cartons or 704 Bibles. The total of ESV Global Study Bibles to 20,864! That puts the total of ESV Global Study that have come our way since 2013 close to 30,000! Praise God!
1 pallet of 6 book titles that were ordered (about 5,300 books) for pastoral/church leaders training.
For both Jacob and me, suffering by design has been embodied by a family–Dad, Mom and 4 kids in tow–who have come for no other reason than that we would be encouraged and blessed in our calling to northwestern Uganda. We simply cannot adequately explain how much it means to us that Stephen, Maddie, Samuel, Olivia, Caleb and Meera McConnell have, for the joy set before them, endured the cross of cross-continent travel–JUST to see us and to be an encouragement to us! It has been a joy and highlight of this year.
Purposeful suffering and risk-taking in the Kingdom of God are the fruit of “seeing and savoring Christ” [John Piper] and being willing to overcome obstacles in welcoming others to savor the same treasure. Inherent risks are on a spectrum of difficulty–not every action carries the weight of Jesus’ endurance on the cross, or of the Apostle Paul’s long list of harsh treatment and grueling experiences, but every risk taken and sacrifice made for the sake of Christ displays the value and priority we have for God, Himself, His people and the Kingdom Invitation which He has called us to personally take and give.
The suffering we experience may not have been designed by us–not expected (such as Randy’s sudden cardiac event)–but the willingness to see our experiences from eternity’s point of view and to accept that risk again and again for the joy set before us is what will put us in the position to finish the Commission that Jesus, Himself, gave his followers. To be the message-carrying embodiment to others of Christ’s suffering for us means our eyes are wide open to the riches of His grace toward us and it will bear the fruit of generous, life-producing priorities, actions and investments.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.“
Ephesians 1:18-19
Jacob and I thank you for your interest and participation in helping us to embody the message of Jesus Christ to the people we serve here in northern Uganda, South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan.
We invite you to pray with us for the following needs and upcoming events:
+ Arrangements for future Module trainings for 2022; pray that the groups that have expressed the desire to participate will be able to “plan and execute” without obstacles. Our hope is to do 5-6 Modules per year. Pray for Jacob as he works to finalize the curriculum and “iron out the wrinkles“.
+ Pray for Anzoa Gift, a 13-year old girl from Abeso in the Metu Mountains, who is going to India for heart surgery for a VSD repair (Ventricular Septal Defect). Several of our partners gave toward the travel costs that she and her father will need. Pray that the surgery will have the desired outcome without complications and that it will serve to bring her a long and healthy life, especially in knowing and serving Christ.
Anzoa Gift
+ Pray for wisdom in the distribution of the many Bibles we received (and will receive). Our goal is to strategically place them in the hands of leaders. Already, we have been receiving requests and are planning to send four boxes (64) to: Terebinth Ministries in Gulu, a ministry which trains pastors in the fundamentals of the faith. Two boxes (32) are currently on their way to church leaders in Chad and the Republic of Sudan.
+ Pray for much needed evangelism and discipleship in Moyo (Metu Mountains), Obongi and Yumbe Districts. ““The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) Pray for those laboring in the field who are stretched to their capacities and sometimes beyond.
+ Pray, along that line, for potential missionary families and a single that have shown interest in working with us at RAU (Reaching Africa’s Unreached) who are with ABWE (Association of Baptists for Worldwide Evangelization). Pray that these families and individuals would discern the will of the Lord and would have provision for the plans. Pray also for our growing relationship and partnership with ABWE.
+ Pray for RAU’s Agricultural ministry–that it would have the intended effect of inspiring and training farmers to think entrepreneurially in their farming practices and, through it, experience economic growth and opportunities they never thought were possible. On April 7th and 8th ZOA will be bringing 188 farmers for agricultural training. From ZOA: “Uganda houses the largest number of refugees in Africa. Even though Uganda is dealing with its own difficulties, refugees from South Sudan and DRC are welcomed with warmth and solidarity. COVID-related impacts have been serious with regard to our livelihoods and education projects, but fortunately there have been many achievements as well.” Just last month World Vision had brought 688 farmers for similar training.
+ As we finish the task of obtaining land titles, pray for wisdom and vision in developing the 3-acre plot across the way. There is so much that could be done there with the provision of team members, buildings and finances.
Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal or check. PayPal also has a way to make recurring monthly gifts. Recurring monthly gifts are very helpful to the ministry. To do so, please click on the PayPal link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal and by check are tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate/RAU , 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155.
The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
When at least 35% of the world; “the unoccupied fields”, have no access to the gospel, we (believers) must all do all we can to reach them. We who are saved owe the gospel to every lost person, most especially the 2.4 billion who will not hear unless someone breaks into their “unoccupied field” with no thought of their own life!
Sowing seeds of love and kindness should not be separated from preaching the gospel of sovereign grace but completely intertwined with it!
I am sure that none of us will say when in heaven that we prayed too much, we sacrificed too much, proclaimed the gospel too much, and were too passionate to get the gospel to those who have little to no access to this gospel of grace. Let us together press on to make it our ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named!
Our goal in our gospel witness is to take our eyes off the “risk” and place them on the cause for the risk. When God compels us like this he often will not tell us the risks…after all there are no risks for the all-knowing, all-powerful God. So let us be AMBITIOUS (Romans 15:20) to see that ALL are reached with the gospel of grace (Romans 1:16) in ALL places…there are no closed doors to the gospel, just some which are more difficult to go through!
Reaching Africa's Unreached