Merry Christmas! May we as Christians grow every year in the grace and understanding of the importance of of the Incarnation!
"Though he (Jesus) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2: 6-11 (Africa Study Bible)
I can think of no greater honor than to be Christ’s ambassadors along side our Ugandan and Sudanese brothers and sisters in Christ and most especially for God making his appeal through us. Wow, we are called to implore and plead to the lost on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21).
Carol’s and my hearts are filled with gratefulness for our Lord and God as well as those who have been praying for us since the vison of Reaching Africa’s Unreached was placed on hearts in 2007. We know we have been standing on the shoulders of many who have gone before us! Carol and I are very grateful for your prayers, words of encouragement, and support. We ask for your continual prayers and financial support!
“There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after you” Missionary Adoniram Judson (1788-1850)
Love and blessings from the both of us! Jacob and Carol Lee
Our Mission is to reach Africa’s unreached, once-reached, and mis-reached people groups with the glorious Gospel of Jesus by planting Christ exalting churches in their midst. Furthermore, we will endeavor to strengthen local churches and their leaders through careful exposition of the Scriptures in the in the primary (first tier) doctrines of the Christian faith that they may be strengthened to plant churches in nearby villages with no church and unreached peoples in their geographical regions.
This is a well done video was done October 31st when we had a group of farmers along with National Director, Miriam, with Uganda Agribusiness Alliance. The national media was also with us and produced this video which will be seen throughout Uganda.
All praise to Jesus with gratefulness for those who have been praying for us and sacrificially giving.
We thank each and everyone who lifts up intercessory prayers on our behalf and that of the ministry. Thank you for supporting us through words of encouragement, financial gifts and even the ministry of presence as you join us on the field from time to time! We look forward to updating you with all that God is doing and will do–just around the bend!!
Please be in prayer for us in these following matters and consider partnering with us in them.
Daily operational expenses (monthly gifts help us to keep things running smoothly day by day; Special gifts allow us to accomplish specific projects).
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. ~~Isaiah 42: 16
“The truth is: We serve a generous God. He delights in giving us opportunities beyond our capabilities. He has promised to equip us, and remain with us through each bend in the road.” ~~David Jeremiah
We, Jacob and I–and RAU–stand at that bend in the road–that new direction–with great joy in seeing how the Lord has answered our prayers. I will expound on that in a bit.
We have been back in Uganda for about 3 weeks now, though it feels like so much longer since we hit the ground running (I can’t believe it’s still October!). We had a wonderful visit in the States with our family in 3 different States. Seeing all TEN of our grandchildren was truly GRAND! Strengthening our bond with our children and their spouses was a gift! We flew to 3 different States to visit two supporting churches (including making connections with four new ones) and we drove to 7 different churches within Texas during July- September. We met up with “old” friends during the weekdays and made connections with new ones through folks who have been faithful supporters. As I have said so frequently, the travel was hard on us, but the destinations and the people were GREAT!!! The Lord was gracious in it all and gracious to bring us safely back to northern Uganda.
Pastor Tobious, in the Metu Mountains, wrote of continuing Gospel work along with discipleship, both in the Aya and Gbari side, noting that 17 people professed faith in Christ while we were in the States. The terrain and remoteness of these mountains makes the work difficult and makes Pastor Tobious’s (as well as the other leaders’) commitment and work all the more commendable. We praise God for his faithful plodding and service to the Lord and his part in building up the church in the Metu Mountains.
In Yumbe, our Aringa brother, Charles, has been faithfully broadcasting the message of Good News to students in schools and to neighbors while he also plays an integral role in discipling young men and being a team member of the translation of the complete Bible into Aringa. Jacob and I were honored to be a part of the ceremony in 2014 when the Aringa New Testament was first published! As we plan for a more consistent presence in this region, please read more about it here: NEW: Proposed RAU Yumbe On-the-Ground Branch. Pray with us toward that.
Joshua Abraham–faithful in season and out of season in the Bidi Bidi camps
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Christian resources and Study Bibles are being distributed in the nearby refugee resettlement camps and as well as to the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan
In line with our theme verse, 2 Timothy 2:2 (Faithful people teaching others to teach faithfully what has been entrusted to them), Joshua Abraham, a Darfurian Sudanese refugee in the Bidi Bidi camp has been faithfully gathering and facilitating another group (of 21 in zone one) to read and study 14 Christian theological resources which RAU has been able to provide and another group of 20 in Zone 2 . We look forward to a graduation in December as this 5th group of “reading leaders” finishes up the course. The 6th group will graduate in January. It has been a major goal of Jacob’s to foster a reading culture among leaders in the northwestern part of Uganda, South Sudan and the Republic of (North) Sudan. Everyone who has come to RAU for training knows well this quote: “Leaders are readers and readers are leaders.” By God’s grace, we hope to host many more module trainings here, to continue to disciple more deeply up close and personal, and provide resources to the many leaders who God is raising up.
“Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi
Which brings me back to “the bend in the road” about which I was writing earlier. One of the most gracious acts of the Lord has been His answer to our fervently longed-for request–to bring other team members to work alongside us at RAU full-time. While we were in the States, we received the news that the Langworthy’s (ABWE Missionaries) had reached their “100%” support goal and they were making plans to be in Uganda by the end of October or soon thereafter! This was music to our ears and joy to our hearts. Additionally, another couple (Andre and Emilita Solomos) will be coming for 3 months on a survey trip (through ABWE). Andre teaches in his local church in Colorado. Close on their heels, our dear friends, Wayne and Nancy Reigel, will return to serve with us for several months (Wayne is an elder in his local church, Faith Community in Louisville, Kentucky). Having “boots on the ground” helps us keep pace with the great need for pastoral training and discipleship. Having others join the team means a multiplication of teaching teams and opportunities to support the work that leaders in the area are doing.
Aaron, Amanda, Alijah, Isaac, David and Grace Langworthy
Andre and Emilita Solomos
Wayne and Nancy Reigel
Please pray with us as we follow this bend in the road! Several years ago, anticipating the addition of other families and understanding that team dynamics can make or break a ministry, we bought the book entitled, “Becoming A Healthy Team: 5 Traits of Vital Leadership“, by Stephen A. Macchia, which we had the potential team members read along with us. Pray that our hearts will be knit together in unity of mission that focuses on the glory of God and the good of the people we serve.
Pray for the Langworthy family as they leave behind precious family and friends and a supportive sending church. We know what a vital role the church plays in our health and wellbeing in the Lord. Pray that we will be able to welcome them helpfully as they adjust to all the changes that are part of living cross-culturally. Pray for their safety in travel, their hearts in grieving the changes, their joy in anticipating all that God has planned for them, for spiritual gifts to be discerned and used, and for their perseverance through hard things. Pray for the children in this transition. Pray for this family’s health and wellbeing physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Pray for the Solomos family and the Reigels as they desire to be faithful in their “latter years“. We thank God for other “vintage” people like us who long to be useful in the Kingdom of God, to NOT be shelved or wasteful of any of the precious time they are allotted in this world.
If we were God and had His knowledge and sovereignty over the landscape of our lives, we would see a straight line from where we were and are to the place that He will bring us. But “bends in the road” are bends to us because we cannot see what lies ahead. Our sight is limited so we must walk one step at a time, trusting that the Lord is with us and sees, knows and plans the things that are coming ahead. This is great comfort to us!
We thank each and everyone who lifts up intercessory prayers on our behalf and that of the ministry. Thank you for supporting us through words of encouragement, financial gifts and even the ministry of presence as you join us on the field from time to time! We look forward to updating you with all that God is doing and will do–just around the bend!!
Please be in prayer for us in these following matters and consider partnering with us in them.
Daily operational expenses (monthly gifts help us to keep things running smoothly day by day; Special gifts allow us to accomplish specific projects).
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:14 NLT)
As I approach 70, James 4:14 resonates powerfully with me! Carol and I are truly thankful for the many years the Lord has blessed us with. We remain constantly in awe as we reflect on the abundant love He has poured into our lives through our Lord Jesus Christ! God’s grace and mercy never cease to amaze us. I vividly recall that transformative day, nearly 50 years ago, when my heart was opened to our Lord’s incredible love, mercy, and grace! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Our first stop back to the USA was in Seguin, Texas. It is the place where Carol and I spent most of our lives together. During those first days Stateside, we rested after our journey from Entebbe, which took 40 hours, enjoyed fellowship with friends, and worshipped with our home sending church, Lifegate, of which we have been members since 1982. It was a joy to worship together and be fed by the sound preaching of God’s Word. Dear friends from the church graciously opened their cabin behind their own home to set up as a home base while we are back in the States. On the 10th of July , Carol and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary. Our wedding was in Seguin.
We then journeyed on to see our three children, their wonderful spouses, and our ten beautiful grandchildren. They are living and raising their families in three separate states. We see the growth and maturity of our grandchildren each year we are back. It was our first time to see, hold, and love on our most recent grandchild. These were very special times together, re-bonding again and building special lifelong memories. Upon each departure, we had to remind our teary-eyed selves and teary precious-dear ones that we must be thankful for these times the Lord has given us together and not focus on the time we are apart. We certainly are “…foreigners and nomads here on earth…”.
Our primary goal for each return trip to the USA is to secure much-needed rest and to reconnect with our children and grandchildren, long-time friends and supporters, as well as time with supporting churches (sadly each time back we cannot be with each one) and to be in new churches who have invited us to share with them. On this visit, we have been/will be with 13 different churches, many church fellowships, home Bible studies, and enjoying lunch and breakfast meetings with friends and pastors. The Lord has richly blessed us with an abundance of supportive friends and churches since our move to Uganda near the South Sudan border July 2013. We have been able to steadfastly walk out the vision and mission of Reaching Africa’s Unreached , thanks to the loving support and prayers of so many.
Our hope and prayer is that this vision will persist until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with you as our co-laborers in the faith, alongside those who support our mission and our partnering mission agency, ABWE. We are excited about the upcoming addition of the Langworthy family joining us for the long term, along with two couples committing to three months. We are earnestly in prayer for more long-term, boots-on-ground missionaries to join us as we want to faithfully pass the torch to those who are like-minded in vision and heart who carry on whenever the Lord so decrees. Please pray with us in this!
As we confidently move forward with the work the Lord has accomplished and trust that He will continue to do so (Philippians 1:6), we present these current and future requests before you to prayerfully consider. I have placed them in order of importance. Would you also consider being an ambassador for us and reach out those who may be interested in helping?
1.Monthly Support: Consistent monthly support is vital for the overall mission and vision of RAU to thrive effectively. We are grateful that our personal needs are met. Reliable monthly donations empower RAU to fulfill its mission of discipleship and pastoral empowerment
2.An RAU boots-on-the-ground branch in Yumbe town. RAU’s next step in walking out 2 Timothy 2:2 is to expand a “boots on the ground” branch to the mostly Muslim Yumbe district where RAU has been working since 2013. The land is available, and we have the conviction that the timing is right to construct a second “boots on the ground” long-term campus. This would allow RAU to walk out more fully its mission/vision among the Aringa and the many in the nearby refugee settlements. Our area hosts the largest numbers of refugees in the continent of Africa! We are looking to raise a total of $246,000 (but broken down into three phases) to fulfill this vision that the Lord has placed on our hearts. Please read on for more details regarding the whys and the how’s: **NEW: Proposed RAU Yumbe On-the-Ground Branch**
Recent Aringa church leadership training in Yumbe district. The Aringa are listed as an unreached people group. We want to see that change!
Recent church leadership training in Biddi-biddi Refugee resettlement camp.Many are from unreached tribes
“Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.” (David Starr Jordan)
“A vision without a task makes a visionary; a task without a vision is drudgery; a vision with a task makes a missionary” (George Deakin quoted in Leonard Ravenhill’s book Why Revival Tarries-1974 Edition p.14)
3.Completion of the Metu Mountain Gbari/Arapi Church/Training Facility: Approximately $20,000.
This is how far we are
4.A third annual dental clinic held at RAU: Last year, a team including four Ugandan dentists from Hope Smiles saw 588 patients from Monday to Friday. On Friday morning, we had people waiting at the gate at 4:30 AM! There is little to no dental care in our area. It cost $5000 to bring four dentist, their team/medicines/equipment last year. If we had $7000, we could bring 8 dentists their team/medicines/equipment and double the number!
5.New Update as of September 5th, 2025: We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity with Christianbook International Outreach (CBIO) to procure Arabic Study Bibles based on the NIV Study Bible for just $10.00 each. There are approximately 6,000 available. CBIO has generously committed to covering the remaining cost of these study Bibles. This is a fantastic chance for numerous church leaders from both South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan to access this invaluable resource, which will significantly equip them in their ministries. We have effective methods in place to ensure this resource reaches refugee church leaders in resettlement camps in both South Sudan and Uganda.
Pray for us to stay the course….thank you!
In the loving sovereign grip of our Lord Jesus Christ,
This is the ministry video we are showing to the churches we visit while in the States. Carol is very gifted! Watch and listen to all that the Lord is doing in far northern Uganda.
We made it to Seguin, Texas, arriving at our friends’ home around 2 AM on July 2nd. The journey from Entebbe to Seguin was nearly 40 hours due to a few delays.
The first part of our furlough will be filled with joy as we revel in the precious moments spent with our three beloved children, their wonderful spouses, and our delightful ten grandchildren. Each laugh, hug, and shared story will create lasting memories. It will be our first time seeing Grandchild number ten in the flesh (Silas), and the excitement is palpable, as we eagerly anticipate watching him grow and connecting with all of the grandkids in uniquely special ways. Our hope is to create lasting, impactful and even tighter bonds that will last a lifetime.
Carol and I are praising God for the first stage of our Ugandan residency, a milestone that feels both rewarding and exciting. We started the process last December. Since we have had four consecutive three-year work permits, we are grateful that Uganda gives us the opportunity to apply for this next phase. At the end of five years, specifically in June 2030, there is just a review process involved; if everything goes smoothly, we could be granted an additional ten years. This gives us a sense of stability and hope for the future. Looking ahead to 2040, if the Lord wills, I (Jacob) anticipate reaching the stage of actual permanent residency status, which is a significant step in our journey. I can’t help but chuckle at the thought that I will only then be a mere 84, feeling both overwhelmed by the age and the possibilities that lie ahead. 🙂
Please pray for us that our time in America will be restful, fruitful, and a good time of reconnecting with family, friends, and as many as possible with those who pray for and support us and the ministry of Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). We are eager to share experiences and stories with loved ones, which we hope will deepen our bonds and inspire those around us. Additionally, we are looking forward to engaging in meaningful conversations that could spark new ideas and collaborations. We also hope and pray we can pass on RAU’s vision and mission to new brothers and sisters in the Lord and see with our own eyes others that are called to work alongside of us. We pray for more supporting churches that share our passion for strengthening the Ugandan and Sudanese churches, which consist of many different tribes and share a passion for proclaiming the glorious gospel of grace, enabling us to continue our important work in reaching the unreached and spreading the message of hope that can only be found in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Reaching Africa's Unreached 