“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!
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2: 6-7
RAU Grafted Mango Demo Farm
New Satellite picture of the RAU Campus: 3°41’34.1″N 31°41’25.1″E
In our last post on May 14th, Carol wrote about the upcoming Hermeneutics (“the art and science of biblical interpretation”) module with Rocky Point Baptist Church (RPBC), Stephen, Texas, and the Forest Hill Presbyterian (PCA) Church from Forest Hill, Maryland, module on the book of Romans in Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU’s) Hall of Tyrannus. The RPBC team was led by Elder Scott Manley and the Forest Hill team by Pastor Jason Van Bemmel. Whenever we have teams, we request they be led by an Elder or Pastor in the church. In each of these modules, there were close to sixty church leaders from many different denominations in attendance from Monday to Friday. The attendees who traveled slept and ate at RAU. Full-day schedules ran from 9 AM to noon, 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and 7 PM to 8 PM. The focus of RAU’s module training is strengthening church leaders primarily in the primary (first tier) doctrines of the Christian faith and in a Biblical Worldview that understands the implications of Christ’s Lordship for all of life. Since 2013 we have had around 50 of these modules.
The hermeneutics module was May 26th – 30th. Pastor Jeff Dyke put together an outline of the book, 40 Questions on Biblical Interpretation by Robert Plummer. These two resources, along with an Africa Study Bible and some other books, were given to the leaders.
Sunday, May 25th, we worshipped in the Metu Mountains church plant in Arapi/Gbari. Elder, Scott Manley, preached the Word.
On Tuesday, May 27th, while Scott and Blake taught in the Hall of Tyrannus, I (Jacob) took the rest of the team to the Metu Mountains to visit a couple of churches and a borehole RAU put in and where RAU seeks to assist Aya Baptist in planting a church. At each stop, the Word was shared.
On May 28th and 29th, while men on the team taught at RAU, the RPBC’s ladies and Carol had a two day conference with ladies in a nearby church on the the sovereignty of God and suffering.
On May 31st-June 3rd we were all in Yumbe District worshipping on Sunday with Lodenga Church, then spending lunch at the home of our friend, Charles, where he shared about the Aringa tribe and the struggles facing the church. Then we visited several upper-level Sheikhs and leaders in the District Khard’s office next to the biggest mosque in the District. Later, we had the opportunity to minister to the physical needs of two Sheikhs suffering from diabetes and who have been friends since 2014. A couple (Rachel and Ethan) on the team who are in the medical field were a huge help in ensuring good wound care for one of the Sheikhs. While we were waiting, I had some good one-on-one times with the Sheikhs where I shared the gospel in a kind and respectful way once again. Please pray for them, the gospel seed has been planted and watered for a number of years now.
On Monday, June 2nd we met again at Lodenga Church. The RPBC men had a five-hour session with the men on Romans, and the women met separately with the RPBC’s women team members who taught, again, on the sovereignty of God and suffering.
One special aspect of the Rocky Point team was that our daughter, Anna, was one of the team members. What a gift to us as parents! She even stayed with us in our home. We love to see Anna in action, loving and serving, sharing will great skill from the word of God and sharing her laughter and joy.
Forest Hill Presbyterian (PCA) Church team was with us June 8th-June 18th.
Romans Module June 9th-13th.
On June 11th, I took Caleb, Silas, and co-worker Zakeo to two secondary schools where Caleb and Silas effectively shared the gospel. The next day, the three of them went back to the nearby Logoba Secondary School and planted several of RAU’s seedlings. Seedlings are part of RAU’s demo farm project. During the whole week, Katherine was in the kitchen helping our RAU cooks with the food preparations and washing dishes, etc.. The cooks all were impressed with Katherine’s work ethic! Food preparation is very labor-intensive. RAU provides some transport, lodging, and three meals a day for those attending the module training as well as the rest of the staff. In our Romans module, we had 55 who received certificates. It costs RAU around $40 per church leader to have them with us. We are very grateful to the churches and individuals who financially support RAU so that we can continue in the calling the Lord has given us.
On Friday, June 13th, after the close of the Romans module, we all met at RAU with the widow (Sarah along with her six children) of the Metu Mountain pastor who was helping in a remote church plant there. He died in a very tragic way. Praise God for the support given to RAU on her behalf, as well as Aya Baptist church in the Aya Metu Mountains, which is standing with her. One of the church’s members, also a widow, has agreed to offer the mother pictured here a free space to start her own shop and will also mentor her in business. That is the way the church is supposed to live!
Pastor Richard’s widow and children
Forest Hill in Yumbe District: LodengaChurch of Uganda
This was our 7th trip to this small church in Lodenga Village since mid-December 2024 and fourth with a team on a Sunday morning and training on Monday afternoon. We have also been active along with local churches in evangelism, open-air preaching, and the Jesus film in this immediate area. It is literally surrounded by ardent Muslims, and the church is under constant pressure. ABWE (Carol and I are Associate ABWE missionaries) highlighted the work of RAU in the Lodenga area: “A Church Stands Strong” – https://abwe.org/blog/a-church-stands-strong/ It is an honor to have RAU highlighted in ABWE’s “Message Magazine.“ We are blessed to be part of the ABWE family!
“God help me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.” (David Brainerd)
Above: An earlier date in a market near Lodenga Church
Bibles and Books
Getting study Bibles, Bibles, and sound theological books into the hands of West Nile Ugandans, as well as North and South Sudanese church leaders, combined with our module teaching in RAU’s Hall of Tyrannus and local churches, is another way RAU is seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2 in our Sub-Saharan region. The Lord has certainly blessed and provided! Currently, RAU has four 40′ shelved containers to safely keep these resources from the elements and especially from the many rats and termites we have in our area. Our goal is to be a resource center for West Nile Uganda, the nearby refugee resettlement camps, as well as for South Sudanese and North Sudanese who fled to both South Sudan and Uganda. I am happy to report that since our last post, we have received several thousand more books of various titles via Christianbook International outreach, Crossway International, Oasis International, and Evergreen Publishing Zambia. Evergreen is now able to print books in Uganda, PTL! Most recently, we received over a thousand of Conrad Mbewe’s new book on the Christian Family. It is added to his other two we have in stock for leaders. We have also recently received over 2,500 ESV Global Study Bibles from Crossway. Since 2013, they have blessed us now with well over 30,000 ESV Global Study Bibles, which have been primarily for church leaders and community leaders.
Sudanese from the Republic of (North) Sudan
In August, we are expecting 23,000+ ESV Pew Bibles, which will be primarily for congregation members, students, and evangelism outreach. In August 2024, we received 20,000+, and they were gone by February 2025. In addition, we are expecting 10,520 more Africa Study Bibles (ASB). These will be added to the 6,100 we received at the end of 2024. Praise God! Of all the resources we have for leaders, I see the ASB as the most important. We are so grateful for the Lord’s grace and the sacrificial love of God’s people!
We are grateful for this added edition on The Christian Family for Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) resource center. It is written by an African pastor Conrad Mbewe who understands well transcultural biblical principles of marriage and family, and at the same time also understands the African mindset, which is often deeply rooted in tradition and community values. His insights explore the intersection of biblical faith and culture, offering practical guidance that resonates with the daily lives of believers. This makes it a great resource for our Ugandan and Sudanese Christian church leaders, empowering them to effectively nurture family units and strengthen their congregations through biblically sound, culturally relevant teachings. I believe that this addition will not only enhance church leaders understanding but also inspire them to foster healthier family dynamics within their communities, ultimately contributing to the spiritual growth and development of the African church.
Conrad Mbewe and his wife will be at RAU, Lord willing, November 17th-21st for a training module
I am very proud of Carol. She, along with a dedicated Madi Ugandan team, has skillfully translated Good Soil’s: The Story of Hopeinto Ma’di with the tonal markings. This remarkable achievement not only demonstrates their commitment to preserving linguistic heritage but also aims to make the book accessible to a wider audience. It is currently in the hands of readers to check for reliability and understanding, ensuring that every nuance and meaning is accurately conveyed. This process of review is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the translation. It may very well be the first printed non-biblical Ma’di book with the tonal marks, thus setting a precedent for future publications and inspiring others to undertake similar projects that enrich local literature.
In addition, dear friend Jackie Kirby in Podcast “JPF: Joyful. Patient. Faithful” interviews Carol. The episode is entitled “Carol In Uganda”. It is a very encouraging episode digging into how’s and whys we are in Uganda and the many struggles along the way. It is well worth your time. Thank you, Jackie!
On Wednesday June 25th we leave for Entebbe via MAF. While in Entebbe, we will travel into Kampala to pick up our Permanent (5-year) Resident permits. Since we have lived in Uganda now for nearly 12 years we could apply for these residence visa’s. This is a huge answer to prayer as we were unsure as to the logistics of entering back into the Uganda late September or early October! We were hoping for at least a 10-year permit, but as was explained to us, they start with 5 year residence, then a review and 10 year residence, followed by a review again and then a full-fledged Life-time Residential permit! I jokingly told Carol I will be just mere 84 years old when, Lord willing, we get permanent permanent residency! I pray the Lord gives us many more years to work in God’s vineyard of the West Nile of Uganda, South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan… Philippians 1:21-26. However, as Carol has noted in our previous post we might be in the home Jesus has prepared for us…John 14:3.
Please be in prayer for us in these coming months of activity and travel, as we embark on this exciting journey filled with anticipation and joy. We are looking forward to seeing our children, their spouses, and our ten wonderful grandchildren, each of whom brings a unique light into our lives. Eight of the ten were born while we have lived in Uganda, and over the years, God, in His boundless grace, has nurtured a profoundly close bond with them all that we cherish deeply. We are particularly eager to witness how they have grown and changed, creating new memories together that will last a lifetime. Additionally, we look forward to spending quality time with our beloved home church, Lifegate Seguin, Texas, where we have built lasting friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ since we became members in 1982. Their unwavering support has been a blessing in our lives. We also have plans to visit supporting churches and friends who have stood by us throughout our journey, allowing us to reconnect and share stories of God’s faithfulness and provision along the way.
In the loving sovereign grip of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We had barely said goodbye to dear friends, Wayne and Nancy Reigel, when it was time to prepare for the next group–from Canada! Here is what I posted on FaceBook after they left: “We just said goodbye to some friends from Canada who have been wonderful partners in some projects we have done–specifically boreholes (water wells) and Bibles. We laughed a lot, had deep conversations, and took them into the mountains to see several of the boreholes in remote villages…”the ends of the earth”?…seems like it! We even did our level best to work on the USA/Canada tariff and trade agreements! Mostly, we marveled at how much more we have in common in Christ, than differences that divide us. It was so much fun!!“
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Hill Country Fellowship TEAM
Travel List:
Pack tubs with Toys, Treats, Texas plates, Thingamajigs and more: CHECK!
Malaria Medication: CHECK!
Jerky and Protein bars: CHECK!
Walking shoes: CHECK!
Pain medicine, Blister treatment, Pepto and Electrolyte replacement: CHECK!
Camel Back Back Packs: CHECK!
Passports, tickets: CHECK!
Sense of Adventure: CHECK!
And OFF THEY GO to Afoji, Uganda!
On the heels of Team Canada was the Hill Country Fellowship Team! As you might surmise from the picture above, this one would require Multivitamins and Energy drinks! : } We received the Team (which actually combined members from 3 different churches) on April 28th after their long couple of days of flying and too little sleep. They were able to recoup a bit of that sleep on Monday afternoon–just in time for Jacob’s “boot camp” style ministry schedule!
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were long, jostling days in the Metu Mountains with a good bit of walking, including the particularly treacherous climb back up the hill from Oku and Lea which Grayson (the Team Leader) affectionately named, “Oh No” Mountain! Last year, he seriously struggled to make the climb. This year, he trained hard and, if I’m not mistaken, was the first one up the hill! Who knew that preparation for a cross-cultural ministry trip required many trips to the gym?!
In each of the church plants that the team visited, each one shared some encouraging message from the word of God and took time to interact with adults and children alike. During debrief it was evident that one of the most impactful realities for the team members was the difficulty of the lives of the villagers in these very remote places. Equally, they recognized the strenuous and complex nature of the pastors’ work, not only spiritually but physically. Who knew that to be a Pastor in the Metu Mountains would require a good pair of hiking boots?
On Friday, Charles came to pick us up with his van and we headed to Yumbe for a couple of days. On Saturday, we went to Lodenga again as it is our aim to make our brothers and sisters in Christ there know they are supported and loved. This visit focused on the youth and children. Robert, Tiffany, Grayson and Esmeralda took on the youngest of the children. For the older ones, there were rotating stations where team members would encourage them spiritually, allow for Q & A and a hearty and hot (not heated) game of football (soccer). Who knew…well, actually, we ALL know how easy it is to connect to youth through sports. What was a joy to me was to see all the ladies out there, dresses and all–barefoot–getting in on the action and the fun.
After lunch and a bit of rest (this was especially appreciated by Jessup and Zach, who played football nonstop–in the heat–for several hours), we headed to a market location for our usual one-on-one interactions, a open air gospel message of Good News from Jacob and Charles and then the Jesus Film after dark. The last time we did this, Jacob and Charles got rained off the top of the Land Cruiser and we had to forego showing the Film. This time, we got started timely and were able to finish it just as raindrops started randomly falling. Thankfully, we loaded up before the rain fell heavily.
On Sunday, we headed back to Lodenga from the hotel. Our brother, Vinton, preached during the service–a great encouragement to all of us. After service we ate lunch with Charles and his family at his home and then headed back to RAU knowing that it would leave the Team a few hours to get some rest and pack before their departure on Monday morning. Who knew a week could go by so quickly?
Well, Jacob and I do, actually!
In our last debriefing on Sunday evening, we enjoyed a lively, thoughtful and productive conversation recognizing the most important truths about ourselves and the people we serve (and hope to serve): 1) each one bears the image of God; 2) everyone has something important to contribute to their own lives and the lives of people in their communities; 3) while all suffering matters, our greatest need is spiritual; and 4) poverty is more than physical and involves also spiritual, social, psychological scarcity and so our efforts must be holistic. (For insightful reading on these matters please read “Helping Without Hurting“, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, and “Helping Without Hurting in Short Term Missions” by the same authors.) Each member of the Team loved others well! I could see the appreciation in the eyes and gestures of the people with whom they interacted. They were a grand blessing in so many ways!
Following the departure of the HCF Team, Jacob and I looked forward to a slower pace before the visits of our final two teams. BUT! It has been less frenetic, yet certainly not with a measure of busyness!. As I write this, it’s just a little over a week before the Rocky Point Baptist Church Stephenville Texas (RPBC) Team arrives followed by the Forest Hills Maryland Presbyterian (PCA) Church (FHPC)Team 3 days later. Please pray for their safe and uneventful travels back and forth. Pray for Jacob’s and my strength and endurance for these busy but significant times. The RPBC teaching team will hold a retreat module for church leaders focusing on Hermeneutics (“the art and science of biblical interpretation”) and the FHPC teaching team will go through the book of Romans!! There will be some gospel “side hustles” going on too–the ladies from RPBC and I will do a 2-day teaching on Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. Jacob will take some of the young men into the Metu Mountains. A ministry trip to Yumbe will also be included in the RPBC and FHPC visit.
Not very long after our friends have departed, Jacob and I will be making our way south to Entebbe for our yearly trip to the States! While in Entebbe, we will travel into Kampala to pick up our Permanent (5-year) Resident permits. Since we have lived in Uganda now for nearly 12 years we could apply for these residence visa’s. This is a huge answer to prayer as we were unsure as to the logistics of entering back into the Uganda next October! We were hoping for at least a 10-year permit, but as was explained to us, they start with 5 year residence, then just a review and 10 year residence, then just a review Life Residence! Jacob joking said he will be just mere 84 years old when Lord willing we get permeant residency! However, I think we might be on to a better life by then (if you know what I mean : ) )
Please be in prayer for us in these coming months of activity and travel. Both Jacob and I are “feeling our age” and nothing is as easy as it used to be! Ha! Who knew getting old would require so much strength of will and perseverance? Well, all the people that have gotten old before us, I guess!
While we are gone, our Ag Demonstration Farm will continue its good work. At the moment, our biggest focus is mango grafting/seedling production in addition to seedlings of many kinds–eucalyptus, orange, cocao, avocado, jackfruit and more! Mangoes are in full production mode now and so we have many interested vendors. The sales of these and seedlings help to offset the cost of production and labor but we are no where near full sustainability without subsidization.
We are also awaiting another batch of Africa Study Bibles (ASB) which are being printed (by Oasis) in India right now. Also on the way and due to arrive May 30th are 23,760 more Pew Bibles through ChristianBook International Outreach and Crossway International! Here’s to encouraging a reading culture with the Bestseller of all time!
In all these things–Team visits, ongoing, daily (and often mundane) work at RAU, trainings, literature distribution–we appreciate you, our prayer warriors, supporters, friends and partners more than you can know! Thank you for your interest and joy in hearing our stories and seeing our pictures! We love you all so much!
Life is not merely a fleeting vacation but an exhilarating short-term mission trip, filled with purpose and endless possibilities in and for Jesus!
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”2 Corinthians 5:20-21
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
We thank God for the ministry opportunities He has given us in early 2025. Let me start with the latest ministry events and go back to the beginning of the new year.
The long-awaited first installment of over 6,120 of the 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) has finally arrived, and our hearts are overflowing with joy! We give all praise to God for this remarkable milestone! To date, we’ve raised an astounding $200,000. Our generous supporters through Oasis International, the publisher, have blessed us with $50,000, and the incredible donors from ChristianBook International Outreach have matched that gift with another $50,000, while RAU, through its beloved donors, has stepped in with an extraordinary $100,000! Despite the shifts in pricing since we first sought the Lord’s guidance to ignite hearts for these essential study Bibles, our mission remains unwavering. We are looking to God and HIS people to raise an additional $127,000 needed to bring all 23,040 copies to RAU. Because of the large donations from Oasis and ChristianBook International Outreach, the total for RAU is $227,000 with $100,000 already raised. This means the price for one Africa Study Bible for RAU donors is an incredible $9.85 for an Africa Study Bible. This includes all the shipping by container and ground transport to RAU! The primary recipients of this ASB will be church leaders who are well versed in English. If God blesses us with more dollars than needed for the ASBs, we commit to use the excess funds for local language Bibles or “Following Jesus: African Journey through the Book of Luke”. Discover more about the ASB here.
Will you join us in prayer and consider how you can help us secure the additional funds??? Please feel free to pass this on to your friends and churches who may be interested in helping.
February 13,2025 Update
Great news from our end! I’m thrilled to share an update about our determined mission to deliver 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) to RAU. As may know, we’ve received our first shipment of 6,120 ASBs! The second shipment of 10,520 ASBs had a funding requirement of $82,685. Thanks to generous donations the remaining balance for this second of three shipments is down to $23,880! Praise the Lord for His provision! Let’s keep our hearts united in prayer, steadfast in belief, and joyfully anticipate the arrival of these Bibles by faith. Would you consider joining us in this noble endeavor to eliminate this balance completely?
On a related note, we are grateful to share that the 20,000 ESV paperback pew Bibles provided by Christianbook International Outreach (CIO) this past August have been successfully distributed. These precious Bibles have primarily reached students and church members who are proficient in English. As we’ve noted in previous newsletters, education in Uganda, from primary to university level, is conducted in English. Sadly, many in our community cannot afford a Bible, which highlights the incredible opportunity we have to share the Word of God. Furthermore, we are very grateful that CIO has committed to sending another 20,000 ESV paperback pew Bibles! What a wonderful blessing—thank you, CIO, and thank you, Jehovah!
Students with ESV Pew Bibles
All the French Bibles that Christianbook-International Outreach (CIO) generously sent us have finally arrived in the Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for church leaders and members. We are incredibly grateful. This is one of the boxes below. It reveals the challenging journey these Bibles endured! They are now in the hands of our Congolese brother and friend, who trained alongside us at RAU and is currently serving in Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We give thanks to God for Samuel Misengile, who truly embodies 2 Timothy 2:2 in the DRC, and we are thankful for the support from CIO!
French Bibles for the Democratic Republic of Congo
On January 27th, we welcomed Steve Chew and Claude Durepo from Valley Bible Church Pleasanton California through MAF. They started their journey back to California from RAU on January 31st. The 28th-30th were filled with ministry. Claude and Steve were an encouragement to Carol and me as well as to our Aringa and Ma’di brothers and sisters in Christ.
Steve and Claudefrom Valley Bible Church
Monday, the 27th, we gave them a tour of the RAU campus and demo farm, shared about RAU’s primary vision and mission, and had refreshing fellowship over a meal that Carol had cooked. We first met Steve and Claude in 2022 when we visited Valley Bible Church (VBC), so it was great to catch up. Both Steve and Claude are on the VBC mission committee and came with the expressed purpose of seeing on the ground what RAU is doing, and then going back to VBC to give a report on how they can pray for RAU and us, and explore possible ways of support. Carol and I are so very grateful for cross-cultural, mission-minded churches like VBC!
With some of the Lodenga Church of Uganda members on a very hot Wednesday
We had an impactful day in Yumbe on Wednesday the 28th, actively ministering in a rural church located in Lodenga, Yumbe District, alongside our Aringa brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is notably surrounded by fervent Muslims. Several elder members recounted the remarkable story of how their church was founded during the era of Idi Amin, who originated from the nearby district. They candidly shared the many struggles and persecution they have faced over the years. Interestingly, prior to our arrival, the local Muslims had learned about our visit and convened a meeting right at the boundary of the church. I approached them with Charles, Carol, Steve, and Claude, greeting them in a warm local manner, engaging in conversation, and distributed our dual language gospel tracts. Carol has a special ability to connect with the women and she did with these women!
After a short and friendly exchange, two Muslim Clerics from foreign countries arrived as we were ending conversations to head back to our own meeting. There was a tangible difference in mood. Carol extended her hand to greet them, as is the common practice among all Aringa (even with Aringa Muslim men), but the greeting was not received. Instead, the foreigners used this opportunity to explain that men should only greet men and women greet only women. It was almost as if “the Pharisees” had arrived.
An earlier date at a Muslim friend’s home in Yumbe town.
We then returned to the Lodenga church for our meeting, where Steve and Claude offered heartfelt words of encouragement. I had the privilege of sharing insights from 1 Peter 3:13-18, all while the loudspeakers from our Muslim neighbors sounded in our ears. Afterward, we enjoyed a lovely meal with our church family. Following the meal, we made our way to the home of our dear friend and co-worker, Onduga Charles, an Aringa, who generously shared more about the rich history of the Aringa church—its growth, the challenges they’ve faced, and the inspiring vision he and RAU have for its future. Together, we are united in prayer and purpose, striving to lift the Aringa out of the “unreached category” through dedicated gospel proclamation and the walking out of 2 Timothy 2:2 more and more on the ground, long-term in Yumbe District! This is my new nickname for Charles,my Aringa Macedonian man.
Upon returning home from Yumbe, my Macedonia man, shared a stirring report he received from one of the church elders of Lodenga! He shared how, after our departure, the two foreign “Muslim clerics” approached the church after encircling the church while reciting incantations. With brashness, they demanded that church leaders and the Christians there to convert to Islam, threatening to do everything in their power to extinguish the church’s presence if they did not! The church elder has reported this to the Yumbe police. After fervent prayer and counsel with Charles and the courageous elders of Lodenga, we “concluded” (see Acts 16:10) to return to Lodenga in the upcoming weekend. The Spirit has stirred the hearts of five other local churches to unite with us! We will delve into Scripture, exploring what the Word says to those enduring persecution and suffering for their faith and also study Jesus story of the unforgiving servant. As evening falls, I will preach from the roof of my Land Cruiser, my beloved pulpit, in a nearby football (soccer) field! When it is dark, we’ll share the Jesus film in Aringa, spreading the light of Jesus through the book of Luke. Then, on Sunday morning, we will lift our voices in jubilant worship with the six churches and hear the Word proclaimed. I will be bringing Bibles and Christian literature to strengthen the churches. Please fervently pray for us during this pivotal time, for what Satan has intended for evil, God has transformed into a powerful gathering of His church in praise and worship!
With news from home on the 29th, I woke up to this: my brother and sister found my second youngest brother Jeff dead at his home. He seemed to have died while taking a nap…beside him was an open Bible. I have now lost my two of my three brothers and mom while living in Uganda. I am grateful that all three were believers. I take great comfort in that.
Later in the morning on the 29th, we entered the northern section of the nearby remote area of the Metu Mountains with Steve and Claude, along with Pastor Henry and Tiondi, who are RAU co-workers. After meeting and picking up our Metu Mountain coordinator, Pastor Tobious, we visited three church plants. These churches were planted in conjunction with Aya Baptist Church from 2016-2017. Then, on the 30th, we visited four separate churches in the southern section of the Metu Mountains. Both days involved walking beyond where the Land Cruiser could go. The 30th had us going into the pristine Oku/Lea valley. The climb back up the hills is very, very steep and rugged. It is getting harder and harder for these 69-plus-year-old legs to make that walk–“but God” continues to give the strength. These hills really put the Land Cruiser to the test as well. Without it, it would be difficult to get to these locations.
Pray for the Land Crusier to keep us going with the gospel. You gifts help us keep this gospel machine going!
Steve and Claude offered words of encouragement and shared insights from the Bible in each Metu Mountain church we visited. I also shared short messages from the Word of God in each church. One of RAU’s core convictions is that we are here to work alongside local churches in our evangelism, church planting, and discipleship, never in isolation from them.
We have witnessed numerous new births and baptisms. Despite being asked on many occasions, I abstain from performing baptisms. I firmly believe that this public confession of faith should take place within the context of the local church’s vibrant life. However, I do have the privilege of preaching at water banks, which is a significant opportunity.
Shortly after the Lord birthed the Cinyi Community Church deep in the remote Metu Mountains 9 years ago, I went to see where the Cinyi community members were getting their water. It was important as there were so many health issues, especially among the children. When I saw where they were getting the water, I even wondered why there were not more illnesses.
Original water source for Cinyi
Soon thereafter, the Lord opened a way for us to find water and drill a well. Since then, they have had clean water, and they have maintained the borehole. The health of the community changed drastically, and the door was opened more for Gospel proclamation. However, when I visited the church in December 2024, the elders informed me that the pipes were pulled, and many holes were found. They were told it was because of the iron in the water. The many times I drank from it, I could taste it but did not think much of it. So they were back at the hole collecting water…
Praise God for the loving donors who gave to RAU. Stainless steel pipes have now been installed and Cinyi church and community started enjoying clean water on News Years Day! Steve and Claude were able to drink from it! By God’s grace through his loving people RAU has put in 25 boreholes( water wells) in places lacking clean water.
Carol has been working very hard with Caesar translating ABWE’s Good Soil “Story of Hope” into Ma’di. “The Message of Hope” has already been translated into Aringa. Madi and Aringa are the two main language groups we work with. There are many other language groups that we work with, but Ma’di and Aringa are the ones we work with the most. Please pray for her and Caesar.
I had the opportunity in January to teach at two youth conferences. One was in Yumbe town at Pilgrim Church with Aringa youth, and the other in a smaller church in our nearby Fodia with Ma’di youth. In Yumbe, I had the morning and afternoon in one of their five days. In Fodia, I had one session two days later. Each attendee in both conferences received an ESV Pew Bible and The Epic Story of the Bible by Greg Gilbert. In addition, in Yumbe, they received Good Soil/ABWE Message of Hope in Aringa and English, and dual language Aringa-English tracts. What a joy to be with these young Aringa and Ma’di who are on fire for Jesus!
Through your heartfelt prayers, generous gifts, and unwavering monthly support, we wholeheartedly pledge to be faithful stewards of your incredible generosity. We especially appreciate every bit of increased monthly support! My (Jacob’s) transformative first journey to our current home took place in March 2007, and Carol’s and my permanent relocation in July 2013 marked the beginning of our journey as cross-cultural gospel workers. As long-term, on-the-ground missionaries, we have witnessed the Lord open countless doors, revealing the numerous possibilities for spreading love and hope.
A special note: A friend and pastor is requesting we sell one of our RAU older bodas (motorcycles) to him. We can replace the one we sell with a new boda for around $1,200. We use a boda to acquire things locally instead of taking the Land Cruiser. If anyone would like to give towards this we would be grateful.
Special Prayer Request: We are in the process of obtaining a 10-work permit or, if God wills, a permanent residence status. The latter is what we are hoping for. We can make this kind of application because of the number of years we have been working in Uganda.
A final note. Most missionary work often boils down to the relentless grind of “plodding” through mundane tasks to keep the wheels turning. One of Carol’s and my goals? Handing over a campus that’s not just functional but smoothly functioning in terms of maintenance issues. Take this video, for instance, a prime exhibit of that tedious plodding. One of the beautiful truths which came out of the Reformation is that all work done for God’s glory is “spiritual”. Isn’t it interesting that this video follows the one showcasing the reception of over 6,000+ Africa Study Bibles and other ministry endeavors? Such sequencing is no mere coincidence.
Thank you to our supporters for coming alongside us !
What we do now in the Lord and for Him will have an eternal impact for His praise and honor; all else is fleeting!
May God’s blessing in and through Christ Jesus flow to you and your family throughout 2025! We are very thankful for your prayers, encouragement and sacrificial gifts which keep us pushing forward for the glory and fame of our King and Savior Jesus!
Mostly, we marveled at how much more we have in common in Christ, than differences that divide us. It was so much fun!!“
Reaching Africa's Unreached 