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).
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
~~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.~~
One of the many benefits of taking a Short Term Ministry (STM) trip is that, if you have never been abroad before, by virtue of traveling you are expanding your mind, your perspective, your experience, your knowledge, and your heart, beyond their normal encapsulated boundaries. This is especially important for Church leaders in America who answer for the life and health of their “flock” and the trajectory and completion of the Church’s mission.
In that light, it was a joy to receive 7 men (Jason, Wayne, Billy, Garrett, Austin, James and David) from churches in Mississippi under the guidance of a well-seasoned STM traveler and trip leader, David Williams. The purpose of their visit was to stir the churches in Lincoln County, MS to a more far-reaching vision and participation in the Great Commission by participating in on-going ministry in another country–Uganda, and RAU particularly. David had brought another team years back and wanted to ignite this team by revisiting RAU and this region of northwestern Uganda.
In typical fashion, Jacob devised a plan to squeeze every ounce of ministry, experience and energy out of them, starting on Day 1 after arrival. They spent the first three days in the Metu Mountains (north end–Gbari, Arapi, Duku, Oyo– and south end–Aya, Ijujo, Cinyi, Oku, Lea). I opted to stay home because, a) the Land Cruiser was going to be filled to the rim or brim and, b) it was just too hot and, c) it was really hot! Ha! In Duku, they were able to witness the blessing of replaced steel water pipes with stainless steel pipes for the borehole and taste water fresh from the underground. In each spot, each of the men shared a word of encouragement to the gathered believers. I will let the pictures tell more of their stories.
On the third day in the Metu Mountains, they met at the Gbari/Arapi to gather with the two other churches in the area (Duku and Oyo). Garrett, from what Jacob told me, preached a wonderful message and with a special emphasis on baptism–for the 22 people who were prepared for baptism and would receive that ordinance and confirmation of their willing, confessed faith afterward in the stream in the valley. Pastor Tobious had told us earlier that he would have someone go down to the stream to scare away the pythons and other snakes that take refuge in or near the water during the hottest part of the day…yikes! Thankfully, the baptisms happened without a hitch–or a hiss!
On Monday–EARLY–we all headed to Yumbe and then on to Lodenga. Yumbe is home to the Aringa tribe who are primarily Muslim. According to the Joshua Project the Aringa are 1.9% Christian. We have described previously the challenges the believers in Yumbe have faced, and particularly in Lodenga where threats were made that the church would be destroyed and their land usurped. Since we first visited Lodenga, the oppression has heightened but so has the show of support from other churches. RAU has now had several trainings there. Our brothers from Mississippi spent about 3 hours teaching from Greg Gilbert’s “What is the Gospel?“. Many resources were handed out–numerous books and an Africa Study Bible (ASB).
Afterward, a meal was shared together.
From the expansive mango tree, shade cover at the Lodenga church property, we proceeded over rugged roads and terrain to Aniti, a small village where Market Day was taking place. Permission was received by the Local Councilman 1 (LCI) for our group to join the market place for one on one conversations about Christ, handing out dual-language tracts (Aringa/English), to explain and proclaim the Gospel and then to show the Jesus Film in Aringa. There were many who joined us from the various churches and sang joyfully with dance. The audience for the Jesus film was large–and probably larger than we could fully see due to darkness. Because of the anticipated late finish of this time of ministry, we had made reservations at a hotel in Yumbe town, and we arrived there at around 11:15 pm. From some reports, there were a few who professed faith in Christ.
We found out later that there were several Muslims who had joined the teaching time earlier, seeking to scope out the message and activities. They went away with Christian literature and, sometime later, others came back requesting a Bible also. One Muslim woman was present who showed an interest but was chased away by her husband. However, she joined the group at the Market place. When she returned home, her husband “turned her over to her relatives” in protest of her interest in the Christian faith. Another woman put her faith in Jesus Christ and is now seeking counsel as to whether or not she should leave her husband. These are very real, painful and complex issues. Women, especially, have great interest in Jesus but fear reprisals from their families and community.
On Tuesday, after a good breakfast, we went to Charles’ home where we received from him interesting historical information about the Aringa tribe (of which he is a member), about his ministry in the area, and his experiences in working in an environment that is potentially and strongly opposed to the growth of the Christian church in the area. It was jab to our consciences to hear him talk about his trust in God’s sovereignty over his life–whether that signifies ultimate suffering or ongoing struggles. It reminded me of this quote by Henry Martyn: “I am immortal until God’s work for me to do is done.”
Wednesday was “debrief” day which ended with a nice meal together at a local restaurant. We remained on RAU campus and spent the morning sharing our thoughts and experiences of the time together. Jacob and I were immensely blessed by this “band of brothers“, their love for the Lord, for people and for the message of the Gospel to reconcile people to God through Jesus Christ. Their words of encouragement buoyed us greatly. We loved their commitment to not allowing apathy to stifle the spiritual energy and vision that was generated during their visit. Jacob and I pray that their goal of kindling a fire for a “more far-reaching vision and participation in the Great Commission” will not be a pipe dream but a fleshed-out reality when they return to their homes and churches.
We sent the team off early on Thursday morning as they needed to reach Entebbe with enough time to do a small bit of shopping for their families, get a meal and some rest, and make it to the airport for the flight home. All are now safely back in Mississippi.
Following quickly after the departure of our friends, on Friday we received Wayne and Nancy Reigel who came to stay with us on the RAU campus for a month–to encourage us and to participate in the many things which are happening here. Wayne and Nancy have been traveling to South Sudan and Uganda for many years now on STM trips and, providentially, we met them at the Arua airport a number of years ago and have become dear friends. Their love for the Lord and the peoples of this region runs deep. Already they have plunged into RAU daily life, learning grafting of mangoes and sitting in on interesting conversations such as the following.
Yesterday, we met with a young woman who has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth in her right eye. Peter, a teacher in a school nearby, is a believer who is advocating for her. We met to discuss her case, provide some money which was given specifically for her and to strategize on how to inspire community involvement and help. Such surgeries and treatments are expensive, partially because the patient and family member must travel far to a hospital where appropriate care can be found and sustain themselves while there. We emphasized urgency due to the diagnosis (to minimize encroaching damage to surrounding tissue). Please be in prayer for “Christine” as they seek to raise the remainder of funds needed and pray for healing with minimal complications.
Since Jacob’s last post, we have some good news concerning our fundraising efforts for the Africa Study Bible (ASB). Jacob had written that we still needed $18,247.19. BUT! during the writing of this newsletter, we received word from our USA office that $11,800 had come in. This leaves us with only a remaining $6,447.19!!!! Praise the Lord. And thank you, to those who are cheerfully generous in your giving (2 Corinthians 9: 6-10).
We are pleased to see signs of Rainy Season chasing away the dryness and heat and dust. Soon, it will be time for planting (for the community and RAU demo farm) and then harvesting mangoes will follow. We already have people vying for the mangoes, even before they are fully developed. It is a testament to the surrounding communities that there is, indeed, a good market for grafted mangoes and that it is a viable Ag investment. That is our sincere hope–that many would latch on to this vision for their own empowerment and for a wider community benefit.
Though there is a natural season for fruit, in Kingdom life and Gospel work the key is to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). There is no downtime. No lollygagging. It’s always the right time to plow, prepare, sow, water, weed and harvest in God’s field. We anticipate this as we meet with those who come unexpectedly or look at the many upcoming events on our calendar: March/April discipleship training in Yumbe District and the Hill Country Fellowship Team, the Rocky Point Baptist Team and the Forest Hill Presbyterian Team–in April, May and June!!
Jesus’ last words were about an expanding horizon of grace to the nations and reconciliation to God through His redeeming work as recorded in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” May Christ’s vision be expanded in us, breaking us free from our encapsulated thinking and desires–whether we are at home or missionaries abroad!
There is nothing so brilliant as a star sparkling in a dark sky; the facets of a diamond are accentuated on the backdrop of a black velvet cloth; and the grace and beauty of Christ shine most brilliantly in a dark, sin-filled world. Jesus is the True Light who came into our dark world and dwelt among us. There is no darkness that can defeat His light (John 1). Is there any better response than that of the Wise Men or the shepherds who “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2: 10) or investigated “this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known” (Luke 2:15)? Second only to seeing it for ourselves is helping others to see it, too!
That was the blessing that Jacob, Pastor Henry, Tiondi and I had in Yumbe over the weekend along with our friend and co-worker, Onduga Charles– to encourage and equip the believers who are making every effort to shine like stars in the universe as they hold fast to the word of life “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation“(Philippians 2:15) , and to earnestly plead, “come and see,” among those who have yet to be delivered “from the domain of darkness and transferred…to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14)
On Saturday, we spent the day with the youth and congregants from the Zinzo church (Church of Uganda), and, through several facilitators, taught and exhorted them to know and understand and believe the Gospel more fervently for themselves, to trust that, through the Gospel (good news), God is mightily at work to save people out of darkness, and the Word is God is living and active and more powerful than any other source of information.
It’s a good thing we weren’t on the 3rd floor like Paul and no open windows! : )
Jacob taught on “One God, One Mediator“, who is Christ Jesus, helping the listeners to be more sure and grounded in what the Gospel is and what it accomplishes in our lives. I also taught on the “The Gospel that Saves Us and Keeps Us“: what it is and how it is fleshed out, bearing fruit in our lives that brings glory to God and speaks loudly to those who have yet to believe. Brother Jackson, who taught directly in Aringa, spoke about the differences between the Qur’an and the Bible and how knowing the power of God’s word can help embolden people in their witness to Muslim neighbors.
Jacob explaining “propitiation“–Jesus absorbing God’s wrath on our behalf!
In the evening, we transported the sound equipment to a local market place in Wolo where we hoped to draw a crowd and then announce to them some really great news: how they can be made clean before a Holy God–apart from “good deeds” which can never be enough to wipe out our bad record. I did my favorite thing, which was to mingle among the women, greet them in Aringa and use the little of the language I know to make a loving connection with them and hopefully break down barriers. The youth and other believers did what they love–singing Gospel songs and dancing with unbelievable energy. That is also a common language–everyone loves to dance; it was fun to be in the crowd engaging AND dancing with everyone. Jacob and Charles did what they love the most–preaching from on top of the Land Cruiser. Jacob’s message (with Charles interpreting in his passionate and animated way) was from John 10 where Jesus declares He is the Door! He preached from notes pasted on to his Bible–until the light became night and then he preached from his memory and heart! while Jacob was preaching, there were many from the team who were interceding. Our deepest prayer is that “eyes and hearts were opened” to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Back to Zinzo Church; setting up the screen for the Jesus Film (notice the supervisory role)
Once again, we packed things up and headed back to the Zinzo Church where (after much struggle) we were able to set up the screen and projector for the “Jesus film“. It was a part of the ALL NIGHT youth conference and their hope that Muslim neighbors in the area would be drawn to see and hear the story of Jesus Christ portrayed in the movie–to have their hearts opened to believe what they saw and heard.
We arrived back at our hotel at around 1:30 a.m. Exhausted! Dusty! Hungry! Thankfully, the hotel still had staff on hand to cook a small snack for us. The next morning, I awoke with a little bit of panic. It was already 7:30 a.m. and we were supposed to be ready by 8 a.m. to go to our next destination, Lodenga, for Sunday prayers!! That is one of the few times that I woke up earlier than Jacob–needless to say, he was worn to a frazzle. We hurried to get dressed and eat breakfast–which we would not have had to do as our hosts served us a “Hobbit’s Second Breakfast“.
At Lodenga we were given the privilege of hearing the story of the church’s beginnings and how difficult it has been for them (in the past and present) to stand firm in their faith amidst opposition, persecution, and the strategies of members of the Islamic faith to aggressively take over schools and churches in that region. It burgeoned great respect in our hearts for these faithful people. As with every church we have visited in Yumbe District, the older generation fears for the faith of the younger one as there is an active tactic to undermine the faith of the youth and convert them to the Islamic religion through earthly means, whether it be with money or marriage to their sons or other such drawing cards. The struggles are real and the desperation of the current believers is palpable. Their cry is for others to come along side of them and to “strengthen what remains“.
While Christians persevere in their efforts, Muslims from Arabia and Pakistan and other Islamic countries are pouring money into the region, building Mosques, supporting Muslim businesses, and paying bride prices for Christian girls to be married into Muslim families. Christians, already outnumbered, are under great pressure to rise to this challenge. “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.” At times, we can doubt the power of Jesus’ light. The darkness seems oppressive and overpowering. BUT GOD! is at work and we are convinced that His light will reach to every ordained corner of the world.
Lord!! Let the light of Your love shine brightly in these dark corners of the world. Fill your people with the light of your truth and grace. Let Your light overcome the darkness. Open eyes, open hearts so that those held captive by lies (that we can come into Your presence without a Mediator) may see your grace and beauty and believe in You and believe in what You have done for them.
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1: 9-17
“O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.“
“O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace.”
Jacob and I wish you a very blessed Christmas celebration with Jesus Christ, Himself, at the very center of it all! He is the Light of the World and through Him–by His light–WE are the light of the world. May our lives, individually and corporately, reflect the light of the Son so that darkness will be dispelled.
Would you please pray about and consider partnering with RAU financially so that we can continue to be an answer to Jesus’ appeal to “pray for the Lord of the Harvest to thrust forth laborers”? As Jacob says often, day time is here when we must work and a time is coming when no one will be able to do the work of sowing, weeding and harvesting. WORK WITH US in this eternally consequential present moment! Thank you so much to those of you who are already doing so. As the Body of Christ we are interconnected in physical and spiritual ways. We will only see the work God has done in and through us in the ages to come!
“It is our conviction that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16) and we have been entrusted to proclaim it passionately and rightly. Our dependence is upon the Holy Spirit for the power to preach, teach, live and endure all things for the sake of the elect. (1 Timothy 2:10). As Christians, we are called to lay down our lives so that the Gospel will be preached to all. As ones who are confident in God’s sovereignty and passionate for His glory we seek to reach the many that have never heard of the Savior and His work of reconciliation. We understand that this work cannot be accomplished in our own strength but only through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The means He uses in His people are cross-centered living, sacrificial and loving service, Bible-soaked preaching/teaching, fervent intercessory prayer, and Christ-likeness.” (From Reaching Africa’s Unreached Mission & Vision Statement)
Checks also may be written out to “RAU” and sent to our secretary Beth and she will deposit them into RAU’s account : Lifegate-RAU, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin, TX. 78155
Reaching Africa's Unreached 