MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 04-04-2005

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Howdy, folks! We're back in town again. We just finished a missions conference in Ash Street Baptist Church (Pastor Jerry Pyle) in Nevada, MO. They've got a problem, the best of problems – they're outgrowing their building. Be in prayer for them as they seek other property elsewhere in town where then can build a larger building. Bro. Hathcock from Tulsa Baptist Temple preached, and did superbly. He preached a message from 2 Corinthians 5 on the Great Commission, how we are ambassadors for Christ. The phrase that stood out the most to me was in verse 20 "as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Ours is a ministry of reconciliation. We beseech the world in Christ's stead: be ye reconciled. There is no greater calling, and no greater privilege, than that God should include us in His great ministry of reconciliation. The church loves the LORD, as does their pastor, and it is evident to witness. It was very refreshing to be there. We had some good fellowship with Jason and Sarah Knabb, missionaries on their way to Vera Cruz, Mexico. They were just regular folks like us, trying to do God's will and get to the field, and it was a pleasure getting to know them. Pray for Larry, a thirteen year old young man who got saved while Jason and I were out soulwinning on Saturday. Also be in prayer for Curtis and Pat Hollingsworth, and older couple who were under great conviction as we witnessed to them, but were unwilling to be saved.

Be praying. Pastor Aaron Rodgerson from one of our supporting churches (Southside Baptist in Kirksville, MO) may have located a potential van for us. It's a '99 Ford E350, with a V10 engine, and 78,000 miles. It appears to be in great shape. The owner is asking $10,500, but would probably come down in price to at least $9,000. Needless to say, we don't have even $9,000 dollars, and no way to get it, apart from maybe selling a kidney on EBay. 😉 We've been praying for God's provision, and have not seen an answer as yet. We are continuing to pray for His provision in this so we can get this van, which we desperately need to get our growing family around in on deputation. Pray with us on this if you would, as this would be a tremendous vehicle if we could scrounge the money to purchase it.

We'll be in Kyle Guimon's parents' church in Walnut Ridge, AR on Sunday. Looking forward to visiting with them, and their church. Hope the weather is as pretty for y'all as it is for us here in St. Louis. Spring at last!!

"Nuff said…

He is Risen!

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He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter everybody!

"Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen…" Luke 24:1-6

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-21-2005

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Greetings, once again! We're back in town again for Easter, and have a missions conference in Ash Street Baptist Church (Pastor Jerry Pyle) in Nevada, MO the week after that. Our meeting last night in Prairie Flower Baptist Church (Pastor Dave Ernst) in Webb City, MO went well. It was good to get back at it after being out for a bit with the Church Planting Conference, and the unexpected reschedule the week before. I preached and showed our slides, and God blessed us. They put us up in a hotel for the night, which was a real blessing. I hate travelling late at night if I can avoid it, especially when I'm tired. The kids were real excited about getting to stay in a "he-toh". They slept like logs, but for some reason, neither Anna nor I could sleep. Most of the night, as I drifted in and out of semi-consciousness, I found I had the B-I-B-L-E song from a Patch the Pirate Sunday School Singalong CD stuck in my head. Oi. We drove back this morning without incident, and fed our "starving" children, and got the lot of the weary young'uns off to bed. That's about it. Pray for us as we keep lining up meetings, driving to 'em, and continuing on our way to Uganda. Pray that the support will come in quickly so we can get to the field.

God bless, and Happy Easter (He is risen, indeed!)

More Great News!

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My son, John, just got saved! It's been a few days. He wasn't sure about Jesus dying for him. He understood he was a sinner, and he understood Jesus died for others, but it wasn't clicking that He died for him personally. We went over it again tonight during Bible reading, and he kept telling us he wanted to be saved. So, I used the wordless book to give him the gospel, and he got it! "Jesus died for me!", he said. But Jesus didn't stay dead. He is risen, and is in heaven. He understood, so we prayed, and he asked Jesus to save him, and to clean him all up (his words). My son is a believer. It is so much easier to train a regenerate child, than an unregenerate one. It's made all the difference with James. John has been struggling with his conscience the past few days. Now, he has a new nature, and a clean conscience. James was so excited. He's been very worried for John, but now his brother is born again! Of all the people in the world, the millions who are lost and on their way to Hell, I have always cared for my children the most. It is a great relief of mind to see them get saved, and in their youth. Pray for James and John, as they grow in Christ together.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-17-2005

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Hello, once again. We've just finished up our church's Church Planting Conference. Bro. Loren Steven and Bro. James Beller (Arnold Baptist Tabernacle) were the main speakers, with testimonies from Ed Bragg (Lafayette Bible Baptist), William Gillespie (Maranatha Baptist Church) and Don Ploesser. It was a real encouragement to me, to hear what these other men have done, to be challenged spiritually, and to get some practical advice on church planting, which I will be doing myself in Uganda. Several pastors from the Missouri and Illinois area were in attendance. It's good to see how God is working in churches all over the place, and to know that more churches are being birthed to replace the dearth of churches in America. As always, it's up to the pesky Baptists to do the real work of the New Testament church, and to hold the line against liberal philosophy and apostasy in our culture. We, the downtrodden, scorned, and maligned, are, in fact, God's agents in this world to preach the gospel and to occupy until the LORD returns. Seriously, if it weren't for Baptists, there'd be no Biblical churches anywhere, but we'd be like Europe, apostate, cold, and pertaining to the Gospel and sound doctrine, all too silent. I'm looking forward to starting churches of my own in Uganda, and to see faithful men trained to lead them, and then to help them birth churches also, and train their own leadership, and in so doing, ensure that the Great Commission will be fulfilled, and endure, no matter what, in Uganda. This little nation could conceivably become the epicenter for a Great Awakening on the African continent, that would sweep out from Uganda in ever-expanding circles until all have heard. We can save Africa from Communism, and Islam, and from Animism, in a few generations, by aggressively planting churches, training faithful men, and by training them to do likewise. If the LORD tarries, it could happen. I know it's my heart's desire, and that of every missionary already in Uganda. Tho' it may seem like there's an awful lot of missionaries either in Uganda, or heading there, there are definite reasons why God is calling so many to Uganda, and why, in reaching Uganda, we may in time reaching the whole of Africa.

Pray for us, folks, and for all our missionaries on the field and elsewhere who are privileged to be called of God to Uganda.