Just over two months ago we started our
new preaching point in Namabwa. It was an exciting first day with almost 30
people in attendance, (even though about 10 of them were my family and others
from the Mbale church.) Preaching in Luganda has also been a great achievement. I’m still struggling with understanding
people at times when they talk, but I can preach a sermon from which the
outline has been prepared ahead of time.
People tell me that they are understanding the sermons! It is good to finally start seeing this
language study starting to be put to use in this way!
From the first meeting we started having weekly soul winning there. Our initial purpose was just to make our presence known. Most of the visitors we have had are from one of the two nearby Pentacostal/Charismatic churches. As I have had opportunity to speak with some of them I found that neither of those churches are preaching the gospel. (It is very sad to me to see a person sit through a sermon, “amen” everything you say, but when you talk to him you find that he still does not even understand salvation. The work here really requires much one-on-one explanation.)
I believe this preaching point is another
step in the Lord’s plan to prepare us for going out on our own some day. The first lesson that we are learning is that
Satan is going to attack right from the start.
In our case it has come in the form of unfaithfulness and an apathetic
attitude from many in Jonathan’s family, who are our core group. It also did not take long for the excitement
of a new preaching point to wear off as the few visitors that we had have not
been with us for a few weeks. We have settled
to an average of 5-10 people every week.
I have to admit, this is discouraging, but I think God is showing us the
reality of starting a church. IT TAKES
WORK! So we’re pushing forward in
visiting the neighbors every week, and praying that God will give fruit for our
efforts. For now though, language study
still consumes the majority of my time, so I have to keep this work on a short
leash at least until the end of the year.
So pray for not only me with the
language, but also for Sheri and the kids as she has started teaching them Luganda. Also pray
for God to add to the group that is meeting every week at the Namabwa preaching point.
God has given me the joy of discipling a
young man named Kenedy. I witnessed to Kenedy
over two years ago, but he did not get saved.
However, God continued to use His Word in Kenedy’s
heart, and in December, 2006, when talking to a relative, Ken trusted Christ. After being in
Sheri has had the opportunity to disciple
one of our neighbors, a young lady named Brenda who got saved last year. This girl and her sister have both been very
faithful in coming to church ever since their salvation, even though their
parents are not interested in coming. Brenda
just got a secretarial job in a town about 45 minutes away, but she comes home
every weekend which gives Sheri an opportunity to continue discipling her. Be
praying for her to be faithful to this every week, and pray for both Brenda and
Kenedy for their continued faithfullness
in church.
P.O. Box 2035,
phone: 011256782693621