Pastors Conference and World Food Program Headquarters

This morning a few of us had the privilege of speaking at the monthly pastor’s conference held here at Gulu Bible Church.  More than thirty-five pastors gather each month for teaching and training and we were honored when they asked us to come along side them. 

The morning started with two VOHA team members teaching the a method called Homiletics.  This is a specific way of studying the Bible in order to apply what God’s word to their own lives and the lives of others.  Collectively the group looked at John 14:5-14.  This passage is about Thomas as he seeks to understand whom Jesus is and what he has come to do.  By the end of the session the pastors had prepared a full message (or sermon) to share with their flock!  Our prayer is that they will continue to practice this strategy in order to build strong teachings for their church bodies. 

The second session was another blessing for the group as a third team member spoke on hearing and responding to God’s call on your life.  Starting with Moses, she showed the pastors man after man who was called to serve God.  Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul were added to the list and she did an amazing job explaining how each of these men lacked something and faced their own set of personal challenges but God called them and equipped them anyway.  It was because of their obedience that many came to know the Lord.  This session led to several of the pastors sharing their personal testimonies of coming to Jesus Christ. 

One man shared how his life was spared during the war.  He had been abducted as a young man (maybe even still a child) to be a soldier in the war.  He was forced to walk for months with little food, water and no shoes on his feet.  One day he came to a large river.  Unable to swim he was forced in.  It was at this point he cried out to God saying, “God, it will be only because of your mercy that I will pass through this water and live.”  Before he knew it, a hand was reaching to pull him out from the other side.  Not long after, he developed horrible sores on his bare feet and could walk no further.  Useless to the military forces, they bound his hands and prepared to take his life.  Again he cried out to God, “I want to serve and follow you but I know at this moment I will surely die.”  Suddenly the forces were called and commanded to leave. They untied his hands and left him behind.  It was there in the village this man gave his life to Jesus and now serves as a pastor at his church. 

It struck me how story after story involved extreme personal adversity, hardship, loss and suffering and still these people came to the Lord.  In fact they came joyfully and never looked back.  As each person shared, there were radiant smiles on all of their faces.  The love of Jesus poured forth from their hearts as they thanked God for bringing them to the Lord. 

All of us who know the Lord can share our own personal salvation story.  We may not have dramatic details of suffering or despair but each of us who have been called can recall a time when Jesus came in to our lives and made us new.  Do you have a story?  Have you allowed God to create the details of how you came to know and now worship Him?  If not, stop for just a moment.  Close your eyes and bow your head.  Just like this man who was spared his physical life and came to new spiritual life in Christ, you too can ask for the same.  From your heart pray, “Lord Jesus I trust you.  Just like this man in Uganda, I want to know you and serve you with all my heart.  I believe you are the Son of God and died for my sins.  I believe you love me and long to be my Lord and Savior.  Come in to my life and make me a new person on the inside.  Thank you for loving me and saving me this very day.  In your name, Amen.” 

If you prayed this for the first time please share with someone so they can rejoice and support you in your new commitment.  And praise be to God!  This morning we shared with the pastors that the Bible is living and active but if we do not read and apply it to our lives then it’s just a book that sits on the shelf.  Sharing your decision to follow Christ allows others to come along side you and celebrate.  Knowing Christ means knowing God and being able to better understand his word (The Bible).  Knowing Christ means having eternal life.  It means you are now a brother or sister in the Lord with each and every believer here in Uganda and around the world.

The morning with the pastoral team was a blessing to each and every one of us. The privilege of sharing in God’s word and hearing how he has changed the lives of so many here in Gulu was the greatest gift we could have received. 

As if that wasn’t enough to fill our hearts for the day we were given the opportunity to spend yet another afternoon with District Chairman Mapenduzi at World Food Program Headquarters.  God has shown his favor yet again in another area of ministry.  Through a course of orchestrated events Villages of Hope Africa has been given unlimited access to a massive tractor.  This new piece of equipment will be used to plow fields in order to support farming and the production of beans.  Villages are unable to reach their full potential in agricultural production because they lack resources needed to create, produce and sell their crops.  Generally their gardens are created and maintained all by hand.  Opening any more than two acres is nearly impossible with just a pickaxe and a hoe.  Through WFP (World Food Program) and the local government, Villages of Hope Africa will use the tractor to assist the people in land clearing for crop production.   Further, WFP will allow villages working with VOHA to make and store grain at the factory in Gulu. 

We were able to tour the facility today and not only is it a well organized entity but they are extremely excited about furthering their partnership with the Mann’s.   The afternoon was another perfect example of the work God is doing here in Gulu through VOHA.  The Mann’s have a vision to empower these people and give them the resources needed to be self-sufficient.  The people are not given handouts but rather required to do all the prep work that goes in to building wells, plowing fields and maintaining crops.

We are in awe of the doors God has opened in the short time spent here in Gulu.  He has allowed the team to take part in visionary meetings, meet with government officials and teach at a pastoral conference.  I can’t speak for the team but this trip has far exceeded any thought, hope or expectation I personally may have had.  But that’s how God works, isn’t it?  We show up with open hearts and he does the rest.  What an amazing God we serve. 

Check out our pics from today: