February 2002
Trip Report: Uganda 20 January – 13 February 2002
2 Chronicles 15.7 was amongst my devotional reading this morning:
“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
It seemed an appropriate Scripture with which to open this Report. Some years ago there was a particularly good year for damsons. The branches were loaded and the fruit simply fell off in one’s hands. It was even lying, going to waste, on the ground. Such a crop was because that year the weather conditions were perfect at blossom time, and subsequently. The same must be said for this trip. The conditions in advance had been perfect, so it seemed to be a real harvest time.
Sound equipment: suitable additions purchased to produce a very clear and far-reaching voice sound. Still required to complete for our purposes: preamp/mixer, and replacement generator. Available in Kampala. Cost £619 for the lot. Then the music will sound as good as the voice, and reach the distances we cover.
Travel: a committed driver/mechanic, with us now for the third trip. So committed to this ministry that he even contributes financially over the preceding months so that there is credit at the garage for fuel. All vehicles in good state of service and maintenance. Two tyre bursts and one clutch failure. Spares on board. No problems. One near accident as we were being towed with the ignition keys out and therefore no steering or brakes! The name of Jesus is very powerful (especially when yelled pretty loud in unison by an outreach team hurtling towards a roadside bank!)
Apac Seminars and crusade: good attendance, some even having come long distances as they heard we were there. Power of Jesus Around the World churches working with Victory Outreach Ministries – had to be good! It was. Outstanding release of the prophetic on second day at Seminar.
Seminar for pastors and leaders Teaching
Crusade: people coming forward for salvation before even I preached! One was the wife of the Headmaster in whose grounds we were holding the event.
Headmaster’s wife,1st convert in Akali Pastor with new bike Peter and Milton
Good church left behind with core of 50 or so new believers and under a trained and experienced pastor. Will definitely grow well, that one. Greatest numbers of demonic deliverances I have ever experienced in one place at one time. Thank God for a team who know what they’re doing and get on and do it.
Film: “Jesus”, in the local language. Without any doubt there was 100% attendance from the whole area. Nothing like this has ever been seen or done there. Big screen 3.5m square, crystal clear picture and sound through data projector. Wonderful! More receiving salvation after the film. Local death with burial on first day; potentially a big distraction, but turned into good.
Living Waters Christian Fellowship of Churches – Convention. Well, this is Africa, so the plan went out of the window and it became a Seminar for church leaders as many had come, followed by crusade, as the whole place turned out to see what was going on. I was the first white person ever to reach this place. Notebook simply says: “Awesome!” It was, and a new church has been planted there, with 92 new believers still arriving 3 Sundays later. This is just the beginning. More coming forward for salvation before even I preached. Moslem found forgiveness of sin and Jesus as Saviour. Death of local person.
A Moslem receives salvation A Living Waters Christian Fellowship rural church building
Living Waters Christian Fellowship of Churches – rural church visits. Well, this is Africa, so the plan went out of the window and it became a Seminar for church leaders as many had come, followed by crusade, as the whole place turned out to see what was going on. No, this is not a mistake with the word processor, I wrote that again on purpose! Notebook says: “A plundering trip!” New church planted in another area as so many had come from there, got saved and had nowhere to meet and fellowship. So that’s 3 new churches so far this trip. Am I scalp-hunting? Yup! I want to see the Kingdom of God in my generation. 46 new believers the following Sunday.
Power of Jesus Around the World Churches - Annual Convention: brilliant turnout, especially as it cost the Kampala team £200 to get there. Slow start as new authorities wanted documents we had mistakenly left behind in Lira. Much prayer and persuasion. Success! No, no incentives – we’re Christians! (Tempted, though!) First signs of struggle – these guys can save souls, heal bodies and cast out demons like no-one else I’ve ever met, but they can’t book a room in a lodge or get a generator that works! Notebook says: “Hopeless! Is this worth the investment?” I’m beginning to get tired, I can see! Anyway, all turned out great, and the standard of performance for the Cup was even better than last time.
Publicity for the Convention One of the participating teams for the Convention Cup
Power of Jesus Around the World Churches – rural church visits: not planned well, everybody thought their’s was the rural church! Oops! – I chickened out and said Milton co-ordinated all my affairs in Uganda. In fact, went to Apac town, the centre of the District, to meet the recently-converted Mayor, his recently-converted household, and most of the recently-converted local government officials, starting with the Chairperson (= Chief Executive). Were a red carpet to exist in such a place, it would have been down! Great challenge to Power of Jesus Around the World, as they are historically working amongst the very poor and rural, but now have a church of people in high places in the town at the heart of the District. Addressed many church leaders from different groupings. This was the place I visited in 1994 when I first went. Several could tell me exactly what I taught and preached on then. Good job I don’t repeat!
Power of Jesus Around the World Churches – Leaders Conference: lovely to be alone together again. Quite a long haul for them to manage a crusade and seminars, a Convention, and now a Leaders Conference. But they managed. Gave me a sheep (second one this trip). Used to be given goats. Is this a sign? Puncture on the way there, clutch went on the way back. Vehicle getting about as tired as us I think.
Kibimba Churches Leaders Conference: arrived eventually having travelled all day and whisked straight into the meeting where they had been expecting us in the morning. What we have here is a failure to communicate! Spent night with mosquitoes, but foiled them this time with new anti-malarial tablets – very expensive (£99 for 33) but very effective as prevention and cure. Neighbour died in the night. Great day’s teaching and revival service – these people really are trying to love each other and co-operate together for the land. Original church from previous crusade in 1997 (?) doing well, now in brick building with corrugated iron roof and treble the size. Church member died in the morning.
Transformations: it’ll never be made into a video, but wherever we’ve been in the past, when we return people tell us of how the whole area has changed since. Two whole regions have been granted Sub-county or District status by the Government, which is of supreme importance to them as it means they can begin to take responsibility for their own affairs locally. In other places I notice tremendous investment being made, creating job opportunities and all that that signifies. Where we once held a crusade, a dry, barren bit of land just outside the town there is now a very fertile rice field and an enormous factory up and running creating great prosperity in the area. I remember clearly blessing the place on the last day of the crusade. An excellent tarmac road (a sight most rare) has been put through there. Others testify of smaller but nevertheless vital changes in their homes – one man told me that his family had always been plagued by malaria and he had lost many family members through it, but that since we visited (that was when I went with my wife and family in 2000) there had been not a single outbreak of malaria there, and he attributed it to the blessing I prayed. And so we could go on.
Appreciation: from all of the Ugandan team, and myself, to all of you who have taken the time to read this simple Report, and to give your time in prayer, and maybe your finance to support, get me there, get us about, house us, and feed us, give bicycles to pastors, or Bibles to students, or school fees for orphans, or whatever – many thanks! In as much as you did unto to one of these the least … and you know the rest. God bless you!
* * * * * * * * * * * *