I love Uganda and I love visiting the Source of the Nile River every
time I visit. There is something special about a simple, yet obscure,
water source that has given life to millions of people down stream for
thousands of years. Every time I visit the Source of the Nile River, I’m
reminded of the simple and obscure source of life found under the cover
of the Bible, that has given spiritual life to millions for thousands
of years as well. So I find it so very interesting that the ministry
that the Lord has called me to here in Uganda would represent and link
both the “water” with the “Word”!
On Tuesday, May 6th, after the team had departed back home, I had the
privilege of teaching at a pastor’s conference at which over 600 pastors
and church leaders attended. I shared the vision and path of the role
of Pastor Teacher found in Ephesians 4:11-15. The following day,
Wednesday, May 7th I taught at a marriage conference for over 500 people
where I shared the vision and path of marriage and the roles of
husbands and wives found in Ephesians 5:22-33. That evening, while
resting in preparation for traveling to east Uganda to teach at similar
conferences, the Lord brought clarity to my calling. Out of nowhere the
Spirit led me to 1 Corinthians 3:5-7:
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed,
as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave
the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but
only God who gives the growth.”
Those three simple verses set the direction and confirmed the work that
the Lord had for me, to bring the living water of the Word of God to the
pastors of the churches in Uganda. The churches associated with True
Vine Ministries and the National Association of Evangelical Born-again
Churches are planting the seeds of the Gospel throughout Uganda, but
they need water. The church pastors, many of whom are faithful labors
have no bible training or education. Their faith in Christ is contagious
and the seeds of the Gospel are being planted with great success, but
they cannot raise up enough qualified church leaders to equip, build up
and mature the new Christians. They are doing the work of Paul and
planting, and I felt called to begin the work of Apollos through
watering with the Word. Together, with God’s power and grace, the new
Ugandan Christians will be equipped for ministry, built up in unity of
the faith and knowledge of the Son of God and fully mature in the image
of Christ Jesus! Could you imagine what a spiritually mature church in
Uganda could do for the Great Commission in Africa?
So how can you help? Right now we are currently working with True Vine
to finish the construction of their church in Mukono. The vision of this
church is to be a place of training to equipping pastors for their work
of ministry and a hub for discipleship training for the body of Christ.
The church plans include a pastoral library and resource center with a
training room for Bible study and instruction. Please continue to pray
for the church for the purpose of being an equipping
and sending church for the region and ultimately the nation of Uganda
and beyond. In addition to prayer, we will need funds to
complete the pastoral library and resource center. Stay tuned for more updates on the funds
needed to complete this project and together, with your prayers and
support, we can be united with Apollos in watering the church in Uganda!
Blessings in Christ Jesus!
John
