Review: Uganda Man

Gerald pastors a small church on borrowed land in southwestern Uganda. His community is full of sickness and drought. This man of God must overcome demonic opposition, poverty, and girl problems to bring clean water to the people of his village. Uganda Man tells the story of Gerald’s inspiring journey from a doubted boy to a respected man of faith who shares the gospel of Christ with all he meets.

So, I obviously loved this DVD! It's about the partnering of a church in America with Ps Gerald's church in Uganda to provide them with finances to build a well. It chronicles the lives of several people in the community, showing the difference that the well and having a thriving church there made.

You can buy Uganda Man here.

Nate Saint

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."
– Nate Saint, missionary martyr

Hope Oceania Blog

Mission trip to Liberia (Africa)
It was mostly a smooth journey with a couple of perhaps ‘usual-mission-trip-incidences’ that challenged and built our faith along the way. This including being surprised by an apparently void air ticket when we reached the airport counter; and our luggage did not quite make it to Liberia with us. So we had the opportunity to experience living on what felt like bare minimum for four days, and develop a deeper appreciation for how blessed we really are!
Check out the whole post here!

Vietnam Prayer Points

• The main religion of Vietnam is Buddhism, with a little over half the country being adherents

• However, the biggest spiritual belief in Vietnam is the veneration / worship of ancestors. Pray that the Christians will be able to think Biblically on this issue, and that those who face opposition will stand firm. Pray that those who are seeking God will not be stumbled by this issue

• While the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, this is greatly reduced by a vast Bureau of Religious Affairs and other agencies

• One of the biggest issues is that local authorities in the Northwest have been given the mandate to compel Christians to recant their faith.

• Many churches find registration with authorities difficult, however unregistered churches are considered illegal and are subject to harassment. Registration is difficult for some denominations, and often requires compromise to meet state regulations.

• Registered churches find it difficult to buy, rent or build places of worship. Unregistered churches often struggle to find places suitable for their congregations. Church premises have been seized by the government, making even churches with premises uncertain about how

• Ethnic minority churches suffer extreme persecution – meetings are illegal, and have been broken up, and Christians killed. They are also much less likely to have the Scriptures in their language

• Leader development and theological training is vital, especially as many pastors are responsible for multiple congregations. Training is restricted, rare, and can be of low quality, meaning that pastors can be missing essential theological doctrine

• All open Protestant mission work is illegal, and has been since 1975. Pray that those who are tentmakers (primarily in business or as English language teachers)will be able to successfully impact those they work with

• Vietnamese who have converted overseas are returning to their homeland – pray that they are able to successfully impact the lost

• While some groups have been reached with the gospel, others are yet to hear it, or have had very limited access to the gospel. Pray for:
o The Northern Vietnamese
o The Muslim Cham and Buddhist Khmer
o The Cao Dai and Hoa Hao religionists
o Communist party members

• Bible translation is an issue – there are at least 37 languages with a definite need to have the Bible translated into that tongue

• Pray for the success of media such as the JESUS film and Christian radio programs

• Drug addiction, prostitution, AIDS, and child abuse are all rising social problems.

Ways You Can Help
• Write to Vietnam’s representatives in the UN regarding the restrictions on religious freedom
• Write to Vietnam’s Christian prisoners of conscience. Information can be found on the VOM website (www.persecution.com.au)
• Donate to Bibles+ (a Voice Of the Martyrs program)

Fundraising Prayers Answered

Those of you who read here will probably be aware that I am planning on going to Uganda in order to do missions there - particularly with children who have been affected by the HIV crisis. I went on a mission trip with COME Uganda last year in November, and this year, in June, I am going to visit Bushikori, where I have 3 sponsor children. I am really excited in general, but especially about meeting them!

Unfortunately, travelling to Africa is not exactly cheap. My church is mostly made up of international students, but they were pretty appalled by the cost, because it's a LOT more than it costs them to travel back to Singapore or Malaysia etc. With this being my second trip, money was beginning to get a bit tighter, especially as I am hoping to go again in November before looking to move there next in 2013 or 2014. While I work, I was beginning to be concerned about the costs involved, especially as I am also studying this year. I hoped that fundraising would cover enough for me to go on the November trip.

At the beginning, fundraising was really hard. I didn't raise much money, though every bit was welcome. I was working really hard to make every bit I could, mostly by making and selling paintings. A few people gave me small donations.

Last Sunday but one (29.04), one of my friends came up to me and handed me $200, from his parents, who have never met me! I was so amazed, and really thanked God for this. But God was not done!

Last Sunday (06.05), I was given a few smaller donations and two envelopes and a red packet. I assumed that all three were small donations and a letter (which is what I've mostly gotten before). But the red packet contained a letter and a cheque for... $1000 from a member of my church who wishes to be anonymous, and one of the envelopes contained $800 in cash from a young couple in my church!

I have now covered the airfare and most of the costs invovled with my trip, which means that I do not need to worry so much about being able to afford a trip in November, and can concerntrate on preparing myself to better serve the children I will be working with.

Faithful God!

James S. Stewart

"The concern for world evangelization is not something tacked on to a man's personal Christianity, which he may take or leave as he chooses. It is rooted in the character of the God who has come to us in Christ Jesus. Thus, it can never be the province of a few enthusiasts, a sideline or a specialty of those who happen to have a bent that way. It is the distinctive mark of being a Christian."

Prayer

Please be in prayer for Sam, who is flying to Uganda now, to work alongside the Bushikori Christian Centre in Mbale, Uganda.



Please pray for health for Sam, her meeting with her three sponsor children, (Ingrid, Joash, and Shamimu), lots of opportunities to minister, and a great time!

Day 4 (11 Dec 2011)

Today is Sunday. Church service begins at 9am. The boys went for an early breakfast at the nearby Pares Pares (the first restaurant I ate in Manila). While I was eating, I saw a boy come and sit not too far from us. I initially thought he was a beggar begging for food. The establishment didn't seem to mind his presence. My thoughts were later confirmed as he slided over to an abandoned tray of leftover food and began to pick at the food. I'm pretty sure I saw him during my first visit and he given a plate of rice by the boss lady. Seems like he is a regular customer. At one point, our eyes met, and I thought his eyes were a bit odd. Like they weren't focused (each eye looking at two different places). He didn't talk at all and doesn't respond to the boss lady, and I didn't initiate a conversation, me being a foreigner is awkward enough. Me, being the ambassador of Christ, and fully aware of my mission in Manila...chose to ignore him and hope he didn't beg me for food. (Hope you are proud of yourself, Shaun) Anyway, that was then. Now, I would see what the reaction of my mates were. Allan was fluent with Tagalog and started to talk with him. Minutes later, the boy left and I asked Allan what they talked about. He merely replied that he wished he could see him again.

We had quiet time, and the verse was Isaiah 40:28-31. God gives strength to the weary. We hadn't even started the evangelism sessions yet. How could I say I was tired and weary? And I was reminded that Jesus invites me to His arms and He will give me rest. What a comforting thought!

We then made our way to church for English service. The chairs were already arranged properly in the dim hall (the lights weren't on save for the front stage lights). The 24 prayer group were really cranking up the volume as the time ticked to 9am, where a movie was shown. After the moving video, praise and worship followed immediately, and everyone rushed with gusto to the front. What enthusiasm! After that was communion, and a lady gave her testimony in Tagalog. The female preacher talked about holiness and it's a mixture of Tagalog and English. Now, interestingly, during altar call, they held up a cardboard sign saying "Jesus Our Lord and Saviour" and this was where those who responded to the message could gather for leaders to pray for them. The whole church stretched out their hands together to pray for those who responded. This is something we don't do in our church, and it really gave a sense that we as believers are together in all of this.

After that, we had a fellowship lunch, and we needed to finish before the afternoon Tagalog service. Hastily, I ran back to our apartment whereabouts to buy a roast chicken (which tastes sweeter than the average roast chicken in Australia) and back again to chip in for lunch. Met a lot of young uni students. It's too bad I didn't get any of their Facebooks. An oversight on my part. :(

In the afternoon, I was rostered to lead a session that showcases CCM activities from Melbourne and Brisbane to the uni students in Hope Manila. Apparently, some of them were interested in forming their very own CCM in their respective universities. I was encouraged by the 16 that came straight after church service  and had to put their plans on hold for us. Each uni had their own struggles/strongholds. Some had competition with various other clubs, and some even had to deal with downright weird and borderline occultic clubs. Truly there are many obstacles that lie ahead for these students, but their faith in Jesus was great, and that alone shall prevail in the end.

As you are reading this, spare a moment or two to pray for Hope Manila's student leaders and members, and for the opening of doors in the various universities, and whatever may happen, that their faith shall never cease, and shall continue to burn strongly and brightly for the glory of God. Amen!

Review: Two Hats

“You have your hat, meaning your way of thinking, and the people that you’re working with have their hat, and their way of thinking . . . you must put on that hat.”

In 1998, Brad and Deborah Wells followed the words of Matthew 28:19, “go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” by leaving their home in Boise, Idaho, to take the gospel to the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea. They and their seven children continue to serve there as missionaries and lead an inspiring life, which is captured by this documentary film. Their path is long and hard, full of failure and success, as they share God’s Word, raise a family, and set up Papua New Guinea’s first Christian radio station.

This was a great documentary about the Wells family, who live in PNG. It won the Great Commission category in the SAICFF. It was great to hear about how God has blessed them, the trials they have gone through, how they became missionaries, and about how they take care of their family on the mission field.

It's quite short, but very interesting! I really recommend it!

You can buy Two Hats here.

John Piper

"God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose."