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In my last report I had shared how the Lord took us through a couple situations that were potentially dangerous.  A couple details are honoring to Christ.  When we stopped in the restaurant and army gunfire began in the street, I knew we needed prayer cover.  After placing the call to Sarah requesting people begin to pray immediately, I had a complete peace from the Lord.  I was to learn later that people were praying:  family, churches, presbytery, Tres Dias community, even an announcement went over the Billy Graham station in Black Mountain, NC.  I believe the power of prayer was God’s instrument in protection.

I also learned the importance of being sensitive to the Lord’s leading as you move.  When He shut the door to DR Congo due to severe danger of killings, I told the team that we should pray to the Lord seeking another place if that is where He desired us to go.  Within 12 hours George Byabagambi had received an answer.  The Lord led us to a new region 2.5 miles from the Congo.  Even though it was short, it may be fruitful in strategically bringing pastors together from the Congo and the Western mountains of Uganda.

In the last letter, I mentioned the amazing testimony of  a Bishop (whom we worked with)who is currently responsible for nearly one hundred churches.  He is a most remarkable man.  As Jim Barnes and I ate with him in his home I asked him to tell me a story of his time under Idi Amin.  He shared how the army surrounded their church one day and began to put bullet holes in the roof.  He and many other pastors were arrested and taken to Amin’s prison.   They were accused of informing the CIA (which was absurd) on Uganda.  These men were herded into a dungeon that was so low that no one could set up.  They spent the next three days in a dungeon without food or water.  The Bishop said it was so hot that everyone lost all body fluid within 3 hours. They preached the gospel to other prisoners and 50 gave their hearts to Jesus. When the soldiers returned three days later to kill them, God rescued in a miraculous way.  The soldiers could not open the steel door.  It was as if an angel held the door closed against all efforts.  Finally when plans changed, the door opened.  They were then stacked like sardines, 6 high lying flat onto a truck and transported to another prison.  For two weeks they were stripped naked and made to stay outside in the open without shelter.  Finally, God intervened through Idi Amin himself who rebuked the commander who has arrested them and they were set free.  And what did Wilson do upon release?  With a smile on his face he said to me, “I planted 6 more underground churches!”

This is the spirit of the people I am teaching.  I am humbled.  American Christians hardly walk across the street to go to church and this man again risked his life to serve Jesus with joy.  May God open the eyes of our hearts this Thanksgiving to have the same love and devotion of our African brothers. 

At present the door has opened to teach two courses with MINTS in Akure, Nigeria.  I will be teaching “Doctrine of God” and “Romans” at the school.  I will be joined by Dr. Rick Renninger from Community Evangelical Free Church, Elverson, PA. who will also be teaching two additional courses.

See my other post for prayer requests!

The Lord is gracious!

Joel

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