5.22.2013

GAP


We are getting ready to temporarily move to Morgantown, WV to get ready for this coming 6 months of travel with a small group of students who desire to be discipled and to see how they can fulfill the Great Commission as missionaries. Right now we have 2 committed and 2 more potential students.

A friend from Des Moines emailed us this link, "Advocates of 'gap year' say time away from school builds confidence, expands worldview", about the benefits of a GAP Year.

Please pray for us as we pack and head into another chapter of this fun and crazy life the Lord has us living!

Here is our tentative schedule:
July to August - training in Morgantown.
September - Paidha and Lira Uganda
October - Inner City US ministry
November to December 15 - Central America; Honduras, Guatemala & Belize.
January to June 2014 - Students are placed with missionaries and we will be visiting to see the progress.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

If there are still people out there praying for God's direction in this...it is not too late to say yes to an exciting and adventurous year serving the Lord!

5.21.2013

God's Amazing Grace


   
We have been traveling to Uganda since 2000. Each time is unique and humbling. It never ceases to amaze me how little people have but how much joy they posses. They exhibit amazing faith under daily trials they face just to exist for that day.
   Brooke had a great time teaching the pastors’ wives and women’s leaders through the book of Philippians and also explaining the biblical role of the woman in the home, the community and the church. A huge challenge for many of these women is they do not read, so their understanding of the Word is elementary. We are praying how we can get audio Bibles into their hands. Please let us know if you have any ideas or would like to help.

   The pastors I taught were elated to use the Inductive Bible Study tools they had already learned to teach through 1Peter. I modeled expository teaching through James. The theme to James is “The Mature Christian”. We looked at this book as it applies to us as pastors and teachers. There are many customs in this culture that are followed in the church but are not biblical, so we talked about how to over come the culture and live as biblical Christians...not Ugandan nor American Christians.

   After observing me for 2 days, we had them teach through 1Peter. Some of them did an amazing job. One of the pastors said he never thought he could stay in one chapter of the Bible to teach. But now that he has seen it done through a whole book of the Bible, he is committing to teach through the Bible verse by verse!
   Another had an epiphany moment when I asked them if they only read a few paragraphs when someone writes them a letter or just a chapter here or there when they read a book. He said the Lord confirmed with him that he must teach the whole book so his people  can get the whole meaning of God’s love letters to His people.

   So we are planning to return in September to much of the same and also work with youth and children. We have a few seats open if any one wants to come along. Give us a shout so we can start making plans.
Because of His grace!
Wayne

Rejoice Always!



We are just home from another amazing time of ministry in Uganda. I had the humbling privilege of teaching and sharing with over 100 pastor’s wives and women church leaders. As I often find, the challenges and issues they face are similar to those here. Many of the things they shared and asked about have been true in my life as a pastor’s wife and church leader.

   As I was praying about what to teach and share with these women, God showed me to take them through the book of Philippians. This book has been significant in my life as it is stock full of some of the most powerful and familiar promises in all the New Testament; verses like 1:6 & 1:21, 2:1-11, 3:12-14 & 3:20, 4:6-9 & 4:19. All of these verses bring me back to the main theme of this book: JOY! As we choose to be joyful each day; as we look with thanksgiving at our lives, God strengthens us for every challenge before us.

   We also looked each day at what the Bible says about specific subjects; not my opinion or any other person, but the Bible alone. We searched out scripture on women in ministry, women in marriage and women as God sees us. It was a powerful reminder that God values us and uses us greatly but we must remain within the confines of His order to receive His blessings: Order in ministry and order in marriage.
   My high point? Two women who I have known from previous trips, both female pastors, although not invited, attended the conference. As I taught very clearly on 1 Timothy 2:12 without apology or excuse, they were both convicted by the Holy Spirit and shared that they desire to make this change. One of them, unknown to me until the very end, had already gone to her husband/pastor and told him she was no longer going to teach the men but strictly women!! Once again, I am reminded that if we just teach the truth without dressing it up for comfort, God will honor His word for His Name’s sake and do the needed work.
   I am excited to continue the groundwork with these women in September and I hope and pray that one day not so far away, they will be teaching and disciplining other women in the truths of God’s word. The goal is to work myself out of a job! Until then…pressing on for the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus!

Rejoicing in Jesus!
 Brooke