This is Truman here.
Because we have not posted for a few weeks I want to give a sweeping overview of what has been happening since my last update.
After Peter and I returned from our week-long outreach in Pokot, Kenya, our team prepared to host the "House of Prayer" conference, a five-day conference calling the local church to the Biblical vision of day and night prayer in their city. Carly and I spoke on several radio stations with Jesse Digges and a team of translators. The Sunday before the conference, our team split up to go to about 11 local churches to preach at their services. Nearly all our team had the opportunity to preach a full sermon as we invited people to attend the upcoming event. (Picture is of our team leading a special song at the "House of Prayer" conference)
About 300 people attended the conference. I preached a main session and our team led several "Harp and Bowl" model training seminars with the local Africans. They received the vision, values, and a practical model of day and night, enjoyable prayer with eagerness. Our team served throughout the conference with excellence and also had times to share on the vision of day and night prayer, intimacy with Jesus, and lead several worship sessions.
In line with our central mission to help strengthen a furnace of prayer for the church in Tororo, I believe this conference was a big step towards this direction. Our team's weekly schedule is intentionally focused around maintaining this house of prayer. We have been leading devotional and intercessory worship sets throughout the week (from 8am-2pm three days a week) and our desire is to see the local community of believers gather daily in prayer (Acts 2:42, 46). Our team has also taken the initiative, led by Ashley, to beautify the house of prayer by painting the stage with the verse, Is. 56:7 surrounded by flags of unreached, Muslim nations.
Throughout our time in Tororo, Uganda, our wonderful team has also taken the initiative to reach out to the city and preach the gospel, particularly to the Muslim and Hindu community. One day, on their way to preach the gospel, a man ran out of his house and called out to Casey, Linda, and Mark (one of the Youth Ablaze students) for them to come and preach to him. He recognized them from one of the street corner Muslim debates we had attended. They spent an extended time talking with him and he committed his life to follow Jesus. They even baptized him at his house!
Another powerful story that unfolded just a few days ago involved Belen and Linda as our team split up in groups of two for street evangelism. They walked up to a group of street venders and proceeded to preach. A lady asked them to pray for her hurting legs. They prayed and the Lord healed her right on the spot! More people gathered and two others asked for healing prayer. They prayed and a man with hip pain was healed, then another woman with a leg condition was healed!
This is just a sample of the many stories that God has been writing through our team members as they have been opening their mouths to share the gospel, pray for the sick, and serve the community. There is such an open door for us to minister here, maybe partially due to the fact that we are white "mazungus".
Since the "House of Prayer" conference the Lord has surprisingly connected us with several street boys. We have had the privilege of ministering to several of them, bringing them to "Smile Africa" (a day-time center for needy kids and orphans to be fed, play, learn, worship, etc.), finding them homes, and even connecting them with their families. There are many stories to be told in this. One quick story:
Since rededicating his life to the Lord at the "House of Prayer" conference, a 17-year old street boy named Paul had been spending all his time with us at the house of prayer. I took some time to hear his story and I offered my help, having no clue how to walk this out. He had been living on the streets of Tororo for about four years. One of the Youth Ablaze leaders helped connect me with an amazing pastor in Malaba, Uganda (30 minutes away on the Kenya border) who has rehabilitated and discipled over 100 street boys since '94. I went with Paul to this pastors' home and basically gave Paul over to his care. Paul now has a home and is pursuing an education. I think so much was planted in my heart through this experience and I am excited about what the Lord has in store. (Picture is from our time at "Smile Africa")
Currently, two of our girls, Kendra and Ashley are finishing up a weekend outreach trip with the first year Youth Ablaze students in a region near Jinja, Uganda. We have stayed back, laboring in intercession with them as we await to hear the stories of what God accomplished though them.
We are also planning a two-week trip to Northern Kenya with Youth Ablaze to reach famished areas with provision (food, clothing, etc.) and the good news of the Kingdom. Some points of prayer for us would include:
-Holy Spirit guidance and protection into Kenya during this tumultuous time
-Open doors to preach Christ and clear boldness upon our team to proclaim Him
-Financial provision for our assignment in Kenya
-Grace to gather and strengthen the church of Tororo further into the place of day and night prayer
-For the Lord to father and establish the street boys we have been ministering to
But above all,
"I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
Love,
Truman
Because we have not posted for a few weeks I want to give a sweeping overview of what has been happening since my last update.
After Peter and I returned from our week-long outreach in Pokot, Kenya, our team prepared to host the "House of Prayer" conference, a five-day conference calling the local church to the Biblical vision of day and night prayer in their city. Carly and I spoke on several radio stations with Jesse Digges and a team of translators. The Sunday before the conference, our team split up to go to about 11 local churches to preach at their services. Nearly all our team had the opportunity to preach a full sermon as we invited people to attend the upcoming event. (Picture is of our team leading a special song at the "House of Prayer" conference)About 300 people attended the conference. I preached a main session and our team led several "Harp and Bowl" model training seminars with the local Africans. They received the vision, values, and a practical model of day and night, enjoyable prayer with eagerness. Our team served throughout the conference with excellence and also had times to share on the vision of day and night prayer, intimacy with Jesus, and lead several worship sessions.
In line with our central mission to help strengthen a furnace of prayer for the church in Tororo, I believe this conference was a big step towards this direction. Our team's weekly schedule is intentionally focused around maintaining this house of prayer. We have been leading devotional and intercessory worship sets throughout the week (from 8am-2pm three days a week) and our desire is to see the local community of believers gather daily in prayer (Acts 2:42, 46). Our team has also taken the initiative, led by Ashley, to beautify the house of prayer by painting the stage with the verse, Is. 56:7 surrounded by flags of unreached, Muslim nations. Throughout our time in Tororo, Uganda, our wonderful team has also taken the initiative to reach out to the city and preach the gospel, particularly to the Muslim and Hindu community. One day, on their way to preach the gospel, a man ran out of his house and called out to Casey, Linda, and Mark (one of the Youth Ablaze students) for them to come and preach to him. He recognized them from one of the street corner Muslim debates we had attended. They spent an extended time talking with him and he committed his life to follow Jesus. They even baptized him at his house!
Another powerful story that unfolded just a few days ago involved Belen and Linda as our team split up in groups of two for street evangelism. They walked up to a group of street venders and proceeded to preach. A lady asked them to pray for her hurting legs. They prayed and the Lord healed her right on the spot! More people gathered and two others asked for healing prayer. They prayed and a man with hip pain was healed, then another woman with a leg condition was healed!
This is just a sample of the many stories that God has been writing through our team members as they have been opening their mouths to share the gospel, pray for the sick, and serve the community. There is such an open door for us to minister here, maybe partially due to the fact that we are white "mazungus".
Since the "House of Prayer" conference the Lord has surprisingly connected us with several street boys. We have had the privilege of ministering to several of them, bringing them to "Smile Africa" (a day-time center for needy kids and orphans to be fed, play, learn, worship, etc.), finding them homes, and even connecting them with their families. There are many stories to be told in this. One quick story:
Since rededicating his life to the Lord at the "House of Prayer" conference, a 17-year old street boy named Paul had been spending all his time with us at the house of prayer. I took some time to hear his story and I offered my help, having no clue how to walk this out. He had been living on the streets of Tororo for about four years. One of the Youth Ablaze leaders helped connect me with an amazing pastor in Malaba, Uganda (30 minutes away on the Kenya border) who has rehabilitated and discipled over 100 street boys since '94. I went with Paul to this pastors' home and basically gave Paul over to his care. Paul now has a home and is pursuing an education. I think so much was planted in my heart through this experience and I am excited about what the Lord has in store. (Picture is from our time at "Smile Africa")Currently, two of our girls, Kendra and Ashley are finishing up a weekend outreach trip with the first year Youth Ablaze students in a region near Jinja, Uganda. We have stayed back, laboring in intercession with them as we await to hear the stories of what God accomplished though them.
We are also planning a two-week trip to Northern Kenya with Youth Ablaze to reach famished areas with provision (food, clothing, etc.) and the good news of the Kingdom. Some points of prayer for us would include:
-Holy Spirit guidance and protection into Kenya during this tumultuous time
-Open doors to preach Christ and clear boldness upon our team to proclaim Him
-Financial provision for our assignment in Kenya
-Grace to gather and strengthen the church of Tororo further into the place of day and night prayer
-For the Lord to father and establish the street boys we have been ministering to
But above all,
"I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
Love,
Sounds awesome! Praise the Lord for the work He is doing through you! Praying for you! God bless
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to read what God continues to do in and through you, Truman. We miss you at this year's National Bible Bee in Nashville but are thankful that the mighty God we serve transcends borders.
ReplyDeleteWhat an encouraging report, Truman! Thanks for sharing what the Lord has been doing in your life. We do definitely miss having you here in Nashville, but it is inspiring to hear of the Word going forth there in Africa. It shall not return void!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from all the National Contestants here at the Bible Bee! God bless!
Praise God for all the mighty wonders that He is accomplishing through you all! What an incredible reminder of the great power of prayer. Praying that He will strengthen each of you and continue to give you all His infinite power to live His love and truth to every person around you!
ReplyDelete