“He (King Josiah) defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?”
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 22:16
Rachel- sponsored as of 3/21/09!
Rachel Nakijjoba was born on April 13, 1998. Her father died and her mother can’t afford to educate her.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13
Simon Peter- unsponsored
Simon Peter Kizito was born on October 6, 1998. His mother is weak and infected with AIDS. This young boy is very bright. He came to our office at 10:00 in the night and wanted to be helped there and then.
From now until Christmas, we’ll be sending a short daily e-mail, each day introducing one child who is in need. As we celebrate the advent of the Lamb, may streams of living water flow from us as we draw from the spring of living water.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
Shabinah- sponsored as of 1/18/09
Shabinah Ayira born was born on the October 9th, 2004. She has been abandoned by a teen father, and her mother is in the business of prostitution. A woman in our Church told us about her, and I was touched to bring her home, as I try to share Jesus with her mother. ~ Brother John
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9
We have exciting news to share with you! Gifts have come in for Nkumba ministries that are allowing them to buy 20 acres of farm land, and prepare the land and plant it. We thank God for his grace.
Robert Sedawula- sponsored as of 12/18/2008
Eva Wanyana- sponsored as of 12/18/2008
John Mugabi:
We are grateful to the Lord because now Nkumba Church is known throughout the community as a Centre that rehabilitates orphans, street-kids and ex-convicts. And we are a feeding place for the hungry.
Just a few days ago, a man who had me preach in a certain Church outside Kampala was quick to direct a widow whose husband passed away 1 and a half years back. He didn’t clarify the cause of death, but the widow looks too sick. (probably AIDS)
I looked at her children, Robert Sedawula born on the 10th Oct 2004 and his sister Eva Wanyana born on the 16th Jun 2002 as needy kids*, and I now present them to you for action. I have asked a Pastor who has been taking care of their mother to keep them until we are able to get them help (sponsorship).
Isn’t that amazing?! God has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor. He is righteous, and in his sovereignty, He has seen fit to accomplish His work through us, his creation. He allows us the privilege of caring for those in need.
God has also made some astounding promises to us…When we give toward His kingdom work, He will make ALL grace abound to us so that in all things at all times we have everything we need. (Our group that studied Alcorn’s book together astutely noted it says “need” not “want”!)
We get everything we want and long for and dream about when we get home to Heaven. There is a time and place for all that…it just ain’t now! And that we can blame on sin, the curse and death. But one day, we will be freed entirely from sin and death. Until then, we have a mission, and promises of provision from our great God.
*Robert and Eva are wearing western clothes that were donated.
To get more information on sponsorship, please visit our child sponsorship page.
A while back, we shared with you a post from Katie Davis’ blog. She’s the 20-yr old young woman (19 when she wrote this post) who lives in Uganda mostly-full time and has, by the grace of God, become the mother of 10 orphaned little girls.
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10
And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Here is another great post from Katie’s blog…Enjoy! 🙂
Katie with some of the kids
Last night there was a rat in my room. I really wanted to go to the bathroom, but when I heard his little feet scratching around, I literally couldn’t move. I was paralyzed with fear. Now, I’m usually a pretty fearless person and have been told so on many occasions. Why did this little mouse scare me so? I don’t know, but it led me to think about how often, as human beings, we are crippled by our fear. We are afraid of change, of losing, of being hurt. We cling tightly to what we have because we are afraid of what might happen if we didn’t have it anymore.
I read a story once:
Once there was a people who surveyed the resources of the world and said to each other: “How can we be sure that we will have enough in hard times? We want to survive whatever happens. Let us start collecting food, materials and knowledge so that we are safe and secure if a crisis occurs.” So they started hoarding. So much and so eagerly that the other peoples protested and said: “You have so much more than you need, while we don’t have enough to survive. Give us part of your wealth!” But the fearful hoarders said: “No, no we need to keep this in case of emergency, in case things go bad for us too, in case our lives are threatened.” But the others said: “We are dying now, please give us food and materials and knowledge to survive. We can’t wait… we are dying now!”
Then the fearful hoarders became even more fearful since they became afraid that the poor and hungry people would attack them. So they said to one another: “Let us build walls around our wealth so that no stranger can take it from us.” They started erecting walls so high that they could not even see anymore whether their enemies were outside the walls or not! As their fear increased they put bombs at the top of their walls so that nobody from outside would even dare to come close. But instead of feeling safe and secure behind their armed walls they found themselves trapped in the prison they had built with their own fear. They even became afraid of their own bombs, wondering if they might harm themselves more than their enemy. And gradually they realized that their fear of death had brought them closer to it. – Henri Nouwen
Katie taking children to be de-wormed (in Uganda)
“But God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-discipline.” When I imagine God creating each one of us and planting a purpose deep in our hearts, I never imagine that purpose being mediocrity. “You are to find me in the least of these.” Yes. “You are to leave your earthly possessions and come follow me.” Yes. “You are to love and serve the Lord God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself” Yes. “You are to go and make disciples of all nations.” Yes. “You are to entertain strangers and lepers and tax collectors.” Yes. “You are to show mercy.” Yes. “You are to live a life of mediocrity and abundance, holding on tight to your comfortable lifestyle, lest you lose it.” No. I don’t think so. It’s not there, though that seems like the safe choice for many, including myself. Leaving your possessions to follow Jesus, entertaining strangers, it does sound a little scary, but what if just beyond that risk, just beyond the fear is a life better than anything we have ever imagined – LIFE TO THE FULLEST…
Today you can choose to be like me and lay paralyzed in your bed, uncomfortably longing to go to the bathroom but unable to move because of your fear of something as small as a mouse. Or you can choose to take a risk – do something for someone… change someone’s world. LIFE TO THE FULLEST – it exists. The choice is yours.
John (Mugabi) is on a food crusade! 
In a Christmas letter we received in the mail yesterday, my friend wrote of a new kitten whom their family had adopted. She said, “A new stray came to our door around Halloween. She was so emaciated that we just couldn’t let her go.”
Ah, I thought…THAT IS IT! If we could possibly imagine what it’s like to live in Africa, where little emaciated children come looking for help, I think we might all respond like she did to the kitten.
At one of the food crusades
I don’t begrudge her caring for the kitten…I would have done just the same! God made animals for our pleasure, and he also made us…in HIS image! As much as we can’t turn away hungry animals, we should be filled with compassion for feeding hungry people.
Jesus was.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd…I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that when we don’t feed the hungry, it’s as if we have ignored HIM.
There is an incredible urgency–150,000,000 orphans world-wide. More than 40,000 children will die TODAY from starvation. Statistics are so easy to read…and then forget. But, what if MY child were one of the 40,000? John wants to be pro-active. Let’s not grow food when it’s too late…when another child has died. Let’s start a farm TODAY.
A few days ago John wrote:
It seems we are getting more needy families every day that need help from us in terms of food and medicine. Herbert’s family, Lydia Nambi’s family and Alice all need our special care. ..today our deacons asked all Christians at our church who have things they can donate to do so. I am happy some Christians have responded.“
Food Crusades: I bless the Lord for the opportunity to talk to large numbers of people and to encourage them to grow enough food for the kids. This is a very remote school. ~Brother John
John is also campaigning with large numbers of people in surrounding communities, encouraging them to grow food so children can be fed. He’s asking not just us westerners, but Ugandan families as well.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Apparently this timeless adage is well-known in Uganda, too! In another e-mail, John wrote:
God has called us to a very challenging mission. Imagine the challenge of giving out what you want most. If I had the ability to feed all the hungry children of the world, I would do so. I am on fire for this.
I have come to realize that prevention is better than cure. You see the food program fits our crime prevention ministry. The kids we shall be able to access I am sure will be saved from stealing food. And of course our prison ministry will then also have enough to help those that are sick with AIDS. This programme is wider than what you can imagine.
Most of our entire Ministry budget (76%) is allocated to food. May I please kindly ask you to help us so we can invest in food as well? I think that with about 20 acres, we could start a good farm. Or else we are going to end up asking for food everyday. Most of the families to whom we give a hand, their most important need is daily food, and they will help me plant it and weed it. I have ex-prisoners who will help us to start a real big farm. Please help me so that food will not be a problem all the time.
Another Food Crusade in Masaka. John writes: "We did a party for the kids and marched around asking people to grow more food so that kids do not starve--so that they do not have to run away from home and steal food."
They’ve found 20 acres of land (about 40 km away) for just under $25,000. On it, they will grow maize, beans and matooke. They will raise chickens, cows, goats and ducks.
Big problems require big solutions. Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give to the poor, that we may have treasure in heaven! We will probably have to sell (downsize) our homes and our cars. He tells us if we have two shirts to share one with someone who has none. We will probably have to change our lifestyles. He asks us how we can have the love of God in us if we have worldly goods and close our hearts against those who are in need. We will probably have to give away money we have saved. But it’s so incredibly worth it!
I’ll never forget the day in 2006, when I met Vincent. He looked to be about 9 and in desperate need of food, but I later found out he was 14. He walked in to John’s office, head bowed, mumbling some barely whispered plea. He wanted us to pay his school fees (which would also provide him with food).
The day I met Vincent: May 9, 2006
In that moment, tears welling up in my eyes, everything inside me began to change. I began to understand. It is not possible to look another human in the eyes, to hear their desperate plea for help, and to not do something…everything. Do I still have more worldly goods? There’s more I can do. And what a joy to participate in sharing the love and truth of Jesus. There is nothing greater.
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18
I have found that whatever it is that God’s Word is calling me to do that I am fearful of or sad about doing–whether it is to sell my possessions or to give more or to spend less or to save less money –I must do the thing first, and then once I have obeyed, I am set free. And I am mean liberating, dance-in-the-rain free!
When a child is trained by his parents, he is given instruction for his good. Once he obeys, he is given greater freedom.
Olivia (in yellow shirt) & Joan--Olivia's father has AIDS, and her mother divorced him. Olivia has been left alone, vulnerable to abuse. Joan's father is a sheik (strong Muslim). Her mother recently became a believer in Christ, and her father divorced both the mother and Joan. They now have nowhere to go and no financial support.
That same dynamic is true of our relationship with God. He gives us instructions for our own good. And once we have obeyed we experience this incredible freedom.
St. Augustine said, “How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!…You drove me from them and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure.”
I can testify to this: I have not once regretted doing any thing the Lord has asked me to do. With each step of obedience, He has continued to set me free. Before I have taken the step of obedience, I have feared what I might lose. But it has been a sweet experience to be rid of those fruitless joys. He has taken their place and He is sweeter than all pleasure.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14
My dad shared this article with us…in a few short paragraphs, the author addresses so well THE question about money that can plague so many of us! Part of the article is below:
Several recent conversations with members of (my church) lead me to write about money…all center on the same question: How do I know if I am spending too much on myself or my family?
First let me say how much I appreciate the question. Only a heart transformed by the power of Christ could free a person enough to ask such a dangerous thing. When asked with a real sense of submission to Christ, queries like these put dreams, livelihoods, and plans before Him to do with as He deems. In a day when Christians confuse fear with prudence and mistake hoarding with stewardship, I am thankful for such a question. Honest questions like these will not only change the asker, they can change the world…
Meet Bosco. Bosco is one of Herbert's 5 siblings. John Mugabi wrote: It's so amazing that even in the worst situation, God takes care of us. His other brothers are difficult to find at home as they move seeking food and working hard to meet their other needs. Bosco is 15 years old. This picture is taken in front of their falling house.
We often attempt to view money (or sex, or any other ethical dilemma) from the vantage of law before we look to see it from the vantage of grace. My college question (how far is too far?) revealed that my heart was more about managing my life up to a legal standard than one emblazoned for Christ and his Kingdom. We are to spend our money, not in light of the law, but in light of the glorious benevolence that the Father has shown us in Christ. The apostolic church was not marked by temperate, prudent, giving plans, or self-protecting talk of accumulating wealth; they were marked by extravagant abandon to the grace and mission of God.
Submission to grace allowed the widow to give away “all she had to live on.” Recognition of Christ’s mercy compelled Zacchaeus to reimburse four times what he defrauded. Appreciation of the cross directed the early church “to have no needy Christians among them.” Passion for the mission of God compelled the early Jerusalem church to sell all their possessions and give it to the apostles. We are to love the law, but the law does not make us do strange things like these.
Only grace can do that. Grace can change us from thieves to philanthropists, from shoppers to sellers, and from savers to extravagant givers. Grace can transform our moth-like hearts so that they love money not for what it can do for us, but what it can do for Him and His Kingdom. Grace can revolutionize our questions from how much can we spend on ourselves without being guilty of greed, to how can we best use His money to demonstrate the incredible generosity of our God.
By Giorgio Hiatt (M.Div) This article originally appeared in Covenant magazine, the quarterly magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary. For the full 1.5 page article, click here.
AFTER: Charles' orphaned nieces and nephews--all sponsored and shined up for school! (#6 missed the photo op!)
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him; sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!…
Remember the wondrous works that he has done.
What a perfect day (Thanksgiving!) to give thanks to the Lord and to remember his wondrous works.
Here are a few highlights:
BEFORE: Charles with his orphaned nieces & nephews prior to sponsorship
We have about 1000 pictures of Seggy...it was hard to choose just one! This was taken in Masaka after a chicken was given by a Ugandan woman to Nkumba as a gift--as a "thank you" to John for taking care of her son for many years.
High-five, Jesus! (This phrase coined by Molly, who is 2 years old today!)
Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. I Chronicles 16:36
Emma
This evening as I was seated under a mango tree, Isaac Buyiza and Emma Gitta came to me, and this is what they said:
Emma first said, “Brother John, I thank God for you being there for me in such a world where all people are there for their families and themselves, in a world where people operate on a budget, in a world full of greed… I thank God for being there for me. If it was not for the Lord’s grace where could I have been now?”
He asked me “Brother John, what prompted you to bring us here that we may experience all these good things?”
Isaac
I also asked “What good things?”
He said “Praying every Sunday, feeling loved, eating breakfast, lunch and supper”…we all shed tears. “How is the Lord going to pay the people that buy all this food for us?”
Isaac then said, “He is going to be there for them at the end of this life, that is the pay…” Rain started and we ended there.
I am glad that we are helping children know and love God. ~ Brother John Mugabi
A friend reminded me this week that we are to bring our extravagant requests before the Lord. We serve an EXTRAVAGANT Lord! He loves us extravagantly. We can delight in Him extravagantly. He came in an extravagant manner (God becoming human!) to set us free from bondage and captivity…that we may live in extravagant joy!
I think I was feeling just a wee bit overwhelmed looking at the next list of things that are needed. And she reminded me we are to enter His throne room with confidence…to bring our extravagant requests before Him confidently.
Not that it is really extravagant for children to have milk and eggs…
The Nkumba schools are growing rapidly by the grace of God. Feeding more than 1000 children is no small task! And as orphans keep coming, soon it will be 1500 and then 2000. The next projects are listed below:
1) Eight milk cows with a production of 12 litres (each )of milk everyday and 4 exotic goats : $4900
2) 1000 chicken layers (egg-layers): $2400.
3) Feeding these chicks to grow up to six months: $7800
4) Putting up a structure for 1000 chickens and stables for the cows: $10,000.
5) Purchase farm land at $12,000 (currently checking to see if any cheaper land is available).
The current Nkumba kitchen
6) Building a new Kitchen that will feed both the Primary and the High School. $8500
7) Water and power installation for the kitchen, cooking stoves and 4 big sauce pans. $7800
Conversations under a Mango Tree? Priceless 🙂
These are not projects required by the Ministry of Education…just projects required to feed and nourish hungry tummies….projects that will be used to share the love and grace of Jesus with 1000 children–and that will prepare and provide food for more orphans as they come.
We’ve had a family offer a matching gift. They have $4500 to give and would like to see the kitchen completed and will match dollar for dollar up to $4500. If you’re interested, just let us know!
I pray this list of projects doesn’t overwhelm you as it did me for a little while. When we feel overwhelmed (looking at me instead of Him!), we risk shutting down…shutting Him out. When we feel overwhelmed, we need to pray for His compassion. I can’t fix it all. Only He can.
But I can ask for his compassion. Compassion, it seems to me, is like a well. It can be drilled to a certain depth and stop…or He can continue drilling, deeper and deeper. Lord please give us your depth of compassion for these children, your children. Let us be your servants in your kingdom with your extravagant joy.
Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others~ John Piper
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44
…sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
To request gift cards, contact Jenell Te Velde.
…So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And Christ would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list
The food ministry cares for orphans and widows. It currently costs about $600/mo to operate.
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree
Well heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And Christ would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list
Lyrics by David Foster and Linda Thompson-Jenner (modified)
Give the gift of food to those who are in need. Order these cards (they’re free…you can make the donation at any time), and give them to your friends and family to let them know you’ve given a gift in their honor to feed orphans and widows in Nkumba, Uganda.
John 10:10 I came that you may have life and have it abundantly!
To request gift cards, contact Jenell Te Velde. (The children pictured on the gift cards–Hellen, Harriet, Alex, Vetelino, Moses and Obi– were recently orphaned and are now sponsored through the Nkumba program).
I spoke with Esther Mugabi (John’s wife) this week on the phone. She is currently in St. Louis, MO with their son Cephas (who had a heart procedure donated through Samaritan’s Purse). Esther shared with me, in a quite matter-of-fact way–which I just love!, that the other woman with whom she traveled, Mastula (also traveling with a son who is having a heart procedure) WAS a Muslim. She is now a believer in Jesus Christ.
Esther (in the center), Mastula and the translator- hosted by Dennis and Vicki Edwards in St. Louis. THANK YOU!
WOW!
Mastula lives about 3 hours from John and Esther. Her family presumably is Muslim, and when she returns to Uganda, she will be able to take the truth of the gospel of Christ to her family. And all because the Lord saw fit to put Esther and Cephas on a plane with Mastula and use Esther as an instrument of righteousness.
Sometimes the Lord gives us the privilege of glimpsing inside his Kingdom work. Things that don’t make sense, suddenly come alive with eternal meaning. When we endure hardships (and certainly watching Cephas suffer for 18 months was a hardship), those hardships are used to bring glory to God. In this case, Mastula was brought from death to everlasting life. All glory goes to Him!
A happy mama with her Cephas
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. I Peter 1:6-7
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
Remember the Poor 