Remember the Poor

I (John) hereby present and recommend brother Herbert Kabuye for help.   He is 17 yrs born on the 22nd of Dec 1991.

Herbert Kabuye, 17 yrs

He has a mother, but lost his dad.  His mother is a security guard and only earns $45 a month.  She has 6 children all of whom do not go to school.  He was directed to our church by a pastor who attended the pastor’s conference.

I wondered why this big boy greeted me while kneeling down.  Certainly I found him to be looking for help. He says that if he is helped, he will help his family. He also told me that his last resort will be to join the army if things fail him. I have asked him to be patient until next year, and he now lives with us.

Can you imagine what he was dressed in when he came? Rags with patches!!! For this time as we wait, he is going to be in charge of cooking porridge for the kids breakfast every day.

Be blessed.
John

Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

One donor sold a piece of furniture this week for $500…enough to feed, educate, medicate, clothe and share the gospel with one of the waiting children for an entire year!

Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

ESV commentary: “To take up the cross means to renounce selfish ambition.”  Check out RICE NIGHT as one such way to engage in carrying our cross-and to care for the hungry and orphaned.

Matthew Henry commentary:  “We must not indulge our ease and appetite, for then it will be hard to bear toil, and weariness, and need, for Christ.  We frequently meet with crosses in the way of duty…”

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. I Peter 2:12

John Mugabi 11/8

Dear fellow workers for the Kingdom,

Praise the Lord From Whom All Blessings Flow!!

The dining hall roofed with iron sheets (Protected from heavy rains!)

We would like to thank each one of you that contributed towards the safety needs of our schools.  We now proudly say “The Lord has done great things.”

On the 6th, a Muslim inspector from the Ministry of Education found us fixing windows and he said, “Your God answers prayers.  How have you been able to do this big job in months??”

We are very certain that there will be no bother for us again.  Well there are  a few needs like furniture, but we think we are fine. Thank you so much for having stood with us and for loving to see the Kingdom of God expand in Uganda.

Today, one of the most effective methods of executing the Great Commission in Uganda is through reaching out to youths between the ages of 13 to 20 yrs.  Can you imagine that in this academic year we have seen 177 students come to Christ?

We are asking God to help us attract as many students as possible for the sake of reaching to them. Our passion is to make Christ known–not money and profits. We would like to make our campus a place where students come and meet Jesus.

The Nkumba Schools Kitchen

Within the next couple of years, our vision is that the high school will be at capacity with 1200 students.  Right now we have 550 and expect 800 for the 2009 calendar year.

As I see today we need more classrooms (8) and furniture, we will need a kitchen… actually this might be the next top issue on the agenda of the Ministry.  We need to equip both the library with enough Christian books and the Science lab with enough aparatus.

We are the only Christian-founded High School with such a vision in this community. We would love to introduce Jesus to as many people as possible. Muslims are busy building nice schools doing Islamization of the students; we also do not want to relax…

(Note from Frank and Cindy–this message about Islamization is being confirmed from many directions.  We are hearing the Muslim north has focused intentions (and money) to make inroads into Uganda–which is a gateway into Kenya, Rwanda, the Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi and Tanzania.  Not only do we need to continue to care for and evangelize the orphans in Uganda, but there is much work to be done in northern Africa, which is 95 to 98% Muslim.  We cannot relax now.)

Roger Alukwasa, age 9

Brian Atwifuka, age 8

Sarah Namugaza, 12 yrs

The children pictured above are close to our church.  They have been fatherless for 7 months now.  They had been starving until we welcomed them into the food program. Their mother earns a subsistence living and is unable to pay their school fees.

Other than wanting to preach, we also want to produce the future leaders of the Church.  These Covenant Children need our attention and supervision.  I therefore call upon you to stand further in the gap.  We are not yet done.

Your Servant For Christ’s Sake,
Brother John Mugabi

There’s so much going on, I feel a bit overwhelmed in communicating it all.  We definitely want to say, on behalf of Nkumba Ministries, a big thank you to everyone.  We are seeing the goodness of the Lord and are seeing Nkumba Ministries being able to reach out to more people. Every gift of every size is received with sincere appreciation, and is immediately going to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to care for the sick, to preach the gospel.  Thank you.

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. I Peter 2:12

John Mugabi 11/8

Dear fellow workers for the Kingdom,

Praise the Lord From Whom All Blessings Flow!!

The dining hall roofed with iron sheets (Protected from heavy rains!)

We would like to thank each one of you that contributed towards the safety needs of our schools.  We now proudly say “The Lord has done great things.”

On the 6th, a Muslim inspector from the Ministry of Education found us fixing windows and he said, “Your God answers prayers.  How have you been able to do this big job in months??”

We are very certain that there will be no bother for us again.  Well there are  a few needs like furniture, but we think we are fine. Thank you so much for having stood with us and for loving to see the Kingdom of God expand in Uganda.

Today, one of the most effective methods of executing the Great Commission in Uganda is through reaching out to youths between the ages of 13 to 20 yrs.  Can you imagine that in this academic year we have seen 177 students come to Christ?

We are asking God to help us attract as many students as possible for the sake of reaching to them. Our passion is to make Christ known–not money and profits. We would like to make our campus a place where students come and meet Jesus.

The Nkumba Schools Kitchen

Within the next couple of years, our vision is that the high school will be at capacity with 1200 students.  Right now we have 550 and expect 800 for the 2009 calendar year.

As I see today we need more classrooms (8) and furniture, we will need a kitchen… actually this might be the next top issue on the agenda of the Ministry.  We need to equip both the library with enough Christian books and the Science lab with enough aparatus.

We are the only Christian-founded High School with such a vision in this community. We would love to introduce Jesus to as many people as possible. Muslims are busy building nice schools doing Islamization of the students; we also do not want to relax…

(Note from Frank and Cindy–this message about Islamization is being confirmed from many directions.  We are hearing the Muslim north has focused intentions (and money) to make inroads into Uganda–which is a gateway into Kenya, Rwanda, the Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi and Tanzania.  Not only do we need to continue to care for and evangelize the orphans in Uganda, but there is much work to be done in northern Africa, which is 95 to 98% Muslim.  We cannot relax now.)

Roger Alukwasa, age 9

Brian Atwifuka, age 8

Sarah Namugaza, 12 yrs

The children pictured above are close to our church.  They have been fatherless for 7 months now.  They had been starving until we welcomed them into the food program. Their mother earns a subsistence living and is unable to pay their school fees.

Other than wanting to preach, we also want to produce the future leaders of the Church.  These Covenant Children need our attention and supervision.  I therefore call upon you to stand further in the gap.  We are not yet done.

Your Servant For Christ’s Sake,
Brother John Mugabi

There’s so much going on, I feel a bit overwhelmed in communicating it all.  We definitely want to say, on behalf of Nkumba Ministries, a big thank you to everyone.  We are seeing the goodness of the Lord and are seeing Nkumba Ministries being able to reach out to more people. Every gift of every size is received with sincere appreciation, and is immediately going to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to care for the sick, to preach the gospel.  Thank you.

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

“Unless you find out the world is evil you will fall in love with this world.  There is no alternative.”~  Michael Wurmbrand

As I was reflecting on this truth, a correlating truth began to crystallize in my mind. This earth–this earth under the curse–will never allow us to rest from helping others.  There will not be a time when we have completed our giving, when our mission is accomplished, when we can kick back and enjoy life…not on this earth. Paul says if we are to remain in the flesh, it means fruitful labor for us.

Our thinking has been deceived.  We have not really believed we needed to choose between this world and Jesus.

We thought that we could give some amount (maybe 10%, maybe more), and that with our giving “completed”, we could also continue living “normal” lives here, pursuing the goals of feeding our family three square meals a day, sending them on to higher education, living in a comfortable home, driving comfortable cars, celebrating life events (extravagantly compared with most of the rest of the world), having plenty of clothes, eating out at nice restaurants, enjoying salon and spa services, taking vacations, saving for retirement, etc.

But these pursuits cannot be elevated above loving Jesus.  Some of them will be sacrificed because we love Jesus.  Many around the world, in restricted and/or poor nations, already make these sacrifices.  And what Michael Wurmbrand said is true.  Unless we find out the world is evil, we will fall in love with it.  There is no alternative.

Jesus does not give us the option to love this world.  He says we must choose–Him or the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. So, as we choose Him, we do so knowing that our mission, our goal, our focus on this earth is not to live a comfortable life.  It is to model our Lord Jesus, who though He was rich, for our sakes became poor, so that by his poverty we might become rich.

If we have the false expectation that we can give to help the needy, AND that we can also live a comfortable life, we are believing a lie.  We are falling in love with this world. Matthew 6:24

Jesus NEVER promised us an easy life here on this earth under the curse.  He said in this world we will have trouble, the world will hate us, we will be persecuted, we will share in his sufferings.  He said we are to give of ourselves all the time, in every way, denying ourselves, loving others, no longer living for ourselves, but for Him.

He DID however promise us an eternal glory that far outweighs everything, and a rich, glorious inheritance that is imperishable.  We look forward to that day with our whole being!

Let’s fall in love with Jesus.  Life abundant is found in Him alone.  Complete joy is found in Him!.

“Unless you find out the world is evil you will fall in love with this world.  There is no alternative.”~  Michael Wurmbrand

Most Christians know that we are not supposed to love the world.  Afterall, the Bible says that anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. How do we know where our true affections lie?

We find the answer by testing our actions.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8 that we test our love (for Christ) and find out if it is genuine by giving…and not just by giving, but by comparing it with how others give!  He provides the comparison of the Macedonian churches who, in a severe test of affliction, gave not only according to their means, but also beyond their means, out of their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty!

So, to test our love we ought to compare our giving to the churches in Africa, Asia, etc.  How about comparing ourselves with Experito’s church in impoverished northern Uganda that fasts two days a week from all food and gives the food they would have eaten to the hungry?  Or to Antioch Presbyterian Church in Korea who gives 70% of its church’s income to missions?

If we’ve fallen in love with Christ, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by selling our possessions and giving all we have to reach the lost and meet the needs of the poor.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? I John 3:17

The following appeared in the most recent Voice of the Martyrs publication.

Michael Wurmbrand, son of (VOM) founder Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, was orphaned while both parents were Christian prisoners in communist Romania.  One lady received six years in prison just for feeding him.  Michael told us recently, “Unless you find out the world is evil you will fall in love with this world.  There is no alternative.”

And therein lies the opportunity for subtle deception.  If we entertain the unbiblical belief that this world is neutral, or good, or filled with good things which we would like to pursue, we fall in love with it.

And when we fall in love with the world, we will never be able to wholly belong to Jesus.  “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?!” Why? Because we devote our money, our time, and our energy to what we love. Matthew 6:21

According to God, the world is evil. (See Gal 1:4, John 7:7, I John 5:19)

If we believe the world holds good things for us, our affections are misplaced.  And our misplaced affections produce wrong thinking and our wrong thinking produces wrong living.

With our hopes and dreams set on the things of the world, we will fail miserably to be the body of Christ that reaches the lost and cares for the poor.  For the body of Christ loves others, provides for the needy, and exists to serve others.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? I John 3:17

The wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Revelation 19:7-8

The food program in Nkumba--in action! Authentic Posho & Beans

Note that the parenthetical statement in the preceding verse is not mine, but God’s!  This passage offers several surprises.  We might have expected to be told that Christ makes the bride ready, rather than she herself.  We could also have expected that the fine linen would stand for the righteousness of Christ, or perhaps the righteous faith of the saints.  But what we are told is that it stands for the righteous acts or works of the saints.

God gives us eternal rewards for doing good works (Eph 6:8; Romans 2:6,10)… He also grants us rewards for generous giving; “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21) ~ Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions & Eternity, pg 118

Joshua Sentongo having his share!

Pastor Experito from Gulu, Uganda is here in Arizona, and he noted last week, much to everyone’s laughter, that we are “human beings”, not “human havings!”

He gave us a powerful illustration of how he and his church in Uganda, one of the poorest countries in the world, prepare themselves to be the bride of Christ.  Each Wednesday and Friday, they fast all day, drinking only water, and give the food they would have eaten to those in their community who are going hungry.  This they do in keeping with Isaiah 58.  Wow, there’s a whole new level of challenge!

So, we ask ourselves, do we take a hatchet or a scalpel to our own budget and lifestyle? I’m thinking I need a hatchet.  His poor church’s excellent, sacrificial giving challenges us to prove that our love for Christ is genuine, also.

John Rusoke- has just returned from the village and is "thin and sickly" (clothes can hide a lot!), but on the road to recovery!

More than 20,000 children die every day from malnutrition/starvation.  800,000,000 people go to bed hungry.

Check out RICE NIGHT for ideas on taking a hatchet to your grocery/eating out budget!  Christ always asks us to give our best…not our left-overs.

2 Corinthians 5:15 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.

Visit Katie's blog to see this image and others

Yesterday, we were directed to a blog that we found so powerful and moving, we wanted to share it here.  Katie Davis is a 19 year old college student who has lived in Uganda since 2007, and has just returned to the US for a while.  The Lord has used her to feed, clothe and educate 150 children.  Ten of them live with her and call her “Mommy”.

I don’t know Katie, but I want what this young woman has.  I really want it.  Her whole blog is worth reading.  Here’s her post from Sept 21.

I need to tell you that God is so in control.

Or maybe, I need to tell myself.

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least. “19 year old college student” is not something I look like, feel like, or understand. But “African mother of ten, and then 150” is something that no one around me seems able to grasp.

It is this huge alone-ness.

People ask me if I think I have taken on more than I can handle. No, I don’t believe God’s plan for anyone will ever be more than he or she can handle.

People ask me how I will continue to provide for my family, after all, as a nursing major taking 19 hours, I can only work about 15 hours a week. I wonder, when these people ask this, if they have ever met me? “GOD WILL PROVIDE” has been the party line for quite some time now, and I don’t know why it is hard for people to understand. What that means is that yesterday I got a thousand dollar check in the mail that will pay rent and employees this month. Next week He will send another one that will help pay for electricity. When we run out of food, He will send more. I am not naive, and I am not stupid. I am DEPENDANT. I depend on a God who, I am certain, loves my children even more than I do and desires to give them life to the fullest.

I will spend a whole presentation talking about the 150 kids in my program and MY ten children who live in my house, who I feed and clothe and teach and love, who my heart aches for every single minute of every single day. And at the end of the presentation someone will say “oh, they call you mommy? that’s cute…” And I want to say WHAT? What do you think they call me? MY CHILDREN who I feed and clothe and teach and love and who my heart aches for every minute of every day, what do you think they should call me? Just because they don’t share my genes, or my skin color, or my ridiculously extravagant american life-style, they are not REALLY my children? wake up.

People ask me if i ever feel overwhelmed. When I answer yes, they ask me why, then, don’t I “scale back”. Ha. again I want to say WHAT? If I asked you to quit your family, would you say ok? If i asked you to pick one of your children to throw away, to forget about, to stop loving, could you do it? Of course not. This is not a business, I can’t just make some cuts. We are talking about people’s LIVES.

I was watching a Dane Cook video this morning (yes, sometimes I do normal college student things) For those of you who don’t know, Dane Cook is a hilarious, though sometimes vulgar comedian. I am not always a fan. But this morning he was talking about something that really spoke to me. He talked about those infomercials on TV with the little African girl with flies on her face playing in a puddle – you know the one. He talked about how the kind old man in his new khaki pants asks you nicely to send 15 cents to feed this little kid. And we flip the channel. Dane Cook says it’s the nice old guy’s fault. He argues that the nice old guy should instead be some leather-wearing, beard growing, intimidating guy who yells at you to get off your couch. It is heart-breakingly true.

I spend most of my time painting My God and My Savior as this “nice”, compassionate, loving Being who is gentle and kind and cuddles these kids and rocks them to sleep. I believe that He is that. But My God is also that intimidating guy in the leather jacket yelling at us to get up off our couches. A Warrior who throughout history has battled ferociously for his people. Our God is no meek, nice old man in khaki pants, asking us kindly to feed the children. No. He is this Mighty, Awesome Father who would fight, who would battle, who would DIE.

I’m not going to go so far as to say “no one understands”. Some people do…But some people don’t. And sometimes my sweet, innocent, “nice” little self wants to yell at these people to WAKE UP. Don’t ask me if I have taken on more than I can handle – I’m just trying my best to live in the middle of God’s plan for me. Don’t ask me how I will pay the water bill this month – I DON’T KNOW. But it will happen. Don’t ask me why my children call me “Mommy” – because I am their MOTHER. Don’t ask me if I might “cut back” – of course I won’t. God is up there yelling at us to get off our couches and I am just trying to do so.

It is this huge alone-ness.

Photo from Katie Davis

But He is filling it. Slowly, but carefully with people who understand, people who care, people who don’t mind just doing some laundry or grocery shopping, or paying this month’s water bill so my home can continue to provide showers and drinking water for my village. Just when I drain the bank account to buy this week’s food, He sends the money for the rent. Just when I think my heart will explode with longing, I get a phone call from a little chocolate colored person on the other side of the world who misses me and loves me and is just waiting for me to come home. He is providing, He is working, He is in control.

To visit her blog:  http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Cephas- March 2007

John and Esther’s second son, Cephas, was born with a heart condition that has needed to be corrected.  They first learned of his condition in March of 2007, and having been on a waiting list for 18 months, he has just been accepted to receive the needed procedure.

You can just imagine the joy of John and Esther when they received this wonderful news!  They had been watching their son struggling with his health over the last 18 months.  Please be praying for a smooth procedure (double-heart catheritization) which Cephas will receive in St. Louis, Missouri next week.  We thank God and we thank Samaritan’s Purse, Children’s Heart Project, whom the Lord is using to provide this procedure.

Cephas July 2008

Cephas July 2008 (2)

The Good

Little ones who turned out for Bible Club--in front of the partially roofed dining hall!

We have great news to report this week! The school’s safety needs are almost entirely funded.  As you may recall, due to a series of 30 school fires in Uganda, the Ministry of Education began closing schools, and gave others deadlines to complete required work.  Since the school is where most of the orphans board, keeping it open and safe is of utmost importance!

The requirements for the Nkumba school totaled $32,000, with a deadline for completion of Dec 31, 2008.

At first we were asking for the money in the blog posts, and then mid-stream, (after reading George Muller’s book) decided we ought to pray and ask God, our true provider, to meet this need.  He has done so, and it has increased our faith and brought glory to Him!

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2 Corinthians 9:12-13

Maize Fields

The Bad–John Mugabi 10/16/2008

2300 KG of maize was lost due to heavy rains and winds.  “The wind was too much, and it removed some iron sheets from the storage area, so the water got in and all our maize was lost.  This is a big blow.”  (This maize would have supplied approximately 4 months worth of their food program for the needy and its replacement cost is approximately $1350.)

"How can I get born again?"

The Beautiful–John Mugabi 10/14/2008

These students are doing their final exams to join Senior 5 next year.  After briefing them on how to behave during this period, I asked if any of them had a question.  One asked “How can I get born again?” I was so, so happy and at the end of the day six of them had given their lives to Christ.  This has made my week! What has made yours?

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

“Now that I have seen, I am now responsible.  Faith without deeds is dead.”

In today’s blog, we are simply sharing an incredible song written by Brooke Fraser after she traveled to Rwanda, Africa.  It’s one of those songs you love the first time you hear it.  Thank you Michelle for sharing it with us!

Until the last mouth is fed, until the last person hears the name of Jesus Christ, we are responsible to use every resource the Lord has entrusted to us to live not for ourselves, but for Him!

Lyrics

If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:16,17

The largest prison in Uganda

This is the wall behind which thousands of men have met Christ.

One of the most difficult tests for any preacher in the world is talking to a man or woman who the Courts of the World have already condemned to death.

One of the reasons people fail to carry out the great commission is the fear of facing challenges.  People fear to be asked questions which answers they do not know, and others are just not comfortable when they see the challenges in witnessing.

The best Choir on earth! Death Row Inmates

Over the past 7 years, I have been preaching in this section of prison called condemned, and my real training as an evangelist was from here.  In here, we have a fellowship of over 150 men and perhaps the best choir on earth is found here.

These men gave all their life to God and nothing else!!!!

This is evident through their love, commitment, and quest for God.  Seven days a week they are praying and singing.   If I am not at home, this is where I want to be.

I am very happy that much of our help for prison, 70%, is used in this section.  We thank you for giving.  Because they are being kept to die, most of them who are not believers yet exchange blood so as to get AIDS, that they may die earlier.  Could you please pray for us so that we are able to meet them all with the Word?

You are a potential prisoner!

Pray that God will bring hope in their hearts.

Pray for our Justice system–sometimes people are sentenced on improper investigations.

Did you know that we are all potential prisoners?  Do you know that it’s just by the grace of God that we are not in Prison??

I love Romans 8.

Pastor John Mugabi