Spreading the Gospel! UGANDA!!

Good morning Friends!!  Today this Monday Message is going to be a little different as I have a personal Praise and Prayer request to share with you all today.  One of my favorite passages since I was a little girl growing up in the mission field is what we affectionately call the “Great Commission!”  Matthew 28:19-20 says this: “Go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING them to obey Everything I have commanded you.  And Surely I am with you ALWAYS, to the very end of the age.”  I Love this commission with ALL my heart.  I LOVE all four parts of it!  Did you catch what Jesus has commanded us to do?  GO to the people who need Jesus!  Lead them to Christ so they become His Disciples.  Baptize them!  TEACH them ALL Jesus Commanded!  I Love that we are called to such action!  There is NOTHING boring about following Jesus!!  It doesn’t matter where we are, we are always called to GO to those who need Jesus, there are disciples waiting to made, there are those who are ready to be baptized and those who long to be taught the Word of God!!  

Some of you may know this, but for those who do not, I want to share this with everyone who is willing to be in prayer over the next 16 days!!  Six of us are leaving TODAY for Uganda Africa!!  It is both a privilege and blessing to get to GO and share the love of Jesus Christ to the beautiful and precious people of Uganda.  Ever since I was a young girl I have had a heart for this continent.  This will be my second time in Africa, and I am thrilled to be going back!  This trip is doubly special for me as I have the opportunity to speak to women at a three day teaching and equipping conference!  Hundreds are coming from over 5 different countries along with pastors and elders who will also be part of this conference separately.  It is very rare to have the opportunity for women to have something put together specifically for them.  The women of Uganda are incredibly undervalued and often treated with high levels of abuse.  I am praying that this is a special time where they can meet with Jesus and experience His LOVE lavished on them.  That they would KNOW His Amazing Grace and His Intense Favor that is poured out on them.  My heart is that they would know how MUCH they are worth to their Savior!  That He seeks them out, that He invites them to be His Disciple and that He sends them out with a Powerful Purpose!  I would love to ask you for prayer anytime the Lord lays us on your heart.  There is a saying about Africa, “The gospel has spread miles wide in Africa, but it is only an inch deep!”  This saying is quite accurate because of the lack of Bibles available to them, and because of a lack of training in the Word!  We have been blessed with the opportunity to provide over a hundred bibles to the pastors and leaders while we are there, and we are SO thankful to everyone who was a part of making that possible!!  There is NO better gift than the Word of God!  The teaching pastor of my home church will be going with me and will be teaching pastors and elders at the conference, we have two people who will be working with children and youth, and another two who will be equipping Sunday School teachers.  I would ask for prayer for each one of them as they are faithful to show the love of Christ to each one they minister to.  We will also be visiting aids hospitals, orphanages, and we get to have the opportunity to be a part of a Well Dedication and Baptisms as well.  This is a wonderful opportunity and each of us Trust the Lord to Go before us and be with us every step of the way!  We pray for His Wisdom, Equipping, Leading, and Protection while we are there!  Our great desire is to be surrendered to His Will everyday!  May His Kingdom Come and His Will be Done, in Uganda as it is in heaven!!  I would personally ask for prayer over the families we are leaving behind for this trip.  I would be so grateful for prayer over our children and spouses, friends, and ministries while we are away.  I know that would mean SO much for each one of us!  We are praying that we will be able to bless these people in some way, but we are sure that these people will be blessing us each and every day!  I cannot wait to worship with them, dance with them, and pray with them.  The Global body of Christ is the most beautiful and miraculous entity I know of.  I can’t wait to hug and love on my sisters and brothers on the other side of the globe!  How Incredible to meet some more of my family in Christ this side of heaven.  I am reminded of the scripture from Romans 10:14, “How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?”  I am SO excited to tell them that JESUS LOVES THEM!!!  Thank you for your prayers!!!  James 5:16 tells us that the prayer of a righteous person has Great Power as it is working!  The Power of God is Found in the Prayers of the saints!!  With Great Anticipation I look forward to sharing with you all about the great things our God has done!  Thank you for your love and prayers!