Prince of Peace in a Needy World

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is a great time for believers to reflect on the wonder of the Saviour, the Saviour of the world. Yesterday morning, as a vivid reminder that Jesus came to bring “peace on earth, the Lord brought to our home the Director of Scripture Union South Sudan along with his wife and two children to be our overnight guests. As we served tea to the weary family (they traveled about 24 hours by bus) Manasseh shared how he came to the Lord through a Filipina in Alexandria, Egypt when he was a college student back in 1987. Sylvia (from the Philippines) married to a Danish professor at the College, decided to start a Bible study to reach students. Manasseh was one who joined the study and eventually trusted Christ as his Saviour! Later his wife shared how she trusted Christ as Saviour after hearing a message from a “western preacher.” We praise God for the amazing way Filipinos, westerners, and people from many nations are used by God to reach other nations. For about ten years, Manasseh worked among Muslims in North Sudan. Now he and a number of volunteers reach hundreds of students in camps and schools in South Sudan. Last month we met Manasseh at the training and so it was also good to share and pray about implementation of that training, including the teaching of Biblical Values in schools (all Primary and Secondary schools in Juba are available for Scripture Union to teach this curriculum!) and use CrossTalk tracts to evangelize needy youth in war torn South Sudan.

Manasseh and his wife, Evonne

 This morning, he narrated what was happening exactly a year ago—his family and many others in Juba were literally dodging bullets which are still embedded in the walls of their home. Praise God there is relative peace now as peace talks are on-going. As God does it, the instability has caused a great spiritual hunger; he talked about how “easy” it is to win Muslims to Christ there in South Sudan. How he longs to be used of the Lord to share Jesus, the only One Who can bring true and lasting peace between mankind and God as well as with each other. We trust we’ll worship our Prince of Peace in a deeper way this Christmas as a result of Manasseh’s visit with us.

Kingdom Ripples

Last week, two Junior Scripture Union camps requested to use the test teaching copies of our newly developed Forgiveness module. “We can’t wait until this is printed, can we use the Test Teaching Lessons?”  One camp was fairly near-by here in Uganda, dozens of children were exposed to the transforming love and empowerment of God’s forgiveness as the story of Joseph and several other stories from that module.

And the other one…South Sudan! Last Saturday, a small Ugandan Eagle Air plane lifted off from Entebbe heading for northern Uganda and then into South Sudan.  Special permission was granted from the airline owner to transport three boxes of Bibles at no cost.  God enabled Beth and Susan to share God’s word at a camp of hundreds of children and youth; they shared especially with the children.  Susan shared one lesson from the Forgiveness lessons and her own personal testimony of how God enabled her to forgive an abusive stepmother.  So many children identified with pain and loss.  Praise Him for the opportunity to share God’s Word and values with precious South Sudanese. 

The "Lion" Hut

Room #4 in the Lion's Hut!

We took a break in our program last week and motored off to African Village, just about an hour’s drive east of where we live in Kampala.  Praise God for the beautiful change of scenery and pace!  We played Scrabble, took naps, swam, ate delicious food, prayed and enjoyed the beautiful landscaping and variety of birds the Village offered.  What a joy to have leisurely time to write Christmas cards to many who are a part of our lives and ministry, all the while thanking God for all of these blessings He has given to us.  We returned last week with new perspective.  And the hut where we stayed? Of all the African animals, we were assigned to the…Lion cottage—yes, a refreshing and assuring glimpse of our Lion of Judah.