From Generator to Light of the World Message

One Sunday morning, just under a year ago, Ruth and I visited the two groups of “STAR Kids” at West Highland Baptist in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  There was interest in a missions project. Fresh from our trip to East Africa, we knew that power outages were common in Kampala which would, of course, hinder progress on the godly values program (plus make life less than smooth!), and so suggested the need of a generator. And that’s what they did!

Well…when we did arrive here, we marveled at God’s provision of a fully furnished house…complete with an inverter system (using several truck batteries)…and got caught up in life. Then, a large envelope showed up in our postal box with hand-made cards from each grade of the STAR Kids, skillfully made with Ugandan flags, pictures of Ernie, stickers, signatures…and pictures of generators! Hmmm, what could we put the money toward which would still be meaningful and concrete for these precious (and generous) children?

In the Philippines, we had gotten involved in the production/distribution of various Gospel tracts which proved effective cross culturally. Here in Uganda, we found a total dearth of tracts. While chatting with the Scripture Union director, Laura offered to do a slight revision on one tract, God’s Offer, and get it printed here—of course he was delighted! Our friend, Larry, who had printed that tract in the Philippines sent us a digital copy and Laura was able to find a printer here reprint them. The offering from the STAR Kids enabled us to give more than 7,000 “God’s Offer” to Scripture Union the week before their 50^th Jubilee Anniversary thanksgiving and celebration. This Saturday is an all day celebration during which students from many schools who are (or have been) involved in Scripture Union clubs will march through Kampala…and Scripture Union plans to give each student a tract with an encouragement to use it to share the Gospel with others!

This past Sunday afternoon Ruth, Beth our Uganda friend and I talked to the STAR Kids via Skype video as part of their Sunday morning activities! How thrilling to see their smiling faces, wave back and forth, and share personally live from Kampala with these delightful children. For a while it seemed it would be impossible to use the video with the second group…but God cleared up the internet and we again had a great connection! Since God has already provided a way to have physical light despite electrical outages, their money is now helping to push back the spiritual darkness by presenting the The Light of the World in printed form!

Please pray that the Saturday Scripture Union celebration will bring much glory to our Lord Jesus Christ…and that these tracts will be mightily used of God in the hands of the students who join the celebration. Who knows what God will do with the “God’s Offer” booklets provided by the STAR kids?