CrossTalk Evangelism - First Fruits!

Showing the printer proofs of the CrossTalk tract

Concerned about the absence of Gospel literature in Uganda, several month ago I began e-mailing a publisher of evangelistic tract based in Dallas, Texas, who had generously provided tracts for the school ministry in the Philippines. Following some research with Scripture Union leadership, the Vice President of the Dallas based organization agreed to have their graphic artist adjust the drawings to better fit the African context.  He also agreed to a partnership of providing their Cross Talk tract for children.   

Dickens and Laura holding the first tracts
to be delivered

An order was given to a Printer here and Saturday I saw the first CrossTalks, fresh off the press.  The first copies were presented on Monday to Dickens, Scripture Union Director.  Then our SU friend, Beth, requested the tracts be tested today in a small group setting at her Christmas Party. What a joy to give orientation to the workers and then see them using the tract in sharing the Gospel to the children!  Seven children trusted Christ as Saviour in the small group who used those tracts.  Praise God!  

Susan sharing the CrossTalk during the
children's Christmas Party

A Scripture Union Camp leader has also decided to use the CrossTalk in her camp next week as well as teach the Honesty VOICE lessons.  Ruth and I will join twenty plus camp staff next week to help train and orientate these workers to this evangelism tool and to the VOICE curriculum. 

“I Had to Read the Rest of the Story”

My personal highlight for doing the children’s “Queen Esther” continued story at KBC (Kampala Baptist Church) this past Sunday wasn’t my puppet nor was it the children, as precious as they are...it was my assistant. Early in the week I requested the KBC Secretary to suggest a male who could sit with the children and read two verses from Esther.  On Friday I called the number given me, and talked to a certain “Moses.” I discovered he was a 2^nd year University Commerce student who had previously worked with the youth and was looking forward to assisting with the children. Esther 5:11-12 were the verses I requested him to read for me as part of the story. Sunday morning between Sunday School and Church I met Moses for the first time; he struck me as a sharp guy.  When we talked about his sitting with the children and reading those verses, a smile lit his face, “you know when I first read this, I had to read the whole story to find out about this Haman guy.”  Praise God for allowing me to introduce the astonishing story of Esther to my new friend, Moses.  His love for the Lord and children made him a wonderful assistant.  I am suspicious God has something special for this young man and pray for the rest of God’s story in Moses’ life.

Hunting for the “Lion” in the Midst of Tragedy

Several times a day this past week, we’ve been on Facebook (in contrast to our maybe once or twice a week!), reading, listening, watching for news about the Philippines as well as lifting our heavy spirits to our God on behalf of our beloved country. We, along with others, prayed that God would neutralize its power as we heard of its pending arrival…but God chose to answer “no” to that prayer…and now we pray that the next storm brewing in the same area would be nullified…and will see what God chooses to do. Yesterday I was reading of how Jesus stilled the storm that found Him sleeping in the boat and I was jolted by the words “and it was completely calm”…He still has the power to stop a super typhoon in its tracks and instantly make it “completely calm.” We’ll never to able to understand God’s purposes on this side of heaven, but we choose to believe that He is still sovereign and has good purposes for all that He allows to happen. No doubt there will be amazing stories emerge from this typhoon of how God miraculously protected some, etc.—we’ve already read one story of a small boy who clung to the floating trunk of a coconut tree for six hours in the furious ocean and was washed up on shore…still alive (now pray that he can be reunited with his family). But, when you really think of it, God chose to not stop the single event in history that was infinitely more tragic than this typhoon—the crucifixion of His Own perfect holy Son…and then realize all the “good” that came out of that tragedy, including my own salvation from eternal hell. He does know what He is doing and can be trusted!

Here in Uganda, we did see the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” this week in the testimonies of the three Ugandan men who are part of the WorldVenture Advisory Board. All three shared their testimonies during our WorldVenture annual meetings (one of them for 1 ½ hours!) and each one had tragic things happen that would cause others to walk away from God, but they chose to remain true and press on. They were very humble, but our WorldVenture Uganda director and others who know them eagerly gave testimony to how many people they have touched and brought to Christ as their Savior. Their determination to trust God in the midst of tragedy has caused their light to shine brightly and to challenge/encourage me/us to do the same. Despite what comes our way, let’s keep our eyes on the Lion of the Tribe of Judah…He is sovereign, all wise, all powerful, and faithful, no matter what.