Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her — Ephesians 5:25
Dear Friends and Family,
For the first time in what seems quite a while I feel like I am ending this month and approaching the new month with real expectancy and hope that things are moving forward: away from covid, away from elections and riots and towards something more real and full promise. Numbers of covid have been going down dramatically here in Uganda and the rest of the world is beginning their vaccines. Ministry outreaches and new studies are taking place and we now have freedom to gather together in large numbers once again.
This month has been a very exciting month for us here, especially at Arise Christian Fellowship. The restrictions for church meetings have been relaxed quite a lot. The children and I are now able to attend every service. There still is no Sunday school allowed but we are just rejoicing to be there full-time fellowshipping and worshiping with the body of Christ, our church family. The church is still meeting outdoors in the gardens as the social distancing mandates are still in effect. It is a good thing though because every service we have been to has been a full house or more. With social distancing we would not be able to all fit in the church sanctuary indoors. This month we had an afterglow with worship, prayer and communion.
We are so thankful for how the Lord has provided and kept us all safe during these months, or should I say year, of lockdowns. Our church can be very charismatic when it comes to worship but this afterglow was more than what I normally experience from the congregation. It was like the flood gates of worship had been opened and every thankful, loved heart was being poured out as an offering before the Lord. It was quite emotional for me. I cried tears of happiness to be once again in fellowship, I cried tears of joy to see the heart of worship of the People at Arise, and I wept during communion for the love Jesus showed us on the cross and continues to show us everyday through every circumstance we face. We had not had real communion since the churches reopened because one of the covid mandates for church was no eating or drinking or open items during church service. We were able to order these sealed communion cups that had the bread sealed with it. This meant each person had their own unopened communion and we could pray and take communion together as a body but still fulfill the no sharing food or drink rules.
Another fun event that took place at Arise Christian Fellowship this month was an Album launch. The keyboard player for our church, Eddie Mwesiga, is a very talented musician. He plays many instruments but keyboard and saxophone are his specialties. Eddie plays all over Uganda for events and weddings. He also writes many of his own worship songs. Recently he has launched a follow up album to his last album Suubi. His newest song is a remake of a Luganda worship song called, Tumutendereza Yesu. The name means, “we worship /praise you Jesus”. The church members are very supportive of him and turned up in big numbers to encourage and participate in his launch. Some of the guys even joined him up front to dance along in worship. We are looking forward to how the Lord will continue to use Eddie and his gift for music to reach the people of Uganda for Christ.
A very exciting occasion happened this month. Our missionary to South Sudan, Ivan, got engaged. We have been praying for him for a very long time. He had once been engaged and tragically lost her during the 2010 terrorist bombings here in Kampala. We are praising God that in His timing he brought Acen to Ivan. Ivan brought her down to Kampala to introduce her to his family and to Arise. There was much celebrating that day. Ivan led worship and shared how they met and officially introduced her to his home church family. Brian prayed for them and the whole church lifted hands and prayed for them. Their wedding will be sometime towards the end of this year.
Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.
In Him,
Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Thank the Lord for the Good things He has done! Praise Him for all He still will do!
- Pray for Arise Christian Fellowship and all the ministries they serve alongside as they look forward to what the Lord is going to do this year.
- Pray for many opportunities for outreach and the sharing of the gospel. Pray restrictions continue to lift so more ministry can take place.
- Pray for Jill and the children as they continue to figure out the rhythm for this school year .
- Pray for Eddie and the gift God has given him for music and writing songs. Pray that many will be blessed by him.
- Pray for the Kanyike family to remain healthy and safe.
- Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
- Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.