November always is a time for our family to reflect on all that God has blessed us with and how thankful we are that He has chosen us to serve Him.
Our family prays that our November newsletter finds you and your family well. We have been so encouraged by so many of you who have decided to partner with us in prayer as well as joining our monthly financial partnership team. It is truly humbling to read your e-mails, letters, and to hear your words of encouragement as we step into ministry. Your support means so much to my family and we look forward to what God is going to do with His team. Who makes up His team?? God, you and us!!!
Since answering God’s call, for our family to become missionaries in August, the past 3 months have been such an adventure that it is difficult to know where to begin. The ministry has been involved in what we like to call “The Perfect Storm” which consisted of three massive opportunities.
Upon my return from Africa on Thursday August 26th I was blessed to work with Saving Grace World Missions (SGWM) on Friday August 27th at the SGWM Golf Tournament. Although the jet lag from my Africa trip should have kicked in, God saw fit to take that from me. I was able to come along side Mike Thiemann, the director of SGWM, and many loving servants to make this years golf tournament one to remember. From the beginning of the day we knew that God was going to bless the tournament. He directed all the beautiful weather, the golf, the $10,000 hole-in-one shot, and the mission’s presentation during dinner. The excitement of the day came to a head as we unveiled our “50 for 20” program to assist missionaries all over the world. The goal of the “50 for 20” program is to spread the word about SGWM and what God is doing. We are prayerfully seeking 50 supporters to donate $20 per month to the SGWM general fund. This program will allow SGWM to thrive and grow to the level God has designed. For more information on the “50 for 20” program please go to www.sgwm.com. The buzz after the event was palpable we even heard many golfers saying “I can’t wait until next year, this tournament was so much fun”.
It was a quick turn around and it was time for the 6th Annual Promise Child Golf Tournament on October 1st. What started out as a small tournament 6 years ago has grown into one of the most highly anticipated events for Promise Child. God again was faithful!!! For the 1st time in 6 years the event was completely sold out. Not even a lightning, thunder, and rainstorm that Southern California hasn’t seen in years could dampen the excitement of the day. Laughter, fellowship, and the desire to help children all around the world was the common bond woven throughout the day. On a personal note I was able to win the longest drive contest and win a brand new iPod shuffle. After a compelling presentation from Brent Kaser (founder of Promise Child) and Rob Douglass (founder of Ends of the Earth Ministries) the crowd was moved to help in anyway they could. I was able to emcee the raffle and auction portion of the presentation. It is wonderful to be a small part of the Promise Child team and to watch God guide and provide for the needs of children all over the world.
The third event was the 2010 Harvest Festival hosted by Calvary Chapel Saving Grace here in Yorba Linda on Saturday October 30th. Our/my prayer was to make this event a true outreach to our community. GOD DID IT!!! I began to see God’s work as it unfolded in front of my eyes for what HE wanted the Harvest to be. God provided a corner lot (connected to our church) on Imperial Hwy, which is the busiest street in Yorba Linda, FREE of charge. Then God provided light poles, lights and electricity for FREE. Then He provided access to the lot a few days early, which allowed us to prep the area in advance, rather than trying to do it in one day. He stopped the rain and brought out the sunshine and allowed us to finish the set up in advance of the opening of the festival. God then showed us His plan by bringing out twice as many people to the Harvest then in past years and of those people more than 60%-70% of the people who attended were not from our church. Calvary Chapel Saving Grace was able to witness, show the love of Christ and be a light to our community on this day.
November and December will be spent mostly on raising support for our ministry, so that we can hit the ground running in 2011. I would love to share God’s plans for our ministry with you, your family, small group, or church. Please feel free to contact me and we can schedule a time where we can come share the vision.
Praise Reports:
God provided a perfect job for Cyndy in the medical field at an ob/gyn doctors office, which she loves.
Praise God that the illness and pain that our daughter Taylor was having in her stomach has subsided, although she is not completely healed or diagnosed she is able to attend school.
We praise God everyday as we were blessed to be able to send our son, Caden, to a Christian school where he is making so many friends and daily learning about God
My mother-in-law (Mandy) will be moving in with us in November. Mandy has always been a blessing to our family.
My mother (Charmaine) was able to come out and stay for a couple of weeks and has completely blessed us by her visit (not just because she makes me curry on a regular basis), but her support of our ministry is so wonderful.
Prayer Requests:
Although we are receiving monthly support from a hand full of monthly supporters (thank you), we are not quite to our monthly goal. We have faith that God will provide for all of our needs, as he has always done in the past and we covet your prayers.
Please pray that I (Chris) would be able to communicate properly as I have been teaching in the children’s ministry for sometime.
Please pray that God would provide a hedge of protection around our family and the ministry.
Please pray for my daughter Jordyn and son-in-law Daine who are newly married.
Please pray for an open door at Yorba Linda High School so that I may be able to share with their bible club on campus.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
In His Service,
Chris
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Our Promise Child Day was so much fun and a great testimony of what the Lord is doing here in Midigo, Uganda. All the Promise Child families met us at Calvary Chapel Midigo. We greeted the children, parents, and caretakers and told them we were preparing a feast for them for lunch. A Promise Child supporter donated a bunch of soccer balls & cones, and I went ahead of the children to a nearby soccer field to set things up for us to do drills with the children. As I stood on the field, all I could see was wave after wave of children running onto the field. Girls in one line, boys in the other; they dribbled through the cones and froze me in my tracks as they scored goal after goal on me.
Next, it was time to share the gospel message with the children and their caretakers. It seems as if the program here has doubled in size; the church was filled with over 300 people anxious to hear what we had to say. We talked for a half hour straight as the kids sat at perfect attention. The message was simple, clear and to the point: To die without Jesus being your Savior means separation from God for eternity. While no one openly accepted the Lord we know His Word returns no void.
After the message, we had a time for questions and answers. The questions the parents had were amazing and you could really tell they cared for the children. We addressed the children about how important it was to be obedient to their caretakers, how they should work hard in school and love God. As we asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up, we realized we were in the presence of many future pilots, teachers, and nurses.
Lunch was finally ready and we realized that we had overlooked one little detail… this is the season of Ramadan; a time for Muslims to fast from sunrise to sunset. A few of the older people complained a bit and only the children went in line for food. I thought “Oh no, we must have totally offended everyone!” But to our surprise and joy, one by one, they all got in line and broke their fast. Perhaps the message of freedom in Chirst did get through after all. It was a joy to see these children and their parent’s filling their bellies in Jesus’ name.
We heard stories of victory as we followed up on people who gave their lives to the Lord last year. One Promise Child mother of 4 children who is HIV positive and looked about ready to die last year surrendered her life to Jesus when we were with her last year. When I saw her we smiled and hugged. Brent held her hand and asked through an interpreter if she has stayed committed to Jesus. She said yes and told us last time we saw her she was brewing and drinking alcohol for a living. Now she has stopped, attends church regularly, and looks great!
In the late afternoon, we talked with some of the leaders of CC Midigo and spent time with Melissa Hubbell an American missionary working in Midigo. She is engaged to Vincent, a pastor at the church. Vincent has been building a small tukul for them to move into after they are married,and we were able to take a tour. Apparently the outside was Vincent’s and the inside was Melissa’s to decorate and design. We are excited for what God is doing in their lives. Then we went to the home of Richard; the leader of the children’s ministry. We entered into his beautiful home and fellowshipped and prayed together. When we were done, Richard commented on the fact that we are now more that just friends we are good friends. It is amazing how God can unite the body of Christ.
From Midigo, we traveled to Arua to visit the new Calvary Chapel that has been planted there. I’ll tell you all about that visit in the next update.
We are finished with our stay in Uganda, and are making our way to Nairobi, Kenya to teach at the Calvary Chapel East Africa Pastor’s Conference. Please continue to keep us in prayer.
Chris
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Written by Brent
For Chris and I to be back in Africa together two years after our first trip to Uganda to start the Promise Child program was really great for us. We are uniting and our fellowship has been great. Today was a whirlwind as we went from hut to hut visiting and encouraging the Promise Child families. Our first visit was special because it was with a family that was literally living in huts that were falling down two years ago. Through your support we were able to relocate them and to a safe area into brand new huts. Last year our teams installed malaria nets and viewed the harvest of corn that was purchased for them. At that time we promised the boys a bicycle so they could use it to fetch water, take maize to the mill and go to church. Since the support began they have totally surrendered their lives to Christ and never miss a day at church. To hear first hand how a simple $85 bike can so touch a life was awesome. They smiled and told us stories about how far they have ridden. Being a bicycle enthusiasts we were impressed how well maintained and clean the bike was. The boys and the small tribe of children who had followed us to the village roared as Brent road the bike in circles around the huts. The mother softly told us in almost a whisper that she love how the word of God is being taught at Calvary Chapel Midigo, a testimony of the heart that has been changed from the love that has been poured out to this family.
Our next stop was also a stop that jarred our memories. We first met this old grandmother two years ago as she told us how hard it was to take care of her grandchildren after their mother had died. You could see the pain in her eyes as she talked about not being able to provide for even the most basic needs. I (Brent) remember asking her sweet ten year old grand daughter if she would be happy to have a new school uniform, she got a big smile and said yes. I (Brent) instantly broke into tears being moved by what joy the simplest of gifts can provide. Pastor Juventine teased me (Brent) by saying we are going to the place you started to cry.
It was great to be back but hard to see this old woman suffering from a broken leg, she made her best effort to stand and greet us but could not fully rise off of the small wooden chair she was resting on. When we asked if the support has made a difference, she talked none stop thanking God and sharing how it has changed their lives. When she was asked if she knew Jesus she did she did not, it reminded me that the people in the village harassed her about us trying to convert her grandchildren to Christianty. She told them that it was fine if they did and asked the Muslims what they had done to help her in her time of need. As we shared the Word of God with her you could see the Holy Spirit was touching her. When asked if she would like to receive Jesus she said yes, but I have never prayed before. She gave her life to Jesus and it was amazing how many people were around listening to the gospel message as this family patriarch made the life changing commitment to follow Christ.
We remembered what joy the boys from the previous family had over receiving a bike and we asked the four children if they would want a family bicycle as well. As if they were singing a song in perfect unison all we could see was the bright white of their smiles. When we asked who would be the first to ride they humbly looked at each other and did not answer but I am sure they all would love to be the first.
Our next stop was Calvary Chapel Yumbe, the people had been patiently waiting for us for hours. When we arrived we were greeted by the Promise Child and their parents and caretakers. The caretakers are here because so many of these children have been orphaned or abandoned. I shared a bit about who I was before Christ and what knowing Jesus has done for me. I told them I now have a love in my heart for them that I never had before I knew Christ. Chris followed up with a powerful gospel message, the crazy thing is that these people are all Muslims. Having them look and listen so intently to Chris as the Lord ministered through him was incredible. I can’t begin to tell you how proud of my best friend I was. The parents then asked some great questions about the program and I feel like everyone left more informed about what the Promise Child program here is all about. One thing I know for sure they now know that it is not only about their physical needs being met but there spiritual needs as well.
Many of you have heard or read about the woman who was crippled left to beg with her five children. On a daily basis she did not know where the next meal would come from and often times her children would do without any food at all. Three months ago her twin boys were dying of malnourishment. They were so weak they could barely crawl on the dirt. To see these boys walking to us as we arrived was nothing short of a miracle. We asked this precious woman what the support has done for her and the children. She spoke for five minutes straight, talking about food, clothing, security and gratitude. Her eyes teared up as she told us how very thankful she was to God and the supporters. We shared the gospel message with her and let her know that many people back home have been moved by her story and were praying for her. You could see that she was moved as she reflected about the fact that she was known as the town beggar, the one that nobody would ever think about and know strangers in a far land cared about her. All I can say is thank you for your love and prayers they are having a powerful impact on the lives of people all over the world. Just before we left one of the twins climbed up into my (Brent) arms, rested his tired head on my shoulder and fell asleep…a perfect ending to a beautiful day of ministry in Uganda. We love you all!
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