I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.   -Psalm 138:2

Each month we share about the different ministries that take place through Arise Christian Fellowship and Far–Reaching Ministries.  As I was reviewing all the things that have taken place in this last month, one thing has really stood out to me: the emphasis of teaching or sharing God’s Word.  It is the foundation of all the ministries, outreaches, and events that take place.  Isaiah tells us that God’s Word will not return void, Romans tells us that faith comes from hearing God’s Word and 2 Timothy tells us to teach what we have learned to others who might teach it as well.  As I review and write about what is happening in the ministry here in Uganda, I pray that all of these are being fulfilled and are a testimony to others.

This past month I started a new women’s study on Tuesday mornings at my house.  We happened to start on my birthday which is also in the birthday week of a couple of the ladies in my study so it seemed like a good day to begin and begin with lots of cake. During our last study, I taught a series on Everything unto the Lord.  It was based on scriptures and lessons the Lord was teaching while I was sick and having just lost my mom.  This current study I have called Suffering, Spiritual Warfare and The Armor of God.  

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The theme came about at the end of our last study when many of the women were questioning and sharing about how much suffering we all seem to keep going through.  I definitely could not argue with that.  We began the study looking at the verse from John 16:33, where Jesus says, “In this world, you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world.” We talked about how there is such a misconception and false teaching in the world today that Christians will not suffer if they have enough faith. Jesus never taught this and the life of the disciples and Paul definitely did not reflect this. After every teaching, I always give the ladies discussion questions to take home so they keep studying and meditating on what we’ve been learning throughout the week.

After I gave them homework to study deeper, the Lord gave me my own homework. That night I got a phone call that my dad is dying and I should come right away. As I write this I am currently with my dad who is not well but still has not passed. I came without my children. I want them to remember their Papa the way he was when we were here last year. Also, my sisters needed a lot of help getting his affairs in order. I only have 3 days left here and am torn, happy my dad is still alive but sad to leave knowing the inevitable is coming and I won’t be here. I am glad I came when I did though, my sisters needed me and while I know they wish I could stay longer, I know I am leaving them with things ready for when the time comes. Please keep my family in prayer, it truly has been a season of suffering.

This past month we also started a new fellowship. It meets on Thursdays at 4 pm in an area called Kireka West. It is about half an hour from the church and where we live. The Fellowship came about because of a young lady in our church called Peace, of whom I have written before. She is the mother of 2 sets of twins and her husband abandoned them when she was pregnant with the second set.  Because she lives so far away it was too expensive for her to come to church every week and there are no churches in the area where she lives because it is a very Muslim area. Peace comes from a Muslim family, though she herself is a Christian. Brian and I have been helping her with transport once a month but she really needed more fellowship than that. Also, because of our help after Peace’s husband left, her Muslim family members have been more open to listening to Bible teaching. All of these factors, plus prayer led us to start the fellowship at Peace’s place. So far there are about 6 people attending and we are praying that more would join us.

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Every year there is an organization called Journey Together that hosts a retreat for missionary women. The goal of the retreat is to bring missionaries together to be refreshed through God’s Word, fellowship and counseling if needed. This year the topic was Walking in the Light.  Our worship leader from Arise Christian Fellowship, Evelyn, was asked to come and lead worship with one of the missionary worship leaders.  Besides leading worship Evelyn was also asked to share her testimony with the ladies. Evelyn said it was a privilege to be able to serve these women who are giving so much to serve here. She was also excited to have the opportunity to share the great things the Lord has done in her life as an encouragement to the women there and as a reminder to herself. There were about 45 missionaries from all over Uganda and South Sudan who attended. We pray they all returned to their areas of ministry ministered to and refreshed in the Lord.

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Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry in Uganda.

In Him, Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

•  Praise the Lord for the ministry and spiritual growth of the members at Arise Christian Fellowship.
•  Pray for my family as we prepare for the loss of my father.  Pray for my father to be comfortable and not to be afraid.
• Pray for my new women’s Bible study, that we would truly learn what God’s word says about suffering.
• Pray for the new Fellowship in Kireka West.  Pray for Peace and for her Muslim family to be reached.
• Pray for all the outreaches and ministries of Arise Christian Fellowship.  
• Pray for Brian as pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship. 
• Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.