The Kanyike Update – April 2019


Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.      Hebrews 10:25

Dear Friends and Family,

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

We pray that you all are having a wonderful time celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This month we once again saw many things taking place here in Uganda within the church, the guest house and our family.

First off we received the sad news that a very good friend of mine who I ministered with in the Refugee camp lost his 8 year old daughter. We were able to talk with him several times on the phone but unfortunately I was undergoing tests at that same time for blood clots so we could not attend the funeral.

On a positive note one of my pastors, Rob Douglass, came for the funeral and was a great encouragement to our friends during this very difficult time. He was able to stay with us for one week. When I moved to Uganda almost 20 years ago to work with FRM in the Sudanese refugee camp, Rob was our team leader. The last time Rob was with me in Uganda was for Brian’s and my wedding. Rob walked me down the aisle. While Rob was here we spent a lot of time reminiscing and sharing all that we have seen God do and have experienced over the years. It is amazing how our faith grows when we remember all that God has already done. It gives us hope for all that God has yet to do. Since Rob was here for a Sunday he was able to share at Arise Christian Fellowship. In light of the death of our friends daughter, eternity had been on everyone’s mind. Rob taught the church a message on eternity. To help us better visualize what the message truly meant he used a long rope with about one inch on the end taped off to demonstrate how our life on earth is like the small section of rope while eternity, like the long part of the rope draped around the sanctuary, keeps on going . He challenged the church as to what they are living for. Were they living for that small one inch moment in time or were they living for those things that would matter for eternity. It was a very powerful message for everyone who was listening. The church was so blessed by the message they are still talking about it. I was so blessed to have someone I consider family to be with me and meet our church family at Arise.

For the last 10 years Tuesdays means Women’s Bible Study at my house.  It started off with just a few ladies from one church but has since evolved into a larger study with at least 4 churches represented and about as many or more nationalities.  Our group focuses on the Word of God, prayer and fellowship.  I alternate between teaching books of the Bible and relevant topical issues.  After each teaching I give a handout of discussion questions for the women to work on through out the week so they keep thinking and meditating on Gods word we have been learning.  Every Tuesday we begin by discussing the questions and sharing what the Lord has showed us through out the week.  After each study we share our prayer requests and praise reports with one another and then take time to pray over each request and for one another.  As the group leader I often feel like I am so privileged to be the one who studies and prepares the teachings because I feel I learn so much and often times that the message is for me and what is going on in my life.  I pray the ladies get as much out of what I am able to share.  Currently we are going trough a study I titled “Everything Unto the Lord”.   It is based on three scriptures the Lord used to minister to me while I was in the states very sick and mourning the loss of my mom.  It has been encouraging for me to be reminded that all we do is for the Lord and that even when times are tough they can be used to glorify God.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Rob.jpg
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Praying.jpg
Praying together

The Lord is always surprising us with how He is going to provide.  We recently were talking about how we wished we could get some sturdier chairs for the church but did not have enough money to do so.  It was really a necessity because a couple of times already the plastic chairs we have crumpled, then snapped causing the people sitting in them to fall down.   This past month just 2 weeks before Easter, we got a call from Pastor Michael from South Sudan telling us they were bringing down 50 of the chairs from their old church.  It was such a surprise and just in time for the holidays.  We are so thankful.  The whole church clapped and ulated in thanksgiving to God and Calvary Chapel Cush for blessing us.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Guest-preacher.jpg

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill,Luke, Laylee and Liana           

Prayer Requests                                               

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 201904-9.jpg
  • Praise the Lord for the ministry and spiritual growth of the member at Arise Christian Fellowship.
  • Praise the Lord for his continued provision and blessing upon Arise Christian Fellowship
  • Pray for our friends James and Jane Nyika who lost their 8 year old daughter.
  • Pray for Jill’s health to continue to improve and for the treatment of her thyroid and blood clots to be successful.
  • Please for Jill’s dad who is in the hospital with sepsis and heart failure.
  • Pray for all the ministries of Arise Christian Fellowship as well as the other ministries we partner with..
  • Pray for Jill and the children as they homeschool. Pray for the children to be excited about learning.
  • Pray for Brian as pastors and leads our ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
  • Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.