Kanyike Family

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14a

Dear Friends and Family,

We pray that you all had a nice summer and endured the various heatwaves and natural disasters that we heard about on the news. Even here in Uganda the weather has been challenging. We had a very rainy dry season which is proving difficult for the farmers trying to harvest. It has also led to much sickness, flooding and other difficulties for the people here. I see many people waking up spiritually and turning to the Lord through this season. I believe God is always working even in the hard times and bad weather to draw us to Himself. How interesting it always is to me that it it is usually in the hardest times we seek Him most and though we all desire blessings and peace it is during those time we often tend to drift from Him. I am praying that we would all seek Him and worship Him continually, in the good times and the bad.

This past month the my Women’s Bible study finished our study on seeing Jesus through Old Testament stories. It was such a fun study. The ladies, many of whom are Sunday School teachers, were so surprised with how stories they have not only read but have even have taught many times to kids, contain so much more than they had ever seen. I am always so blessed that I get to be the teacher because through the studying and preparing I do to teach I learn so much more than I can actually teach in a lesson. The ladies really seemed to have grown in their faith and in their hunger to know even more and then to take that and share it with others.

To celebrate the end of the study we had a party and a quiz. The ladies divided into 2 teams. I put a beaded scepter or lion beater as they call it here in the middle of the table and then when I read the question whoever grabbed the scepter and held it in air first got to answer the question. It was loud, chaotic and a lot of fun. Also it was a blessing to see that they had been paying attention and remembering all the things I had taught them. After the games and food I said “lets pray” and they said wait they had something for me. Then one of the ladies came with a gift bag and told me to go open it in the other room and come back with it. It was a beautiful African dress and when I came out in it they were all hugging me and then they also had earrings and a necklace for me and put them on me. They then shared testimonies of how God had used the study and thanked me for taking time to prepare and teach them. I was so blessed I cried. It is really my privilege that God allows me to serve Him and teach these ladies!

The two weeks following the celebration of the end of our last study we took a short break so I could study and put together a study guide and discussion questions for our next Women’s Study. For our next study I felt led to teach “What We Believe and Why”. It is based on our statement of faith at Arise Christian Fellowship. I felt that all of us women have so much influence in children’s lives, whether they are our own or we teach them in Sunday School, that we should be firmly grounded and knowledgeable in what we believe. This past week we had our introduction and I handed out their study guides. As they looked at the discussion questions they expressed how they were both excited and nervous at how in-depth the questions are. I really want to challenge them to search the scriptures themselves and to see for themselves why they believe what they do.

This past month I also had two things to celebrate. I celebrated by birthday and 26 years of serving God in Uganda. It is hard to believe that I am so old and that I have lived in Uganda for so long. I have truly lived and seen God do so many things in my life. If I were talented in writing I would write a book and even then I do not know how I could put all these experiences into words or convey what having the privilege of being a missionary all these years means to me. I am blessed that He has still given me more years to know Him and make Him known. At church the Sunday School, well at least half, came to the sanctuary and sang me happy birthday. It was so beautiful and also hard to believe how many children there are. I can’t wait to see what this year holds for me and what the future holds for these children being “trained in the way they should go”.

This past month we also celebrated 2 more baby dedications. If you did not think the Sunday school was big enough, for sure the church is growing it. At Arise Christian Fellowship we do not believe in baby baptism but we do dedicate our children to the Lord like Hannah in the Bible dedicated Samuel when he was born and he served the Lord all his life. We pray for the baby, the parents and the church, as we are all part of the babies life and helping them grow up to know the Lord.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• We are thankful for everyone who partners with us to share the gospel and disciple the believers in Uganda
• Pray for the women in Jill’s Bible study to not just learn with head knowledge but that the word of God would penetrate their hearts and change their lives. Pray that they would share what they are learning with others.
• Pray for the children of Arise. Pray that they would truly be trained in the way they should go and that they would personally make decisions to follow Jesus.
• Pray for safety in Kampala the closer Uganda gets to elections.
• Pray for health and safety as the weather has caused many people to be sick and face challenges.
• Pray for the Kanyike’s finances.
• 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.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

Dear Friends and Family,

Do you ever have those times when you see someone after a long time, and it seems like no time has gone by or that they have always been there?

This past month we experienced that with Joel and Isaac, leaders from my home church.  Since Arise Christian Fellowship began about 10 years ago, we have been trying to have some of my home church pastors or leaders come to visit.  Every time a trip was planned something would happen from the pandemic to our kids getting called last year for their citizenship. We have really seen that a man makes a plan, but God directs his steps. Finally, this year we made plans again and it was now God’s timing. His timing was evident in the ministry that took place and the fruit that was produced in the short time they were here.

The day after they arrived, we had a BBQ with all of the church leadership so they could get to know them. All the leaders shared something about themselves, their ministries and how God called them to where they are now. They also shared some of their visions for future ministry. Joel and Isaac shared about themselves as well. One of the blessings was Isaac sharing with Timothy who is our youth leader as well as teaches when Brian is not able. He shared how he has been serving in his role as youth leader and teacher for 5 years but is not yet ordained.  This encouraged Timothy because he serves in a very pastoral role but is not yet a pastor. The BBQ ended with some worship and prayer for the ministry that would take place over the next couple days.

The following day Joel and Isaac had a men’s conference at the church. The theme of the conference was Being A Biblical Man. When we were advertising the conference, we invited the youth or young men as well since they are the next generation of Godly men. It was a surprise that the teens almost outnumbered the men on the day of the conference. Both Joel and Isaac taught. The topics included Being a Biblical Man, The Man Who Loves God, and A Man Used by God. They alternated leading worship with the men from our worship team and teaching a session. Laylee, Liana, and I didn’t get to hear the teachings since we are not men, but we managed to enjoy some of the worship when we came to serve  food to the men on their lunch break. After the teachings were over, they spent time talking and answering questions. The men from Arise have expressed their thankfulness for the one-on-one discussions.

On the same day as the conference but in the late afternoon Joel and Isaac went to the market to see where the church first began under a tree. While they walked around, they were able to engage in a conversation with some Muslims. At the same time Timothy, our youth leader, also found himself in a conversation with a Muslim.  We pray that the seeds that were planted that day will grow into fruit.

The following day was a Sunday and Joel preached the sermon and Isaac led worship with our worship team. Our worship leader said that it was as if he’d always been a part of their team and very little rehearsal was needed because they all flowed together in worship. Joel taught on the Joy of Repentance from Psalm 51. The timing was perfect for us women as the Wednesday before we had just learned about David and we talked about the sin that had led to this psalm being written.  GOD truly worked out this trip according to His timing.

After church the guys came home with some of the church leadership for a quick lunch then headed out for home visits. Our church members are very blessed when visitors come to their homes. Many live in a nearby slums or shanty town area next to the market. When we go for home visits, we of course visit church members but also try to visit people who are shut-ins and those who still need to hear the gospel.  Often when we go it is with a large team, and it becomes more like an open-air crusade because everyone cannot fit in their small homes but with Joel and Isaac it was much more personal. We pray for the many people who were touched by their prayers and visit to see their good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

On their last day with us Isaac went to play basketball and fellowship with Luke’s basketball team and friends. Some of them are Christian but many are not. We are always praying for them and for Luke to be a light.  Luke, Laylee and Liana were very blessed last year when they were able to be a part of the youth at my home church. All of them connected with Isaac and especially Luke has kept in contact for guidance and support since we returned to Uganda. For them it was as if he came just to visit them. That evening another missionary from where Joel and Isaac were going to visit next came as well as our worship leader. After dinner Isaac led us in worship, some of which were songs from Saving Grace that only we knew but everyone who was there now loves.

They returned the day they had to fly out and our whole family accompanied them to the airport as we were all sad to see them go and wanted every last minute of fellowship. It took almost 10 years for this visit to take place, but it was worth the wait, and we look forward to when they can come again, hopefully sooner this time but definitely in God’s timing.

We are thankful for the prayers and support you give our family and the ministry in Uganda.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee and Liana

Prayer Requests

• We are thankful for Saving Grace and for not giving up on coming to see the church plant, Arise Christian Fellowship, in Uganda.
• Pray for the all the people, both in the church and in the community who were touched by the teaching and fellowship of Joel and Isaac. Pray for fruit to continue to grow from the seeds they planted.
• Pray for safety in Kampala as in 1 month there have been 3 terrorist attempts. The situation is only expected to get worse the closer Uganda gets to elections.
• Pray for health as many people have been sick with the flu, including Brian and Liana.
• Pray for the Kanyikes’ finances as they have had many extra expenses. Luke needed braces and is now recovering from surgery to remove 4 impacted wisdom teeth.
• 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 or giving a one time gift to help with Luke’s dental expenses.

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. Psalm 66:16

Dear Friends and Family,

I believe everyday we all are experiencing God. Whether it is in loud obvious ways that may even be miraculous or it’s in a still small voice bringing comfort or direction. In this newsletter I would like to share a couple of the testimonies that our church members have shared that speak of God working in all different ways in our everyday lives.

The seasons in Uganda are not quite like the seasons in America . We have summer from the end of Dec to the end of March, where temps can reach up to 110F. Then we have fall and spring. They kind of are blended together with some rainy days and some hot days. Then we have winter from the end of September to the end of December. That time of year is our rainiest and coolest, the temperature stays mostly between 70’s and 80’s. This year the summer season lasted much longer and when the fall / spring time came the rains came extremely heavy, hard and long. It caused a lot of damage first to the farmers by washing their seed away since this is the time of year they plant. There also has been so much damage to the homes of the people in our church who live in the slums because the heavy rains caused flash floods. Some women in my Bible study said their things were just floating out of their houses.

The unusually heavy rains have also caused an extremely large mosquito season which has led to so many sicknesses. The ladies in my Bible Study were commenting on how we’ve only had one week since Easter where we weren’t praying for someone who was seriously ill. We took time to focus on praying for the weather to return to normal and the farmers and people affected by floods would be spared any more suffering. Almost immediately it seemed that the weather stabilized and God was answering our prayers. This is our testimony as a group of answered prayer for the weather. Now we are praying for complete healing for those who are still sick and for good crops when harvest time comes. Prayerfully and with faith we believe that testimony is coming soon.

Deo is one of our assistant pastors. He has recently been taking classes for Sports Management to help with the work he does with youth, coaching soccer. His testimony was that one day as he was at class his motor bike was stolen. He said he almost didn’t report it to police because of two reasons: police aren’t always helpful and motor bikes are so common it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. That bike was his only form of transportation and he felt desperate so he prayed and felt God said report it to the police. He went to the nearest station and gave them all his details. They were not reassuring at all. They said they get reports of stolen bikes every day and most are never located. He went home and told his family what happened. They prayed.  The very next day as he was leaving class the police called and told him to come into the station.  He went thinking they needed more details. As soon as he approached the station he saw his bike out front.  The police said someone found it lying on ground. Something had broken on it and the thieves had been unable to take it any further so just left it. Even the police were in shock. Deo told them he had prayed and his family had prayed. The police said for sure they believe his God heard and it was a miracle.

Betty is one of the ushers at our church. She gave a testimony of how one day she had just finished bathing and was looking in the mirror and all of a sudden it felt like she was going to pass out. She said she sat down and started to panic because she couldn’t see properly and her body was feeling numb. She said she couldn’t even move her arms. As she was panicking, thinking her life was leaving her, she remembered Philippians where it says, “be anxious for nothing but in all things with prayer and supplications with thanksgiving make your requests known to God…” She said as she prayed with what she thought were her last breaths she heard in a still small voice that it was not her time to go and she should get up and go back to her family. She said immediately all her feeling returned and her breathing became normal. She wanted to testify of God’s goodness that she has remained well since then.

Emmanuel’s testimony is one of salvation. He came to Kampala because he thought it would be easy to make money, legally or illegally he didn’t care. He got the idea to visit churches and take advantage of Christians because he had heard that they give things for free, even money. Also, he had heard it was easy to pick pocket when the Christians were distracted with worship. After a couple weeks of hanging around our church he was convicted and realized he had come to “hustle”  but what he found is that he needed Jesus, he needed to be saved more then anything else.  Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?” Emmanuel’s name means “God with us”.  God truly was with Emmanuel and led him right where he needed to be, to find something better than a hustle that satisfies just for a moment, instead he found eternal life in Jesus Christ.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• We are so thankful for  the testimonies of all God is doing in the lives of the people at Arise Christian fellowship.
• Pray for the weather to remain  stable and that there was no lasting damage to farms and people’s homes after the floods.
• Pray for health for those who are suffering from malaria and other sickness caused by the extreme weather.
• Pray for 2pastors who are coming from Jill’s church to visit Arise and other missionaries in Uganda.
• Pray for  the Kanyikes’ finances as they have had some unexpected expenses, medical and Luke needing braces. Pray for Luke to adjust to having to wear braces and for it not to be too painful.
• Pray for the Kanyike family’s spiritual life as well as their physical needs.
• 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.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20

Dear Friends and Family,

I pray you had a wonderful time celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. Our family and church enjoyed some wonderful times of fellowship and outreach. Brian has been following up the Easter services with teachings from Jesus’ appearances after the Resurrection through to Pentecost.

Our Easter celebrations began on Palm Sunday. Living in a tropical climate means there are palm trees are everywhere. On Palm Sunday everyone in Kampala is carrying palm leaves waving them and decorating their vehicles and even their boda boda – bodas with them.

At our Palm Sunday service Brian taught a message called, “Hosanna: Save Us Now” and what that meant in relation to Old Testament prophecy and the Jews at that time. He also shared on what it means to us today and how today is the day of salvation.  The teen group presented a song and dance they had arranged to a Luganda song about the Triumphal entry. Some of the different tribes represented at our church shared the same song in their language and with their dances. It was a very fun Sunday.

After church we went home to receive some guests from Russia and Cuba. They were here on a medical mission trip. Two from Russia were doctors and the one from Cuba was a dentist.  Paul a Nigerian/Russian missionary in Uganda was also at guest house. He came to spend time with his fellow Russians.  We were a very international group and we ended the day fellowshipping with them over a BBQ.

Through out the passion week members of the youth group and the women’s group did some door to door evangelism in the slums and marketplace to invite people to Good Friday and Easter services. At our Good Friday service we showed the movie the passion of the Christ. The church was packed, mostly with youth. We fed them a snack and a drink. After the movie Brian had our youth leader share a Gospel message and invite them to our youth group. Then after praying for those who wanted to be saved we all took communion together as we reflected on what Jesus has done for us.

After the heaviness of Good Friday, Easter Sunday is always such a joyous celebration. The message of the Resurrection really is the foundation and hope of our faith. The children gave a very simple but powerful skit about Jesus saving us from all types of sin and how He lovingly brings us back to Himself even if we backslide. I was moved to tears at how well they showed those truths in such a simple way. I really pray that if anyone was there who wasn’t saved recognized their sin and God’s love and desire to save them while they watched the skit. The Sunday School also performed a song and a couple of them performed a traditional dance to a Luganda Easter song. After the children finished, their teachers came and gave one last word of encouragement and chorus to the church about Jesus love for them.

After the Easter service the church shared a full meal together. Most of the church is very poor and we knew many would not be going home to the big Easter meal we usually plan . They were so thankful and the fellowship lasted long into the afternoon.

We look forward to what God is going to do in the lives of the new believers as well as the renewed vision the church received from remembering Jesus’ death and Resurrection during this Easter season.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Give thanks for the proof we have of the resurrection and that Jesus is 100% the way, the truth and the life!
• Pray for the youth at Arise as they are now  on Uganda’s spring break from school. Pray for the activities and plans Arise has for them during their time off from school.
• Pray for the youth and others who received Christ after the Good Friday service.
• Pray for Uganda as this season is unusually rainy and hot. Pray for the farmers to navigate the extreme weather.
• Pray for health and safety in Kampala. The weather has caused many mosquitos, bringing malaria and flu. Pray for safety as there have been riots due to presidential campaigns.
• Pray for the Kanyike family as they continue to serve the Lord in Uganda. Pray for their spiritual life as well as their physical needs.
• 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.

He is not here; for He has risen, as He said. Matthew 28:6 

Dear Friends and Family,

He is risen! He is risen indeed!!

As we enter in to this season of celebrating Christ’s Resurrection let us remember that it is the resurrection that sets us apart from every other religion, what makes us certain that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

As we prepare here in Uganda to celebrate the passion week and resurrection I cant help but think of some of the activites that have recently taken place or just begun.

The first thing I think of is my women’s Bible study.  My home church, Calvary Chapel Saving Grace and my pastor, Trent Douglass, just celebrated their 30 year anniversary.  The reason I mention this in conjunction with my Bible study is that my Pastor is the one who inspired me to put together this study.  When our family was in the states last year Pastor Trent did a couple of teachings on David and Goliath.  I was blown away with the fact I knew this story so week yet there was so much I had never considered before and how it related to Christ and the New Testament. 

This started my thinking about all of the common Bible stories we teach our children.  Stories that even most nonbelievers have heard of before.  I felt that I was to put together a study on these common stories and what the deeper truths are and how they point us to Jesus.  When I first announced the study at church the ladies were a bit skeptical.  Most of them actually teach Sunday school.  They told me later that they were like, “we already know all of this, this should be for new believers or children.” After the very first teaching they had changed their minds.  Like me they did not realize the so called simple stories we normally teach our children actually contain some very deep spiritual truths and foreshadow or prophesy of Jesus.  I am so blessed that I get to be the teacher because I feel like I am learning so much more then the ladies as I study and prepare the teachings.  Even sometimes when I am teaching it feels like I am listening and learning something for the first time.  I made a workbook for the ladies to go through during week and I learn so much from what they get out of their personal study. I think more than ever the verse from Hebrews 4:12 applies. “ For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” No matter how many times we have read God’s Word, it is always revealing more to us, more of God and more of how we should live for Him.

Of course as a church we are preparing to celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. The youth and the kids at church will have a big role in those celebrations and I can’t wait till next month when I can share how they all turned out and how God moved during those services, because I know He will.

Luke, Laylee and Liana also participate in activities outside of church.  The girls have been in Ballet since they were 3 yrs old.  Luke used to be in Karate but after his huge growth spurt he chose to focus on basketball. He has just reached 6ft, which he is very proud of. When Laylee turned thirteen last year she was promoted to pointe.  It has been challenging but she has been very faithful to practice on her own and her teacher comments almost every week on how good her technique is.  For Liana ballet is more of a class in self discipline.  She is normally vey hyper and can barely hold still. Her dance of choice and what she normally incorporates into our church productions is hip hop/breakdancing.  Ballet helps her to have to slow down and be aware of her body and control her movements.

Earlier in the year the girls were invited to help showcase ballet in a production put on by the New York University school of dance.  They both enjoyed being on stage in front of an audience and we were so proud of them. Luke has been training 4 hours a day 3 days a week with a local basketball team.  They play against teams from other areas around Kampala.  Every so often scouts come looking for talent for the national teams. Luke hopes that as he improves his skills and when he is old enough that he will be able to play for one of those teams.

The other event that took place, or I suppose it wasn’t an actual event but was special to us, was that our Godchildren were in town.  They were able to stay with us for over a week.  It was such a blessing to see all the children together playing and fellowshipping.  It was also a great time of fellowship for us adults as we caught up with their parents, Greg and Jo.  Greg taught a Sunday service and shared about Jesus as our super hero.  I have never heard the church laugh so much during a service or the translator seem so lost as he tried to keep up with the strong American accent.  It was a very memorable service and I can’t wait for them to come back from the states in 6 months and share with us again.  I know the kids are already missing each other so much.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Give thanks for the proof we have of the resurrection and that Jesus is 100% the way, the truth and the life!

• Please pray for the women of Arise Christian fellowship. Pray that as they learn more of God’s word they would grow in their faith and would be a light in the areas which they live.

• Pray for the Kanyike children to be a light to the children and coaches they come into contact with through out the week.  Pray for them not to be tempted by the nonbelievers in their activities.

• Pray for Greg, Jo, Israel, Lindiwe and Keziah while they are on furlough for 6 months.

• Pray for the Kanyike family as they continue to serve the Lord in Uganda. Pray for their spiritual life as well as their physical needs.

• 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.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Dear Friends and Family,

Living on the equator we have unique times and seasons throughout the year.  For instance we have pretty much 12 hours of dark 12 hours of light all year it varies only by minutes.  Our summer is not much different then our winter.  It is hotter and drier but only by about 10 to 15 degrees.  Our summer or hot season takes place during America’s winter.  It is during this time of year that the children of Uganda, as well as mine, have their school year break. 

At Arise Christian Fellowship we try to provide more opportunities for fellowship and teaching during the summer holiday.  Many of the children go to boarding school and this is the only time of year they are able to be a part of youth activities at church.

We had a kids day at church for the younger kids, 12 and under.  Though as usual we did have quite a few teenagers show up to be part of the fun as well.  My women’s bible study joined together with the Sunday school teachers to teach and put on a couple of skits.  Our Theme was Gods Gift to us Our gift to others.  We shared about the gift of creation and how God reveals Himself to us through it.  The kids played  games and the winners were given little animal toys as a prize.  They learned the story of the good Samaritan and the teachers put on a skit showing how we are supposed to love others like God loves us. 

I ended the teachings with the greatest gift God could give us, salvation through Jesus and forgiveness of sins. After the teaching we asked if there was anyone who wanted to receive that gift and if there were those who wanted to pray for others the wished would receive that gift.  It  was a really sweet time praying for and with the children.  After all the teachings were over we had more games and coloring pages and we shared a meal together.

The older kids also had many activities to keep them busy and focused on Jesus during the summer holiday.  The first thing they all did was to drive 10 hours North to the border of South Sudan.  Calvary chapel Cush was hosting a youth conference with Arise ont the Uganda side of the border in a town called Bbibia.  Many churches from around the area joined in with their youth as well.  Our youth enjoyed participating in reaching teaching and participating in the activities as well as also being able to serve through worship and cleaning up after meals. Some testified at church when they returned about how the trip helped to deepen their friendship, strengthen their faith in God and learned that ministry involves hard work.

It is hard to maintain an older kid youth group since most of them go to boarding school.  After the conference everyone was gung ho to try and make it work.  We came up with the plan to meet every Saturday during holidays and twice a month when school is in.  Our Youth leader, Timothy, is calling the youth group RES, rooted, equipped, serve.  They have been blessed with many youth coming, way more than went to the conference. What we have found so beneficial and productive is the question and answer time.  The youth really want to know the word of God and what it means.

The last Sunday before school went back we called the teenagers in service forward. The pastors shared some words of encouragement with them and prayed for them.  We also were able to give some basic school supplies to them to help them get stared for the year.  We pray that they hold on to all they have learned during this holiday and the faith they have developed will continue to grow as they return to school and the challenges that will come.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• We are so thankful  for all of you who pray and support the ministry here in Uganda.

• Pray for the children and youth as they return to school, many to boarding school.  Pray for them to be strong in their faith an protected from sickness and evil.

• Pray the new youth group would continue strongly even though school has resumed.

• Pray for all the teachers of youth at Arise to find way to reach and encourage the youth who have gone to boarding school.

• Pray for  Jill and the Kanyike children as they begin a new year of homeschooling. Pray for their finances as the big kids schooling is becoming more expensive as Luke has started highschool.

• Pray for the Kanyike family as they continue to serve the Lord in Uganda. Pray for their spiritual life as well as their physical needs.

• 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.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 6:9

Dear Friends and Family,

I am sure by now your New Year is well under way. As I write this we have begun 2025 and as you have done, we have celebrated the end of the year with remembrance of all God had done in 2024 and are now looking forward to what God will do and how we can be used in 2025.

In our last newsletter we were just preparing our Christmas programs so I wanted to share how it all turned out. The Christmas program at Arise Christian Fellowship turned out beautifully. The children and youth really took over most of the service. They performed a variety of 8 different songs, dances and skits to tell the Christmas story and what it means for us. They practiced everyday for 2 weeks. Liana was in every performance and we are so proud of how hard she worked and the commitment she showed. She even got to be the lead in one of the dances and to conduct the small children in singing.

We are so thankful to the Sunday school teachers as well. They worked very hard to teach and choreograph the songs. They came everyday to the church to work with the kids and designed the outfits for the different parts of the program. They also performed a collaboration of Christmas carols. They demonstrated so much patience and love to the children as well as providing the children with something fun and fruitful to invest their time in over the long school holiday. (It’s our summer break here).

The teachers awarded the kids for their hardwork by  giving them a Christmas party and gifts.

Liana showed her appreciation for being a part of the show by sharing candy with all the kids and teachers.

The worship team did a beautiful job leading the church in Christmas carols as well in to the heart of worship. I often wish we would sing those beautiful songs more than once a year. My heart was overwhelmed as I sang about the gift of Jesus. They really prepared us for the Christmas message. 

For the weeks leading up to Christmas Brian had been sharing each week on the different characters of the Christmas story and their importance.  His Christmas message was about Jesus and how His birth was just the beginning of the story of God’s gift to us. He went on to share about Jesus’ purpose in being born and our salvation through His death and resurrection.  Truly it taught us the reason for the season.

After the church service we had a meal for everyone who was there.  Some of the ladies in the church cooked.  We are so thankful for how God multiplied the food.  We had planned for 250 people and ended up with 280 children plus the adults.  Everyone got something.  It was a great time of “swallowship” as Brian and the other pastors  always say.  We love sharing a meal with everyone because many people in our church are very poor and we do not know if they will have a nice meal for Christmas or not. 

Also I believe the fellowship draws us closer together.  Our church is not too big and one of the things people always comment on is that they feel like they are part of a family when they are at Arise.  For those who we are aware probably would not have any meal on Christmas such as the widows and orphans of the church we gave out Christmas gifts of rice, maize flour, oil, sugar and soap.  We were so blessed to know we would have a nice Christmas at home as a family and it is a blessing to ensure that others will as well.  We are very thankful for those of you who gave to make that possible.

For my women’s Bible study and the children who come to that we also had a Christmas party.  We have been studying the Names of God, so for the Christmas message I shared on the names from Isaiah 9:6 that are given to the coming Messiah.  For the New Year Brian taught a miniseries on New Year resolutions and goals we should have as Christians and as a church. I believe not just me but everyone is excited to step out of our comfort zone of 2024 and take steps of faith into whatever God has in store for us in 2025.

Thank you for praying for our family and

for the ministry in Uganda.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• We are so thankful  for all that the Lord has done in us and for us in 2024. Pray for God’s leading and direction in 2025.
• We are thankful for our church family.  We are thankful to those who serve and for those who are still learning what it means to follow Jesus.  Pray that God would continue to grow the church and raise up a new generation of servants.
• We are thankful for the for the many people who pray and support the ministry here. 
• Pray for  Danison and Ester.  He leads our ministry team and she is our Sunday School director.  As I am writing this I was just  informed their 1.5 year old son has passed away.  It is heartbreaking.
• Pray for the Kanyike family as they continue to serve the Lord in Uganda. Pray for their spiritual life as well as their physical needs.
• 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.

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:3-4

Dear Friends and Family,

Merry Christmas!

I know that by the time this newsletter reaches you, you most likely will have already celebrated Christmas and I pray that it was a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating of our Savior’s birth. 

As for us we are still in the planning stages of all of our Christmas activities and Bible studies.  Brian has began his Sunday morning Christmas series.  He is teaching on the significance of the characters in the Christmas story.  Each week focusing on specific characters and on Christmas will share specifically on Jesus.  My women’s study has been going though the names of God and for our Christmas message we will be looking at the prophecy of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 , “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I am excited as I begin to prepare because I have seen how studying the names of God have already impacted the ladies significantly.  The children’s ministry is preparing so many activities.  We have a kids day planned focusing on the gifts God has given us.  Then the older youth have a conference in Northern Uganda with the youth from South Sudan.  The children are also putting on a Christmas play so they are rehearsing.  I can not wait to see how God is going to move in all of these activities and how He will be glorified.

As we have been preparing and since we have just come out of the season of Thanksgiving I have been reminded of what a gift people’s testimonies are to us and how they help others know them and God better. I thought what a better way to enter this season of Christmas and New Year then sharing some of these testimonies and the blessing they have been to us. 

The first one I want to share is from Wes. He recently shared at our church.  Everyone knows him and knows he is the director of Far Reaching ministries and that he and his wife minister in many countries.  When Wes shared at the church he shared about how he came to where he is now.  That the beginning of the ministry was a step of faith, leaving the security of secular employment.  He shared how daily he had to trust in the Lord not only for direction but for provision of simple everyday needs.  It took time, obedience and much prayer for the ministry to develop and become what it is today.  It also took knowing that whatever we have is from God and that when we share it with others He will bless us with more to keep sharing. 

This message really impacted the church.  As you know most of our church comes from the slums and market place but through this message realized that they too can be used by God and its not about how much they have but what they are willing to share, even if all they have is the love of Christ!

Recently, we had 2 ladies who work in the FRM office come through the guest house.  They happened to be around during my women’s Bible study.  I asked them if after the study they wanted to share anything with the ladies.  One of the ladies who shared had a testimony that really challenged the ladies as they could relate so well to it.  She shared about how when she first got invited to a Bible study she was a single mother and that she really agreed to go to the Bible study only because she was told they would have donuts and snacks and she was poor so she wanted to eat.  She shared how she would ride her bike there with her baby on her back and she would just stare at the food waiting for when they would say it was time to eat. 

She said that after awhile of attending she began becoming more interested in what the teacher was saying than the food.  This resonated with my ladies who are mostly very poor and almost all are single mothers or daughters of single mothers.  I was aware of a couple who come mostly for the food but have been praying that as they also hear the word their lives will be changed and they will hunger and thirst for righteousness as well. A while after that Bible study one of the ladies asked to give a testimony at church and in her testimony she referenced both Wes’ and these ladies testimonies on how  she used to have different motives for coming to church and Bible study and even used to be in sin while coming but after seeing, hearing and experiencing the love of God through the brothers and sisters at church she realizes that Christ loves her and she loves Him and she is so thankful that even through the times of wrong motives God was calling her to Himself and she is now living for Him.

The last testimony that recently was shared was from Brian.  We were reading through Exodus at home when we read Exodus 14:13-14, “ But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”  He said the verse brought back memories from when he was around 7 and his family had to flee their home because the fighting of the war came so near. He felt led to teach these verses and to share this testimony with the church.  He shared how they ran and ran and then they saw this little dilapidated mud house and they ran inside.  He said he was with his mom and baby sister and there were others with children as well. He said that in those moments they could hear the guns and fighting and knew that the mud walls couldn’t protect them but that verses about being still, being quiet and God’s salvation spoke to them.  Even the babies did not cry.  God delivered them that day and the fighting moved away from there and they were safe to go the rest of the way to a camp that was set up  near the lake for families displaced by the war.  He and the church praise God that his family and so many others were saved and that since then there has been no war in Uganda.

Thank you for Praying for our family and for the people of Uganda.

In Him,

    Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS

• I am so thankful  for the many testimonies the Lord has blessed us with ourselves and for those that have been shared with us by others.
• We are thankful for our church family: for those who come to serve, those who come to hear and even those who come for the food.  We pray that all will find Jesus and the blessing of knowing Him personally.
• We are thankful for the visitors who come through and bless us with their teaching, testimonies and outreach.
• Pray for  Arise Christian Fellowship as they finalize all the Christmas preparations and plans for the New Year.
• Pray for the Kanyike family as they continue to serve the Lord in Uganda. Pray for their spiritual life as well as their physical needs.
• 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.

Dear Friends and Family,

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

We would like to thank all of you for blessing us with your prayers and support that led to the amazing gift of the children finally getting their American citizenship. Thank you also for praying for our family and ministry in Uganda. This year has seen many events and outreaches take place at Arise Christian fellowship and in the community. As always, it has been exciting to see God move in the hearts of the Ugandan people. The church body has enjoyed meeting together for church and fellowship to pray, worship and to be filled with the teaching of God’s Word. We look forward to this coming year to see what new things God may do. You are in our thoughts and prayers as we enter this new year. God Bless You this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Often times when I am teaching I say something to the effect that we always have something to be thankful for.  Even when we don’t have much or even if we are going through a hard time there is always something to be thankful for.  Sometimes it is in that search for what to give thanks for that God is able to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them back on Him. 

In this season that we have been back in Uganda I am blessed to say I do not have to search for things to be thankful for, God is so good. And as everyone in Uganda would say after that, and all the time God is so good.  Right after we got back we had an after glow service with the church.  It was a beautiful time of everyone coming back to the heart of worship.  We took communion together and prayed together.  Our family was also able to share about our time in the states and thank the church for their prayers and the volunteers for all they did while we were away. It was a joyous reunion with our church family.  Brian said we missed them and was sad that they all couldn’t have come with us but we  had brought a piece of America back for them and then Luke passed out chocolate to everyone.

My first Wednesday back they ladies gathered at my house for Bible study.  They all shared testimonies of what had gone on in their lives while I was away.  I was blessed to hear from them how the study we had finished on Reflecting God continued to minister to them and they were able to apply what they had learned while I was gone.  On that first study I shared about my time in the states and introduced the new topic we will be studying.  Of course there was more chocolate for them.  A lovely lady from my church, Julie, had sent earrings for the women so they had fun looking at them at choosing them.  On the following Sunday at church most of the ladies were wearing them. They were so blessed and thankful that someone in America had thought of them.  I am looking forward to how God will move in the new study we are beginning.

We just had a large team of pastors come through.  They came to teach the refresher course for the chaplains in South Sudan.  Before they went up North they spent some time with us and Arise Christian Fellowship here in Kampala.  The fellowship was so nice.  Having a house full of pastors is a blessing because someone is always giving a devotion, sharing an encouraging word or telling a good joke.  While they were here they participated in market evangelism, open air preaching and home visits.  It was raining on and off so they had to brave the rain but many people were ministered to and at least 10 received the Lord as their personal savior.  The team was able to provide practical gifts such as: tea, sugar, soap, rice, and/or milk to over 70 families.  Though it was raining on and off a large crowd gathered to hear the open air preaching and some people were able to find tarps to put up as a quick shelter.  Some of the team were taken by a church member to the older people in the community and the shut-ins to pray for them and also share the gospel with.  The team was a blessing and the community have shared with us through our church members how thankful they are.

The Sunday that the team was at Arise, Pastor Chris shared about keeping our eyes focused on Jesus only and serving Him with all we are.  The message was very stirring and when he had finished he said that if the Lord was touching your heart to know Him and serve Him better to come forward. Almost half the church and even some of the other pastors came forward. It was so beautiful.  I too want to serve my Lord better.  After church the visitors were able to play with and minister to the Sunday school children during their snack time. We are truly thankful for this team.

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

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS