“..And you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
Dear Friends and Family,
We pray that you all had a wonderful holiday remembering the birth of our Savior and looking forward to this new year and all that God will do in it.
For us the season was very busy and very blessed. As is true for most of the world, Christmas and Easter are the 2 times a year when people are most receptive to the Gospel and to coming to church or church related activities. We try to make the most of these opportunities and plan many events and community evangelism,
Our holiday season started with having extra little people around. Friends of ours, Richard and Susan, asked us to watch their daughter and their nephew who they have been caring for because Susan has been ill and requires admission for her treatment. We have already been watching a friend of ours son, Jesse so for the holidays we had 6 children. I wont say it wasn’t without challenges but at the same time children bring so much joy to Christmas and the preparing for Christmas activities.
Richard and Susan’s nephew, Ishmael, comes from a muslim background though being only 6 he doesn’t really know what that means. One day we were preparing for the Christmas party at church. We were giving gift packages of sugar, salt and other things to help the families of the church prepare their Christmas meals. The littlest kids, Liana, Jesse and Ishmael were helping me put them together and wrap them. Ishmael was looking at them and said they looked like birthday presents and I said well Christmas presents kind of are birthday presents since we are celebrating Jesus’ Birthday. His expression was priceless, He was like “wooo…you mean Jesus was born on the same day as Christmas?” I, then a little shocked myself at his response, went on to explain to him all about Christmas with Liana and Jesse helping by adding their favorite parts of the story. We also included the reason why Jesus was born and had to die. He is little but I think he really is beginning to understand. We prayed over the gifts when we had finished and when I asked Ishmael to take a turn praying he prayed that the people would know it was Jesus birthday. At the Christmas party at church we handed out these gifts to over 40 families. We celebrated with carols by Christmas lights and fellowship.
After we had the Christmas party for church I also had a Christmas party for my women’s Bible study. In January 2022 we began our study after the long lockdowns of Covid. We began with a study on the teaching od Christ and currently we are going through Psalm 119, taking a thorough look ant the Word of God. For the Christmas party I asked the ladies to invite others because as I mentioned before more people are open to coming or have the free time to do so during the holidays. Evelyn and Shiella, have been staying with us since their mom had her stroke and were also on holidays from their work. Shiella shared the Christmas message on the events leading up to Jesus’ birth and their fulfillment of prophecy. Evelyn led us in worship and a time of Christmas carols. We had mad little care packages to distribute to the women as Christmas gifts. It truly was a blessed time of fellowship.
Most of church comes from the market place and the surrounding slums. We held a Christmas party for the children in their neighborhood so we could reach out to the whole community. Some of the women from our church cooked and from generous donations we provided gifts to the children. We shared the Christmas story for everyone who could listen and invited them to Christmas day service at church.
The Christmas service at church was beautiful. It was nice for Christmas to fall on a Sunday. Brian gave a message on the Meaning of Christmas. This message has been an unplanned running theme through all of the events and conversations surrounding this years holiday activities. The Sunday school put on small Christmas cantata with singing, dancing and acting out the Christmas story. As usual the children really make the meaning of Christmas come to life with their innocence and pure faith/belief in what they are singing about or acting out.
Thank you for your prayers and support for our family and for helping us to reach the people of Uganda. May the Lord bless all of you and your ministry this New Year.
In Him,
Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee, Liana, and Jesse, Abby, and Ishmael
Prayer Requests
- We are so thankful for the many ways the Lord has blessed us and for everyone who supports us and the ministry in Uganda.
- Please pray for the many people who heard what the meaning of Christmas is this season.
- Pray for people to wholeheartedly follow Christ. Pray for this New Year that there would be a fresh outpouring of the Spirit on all of those serving with Arise Christian Fellowship and those attending.
- Pray for the Lords direction for ministry and out reach.
- Pray for the Kanyike children to get called for their citizenship interview.
- Pray for the Kanyike children and those whom they are caring for to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.
- 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.
