Dear partners in ministry and friends,
This is some update on the new work Bethel started this last Sunday. I will attach photos of the work, and some few on Florence’s life change. Her attitude, her behaviours and lifestyle have changed positively. I know you all have prayed for us this way, and we can see God doing great things already.
Bethel took a step of faith yesterday; we went up in Busimba to start a new ministry there. It all went very well. People of the community had gathered together in the classroom waiting for us. When we arrived they warmly welcomed us, which was a great sign that God was with us. We started with Music and then we worshipped. They enjoyed our way of worshipping with freedom and in the known language. After Music I was called to preach. I started with my testimony. Most people older people know my background anyway. My testimony touched so many. Others were a bit teary. Then I shared the goodness of Jesus in my life and i told them that it is the source of my motivation to do the good things they see us doing. Bethel has already been involved in doing social welfare to that community. So people know us as good people. Now they are discovering the source of our love to them.
After I had finished preaching, we decided that we go out in the open and sit down in different places. This was a one on one session. People were free to ask all their questions and at the end we ended up with 14 adults giving their lives to Jesus. There were also some who knew God before but they did not have a strong conviction. They come up and renewed their faith to Jesus.
The total number came to over 20 people. That was so good. After we finished a one on one, prayed for all the people present, then they provided a drink to all members of Bethel. They Decided to give their new church the name Emmanuel. For they said that God is with them. Since there was a gospel in that community in the seventies, there has been no one coming to tell them about Jesus.
There were so many children who also committed their lives to Jesus, but we did not count them as it is tougher for the children. If their parents are Muslims then we shall not want to cause them trouble as we don’t have a place to keep them when their parents kick them out of homes.
We shall be going there every Sunday for at least 4 to 5 weeks, but even in the week days when there is time we shall be going for door to door evangelism. That is what other members have decided to do. We believe that is the birthing of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Within the district Mooni is known for having the highest percentage of Muslims, Traditional worshippers (people who worship ancestral spirits) and those involved in witchcraft. As a result, highly destructive behaviour such as polygamy, child sacrifice, prostitution (including child commercial sex), early marriages, robbery, drug abuse and alcoholism is common place in Mooni. This has led to large numbers of vulnerable people including orphans, widows, people suffering from HIV/AIDS and children living on streets.
Bethel recognises the need and desires to increase its involvement within the community. We are confident that the most effective way to achieve this would be to introduce new churches throughout Mooni. That is our vision for the next coming 9 -10 year.
Our plan is that we start 10 new churches in 10 years, so each year we aim at starting one. This is the 3rd in three year, including Bethel itself. But ten are shall not be the end. We aim at covering the whole area with Christianity.
Our prayer requests are:
- You pray that God will soften the hearts of the people so that they will turn from other Gods to the true father and creator of the universe. This is the only way they are going to gain their self worth. when people who have lost have know God they gain their hope because God is the giver of hope.
- That other people from different parts of the world shall join us in the work of the harvest. The harvest is in plenty but the labourers are still few. We need is bigger, we needs others who have the same vision to join us.
- That members of Bethel shall keep having courage to reach out for Jesus. The opposition from other faiths is too high. Sometimes people want to quit in fear. I know that fear comes from the devil.
- That God will provide enough resources, transportation and tools to reach out and serve him in the way that will bring glory to him. We need to build shelters for worship; we need a pickup to carry our tools and members. For the distance is long. All these can be achieved through prayers of the saints of God.
- Also pray for me the leader of the ministry. People look at me and my wife all the time, when we lose heart they also lose heart. Pray that God will help us to stand and serve him, and that he will provide for us so that we may continue without worry about what we are going to eat.
I will end by thanking you all for being faithful partners of Bethel. I believe we are accomplishing a lot simply because people pray.
Vinnie
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Bethel Church 9/11/10 Florence story part 2
Dear Friends,
I am writing to thank you for your prayers for Florence, and to tell you how her life has changed since she shared her story and asked for prayer. God can do great things if we trust and open up to Him.
Florence’s changed life:
Florence stood and testified in church. She shared a powerful testimony and also she had prayed for someone herself who also got deliverance just within that week. She looked very happy and bright. She also had some new clothes on. Somebody in church had given her a cloth. For the whole year no one had done something like that to her, so she felt that it was prayers, as she had not asked anyone for clothes. I do agree with Florence that it is prayers and nothing else.
That was Florence’s first time to stand and say something in public. She had never spoken like that before as she always felt nobody will listen to her. And the first time she looked so nice externally with a new cloth and was shining internally with new freedom and joy in Jesus. She always had one very old dress which some of you saw in the photo. Yesterday she came with another very good traditional cloth and was just radiant both in and out.
Everyone was amazed to see Florence stand up and share a testimony. People knew her as a woman who has no words. She had always been quiet ever since she joined the church. Her life touched people in church.
God answers prayers:
All I saw was God’s answered prayers for Florence. Florence had been in the church for over a year, and no one had given her a cloth. No one knew her story locally but just because she accepted that I can send her story out for people to pray for her, already something has happened. She has got some clothes, she can stand up without fear to speak in public, and she feels some heaviness has left her and she feels very light now.
God bless you all.
Vinnie
I am writing to thank you for your prayers for Florence, and to tell you how her life has changed since she shared her story and asked for prayer. God can do great things if we trust and open up to Him.
Florence’s changed life:
Florence stood and testified in church. She shared a powerful testimony and also she had prayed for someone herself who also got deliverance just within that week. She looked very happy and bright. She also had some new clothes on. Somebody in church had given her a cloth. For the whole year no one had done something like that to her, so she felt that it was prayers, as she had not asked anyone for clothes. I do agree with Florence that it is prayers and nothing else.
That was Florence’s first time to stand and say something in public. She had never spoken like that before as she always felt nobody will listen to her. And the first time she looked so nice externally with a new cloth and was shining internally with new freedom and joy in Jesus. She always had one very old dress which some of you saw in the photo. Yesterday she came with another very good traditional cloth and was just radiant both in and out.
Everyone was amazed to see Florence stand up and share a testimony. People knew her as a woman who has no words. She had always been quiet ever since she joined the church. Her life touched people in church.
God answers prayers:
All I saw was God’s answered prayers for Florence. Florence had been in the church for over a year, and no one had given her a cloth. No one knew her story locally but just because she accepted that I can send her story out for people to pray for her, already something has happened. She has got some clothes, she can stand up without fear to speak in public, and she feels some heaviness has left her and she feels very light now.
God bless you all.
Vinnie
Bethel Church 28/10/10 Florence story part 1
Dearest friends,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus our Lord. I hope this finds you all in good shape.
I am writing this to request for your prayers for a woman called Florence and her family. Florence has been a member of our church for a year now, and not so many knew her story until this morning. Her brother has just died and the burial was on Thursday last week. Florence came to me asking if we could give some money towards the burial and this is when she shared her story.
Some people have faced harder trials than others; Florence seems to be one such person.
Florence’s story:
The first born of the five, Florence was born to a crippled mother and an older father. Both parents died when she was about 8 years old and the 3 sisters and brother were much younger. The parents did not have any well known relatives, so Florence and her siblings were, (as we call them in Africa) in a child headed family; where a child is the carer for the other siblings.
The Catholic Church came in a tried to assist by putting some of the children into school. Because life was tough, Florence tried to look for work in order to help her young siblings. She was then deceived by a man who pretended that he was giving her work. He ended up raping her many times at the age of 10.
As a means for security for her and her siblings, Florence decided to marry that man later that year (still aged 10). Four years later, at the age of 14 she gave birth to her first born. Things did not go well with this man and she ran away from him.
The man Florence married next was good to her, but soon after that he became mentally unstable. Despite this, they still live together. However, due to his instability, this man regularly rapes her, even in front of her children. He comes in the night, knocks the door down and breaks in just to rape her. She has given birth to 18 children, which include twins twice. 11 of them are dead. She has 6 living children and one other that has just gone missing.
Florence’s Sisters:
Two of Florence’s sisters were also deceived in a similar way, again at a very young age. A local witch doctor took the girls in as workers but then he also abused them sexually, one at 11years and the other only 9 years old. The old man took them as his wives. (Polygamous relationships are common here) and disappeared with the two girls to Kenya. No one knows where the sisters are and what they are doing now; whether they are alive or if they have had children.
A few years ago, the third sister was married nearby. In 2009 she had a quarrel with the husband and he killed her by decapitation. The man was arrested but Florence does not know whether he is still in jail or not. Florence came back with the late sister’s baby who was five month. The baby died a month later for poor nutrition. She still does not know the condition of their remaining children.
I ask Florence why she did not share about her life story with us before, she turned to me and said ‘’pastor, everyone I tried to share this with never listened. People think I share this so I can get money. The last time I shared with someone who seemed to be a friend, instead of her praying she went and told people in a trading centre. It was so embarrassing to hear people telling me that I am being raped by my mental husband. But because you are listening, that is why i have opened up’’
Florence’s brother:
The only sibling remaining was Florence’s brother who caught HIV/AIDS some years back. When his condition deteriorated he moved in to stay with Florence in her dilapidated house. She has been taking care of him for months now, but even the church did not know, we only found out last week when Florence came to ask if I would pray for the brother. That is how resilient Florence has been.
The brother and I talked for some time and he confessed Jesus as Lord and saviour.
Last Wednesday, he died in Florence’s hands. The burial was on Thursday. The Bethel church was the only relative Florence had at the burial.
Women had visited Florence before and had reported that her house is so bad, also she never asked for any help.
About child birth:
Birth Control is something still quite foreign to those living in the rural communities. Grace has been talking to Florence about it as until now she has not accepted to take something to control or prevent child birth. However, she is now open to the idea and has committed that they will go to a clinic to take the necessary measures.
My time with Florence:
It was a very emotional moment listening to this woman. She made me realize how blessed I am. Looking at the house she stays in, and how she feeds her children and mad husband was so very humbling. And yet she had decided not to share her life with anybody because other did not listen, or just embarrassed her in places she did not want people to know about it. Also hearing that her mad husband just comes in at any time of the day and infront of children to rape, yet people of the community near by just ignore. And this does not seem to have a quick solution. So hard friends.
Prayer request:
Pray as the Spirit leads you.
The key things to pray for are:
1. Their family home which is in very bad condition; broken down and unstable.
2. Florence’s husband’s mental state is getting worse every day and they have no medication to ease the symptoms.
3. They have little food, no clothes, no school fees and no medical support.
4. That any children from the extended family are cared for and protected sufficiently.
This is the story of Florence. It’s hard to explain, but it is her story.
Below are the photos of Florence, one in her house and another outside her house.
May God bless you all friends.
Vinnie
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus our Lord. I hope this finds you all in good shape.
I am writing this to request for your prayers for a woman called Florence and her family. Florence has been a member of our church for a year now, and not so many knew her story until this morning. Her brother has just died and the burial was on Thursday last week. Florence came to me asking if we could give some money towards the burial and this is when she shared her story.
Some people have faced harder trials than others; Florence seems to be one such person.
Florence’s story:
The first born of the five, Florence was born to a crippled mother and an older father. Both parents died when she was about 8 years old and the 3 sisters and brother were much younger. The parents did not have any well known relatives, so Florence and her siblings were, (as we call them in Africa) in a child headed family; where a child is the carer for the other siblings.
The Catholic Church came in a tried to assist by putting some of the children into school. Because life was tough, Florence tried to look for work in order to help her young siblings. She was then deceived by a man who pretended that he was giving her work. He ended up raping her many times at the age of 10.
As a means for security for her and her siblings, Florence decided to marry that man later that year (still aged 10). Four years later, at the age of 14 she gave birth to her first born. Things did not go well with this man and she ran away from him.
The man Florence married next was good to her, but soon after that he became mentally unstable. Despite this, they still live together. However, due to his instability, this man regularly rapes her, even in front of her children. He comes in the night, knocks the door down and breaks in just to rape her. She has given birth to 18 children, which include twins twice. 11 of them are dead. She has 6 living children and one other that has just gone missing.
Florence’s Sisters:
Two of Florence’s sisters were also deceived in a similar way, again at a very young age. A local witch doctor took the girls in as workers but then he also abused them sexually, one at 11years and the other only 9 years old. The old man took them as his wives. (Polygamous relationships are common here) and disappeared with the two girls to Kenya. No one knows where the sisters are and what they are doing now; whether they are alive or if they have had children.
A few years ago, the third sister was married nearby. In 2009 she had a quarrel with the husband and he killed her by decapitation. The man was arrested but Florence does not know whether he is still in jail or not. Florence came back with the late sister’s baby who was five month. The baby died a month later for poor nutrition. She still does not know the condition of their remaining children.
I ask Florence why she did not share about her life story with us before, she turned to me and said ‘’pastor, everyone I tried to share this with never listened. People think I share this so I can get money. The last time I shared with someone who seemed to be a friend, instead of her praying she went and told people in a trading centre. It was so embarrassing to hear people telling me that I am being raped by my mental husband. But because you are listening, that is why i have opened up’’
Florence’s brother:
The only sibling remaining was Florence’s brother who caught HIV/AIDS some years back. When his condition deteriorated he moved in to stay with Florence in her dilapidated house. She has been taking care of him for months now, but even the church did not know, we only found out last week when Florence came to ask if I would pray for the brother. That is how resilient Florence has been.
The brother and I talked for some time and he confessed Jesus as Lord and saviour.
Last Wednesday, he died in Florence’s hands. The burial was on Thursday. The Bethel church was the only relative Florence had at the burial.
Women had visited Florence before and had reported that her house is so bad, also she never asked for any help.
About child birth:
Birth Control is something still quite foreign to those living in the rural communities. Grace has been talking to Florence about it as until now she has not accepted to take something to control or prevent child birth. However, she is now open to the idea and has committed that they will go to a clinic to take the necessary measures.
My time with Florence:
It was a very emotional moment listening to this woman. She made me realize how blessed I am. Looking at the house she stays in, and how she feeds her children and mad husband was so very humbling. And yet she had decided not to share her life with anybody because other did not listen, or just embarrassed her in places she did not want people to know about it. Also hearing that her mad husband just comes in at any time of the day and infront of children to rape, yet people of the community near by just ignore. And this does not seem to have a quick solution. So hard friends.
Prayer request:
Pray as the Spirit leads you.
The key things to pray for are:
1. Their family home which is in very bad condition; broken down and unstable.
2. Florence’s husband’s mental state is getting worse every day and they have no medication to ease the symptoms.
3. They have little food, no clothes, no school fees and no medical support.
4. That any children from the extended family are cared for and protected sufficiently.
This is the story of Florence. It’s hard to explain, but it is her story.
Below are the photos of Florence, one in her house and another outside her house.
May God bless you all friends.
Vinnie
October 10
Hello, so nice to hear from you. All here is nice too. Still thinking about Australia a lot. For prayer request, It will be good to pray for the new church start. In our work plan we had planned to start a church this Month on the third, that deadline was not met because of two things; to support the person who will run it, and also that we have not yet put the church in Bubetsye in a good shape. The temporary building they have is become so small as people stand out, it worried the leaders that we may end doing so much to soon with so many. So pray for God's wisdon and courage in the Bethel leadership's hearts.
Will soon tell you about the new marriages coming up soon. We have two of our leaders now ready to take a step now that we have some funding you guys put together.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Vinnie
Will soon tell you about the new marriages coming up soon. We have two of our leaders now ready to take a step now that we have some funding you guys put together.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Vinnie
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Bethel Church 2/10/10
Oct 2
Dear friends and partners in God’s service,
I greet you all in the name of Jesus our Lord. I hope this finds you all doing well.Grace and I still thank you for your warmest welcome to your country. You all were good spoilers to us and we still have those great memories of your good country and the things we did together. So thank you for being such great friends. Ian and Tash thank you for being our first link to your good country, church and people. And thank you for still being such good friends. We have not written much this time;
but that is because we are also recovering from that great journey of ours. So know as you are recovering from running with us, we are also recovering from running with you. Again that journey has never left us the same. It has made very nice prints on our hearts. Now we have a lot of good things we have learnt from you guys and we shall always treasure them, but in the same time there is a lot we appreciate from our side that we did not appreciate before. So every where there is both good and bad. That is what we have learnt. There is a lot to throw and a lot to retain and probably share with other. I am just being wordy, but my main reason of writing today was to share with you about the stories got today.
One is about one of the church enemies before, and today he was again repenting before so many that he has been wrong, that the church is a good thing. Some of you have heard the story of the chairman LC2 of Mooni. If you did not know, this man’s wife got saved a while ago, and he sent her away with a beating and she left everything including her children. The devil is punishing the man so much. Today one of his yesterday one of his children died, and he has lost several in his family lately, his life has been sickly and a few other problems like the children fighting with his wives as well as his wives fighting each other and him. The members of the church attended the burial and assisted with every work and gave some financial support. He was overwhelmed with the love the church people gave him, he took one our repenting for every bad act he did to the church and to his wife before. He has not confessed Jesus as Lord yet, but he told people that he is considering it. we still don’t know God’s timing but we know he is on the way, and already spreading the good news of Jesus. Keep praying for him. His name if Issa, which is translated that Jesus in Arabic.
The next story is about a woman I met on the way bleeding. On the way down from the burial of the LC2’s child I got a woman crying and seeming very helpless. I asked why she was bleeding. All other women and people gathered told me that it was her fault. That she knew that her husband is Muslim but she choose to become Christian in his absence. (this is not in any of our churches). I still insisted that she tells me herself, which she did. She told me that her husband is a soldier and had left her in the house for over two years. That one time her young child became very ill, she did not have food in the house and no money on her for treatment, but when she took her child to the hospital she met some Christians who prayed for her child as the Doctors were not helping because she did not have the money (we pay for every treatment we get, so when people don’t have money they suffer). And when those Christians prayed, her child got healed immediately. From that day she confessed Jesus as Lord and saviour. When her husband came back she did not fear to tell him that she chose to take Jesus. He did not wait but started beating her and forcing her out of the home. She does not have family as her parents died a while ago in the battle, so where she is are the only relatives she had as she explained( I did not know the woman before).
I drove her to police right away, and the police acted there and then. They have got the man and have asked him to put her into hospital. Now she is on treatment and the man is in jail as we talk.
Other women in the neighbourhood who were shouting that she is wrong changed their shout immediately, by the time he was taken they were saying that take him, he is bad, let other men know that we have a voice, and now we have learnt where to go when we are treated badly. I mean I laughed.
For your information this is not new. Women in my community have been told that they have no choice and no voice, it is the men who can make every choices, theirs is to obey what men tell them.
They even don’t know that when you are beaten you can go to police and police shall help. So now some know where to run when battered.
Many people live in fear of being rejected if the change to Christianity. Some confess Jesus but they remain silent, so it becomes like the cheep living in the same pen with wolves. So it is the sheep to put on the skin of the wolf. Pray that there will be freedom of the women to choose the faith they want.
That is for today my friends. Know the struggle still continue, and you can pass the storied to others for prayers.
God bless you all.
Vinnie
Dear friends and partners in God’s service,
I greet you all in the name of Jesus our Lord. I hope this finds you all doing well.Grace and I still thank you for your warmest welcome to your country. You all were good spoilers to us and we still have those great memories of your good country and the things we did together. So thank you for being such great friends. Ian and Tash thank you for being our first link to your good country, church and people. And thank you for still being such good friends. We have not written much this time;
but that is because we are also recovering from that great journey of ours. So know as you are recovering from running with us, we are also recovering from running with you. Again that journey has never left us the same. It has made very nice prints on our hearts. Now we have a lot of good things we have learnt from you guys and we shall always treasure them, but in the same time there is a lot we appreciate from our side that we did not appreciate before. So every where there is both good and bad. That is what we have learnt. There is a lot to throw and a lot to retain and probably share with other. I am just being wordy, but my main reason of writing today was to share with you about the stories got today.
One is about one of the church enemies before, and today he was again repenting before so many that he has been wrong, that the church is a good thing. Some of you have heard the story of the chairman LC2 of Mooni. If you did not know, this man’s wife got saved a while ago, and he sent her away with a beating and she left everything including her children. The devil is punishing the man so much. Today one of his yesterday one of his children died, and he has lost several in his family lately, his life has been sickly and a few other problems like the children fighting with his wives as well as his wives fighting each other and him. The members of the church attended the burial and assisted with every work and gave some financial support. He was overwhelmed with the love the church people gave him, he took one our repenting for every bad act he did to the church and to his wife before. He has not confessed Jesus as Lord yet, but he told people that he is considering it. we still don’t know God’s timing but we know he is on the way, and already spreading the good news of Jesus. Keep praying for him. His name if Issa, which is translated that Jesus in Arabic.
The next story is about a woman I met on the way bleeding. On the way down from the burial of the LC2’s child I got a woman crying and seeming very helpless. I asked why she was bleeding. All other women and people gathered told me that it was her fault. That she knew that her husband is Muslim but she choose to become Christian in his absence. (this is not in any of our churches). I still insisted that she tells me herself, which she did. She told me that her husband is a soldier and had left her in the house for over two years. That one time her young child became very ill, she did not have food in the house and no money on her for treatment, but when she took her child to the hospital she met some Christians who prayed for her child as the Doctors were not helping because she did not have the money (we pay for every treatment we get, so when people don’t have money they suffer). And when those Christians prayed, her child got healed immediately. From that day she confessed Jesus as Lord and saviour. When her husband came back she did not fear to tell him that she chose to take Jesus. He did not wait but started beating her and forcing her out of the home. She does not have family as her parents died a while ago in the battle, so where she is are the only relatives she had as she explained( I did not know the woman before).
I drove her to police right away, and the police acted there and then. They have got the man and have asked him to put her into hospital. Now she is on treatment and the man is in jail as we talk.
Other women in the neighbourhood who were shouting that she is wrong changed their shout immediately, by the time he was taken they were saying that take him, he is bad, let other men know that we have a voice, and now we have learnt where to go when we are treated badly. I mean I laughed.
For your information this is not new. Women in my community have been told that they have no choice and no voice, it is the men who can make every choices, theirs is to obey what men tell them.
They even don’t know that when you are beaten you can go to police and police shall help. So now some know where to run when battered.
Many people live in fear of being rejected if the change to Christianity. Some confess Jesus but they remain silent, so it becomes like the cheep living in the same pen with wolves. So it is the sheep to put on the skin of the wolf. Pray that there will be freedom of the women to choose the faith they want.
That is for today my friends. Know the struggle still continue, and you can pass the storied to others for prayers.
God bless you all.
Vinnie
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Bethel Church 7/7/10
Jul 7
Dear all our prayers partners,
I write again to thank you for your continued prayers. As I have always shared, God has showed favour to us, but I know it is also because of your prayers and the love you have showed to us continuously.
As I have shared with some of you before that there is a Muslim crusade going on in the next door mosque (which is only 20 Meters away from our house.) It is very loud and disruptive, especially in the evenings, but thankfully they at least finish by 6.30pm. What is worse is that these friends don’t read the Quran and explain as we Christians do, but all they say are terrible abuses to Christians, they read bible verses and misquote them. I thank God that He has given us all the grace to remain peaceful without being offended. He revealed to me the truth that they are not saved, so I can’t expect them to behave like those who know Christ. Therefore we should not be surprised that they behave as they do.
Recently, some of their leaders came and visited us (this included their invited guest speaker), again with lots of questions and insults. They also alleged that we Christians go on TV and speak abusive words against Muslims. In the house were Grace, Martin, Brian, and myself. Each one of us were praying for God’s guidance, and we were all listening attentively to them. Grace offered them all a cup of tea, which they took. This was the first thing to remind us that God was in control as for them to take tea in our house was not common practice for them; Muslims of that class would not normally take tea in our house as they think we eat bad things and we are dirty (pagans).
Although they had come with other intentions to argue and point fingers at us as bad people as mentioned above, we did not go their way. Firstly, I admitted that I have heard these people who abuse them on TV and I agreed that it is not a good way of sharing the Gospel. And I went ahead and repented on behalf of those people, and just in any case we the locals have done things in the manner that makes them feel we look at them as our enemies, then they should forgive us. I then read them the Bible and the verse on the second greatest commandment Jesus gave ‘’ Love your neighbour as you love yourself’’. I told them that the Bible tell us that we are neighbours who should love each other, and not see them as our enemies. (I reminded them that as a gesture towards this I had not pressed charges against them in the past when i easily could have after the case in police turned against them.) In addition I told them that as local people we have our shared enemies; these are the poverty, sickness, illiteracy, and many other common problems that we face as a community. I suggested that we should join our efforts together to fight those issues instead of fighting each other. I said that that is the reason when we do developmental things we don’t choose only those who go to church, but we do them to all people. This took them by surprise; they all thought we are different as Christians. They had never heard anyone tell them that. Actually their invited guests revealed the reason they were called, they told us that Muslims in this community think we treat them as our enemies and a threat to their religion. And they told us that they are going to tell their hosts that the impression they get from us is so different from what they have been told.
Well, we did not know where the above would lead us to, but after we had prayed we trusted that God is with us and we are safe. The conversation went on, and we ended and they promised to come back. We assumed that this meant that they intended to come back with more opposition and attacks.
To my surprise, yesterday (Tuesday) when I got home, some elders and key leaders of the Mosque and from the family of the people who put me in jail over Muslim converted were waiting for me. Their guest speakers did not come this time.
These men started their talk. It was the opposite of what we had expected. They all started repenting and apologising to me of what had happened to me and our church youths. And they said this while shedding tears. To you who are not Africans, know that African men don’t cry, so if you see an African (especially elder and high in position) crying, you know it is serious and genuine.
That is what happened.
They told me the reasons why they have come to repent, and below are the shocking reasons they gave.
1. Their guest speakers went to them and told them that they had never met such humble Christians. They said this because I repented before them, and shared what I have mentioned in paragraph 4.
2. Also, last Thursday, some widows that we have supported stormed the man’s place (the one who put me in jail). They demanded that the man had to become their donor. (we have been doing development in the community, including goats giving to widows and orphaned children.) There has been a rumour in the community that we are stopping to do this to Muslims, and the widows went mad. In their anger, they told the man that all Muslims widows are returning all their goats to me, and so he was man to replace all goats, do training and all the other things that we do in the community. The man was shocked.
3. On Friday after the prayer there was almost a big fight in the Mosque; this was over the support Christians had given to the mosque. Several Christians including myself and members of my church have donated building materials to the mosque next door in the past. On Friday last week there was a discussing that they destroy the water tank Jenga (A Christian NGO Grace and I are co-founders and still offer our services to) has done on the Mosque, and also to burn a carpet one of my church member has given to them. Others did not agree with this idea, including one of their top Imams, they said that if they did that, they should also destroy the roof, and the walls which we contributed to. It almost turned into a big fight between Muslims members of the same mosque.
4. One of the man’s sons went to him in tears. He owns a taxi my church and other churches and Christian NGOs around have used. One of the pastors had made a joke on what his father did to me putting me in jail. So he was very embarrassed of the father’s action. He told him to stop or else he was going to leave the home and go somewhere else.
5. Finally there is one of the relatives of the man (that had put me in jail). In the past I have given him a loan that he had paid back. This time I don’t know whether he really wanted a loan or he was just to defend me, but he went to him demanding that he gives him a loan of three million shillings. And he said that the reason he went to him was because he has been told that I am moving away from Mooni because this man and others did not want me, so he can’t get a loan from me. All these attacks made the man and others involved feel bad of their actions.
So for all these reasons they started feeling that it is a spiritual attack against them. They have had demonic attacks as well as many other problems. They even think that maybe my church has prayed and we are involved in causing the trouble that t hey are experiencing. So with all this going on, they are now approaching us before the calamity they are in can grow bigger.
There have been many situations where we could have (and sometimes wanted to) fight back both vocally and physically. When times were particularly tough, it was hard to love these people and not to be tempted and fight in the way the world would and show them that we were not weak. But somehow, by the Grace of God we were able to step back and trust that God would be faithful and that He would intervene. The Bible is full of references that encourage us to that the Battle belongs to the Lord and when we fully rely on him he will always come through for us. These pages are a testimony to that. Not only did we not have to fight back- but he chose the elders, the widows and even their own leaders and children to do it for us!
All in all I am not only writing this to let you know how through Christ we are victorious, but I just wanted all Christians to know that prayer works, and especially that in choosing not to fight back, but letting it all to God, he will raise others to fight for you.
I hope this also helps to build your faith in case you have attacks similar or different to ours, to know that God is still in charge if we give it all to Him. This may not be the end of the fight with Muslims in this community, but it is a great sign to us as a church that we should not give up doing good, and that we should not fight evil by evil, but rather to move forward with courage, trusting that he is there for us.
God bless you and keep praying for our neighbours and for our courage and strength to continue serving the Lord.
And please pass this to others who pray and yet I have not managed to send it to them.
In Jesus’ name.
Pastor Vincent
Dear all our prayers partners,
I write again to thank you for your continued prayers. As I have always shared, God has showed favour to us, but I know it is also because of your prayers and the love you have showed to us continuously.
As I have shared with some of you before that there is a Muslim crusade going on in the next door mosque (which is only 20 Meters away from our house.) It is very loud and disruptive, especially in the evenings, but thankfully they at least finish by 6.30pm. What is worse is that these friends don’t read the Quran and explain as we Christians do, but all they say are terrible abuses to Christians, they read bible verses and misquote them. I thank God that He has given us all the grace to remain peaceful without being offended. He revealed to me the truth that they are not saved, so I can’t expect them to behave like those who know Christ. Therefore we should not be surprised that they behave as they do.
Recently, some of their leaders came and visited us (this included their invited guest speaker), again with lots of questions and insults. They also alleged that we Christians go on TV and speak abusive words against Muslims. In the house were Grace, Martin, Brian, and myself. Each one of us were praying for God’s guidance, and we were all listening attentively to them. Grace offered them all a cup of tea, which they took. This was the first thing to remind us that God was in control as for them to take tea in our house was not common practice for them; Muslims of that class would not normally take tea in our house as they think we eat bad things and we are dirty (pagans).
Although they had come with other intentions to argue and point fingers at us as bad people as mentioned above, we did not go their way. Firstly, I admitted that I have heard these people who abuse them on TV and I agreed that it is not a good way of sharing the Gospel. And I went ahead and repented on behalf of those people, and just in any case we the locals have done things in the manner that makes them feel we look at them as our enemies, then they should forgive us. I then read them the Bible and the verse on the second greatest commandment Jesus gave ‘’ Love your neighbour as you love yourself’’. I told them that the Bible tell us that we are neighbours who should love each other, and not see them as our enemies. (I reminded them that as a gesture towards this I had not pressed charges against them in the past when i easily could have after the case in police turned against them.) In addition I told them that as local people we have our shared enemies; these are the poverty, sickness, illiteracy, and many other common problems that we face as a community. I suggested that we should join our efforts together to fight those issues instead of fighting each other. I said that that is the reason when we do developmental things we don’t choose only those who go to church, but we do them to all people. This took them by surprise; they all thought we are different as Christians. They had never heard anyone tell them that. Actually their invited guests revealed the reason they were called, they told us that Muslims in this community think we treat them as our enemies and a threat to their religion. And they told us that they are going to tell their hosts that the impression they get from us is so different from what they have been told.
Well, we did not know where the above would lead us to, but after we had prayed we trusted that God is with us and we are safe. The conversation went on, and we ended and they promised to come back. We assumed that this meant that they intended to come back with more opposition and attacks.
To my surprise, yesterday (Tuesday) when I got home, some elders and key leaders of the Mosque and from the family of the people who put me in jail over Muslim converted were waiting for me. Their guest speakers did not come this time.
These men started their talk. It was the opposite of what we had expected. They all started repenting and apologising to me of what had happened to me and our church youths. And they said this while shedding tears. To you who are not Africans, know that African men don’t cry, so if you see an African (especially elder and high in position) crying, you know it is serious and genuine.
That is what happened.
They told me the reasons why they have come to repent, and below are the shocking reasons they gave.
1. Their guest speakers went to them and told them that they had never met such humble Christians. They said this because I repented before them, and shared what I have mentioned in paragraph 4.
2. Also, last Thursday, some widows that we have supported stormed the man’s place (the one who put me in jail). They demanded that the man had to become their donor. (we have been doing development in the community, including goats giving to widows and orphaned children.) There has been a rumour in the community that we are stopping to do this to Muslims, and the widows went mad. In their anger, they told the man that all Muslims widows are returning all their goats to me, and so he was man to replace all goats, do training and all the other things that we do in the community. The man was shocked.
3. On Friday after the prayer there was almost a big fight in the Mosque; this was over the support Christians had given to the mosque. Several Christians including myself and members of my church have donated building materials to the mosque next door in the past. On Friday last week there was a discussing that they destroy the water tank Jenga (A Christian NGO Grace and I are co-founders and still offer our services to) has done on the Mosque, and also to burn a carpet one of my church member has given to them. Others did not agree with this idea, including one of their top Imams, they said that if they did that, they should also destroy the roof, and the walls which we contributed to. It almost turned into a big fight between Muslims members of the same mosque.
4. One of the man’s sons went to him in tears. He owns a taxi my church and other churches and Christian NGOs around have used. One of the pastors had made a joke on what his father did to me putting me in jail. So he was very embarrassed of the father’s action. He told him to stop or else he was going to leave the home and go somewhere else.
5. Finally there is one of the relatives of the man (that had put me in jail). In the past I have given him a loan that he had paid back. This time I don’t know whether he really wanted a loan or he was just to defend me, but he went to him demanding that he gives him a loan of three million shillings. And he said that the reason he went to him was because he has been told that I am moving away from Mooni because this man and others did not want me, so he can’t get a loan from me. All these attacks made the man and others involved feel bad of their actions.
So for all these reasons they started feeling that it is a spiritual attack against them. They have had demonic attacks as well as many other problems. They even think that maybe my church has prayed and we are involved in causing the trouble that t hey are experiencing. So with all this going on, they are now approaching us before the calamity they are in can grow bigger.
There have been many situations where we could have (and sometimes wanted to) fight back both vocally and physically. When times were particularly tough, it was hard to love these people and not to be tempted and fight in the way the world would and show them that we were not weak. But somehow, by the Grace of God we were able to step back and trust that God would be faithful and that He would intervene. The Bible is full of references that encourage us to that the Battle belongs to the Lord and when we fully rely on him he will always come through for us. These pages are a testimony to that. Not only did we not have to fight back- but he chose the elders, the widows and even their own leaders and children to do it for us!
All in all I am not only writing this to let you know how through Christ we are victorious, but I just wanted all Christians to know that prayer works, and especially that in choosing not to fight back, but letting it all to God, he will raise others to fight for you.
I hope this also helps to build your faith in case you have attacks similar or different to ours, to know that God is still in charge if we give it all to Him. This may not be the end of the fight with Muslims in this community, but it is a great sign to us as a church that we should not give up doing good, and that we should not fight evil by evil, but rather to move forward with courage, trusting that he is there for us.
God bless you and keep praying for our neighbours and for our courage and strength to continue serving the Lord.
And please pass this to others who pray and yet I have not managed to send it to them.
In Jesus’ name.
Pastor Vincent
Bethel Church 5/7/10
Jul 5 (4 days ago)
Hello every one, Just saying that we are alright. And next week we are BAptising several members of Elshaddai, so it is good to pray that it all shall go well. And also at the Mosque next door there is a big crusade and they are saying all abuses to the church and our family. May you just pray for God's protection. Today just an hour ago I had over 10 ring leaders of Islam come to our house, they can with question, but the intention was to ask questions to catch us. Martin, Grace and I managed to explain to them some truth which I think left them feeling abit stupid, but that means they might come again with more tomorrow. Just pray that God keeps our peace.
Gd bless you all.
Vinnie
Hello every one, Just saying that we are alright. And next week we are BAptising several members of Elshaddai, so it is good to pray that it all shall go well. And also at the Mosque next door there is a big crusade and they are saying all abuses to the church and our family. May you just pray for God's protection. Today just an hour ago I had over 10 ring leaders of Islam come to our house, they can with question, but the intention was to ask questions to catch us. Martin, Grace and I managed to explain to them some truth which I think left them feeling abit stupid, but that means they might come again with more tomorrow. Just pray that God keeps our peace.
Gd bless you all.
Vinnie
Bethel Church 5/7/10
Jul 5 (3 days ago)
Hello again, I do apologize if the many emails I have sent bother you. I do realize I have sent so many emails and photos in one short time. In this email I want to share some good news for Bethel church. but also share some brief sad one.
The good news is:
1. Yesterday Sunday (although I was not there) one of the notorious witch woman got saved at Bethel. Andrew the chairman of the church asked her to walk in front which she did and she was led to Jesus. Unfortunately there was not photo taken. She left every one amazed of what we do to win people like that woman to Jesus. She had done some harm to even people in church (poisoning and killing their family members). This is everywhere in Mooni about her. There we simply say Ebenezer, that far God has brought us.
2. The children we sponsor have brought us a lot of Joy. Ian and Tash you know the boy at Bethel called Anthony, you also know Carol and Dinner. All sing in the choir and are on our programme (some Jenga helps). All these children are in Wanale SSS. All the three mentioned above stood for high positions in that school with over 1100 children. Anthony is the head boy of the school, Dinnah is the vice Head girl, and carol is the general secretary of the entire school. We are so proud as a church. These are meant to be children with a low self esteem, but how God has turned them in better children who can stand and win votes of thousands is such good news to us.
Sad news:
1. You remember the time when 7 men got saved at the same time. one of them was called Juma who is now Jimmy. After salvation of course this man was chased away by his family, so he has not family relatives. Also his wife left, that is because he had not paid the bride price; so the muslim parents of the wife took her back. She left him with three children. The oldest (about 10 years) has died. The worst about this is that the man has no place to burry, now it is the bethel’s responsibility to help as we are the only relatives he has. That is the sad news. Pray for Jimmy as one of his close 3 relatives (children) has passed aways.
That all for now.
Vincent
Hello again, I do apologize if the many emails I have sent bother you. I do realize I have sent so many emails and photos in one short time. In this email I want to share some good news for Bethel church. but also share some brief sad one.
The good news is:
1. Yesterday Sunday (although I was not there) one of the notorious witch woman got saved at Bethel. Andrew the chairman of the church asked her to walk in front which she did and she was led to Jesus. Unfortunately there was not photo taken. She left every one amazed of what we do to win people like that woman to Jesus. She had done some harm to even people in church (poisoning and killing their family members). This is everywhere in Mooni about her. There we simply say Ebenezer, that far God has brought us.
2. The children we sponsor have brought us a lot of Joy. Ian and Tash you know the boy at Bethel called Anthony, you also know Carol and Dinner. All sing in the choir and are on our programme (some Jenga helps). All these children are in Wanale SSS. All the three mentioned above stood for high positions in that school with over 1100 children. Anthony is the head boy of the school, Dinnah is the vice Head girl, and carol is the general secretary of the entire school. We are so proud as a church. These are meant to be children with a low self esteem, but how God has turned them in better children who can stand and win votes of thousands is such good news to us.
Sad news:
1. You remember the time when 7 men got saved at the same time. one of them was called Juma who is now Jimmy. After salvation of course this man was chased away by his family, so he has not family relatives. Also his wife left, that is because he had not paid the bride price; so the muslim parents of the wife took her back. She left him with three children. The oldest (about 10 years) has died. The worst about this is that the man has no place to burry, now it is the bethel’s responsibility to help as we are the only relatives he has. That is the sad news. Pray for Jimmy as one of his close 3 relatives (children) has passed aways.
That all for now.
Vincent
Bethel Church 10/03/10
10/03/2010
Like I stated in the former email the Bethel men yesterday and Today have showed the real love of Jesus in the community of Bebetsye. The shelter was nearly completed in one day. About 18 men joined hands together and helped to build the shelter.
Khagodo the old, sick and needy man without family was very happy. And the community people came around to see where the miracle came from. Only to find were Bethel men who had come to help. We ended up witnessing to many people.
Like I stated in the former email the Bethel men yesterday and Today have showed the real love of Jesus in the community of Bebetsye. The shelter was nearly completed in one day. About 18 men joined hands together and helped to build the shelter.
Khagodo the old, sick and needy man without family was very happy. And the community people came around to see where the miracle came from. Only to find were Bethel men who had come to help. We ended up witnessing to many people.
29/01/10 Bethel Church
29/01/2010
The news continues. This evening Hilary (one of the youth and boda/motorbike guys at church) and I laid hands on the chairman LC2 Mooni and prayed for him. Not meaning that he received Jesus, but accepting a prayer and laying hands on him from me was a great. I mean I have prayed for him before, but the first time it was not his choice as he was like dead. This time we asked and he accepted a prayer. He admitted that he has demons disturbing him. Well, just remember Issa (Jesus in Arabic) in your prayers. He is on his way to the Lord
The news continues. This evening Hilary (one of the youth and boda/motorbike guys at church) and I laid hands on the chairman LC2 Mooni and prayed for him. Not meaning that he received Jesus, but accepting a prayer and laying hands on him from me was a great. I mean I have prayed for him before, but the first time it was not his choice as he was like dead. This time we asked and he accepted a prayer. He admitted that he has demons disturbing him. Well, just remember Issa (Jesus in Arabic) in your prayers. He is on his way to the Lord
Bethel Church 28/01/10
28 Jan 2010
Dear all,
This might sound a bit funny with these frequent stories, but God is faithful to Bethel and we do feel He has already prepared the way.
Today was another confirmation on that trip. I took a walk again as the other day, but today I had other friends with me. And as I was walking I saw some children running after me. They told me that their father is very sick and wanted to see me urgently. We went and we found it was the LC2 (Parish political leader in charge of over 8,000 people) of the Mooni area and the man is indeed sick. In history of Bethel this man had regarded me his enemy as his wife got saved from our church and he separated with her. And of-course he was behind the closing down of our restaurant (Cafe Gracious). In principle he is not meant to share with me his sickness but he did it. I feel that is God and I asked him to go to the hospital as I pledged to take care of his bills, since he did not have the money to pay his bills. Keep praying and thanking God for Bethel as He is with us.
Dear all,
This might sound a bit funny with these frequent stories, but God is faithful to Bethel and we do feel He has already prepared the way.
Today was another confirmation on that trip. I took a walk again as the other day, but today I had other friends with me. And as I was walking I saw some children running after me. They told me that their father is very sick and wanted to see me urgently. We went and we found it was the LC2 (Parish political leader in charge of over 8,000 people) of the Mooni area and the man is indeed sick. In history of Bethel this man had regarded me his enemy as his wife got saved from our church and he separated with her. And of-course he was behind the closing down of our restaurant (Cafe Gracious). In principle he is not meant to share with me his sickness but he did it. I feel that is God and I asked him to go to the hospital as I pledged to take care of his bills, since he did not have the money to pay his bills. Keep praying and thanking God for Bethel as He is with us.
Bethel Church 21/01/10
21/01/2010
Yesterday Tuesday I got a clear confirmation. I woke up at 6 am, and went to Bubetsye for a prayer walk. The prayer strategies were: 1. That God softens the hearts of the people so there will be no opposition towards the church, 2. That God shows as the right place (land) to plant the church, 3 That God saves the people’s hearts. I staged at the place where the Jenga women meet from; which is very near the LC2's house. (The man whose wife got saved and put her in jail, then sent her away with a beating); There is a very good land and I thought it is the right one for the church land. And I was praying in that very land. The 2 people who first came to me wondering what the problem could be as I was alone which was strange to them, I led them to the Lord instead. And That very time before the 2 men left the owner of that property came. Just on a different agenda he asked me if I knew of anyone who wants to buy land as he was selling that very property. I cannot explain the whole conversation here, but to cut the long story short, I simply felt God was with me and is with Bethel in this plan
Yesterday Tuesday I got a clear confirmation. I woke up at 6 am, and went to Bubetsye for a prayer walk. The prayer strategies were: 1. That God softens the hearts of the people so there will be no opposition towards the church, 2. That God shows as the right place (land) to plant the church, 3 That God saves the people’s hearts. I staged at the place where the Jenga women meet from; which is very near the LC2's house. (The man whose wife got saved and put her in jail, then sent her away with a beating); There is a very good land and I thought it is the right one for the church land. And I was praying in that very land. The 2 people who first came to me wondering what the problem could be as I was alone which was strange to them, I led them to the Lord instead. And That very time before the 2 men left the owner of that property came. Just on a different agenda he asked me if I knew of anyone who wants to buy land as he was selling that very property. I cannot explain the whole conversation here, but to cut the long story short, I simply felt God was with me and is with Bethel in this plan
Monday, July 19, 2010
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