Recently, I went with two other volunteers to accompany a group from Rafiki Africa Ministries—a Christian children’s home here in Uganda—to a nearby community to evangelize and encourage the people that lived there.
Mary LeamonsUpon our arrival, one of the members of the community reported four deaths the day before, due to fighting that has been occurring between a neighboring district. The people who live in this community had come from the north, where many were forced to fight in the war and even were forced to kill family members. People in the area are bitter about life and are having a hard time making a living or even knowing how to enjoy life.
Our first stop was to visit a family of a child whom Rafiki has been caring for many years, unable to locate and contact her family. They were excited to find the family finally, and the family was excited to hear their child was doing well and has been well taken care of.
Split into four groups
After our visit, we walked door-to-door visiting with the people, comforting them, encouraging them and sharing the gospel with them. We had eight people in our group, so we split up into four groups of two as we went out into the community. Most of these people did not have Bibles, but many had a religious background and were familiar with the Bible. We had been able to take 10 Bibles, and 10 households rejoiced and thanked us for giving them a Bible.
The people in this community welcomed us into their small homes, offering us the best seats in the house. They listened while we talked and were receptive to the gospel. Before we left any home, we asked if we could pray for them and what could we pray about. Many people had requests for healing from disease, protection over their families, job needs and the provision for school fees.
These people live in very small, primitive one-room apartments. Many of the women make jewelry from paper beads and sell them to make ends meet. Most of the people that we witnessed to were not Christians. One man we spoke with admitted that he wasn’t a Christian, but he wasn’t ready to accept Christ as his Savior.
A simple faith
One of the men we spoke with understood the gospel and professed to be born again. This man made a comment that left an impact on me. He said: “You know the gospel message is so simple. I’m a sinner, and Christ is the only way to heaven. And through him only am I cleansed of my sins.” His belief and faith encouraged me. The gospel is simple and sometimes we can make it seem more complicated than it really is. Romans 10:9-10 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
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The gospel is simple enough a child can understand it if we don’t make it complicated. One of the other groups had the joy of leading a person to Christ. We had a joyful time sowing the seeds of the gospel and encouraging these people.
We plan to make more trips to this community and will continue to encourage these people and continue to share the gospel with them. Many people here welcome hearing the gospel and love being visited.
People hungry for the gospel
People all over the world are hungry for something more than what this world has to offer them. Are we being faithful to reach out to all people? What are we doing to share Christ with those we come into contact with? I have struggled in the past with sharing the gospel, because I was always nervous about having the right words to say.
I still sometimes feel nervous about speaking to others, but the desire that I have for them to hear about the good news and having the assurance Christ will work in their hearts gives me boldness. Also, I know sharing with others isn’t about what I can get out of it. The purpose is to further the kingdom of God and to bring him glory.
Mary Leamons, who attended Angelo State University, is serving with Go Now Missions in Uganda.
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