Letter from Mike: Uganda – February 2020

Paul told the young Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. . . Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” 1 Timothy 4:12, 14, NKJV. “My prayer to God is that the converting power of His Holy Spirit may come upon our youth, that they may become working agents to win scores of youth to Jesus Christ, that they may be among the number who shall be accounted wise, who shall ‘shine as the brightness of the firmament,’ and ‘as the stars for ever and ever.’ Daniel 12:3.” Our High Calling, 282.

“With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come—the end of suffering and sorrow and sin! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where ‘the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;’ where ‘the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick,’ and ‘the voice of weeping shall be no more heard.’ Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19.” Education, 271.

Two of the young presenters

In the city of Kenwa, Uganda, an army of youth had a burden to share the gospel with other young people in their sphere of influence; so the older, more experienced pastors held a training session for them. After the training, the youth asked to conduct a prophecy seminar in the village, and began distributing invitation fliers door-to-door and advertising by word of mouth. Excitement grew as the day approached for the opening night of the campaign. The young people assembled for prayer every day to petition God to bless their efforts.

Opening night came with crowds of mostly teenage girls, boys and curious adults who wanted to see what was happening. During each night of the two-week seminar, the youth presented different testing truths. Each night, they challenged traditional beliefs. The Sabbath especially perplexed the audience, yet many embraced the message of God’s day of worship. Many more accepted the Sabbath truth after Sunday worship was presented as the mark of the beast. 

On the last night of the meetings, the two young presenters appealed to the scores of listeners to surrender their hearts to Christ before it is too late. Using the stories of Lot and Noah, these two young men urged upon the crowds to follow Christ into the watery grave of baptism. Their appeal stirred hearts, and many came forward to prepare for baptism. A few weeks later, after many studies, more than two dozen people were ready for baptism. 

The youth of Kenwa have committed themselves to nurturing this new church. Please pray for these young people as they work to build up God’s Kingdom in Uganda. Let us pray that God will raise an army of youth around this world to help finish the work! 

The leadership would like to build a church in this new area, but will need our help in funding a roof for the church. A church can be roofed for approximately $1,500. If you would like to support the work in Uganda, mark your gifts “Uganda Evangelism” or “Uganda Churches.”