Greetings in the name of Jesus. Following is a report of some of the things happening on the trip to Uganda. It helps to understand what believers in other countries experience, as well as to understand the types of things we experience as we co-labor with the pastors there. I notice in all my travels that Africans in the poor areas do a lot more with less. The need for Bibles and transportation for ministers is huge.
I was recently texting back and forth with a friend of mine who is originally from Kenya. We were talking about the differences based on our experience in the churches of Africa versus here in America. One of the things that she mentioned was the corporate prayer in Africa. She stated there’s more of the prophetic in America and we agreed that we need both of the prophetic and also corporate prayer.
It generally takes two days each way to travel from Columbus, Ohio to East Africa. I left early in the morning on December 10th and arrived at Entebbe Airport on the Afternoon of the 11th. From there we took a taxi to Kampala and traveled by bus to Mbale. Traffic in Kampala is often very bad. We sat in the bus park for an hour and it took us a few hours to get out of Kampala. Overall it took between 10 and 11 hours from the time I arrived at Entebbe until we reached Mbale.
On the bus in Kampala God gave me a couple of words of knowledge. I tried to share them with the bus driver and one was for him. He indicated it was true and talked to the Ugandan pastor a little bit. I also had a word for the server at the restaurant. I hand wrote it and read it to her and she was greatly encouraged.
The praise at the conference in Mbale was so powerful and full of joy I think I needed to come to Africa for revival. In one session a singer led the people in two songs, it seemed as if heaven had just opened up.
In one session I taught the young people using a seed as a metaphor. I grabbed one of the beans out of the kitchen area and we talked about not despising small beginnings. We shared that no matter if they were young or an adult male or female they could still plant that seed. They could take it with them wherever they went. The young people seem to grasp the metaphors pretty well.
I gave some testimonies on past experiences of using the spiritual gifts. I demonstrated a word of knowledge and also had the young people pray for healing for a woman. We saw her pain leave completely and her right leg grow about a half an inch. We did not see a complete manifestation of healing, but the young people did get to participate and see something.
In the evening meeting, two people came forward for prayer. One lady was desperate and had a pain in her side for four years. The young people prayed but little happened at first. They prayed two more times and the pain was gone. They prayed for another lady and her pain also went. My helpers prayed and witnessed God set a woman free from some type of spiritual oppression. One man received his hearing in his right ear. I prayed three times for a blind man with little or no immediate success. Much of this ministry was a training on getting others activated in using the gifts of the Spirit.
The following day I was able to teach twice. The first teaching was on Holy Spirit: Paul did not want us ignorant about Holy Spirit; Jesus sent Holy Spirit; there is one Spirit but many gifts; Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus; Holy Spirit guides us into truth and helps us remember things, and Holy Spirit is good. This was taught in contrast to ministry abuses, especially in the prophetic.
The second teaching was an introduction to revelatory gifts, including demonstrations of those gifts. I shared testimonies and read scriptures. For instance, many times in Acts dreams and other revelation examples were part of expanding the Kingdom, such as the sending Paul to Macedonia. I emphasized the importance of spending time with God and hearing His voice, and as well as staying in the Bible. I talked about love, being willing to have prophecy judged without judging the person. I demonstrated when I had the word “engagement” for a lady, who stated that in fact she was engaged. I shared about not prophesying marriage and had the congregation pray for the woman’s engagement. I also shared a word about stomach pain which led to healing.
I taught in James 5:16-18 says that Elijah was human like us but prayed and the rain stopped and later rained again when he prayed. I shared with the people that God is not a respecter of persons so I asked God for rain a couple years ago and it rained. I shared with the people that if God would use me, He is not a mzungu God and that they could do the same. I shared with them that was why I had the young people pray for the people God touched so that they could understand the Holy Spirit they carry.
Finally, I taught a summary on the things I had been teaching concerning Holy Spirit. I was attempting to help the people not fall victim to false prophets. I shared that Satan had been kicked out of heaven, yet we are seated in heavenly places.
It is so powerful to “stop for the one.” A few of us went out for a few minutes one day and stopped to speak with a couple young mothers at their homes by the side of the road. One woman was a believer but had no Bible, so I promised her a New Testament. She asked for prayer for the family because they did not feel accepted. When I stopped by the next morning with the New Testament, the children cheerfully told her the mzungu was here. They had such big smiles as did the mother and the neighbor woman when they came out. They were so thankful to have a copy of the Bible. I wish I had taken a picture. I pray nothing spoils the tender hearts these people have. I did buy some of her tomatoes.
The man whose hearing God restored was still hearing well and rejoicing. As we were leaving the conference we passed the neighbor lady who had been in pain for four years but was touched by God. She was still doing well and her family rejoiced. The fellowship was so beautiful. I heard a phrase my friend Paul Okango often says: “We love you so much.” Two ladies handed me presents as I was leaving. One was a bag of fruit with a beautiful handwritten note. The other was a wrapped present for my wife because they honored her for allowing me to come to Uganda. One precious saint told me, “We are sorry we can’t pay you anything,” But I told her she already had because of all the love she had shown to me. The tenderness of heart and the devotion to God of these saints is worth visiting Africa for, especially the poor areas.
My pastor friend Simon and I traveled several hours but made it safely to a rural area in Bugiri. We passed by some men to whom I had previously witnessed earlier this year.
I taught two sessions with a lot of activations, beginning the first session with revelatory words for people. I shared how the words were presented in love, and then I talked about the word, the interpretation, and the application. I also demonstrated the intentionality of Jesus in allowing Lazarus to die, on going to the cross, and leaving the disciples. It was important to go for Him to send Holy Spirit. Part of the activation process was to allow three people to practice giving a word to me.
The second session also had a lot of activations, starting with four people who practiced written words. Later almost everyone practiced in pairs. I shared practical uses of hearing from God, sharing guidelines for giving and receiving words, and not being deceived. I talked about the importance of staying in the Bible and operating in love.
After the session, three of us went out to talk to people in the neighborhood. I sensed we were to stop at one group of guys and we were greeted warmly by two women and about 10 children. I wanted so badly to take a picture but one child had no clothes and I did not want to cause any embarrassment. We shared the gospel but they were not ready to accept Christ. One lady said she had a small sin that was keeping her from accepting Christ. I explained that we could not make ourselves acceptable to be saved. Only God could do that. She was very gracious and wanted me to move to Uganda but was not ready to accept Christ. I had a word about headaches for the other woman for which we prayed and they went away. She still was not ready to accept Christ. I was disappointed, not for my sake, but for their missing the relationship with Christ. They were very gracious to us.
We continued through the village and encountered many people who were Muslims on the way to their religious ceremonies. Even though they were Muslims they allowed or even requested prayer. I had a word about the sorrow of loss for a lady before I knew she was a widow. She was surprised and I shared that if God would show me these things He must love her. Three other women came and I asked who had a son that was ill. One lady admitted she did so we prayed for her son and also general prayers for the women. There were no conversions but we treated them with love and honor.
That night I did not sleep well nor did I feel well; however, I knew God wanted me to teach on healing. Wafula Isaac (a pastor) and I had a list of words of knowledge concerning sickness. I used these during the teaching. As I did in Mbale, I taught on seeds, sharing how each seed has life in itself to reproduce. God’s word has life in itself, and each person can carry the seed, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity. I gave the seed to a little girl and asked if she could carry and plant the seed like I could (yes). I shared that we all have the same Holy Spirit and read to them Matthew 13, the parable of the sower. Then I had children pray for people with toothaches and fever, seeing God heal them all. I followed up by having the congregation pray for the remaining illnesses.
I taught on Holy Spirit during the 2nd session, showing how miracles are a sign to glorify Jesus. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that the believers would receive power from Holy Spirit to be witnesses. Peter denied Jesus yet became bold in Acts 2 after he received Holy Spirit. Peter and John were threatened in Acts 4 and told not to preach Jesus anymore. In Acts 4:29-33 the believers prayed in agreement with Jesus’ will to be witnesses by asking for boldness. I shared that when you have a revelation concerning something you act on it. I shared my personal experience of praying for rain, knowing that Elijah was like we are (James 5:17-18). We prayed for boldness and waited for Holy Spirit.
The following morning’s service was wonderful. The dancers and choir were great, and this church allows time for testimonies, something I wish was present in most churches. I preached about God’s love, why we love, how we should love each other, and how God’s love casts out fear. Several people requested prayer, so I had the children pray. Many were healed. One young lady had been tormented by demons of witchcraft. She wanted free so we prayed and she was set free. After the service, I encountered a Muslim woman who requested prayed because she had been tormented by spirits and was unable to have a child. We prayed for her in the name of Jesus. Late afternoon we walked a couple miles to another village. A Muslim man argued that nothing in the Bible said God birthed Jesus. He engaged the pastor and demanded proof. I mentioned John 1 but the man made a reference to a white man’s Bible, so I walked on to a house of a woman who was healed in the morning service. Her husband said he has seen a change in her since she was saved a year ago. He prayed to receive Christ and be filled with Holy Spirit.
Went to the home of the mother of one of the ministry leaders. The mother requested prayer for hip pain. She was not a believer but we prayed and the pain totally left. I asked her how it happened that the pain the pain left her body. She said it was because I had prayed. I told it was not my power but that Jesus loves her. She prayed to accept Christ and be filled with Holy Spirit. She then served us a variety of potatoes that were sweet, along with greens and pineapple.
We continued on to the home of another ministry leader who offered juice and soda. We met two of her sons on the road and went into the village where I met two men who requested prayer. These me also wanted to accept Christ, so we prayed for that as well as being filled with Holy Spirit. They requested Luganda Bibles. The need for Bibles in Africa is very great, and your donations to Global Harvest Missions would help fill this need.
The next day I traveled 10-11 hours and made it safely from a village near Bugiri to Masindi. I counted four different taxi (van) rides as well as a 17 kilometer motorcycle ride, witnessing the results of a bad road accident, a ripped pair of jeans from the seat on one of the vans, walking at a half mile in really crowded streets and lots in between moving vehicles, and negotiating the fare with the driver. I was also able to send six Luganda Bibles for the new converts in Bugiri, pray with the staff in the Uganda Bible Society bookstore, see the awesome scenery, and have interesting conversations with people next to me.
During the trip, I met a young man named Sam. He was full of joy and thankful to have met me. We talked about our lives including why I came to Uganda. Despite the difficulties, traveling remains a great opportunity to meet people, to learn more about the culture, and to share the love of Jesus. For instance, I sat next to a young mother wither her nine-month-old son who had a sweet disposition. The woman was traveling to Kampala to obtain her passport. Like many of my African friends, she looked after me and warned me about guarding my cell phone and luggage.
Later I had an interesting conversation on the taxi with a Muslim man. He was a mechanic and we shared information about our families. I told him why I was in Uganda and how I preferred staying with the people. He told me he was Muslim and had Jesus in his religion. I shared how we believe Jesus is God’s Son and that I came to Uganda because Jesus died for us. We had a great conversation about Holy Spirit and dreams. He believes everyone dreams (true), and that dreams are sent by Holy Spirit. We had to end the conversation when he departed at his stop, but he took the time to introduce his son to me.
I was blessed to preach at 3 C Church in Masindi the night I arrived. What a time of praise and fellowship! I shared how Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and how Elijah prayed successfully to stop and start rain. I shared how that scripture was an invitation for me to participate in miracles, and I shared stories. I talked about the need for love, the need to walk in the power and Character of Christ, and the need to depend on Holy Spirit.
The next day I preached at a business gathering in a marketplace., sharing about the meaning and importance of value and relationships. Value or price are often determined by the price someone is willing to pay. Jesus was the price God was willing to pay for us. I shared that there was only one price paid for everyone.
When I shared the value of relationships, I presented God as a personal God and gave examples of Jesus turning the care of His mother over to John. I shared how Jesus returned to appear to Thomas so that Thomas could feel the nail piercings. When Holy Spirit came in Acts 2, each foreign person heard God speak in his own language.
I was moved in my spirit at being here in Uganda with such devoted worship. The language and songs in Masindi were so beautiful. I was grateful for Pastor Robert and Doreen for hosting me, and I think the Ugandan believers are among some of the sweetest people I have met. I had been prophesying during this trip about Uganda sending missionaries to America, and I discovered Robert has already been training and sending out missionaries.
The next night I taught on gifts of the Spirit, laying the foundation that God is always good and knows how to give good gifts. The gifts are to build up the church and glorify Jesus. I went through examples of nine gifts and demonstrated healing, mostly using children to pray. Around 20 people were healed. Next, I demonstrated revelatory gifts and showed how all the gifts can work together in ministry. After the teaching, I stayed and ministered to a couple people.
The next day I returned to the marketplace in Masindi and spoke about the love of God and how God cares about the details of our lives, including our jobs and businesses. Afterward, I went out with Pastor Edward to the streets, praying with people and sharing Jesus. We stopped at three motorcycle stands and a lumberyard, as well as a few other stops. I prayed for finances and other situations and had words of knowledge for about five people. The very first one appeared not to be accurate, but all the ones after that were very accurate. I recall other occasions where ministry improved once I got started.
It was sad to think about leaving the people and Uganda. The congregation seemed hungry, loving, and ready to participate. The final night Robert asked for testimonies of what people had learned, and it was very clear that many had taken notes. I was able to teach on prophecy, including Mark Virkler’s Four Keys to Hearing the Voice of God. I was able to activate many people as a group, starting with seven brave saints who volunteered for the activation model before we had everyone practice. The congregation seemed mature and willing to pursue the gifts. At the end, I laid hands on everyone (possibly 200 people) and prophesied over a number of people.
The next morning we traveled straight to Kampala, bypassing some of the traffic jams by climbing up a hill on a narrow dirt road. I said my goodbyes to my hosts Robert and Doreen, and the driver and I continued on to Entebbe. The trip from Masindi by personal; vehicle to about four and a half hours. I gave the rest of my Uganda shillings to the driver for gas and went into the airport where I was greeted by friendly Uganda airport staff. From there it was about 36 hours of airplane flights back to Columbus.