Sam Bass, a member of The Family Van, was recently in Uganda with Next Generation Ministries. Here is a taste of what He experienced….
“It is amazing to me what connection I feel to my brothers and sisters in the Lord here in Uganda . Their love for the Lord and for me is very humbling. I do not believe that it is possible to be among these believers and not have your faith both challenged and enriched….
Sunday I preached in a church in Bukeeka. This village is made up of about 90% Muslim with a blend of witchcraft… Now before you start thinking I am some sort of super hero Christian let me give you some more information about who lives in this place. When I came to Uganda two years ago I visited Bukeeka not knowing how dark of a place it was (something Paul conveniently forgot to tell me). All I knew was that we were going to see some of the young men who were products of NGM. They had started a church and a small school. The school was to help children who could not afford the more expensive public school and as a tool to reach the city for Christ. These two men were Robert, the little man, and Vincent the skinny man. Little did I know that I was about to have an encounter that would forever change me. We arrived at the school that was not much bigger than a three bay storage unit. In this small building they taught 68 students. The blackboard was a smooth wall painted black. The desks were long benches setting on a dirt floor. Robert began to tell their story of how they knew God wanted them there in spite of the difficulties they were experiencing. Vincent, the school’s headmaster, had left a pose job as the sales director for a water company like Ozarka in the US . He knew God had placed it in his heart to give his life serving this dark village in the name of Christ. Robert told us that they had not been able to pay the teachers or Vincent for months. In fact Vincent went through a very long period that the only food they could afford to buy was enough to feed their only child. I asked Vincent, “How did you survive?” He told me of a period were they were suffering the onset of starvation. He and his wife prayed telling God that they were totally dependent on Him and if He so chose to allow them to starve to death, that He would allow Robert to be able to take care of their child. (Robert was in the same condition by the way) I began to cry. I had never met someone so full of joy and commitment to Jesus. Vincent hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Do not cry for me my brother, I consider it a joy to suffer for my Jesus.” Then I really began to cry. That same week Robert came to class and told us that the night before the Muslims had brought in a man who was known to curse people even to their death. This man along with another head Muslim got naked, sacrificed chickens, and put a ring of blood around the school in order to invoke a curse. They issued a warning that if Robert and Vincent did not leave, not only would they die, but any children who attended the school and their parents would die as well. They told the landlord that he must make Robert leave or he would die also. Robert told his landlord, “Do not worry, my Jesus will protect you.” So we prayed and the curse had no effect on Robert, Vincent, the landlord or the children and their parents. The curser issued an edict that, because they did not die, it was the will of Allah to let them be! That was two years ago. This Sunday I learned that there had been several other attempts to run them out of town. The last attempt failed because over half the city was for them staying because all the good they have done for the city. You see, they now have over 300 students. They are expecting 500 students this year and Robert believes they could have 1000 if they had the room. Through the efforts of NGM and some small churches in Oregon and Washington they now have 3 acres of land and they have installed one of the only two fresh water wells in the village (people in the village are allowed to use it). Before they installed this well the people would line up, as many as 200 at a time, to get fresh water. Vincent told me that they regularly get invitations to Muslim weddings and are sought for counseling by many of the Muslims who were so against them! They have loved on these people and many are coming to Christ. Recently the school achieved high test scores that many of the public schools never achieve. The other third giant is David, the four year old son of Vincent. David always has his small Bible in his hands. He stands on the porch, just a few feet away from the busy streets and pleads to those who are passing by: “Jesus loves you.” “Give your life to Jesus.” “Be born again!” No I am not brave. But why should I be scared, with three giants of faith around me. Satan is the one who is scared! He is about to lose a city to Jesus! If not in this generation, for sure in the “next generation.” “
andy & angie dowdell