Faith is for the deeper ends


As we plan to host some 600 or more students for six days beginning next
week Monday here in Yei, I’m waking up to the essence of my faith. 

Though the intensity of our prayers and preparation for this meeting continues to grow by the day, there’s still an uneasiness I feel, an anxiety I thought I should have overcome; having organized several conferences in the past and a largely successful camp last year.

Several times, I’ve wondered and people have asked, “What’s your aim with this?”

“Why invite all these students?”

“Don’t you see that many of them can’t even read properly and that will pose a big problem with understanding?”

“Will you have enough facilitators to handle the anticipated huge crowd?”

“Where will you get the money for this and that?”

“Can’t you plan something small and simple, with a few leaders, spend less money and time, and have little or no troubles to contend with?

If faith should always make sense, I’d probably answer these questions differently each time.

The deep ends of any river could be an exciting place to swim or fish, but they are often dangerous and sometimes lonely.
Heading that direction intentionally, especially when it’s not placid could seem foolish. However, that’s where faith for the impossible thrives.

Striving towards the deeper ends in faith is always expensive. It’s also a complicated place because of the assortment of confusions occasioned by the unimaginable challenges and the manner with which the problems suddenly fizzle out; forcing us to wonder again and again, “What just happened there?” (Psalm 107:23-30)

Abba smiles when our countenance glows in anticipation of His intervention at the deep ends of life. He’s thrilled by the shifts on the scale of our faith indicator. The rise and fall thereof are lovely to Him. But not the absence of it altogether.

The process of our spiritual formation which God jealously oversees involves
moments of fear, tears, doubt and uncertainty. You are either heading towards this direction, away from it or you are in the zone already. If God will be honored on account of your years on earth, you must tread this path of faith on His terms.

No two storms are the same. But they always have the same effect of either wrecking us or rousing us to the realities of our present spiritual condition.

Once again at this conference, there’s much uncertainty. But we’ll surely create a platform for God to be glorified; a
place to teach, inspire, instruct, correct and encourage and pray for those the
Lord will bring our way and open their hearts to receive His word. Hopefully, a
few would catch this flame and run with it to places we may never go.

The gift of faith is offered to all. I’m learning to use and grow my allocation. I hope you are too.

The word of their testimonies

Last Sunday was one I won’t forget in a hurry, not
for the praises and dance, testimonies and prayers, water baptism of 14
disciples nor because of the emergence of a new generation of very young
disciples who by the leadership of a dear son, gave a refreshing recitation of
many memorized Scriptures.
 
All these were fun but can’t compare to the outcome
of the unplanned small group meeting that followed after the service.

The message was on God’s longing to have and keep
us in, not just near. A hand full of people came forward to receive Jesus and I
called for a small meeting to encourage them after the service. But Abba had
other ideas.

David was not invited to this meeting but he joined
us. After a few admonitions, I asked if anyone had a question or prayer
request.

David asked, “Please can I share my
testimony?” “Sure.”

When he finished, the doors opened. All the new
converts had a dark past they desperately needed forgiveness from and felt they
should confess.

I was in the midst of hurting people. Three of them
confessed to attempted suicide. One testimony stood out, it lasted 30mins and
shocked us all.

Taban (not real name), in his late 30s is a mechanic but use to be
a soldier. While in the force during the Sudan civil war, he got into a fight
with another soldier, shot and killed the fellow. He was sent to jail for a
season but later the Judge sent him to the war front with the mandate to bring
back five rifles.

That meant he’s to kill five enemies, collect their
weapons, thereby complete his sentence and purchase his freedom. He succeeded
but became a more violent man.

One day, while driving some other soldiers to
another location, he decided to kill himself and all in the army
truck with him by driving it off the road into a gully.

When he turned off the road, he said he didn’t know
how the truck jumped over the ditches and everyone survived. He left the army
thereafter.

This man’s testimony was one of rage that often led
to murder. Here was a killer seeking Jesus and finding Him among other hurting people like himself.

Taban was entering a church for the first time in
six years last Sunday. His confession encouraged others to freely tell their
story of pain with graphic details and ask for forgiveness. From witchcraft,
abortions, bitterness against God for various reasons… we heard it all.

As we prayed and wept before the Lord, I recalled
the scripture, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and
because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until
death.” (Rev 12:11)

It continues to please God, that by the foolishness
of preaching, those that believe are saved.

Com’on Jesus!!

Managing broken members

I’ve always applied Luke 15 to unbelievers. I guess it’s because the chapter started with the mention of sinners. But isn’t the main perspective here God’s delight in recovering His lost children? Jesus was illustrating the joy of finding the one that was once among many and finished with a classic- the story of a father and his family.

That prodigal child could be a rebellious believer, a onetime active player in the Kingdom. Jesus was teaching His followers how to respond to brethren who quit but eventually returned.

As Christians we know how to welcome new converts, we rejoice at their arrival and share their testimonies. There are churches whose reception for first-timers is first class. Yet we hardly celebrate the restoration of backslidden brethren. Ever seen a church hold thanksgiving services for restored backsliders and give them gifts?

Should we now reward deserters like that father did to his prodigal son? Religion would suggest not. But that’s the unconditional love of a father [the Father] on display. My friend Butch Maltby said, “Mercy is a river we should never dam.” Oh, this is beyond mercy. This is how heaven kisses the earth. By grace are we saved and by grace still, are we re-saved or restored and subsequently celebrated.

My reflections here were prompted by the comments a dear disciple made. His life challenges forced me to shut down my planned activities last weekend to seek the Lord with and for him. In the course of our sharing, he said, “I’m tired of being a burden to ministers of God…” This was a loaded statement. I wondered if some ministers had unwittingly expressed (to his notice) their disgust for his unending issues in words or actions.

But would this broken disciple feel he’s a nuisance to a doctor if he’d gone to the hospital? Would he feel he’s disturbing a witchdoctor if out of desperation he chose to visit one? He would have paid these people and therefore would demand his right. Oh, but this brother was beginning to feel estranged to God’s ministers, to God’s blessings…. even to God Himself.

In Luke 15:28 we see the older, spiritual brother. He was obviously an excellent manager, one that would make a good church worker or even a pastor in some churches today. He kept all the rules, worked very hard, believed in efficiency, vision and all kinds of principles promoted today. But he never knew what it meant to enjoy his father at the deepest level. So, he couldn’t express same to another.

He was angry and would have none of this. He saw no reason for restoration of dead things. For him, this was a distraction, a misplacement of priorities and an irresponsible use of family (Kingdom) resources. One good thing though, he wasn’t pretentious. How often do we make careless comments based on our poor judgment? I feel very guilty.

Imagine this father explaining himself (after the celebration!) to his self righteous son. Isn’t Jesus nudging us here to understand His delight and passion for broken people?

Their father’s conclusion was definitive: “But it was necessary to celebrate and to be glad, because this your brother was dead and came back to life, and had been lost and was found.” (Luke 15:32)

Instead of gossiping weak and broken disciples, let’s pray for their restoration and plan a big celebration in anticipation of their return. That’s what Jesus is doing right now!!

Letting out this anger within

The news of a man that was arrested for attempting to commit suicide was the first story that welcomed me when I visited Juba 10days ago. The man, a military officer had his wife taken from him by his in-laws for not completing the bride price climbed up a tree and threatened to jump if his wife was not returned.

Neighbors and sympathizers appealed to his commonsense and he came down. The police promptly arrested him and locked him up. He may be in there for a while.

People often turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain or shame but they forget that relief is a feeling; and you have to be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead.

We all deal with emotional pain, anger and disappointments on our own terms. Sometimes we express it in a way that feels good at that moment, but causes more problems afterwards. Or, we cage it inside us because we feel it is “ours“. We could also conceal it because we don’t want to stir the hornet, but that just seems to make us feel worse. Romancing the pain via meditation facilitates the growth of an angry and bitter spirit.

As you can probably tell by observing other people in your life, everyone struggles with how and when to express and manage anger. Should we avoid it?  Is it possible to ignore offense altogether? By no means!

In his blog Failure is often a gift of God, Seth Barnes said, “What I learned during my season of failure is that God was giving me a gift – the gift of faith. I just couldn’t see it at the time. Take another look at what’s going on around you. God is at work.” This is good news.

Three things I’ve seen clearly when carefully examining the cause(s) of my anger. First is God’s hand, though it’s never apparent from the onset, He’s ever working behind the scenes, making me into that disciple of His dreams by poking at the reason for my offense.
 
Second, my depravity is exposed. I accept the fact that I can’t go through this life without heaven’s help.
 
Third, I notice that every anger that thrives longer than a day in my heart witnesses to the presence of a lie or lies I purchased from hell’s supermarket.

What depths or heights of anger have you recovered from that you see many struggling with? What’s your story?

Do you sometimes get so angry, you feel like you could explode? What could God be up to?
 
“Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.” Proverbs 14:29 MSG
 
Life can be tough, messy and miserable without a caring community of friends that can help us in seasons of insanity. Please seek for help with your anger and don’t let bitterness get a hold you while on the rage ride. It’s a ruthless vice.
 
If you’re already trapped, you can click [here] for advise.

My primary concern for primary students

As I watched the primary school kids here at our base in Yei, South Sudan study and play, I recalled my primary school days and wondered at my most memorable moments at Ekulu Primary School in Enugu. My work here has led me back into schools, engaging young minds and I can’t but pause to reflect. This will be my world for a while to come.

I’m having two primary school experiences in one life time. In the first one, I played more than I did anything else. The best times of my day were when the bell rang for recess and when it rang again for departure. I thought I was created for such unfettered fun; swinging from one fruit tree to another, kicking one football in any direction with other 300 kids, reading comics, making the girls cry and doing whatever I was warned could be harmful.

In this recent one, I’m praying and weeping more than the regular share. It’s fun too but not always. Times have changes and I’ve discovered what I’m here for. It’s for something more than mere fun.

Primary school here is nothing compared to what I enjoyed in my time, but it’s school and great fun all the same for these kids. Many of them trek several miles to attend; and classroom for some is under a mango tree or in a make-shift grass house or within iron sheets. Imagine those in rainy seasons or when it hits 47 degrees centigrade outside.

But what I see here is more than the poor learning conditions (which can and will be improved); I see raw enthusiasm. I see potentials and opportunities. I see hunger for education and great desire to achieve something more than what presently is reality. These kids don’t want to be left behind.

I’m asking myself, “How can I access this hunger and ply it towards Kingdom exploits?” “There’s something more than school in here, but can they see it?” “How can I show it to them?” “What will be the most remarkable and unforgettable experience for them within the few years they’ll spend here?” “What will it cost?”

In less than 10years from now, most of these kids will be making life-long choices that could affect them, their immediate families and the community at large. They don’t know it yet; they don’t think of the future that beckons, they don’t see the danger of an unplanned and unprepared life. I do. But how do I make the alarm bell sound as clear as the one that just rang for their recess?

“And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?” (1Cor 14:8 Amp)

I have many people to thank for investing in my youth. But God used just one man to set my life on the right track. I can be that one man for one kid here today or tomorrow. I must not waste this chance.

A great door has been opened to us in the secondary schools and now, Junior Scripture Union fellowships are spring up within the primary schools here but is that enough? What perspectives do you have for me? How can I be more effective?

I’m praying for God’s help.

Osama’s movement and ours

What
does a movement look like? The question has been asked and answered several
times by many, based on their own perspectives. Few have started one. Something
that looks like it has been attempted by others and they have a following. The
rest are watching and wondering and debating what this and that is all about.

In 2007, Seth Barnes had made a call to – Join the
Movement and later that year, he showed here
how to start one. Here’s a quote and book reference from that blog, “The
book The
Starfish and the Spider explores the ability of headless organizations like
A.A., Al Qaeda and Wikipedia to organize themselves and thrive. It’s a
phenomenon that explains how the Apaches survived the white man while the
Aztecs died off.”

As I think of Osama
Bin Laden who we hear was killed yesterday, I’m no longer wondering if he
started a movement with Al Qaeda.
It seems so.
Analysis of the man by the press, and what he “accomplished” within
the last 20years shreds every doubt. Osama Bin Laden, a multimillionaire civil
engineer, forsook all that to pioneer a movement founded, funded and
focused on international terrorism.

His choices were evil and they made him the world’s most notorious criminal.
But his admirers, many of whom are youth and young adults adore him for his
guts. He challenged and fought the West and its allies and died doing so. He’s
a hero to many and if his movement is for real, then we should expect a global
avalanche of terrorism from his disciples, who are citizens of your nation and
mine. But will they outlast or outdo us? NEVER!!

The Lord Jesus declared, “…
this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to
all nations. And then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14) His is a match against satanic oppression and operations. Two thousand years on, His followers are still
propelled by His prophetic utterances and historic call, engaging and infusing
all nations with His ideas, at great costs. All nations are reacting to their
unquenchable zeal, great ingenuity and speed. Jesus is on the move and this
movement CANNOT be checkmated! This movement is the product of a promise made to Abraham by God.

We behold in our day, more disciples (children of Abraham by faith in Christ) from all over the world partnering with
Jesus as He diligently executives His eternal plan for global rule and worship. It’s clear
that His is the emergence of a universal phenomenon fueled by love that has changed
times and seasons. It’s the greatest, most expensive, most audacious and dangerous
venture known to man. Are you fully and truly connected to it?

Having died for His cause and raised again, His unquestionable claim of all
power in heaven and on earth gives His true followers unstoppable impetus; with
which they embrace the pains of life with joy, endure the humiliations of men and scoff at death’s terror as
they make Him known where He strategically locates them.

I’m in South Sudan today,
supported by a host of passionate partners because of this movement. We are
praying with hope that something big and great enough to be God’s is birth
among the youths here. We’ll know it’s happening when the news out of South Sudan
changes on account of Christ’s fame.

My seven locks

I’ve been praying for several things as I think, plan and dream of my return to South Sudan this season. I’m in Uganda now and will be arriving Yei in a few days time.

Samson had seven hair locks that symbolized his great strength. The deliverance of Israel was tied to those locks. He said, “…If my hair were cut, I would lose my strength and be as weak as anybody else.”

In no particular order, I’ve listed seven things I seek, that will bring the best out of my next 3months and if cut, will make this trip useless.

1.    Love: Please pray with me that this kind of unrelenting disposition to difficult issues and negative people, will flood my spirit daily. It can be very challenging to continue to show kindness to someone that hates you.

2.    Faith: Please pray that my faith will be steadfast as I continue to learn how to rely on the Holy Spirit in all things.

3.    Wisdom: Someone please pray for me; because I’ve caught myself spending too much time on the internet in my past trips, I’ve caught myself struggling to find the appropriate examples during discipleship classes; my worrying over home matters slow me down sometimes and my prudence with money needs to improve. This trip will be more fruitful if I’m more efficient in these areas.

4.    Grace: I need this supernatural ability to be and to do as Jesus would. Pray that the grace, as was upon the Lord Jesus through which He accomplished His mission abound towards me.

5.    Patience: I detest a lackadaisical disposition to anything. This sometimes makes me impatient with myself and other people. Please pray for me to learn how to patiently nurse myself and others the Kingdom way.

6.    Team spirit: I’m an introvert. Going solo is a temptation I can’t afford to fall into again. Pray that my temperament will be tampered by the Lord for fruitfulness.

7.    Purity: Righteous Master, may the meditations of my heart and the words from my lips be pleasing to You and be a blessing to many.

Breathe on me Sweet Paraclete!

Short-Term Missions as a tool for the Nigerian Church

I’m now more convinced than ever that well organized short-term mission thrusts can transform the missions’ enterprise in my home country of Nigeria.

The Church in Nigeria has multiplied numerically over the last 20years, but has barely harnessed its vast potentials useful for world missions. The average Nigerian disciple has little understanding of missions and this must be addressed.

When a missionary is introduced in our churches today, people see someone coming from a village or distant country with horror stories, needing second-hand clothes and shoes, used items that have become a nuisance to the owners but fitting for “those missionary people”.

It is this poverty and beggarly image of present day missionaries among other things that has terribly degraded the noble call in the eyes of many present day believers in the Nigerian church.

The church in Nigeria needs a paradigm shift from chasing and celebrating the crowds at our church services to grooming mission focused disciples willing to go and give sacrificially for lasting Kingdom impact in places where Jesus is not celebrated. 


To mobilize a new generation of mission-minded believers we need more than motivational information. We need to focus on the youths. They are the main arsenal for this task.
 
We need to understand that their craving for adventure can be satisfied via well organized short-term mission trips. These trips will create a Kingdom platform for them to explore and express their spiritual gifts and talents. Many of them are wondering, “Is this all there is to Christianity?” Certainly not!

I can talk about this confidently because I’ve seen how short-term missions changed my life for good. My short-term trips to Sudan have shown me the amazing impact an ordinary disciple like me could make in areas with limited knowledge of God and His word.

I’ve seen how God uses weak human vessels to honor His name. These trips have built my faith to heights I could never have attained if I stayed at home. I’ve learned several life lessons on patience, love, humility, courage, focus and a few more. Short-term missions have made me a better disciple. I’ve found my purpose by going and by giving.

I want to live to see that day when thousands of youths in the Nigerian Church will be committing to long-term missions because they met God in a profound way during a short-term trip.

I long for that day when youths who’ve been on short-term trips would come home not with stories of their pains while on the field and the poverty of people; but of God’s power and love revealed on account of their service to a community, family or person. This, I believe could give many more disciples ample reason to dare to obey the call to GO!

I dream of that day when local churches and their leaders will make their boast in the number of missionaries they have sent and are supporting. I love to dream of a time when our Sunday worship services and prayer vigils will not end without intercessions for world missions.

I’m praying for an awakening in the Nigerian church with respect to the missions’ enterprise, trusting to see the Lord’s finger prints in our efforts, His foot prints along our path and His signature of ownership on every endeavor, when we finish.

Some of our numerous maladies in the Church could be tackled with this tool or what do you think?

The Kiyingis: In pursuit of a high call

I met Pastor Martin and his darling wife Dr. Esther in Yei, South Sudan in July 2005. We shared a common vision for the peoples of Sudan and soon began to work like a team, going to the few secondary schools around then to start Scripture Union fellowships and follow-up the converts. Here’s their amazing story.

Martin
I believed in September 1999 through the ministry of Br Zach Fomum in Uganda as they were carrying out evangelism in our area. From there, I was discipled and made rapid spiritual progress. I was made the Pastor of the local church in that area in Seeta, Mukono, Uganda. I was pastoring the church while teaching in a nearby school since I am a teacher by profession. As I served God faithfully, He blessed me with a wonderful girl to marry as a wife. We were married in May 2003 and sent off as missionaries to Sudan.

My first remembrance of Bro Zach was when I met him in a meeting in Kampala, Uganda. He thundered, “Christianity is not for Jokers!!” It left a deep impact in my life and I decided to be serious with God. I surrendered my all to Jesus Christ there and then. When Bro Zach later had a burden to send missionaries to the Sudan, I was compelled to pray about it. I felt led to go and was thus sent as a missionary to Sudan.

Esther
I believed in May 1987 through the influence of my parents who were saved. I always had a desire to be a disciple and not just a convert. I was seriously looking for someone spiritually higher, who could be my mentor. At this period I attended a conference in Kampala where Bro Zach Fomum was the speaker. There and then, I knew I could follow such a man as a leader.

So, I joined his ministry in Uganda and the journey of my life took a different turn. I never wanted to be a missionary but as Bro Zach shared his burden for Sudan, I was led to pray about it. And as I prayed, God’s call to go as a missionary came to me. “…the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.”

 
Ministry
So we became missionaries to Sudan under Christian Missionary Fellowship International which was started by the late Prof Zach Fomum in Cameroon and were sent off from the church in Kampala in 2003 by Bro Zach; a month after our wedding. Part of our honeymoon was spent on the mission field in Sudan!

We entered Sudan from Arua in Northern Uganda and started our ministry in September by renting a place in Yei Town. We went door-to-door, evangelizing and bringing the converts to our home. We had a big verandah which we were using for our meetings. The response was encouraging as many came to Jesus. We knew the harvest here was in deed very ripe.

But we soon faced challenges of making the converts to abide and abound in the church. The government directed us to get land from the community which was granted in 2004. By that time, God had blessed us with our first daughter Joy who was born in Arua Hospital. We acquired land in Mahad which is around 2 miles from the town center along Juba Road. 

There, we built our house which we also used as the church until the members out-grew the space and we erected a structure outside for meetings. Those were days of blessing as many people believed through our personal evangelism. There were also a lot of challenges in health and basic services like water and food; since South Sudan was just coming out of war. We knew we had to do something.

Today, by the grace of God our church has grown to 700 members. We are building disciples who will take on leadership roles and planting churches. We have been carrying out evangelism in schools around and God has blessed us with a strong youth group from the students who believed and are faithful in the church.

One of our disciples planted a church in Unity State. He was a student who returned home after his studies. The church is in Pariang, Unity State and has around 150 members.

We have a preschool and primary school up to elementary four. There are now 7 classes and it is helping meet the huge education needs in the community. Some of the classes are still in the church building as we raise funds to start building a school.

Recently God enabled us to start a clinic with the aim of reaching out to the community through health services which is still a major challenge in Sudan. Esther, being a Medical Doctor, works in the clinic treating those with various illnesses and praying for them too. We are still lacking many things like diagnostic equipment, staff and medicines. But we have started as a mustard seed, trusting the Lord to bless our efforts and cause this to grow.

 

Martin and Esther Kiyingi are blessed with two lovely children. Joy is 6years old and in P.2 at their mission school. John was born in 2007 but died thereafter. Zach is 2years old. They live in Yei, South Sudan and testify to the saving power of God as they’ve seen many come to the Lord Jesus through their ministry.

 
Are you a medical professional or a school teacher with a Kingdom dream that’s God-sized and seeking a credible ministry in South Sudan to partner with? I recommend these brethren. Their fruits speak for them.

My vision for ministry in South Sudan

In August 1992, the Lord said to me, “Go to the secondary schools!” My life’s dream is the vision of regenerated youths, ablaze with a passion for Christ’s glory and fame in the world.

Teens and young adults impacted and equipped to take the Kingdom Message to the ends of the earth.

I dream of a Christian students’ movement mobilized for global missions. And I see this dream realized through our efforts in discipleship with the young people in Yei, South Sudan. I see them as arrows in the hands of the Master, waiting to be shot in various directions northward, into regions where His name and fame is still unknown. I see them manifesting the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as in the days of the Bible. But first, they need to be prepared.

The ultimate goal of my ministry is to raise young people whose life will honor and glorify God. To accomplish this goal I need a team of passionate Christ followers to go with me. I am praying for laborers of the harvest, people who love to hang out with young people with the aim of connecting them to their purpose.

Mubarrak is a young man who represents the power of our ministry. Three years ago he came to Christ through our ministry and and a year later, he returned to his tribe in the Nuba Mountains, compelled to share the Gospel with them. Although it has been difficult, he felt God calling him to the Arabian Peninsula as a missionary where he has been for over a year.

I believe we are on the verge of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in South Sudan that will change the spiritual landscape of that nation forever.

With most secondary schools in Yei hosting their own Scripture Union fellowships, it’s only a matter of time before the explosion will occur. We are looking beyond Yei at present and asking the Lord for directions.

We need staff to help disciple and conduct vocational training for those seeking a trade, connecting them with God’s purpose.

We also need to create a platform to develop these young leaders in their God given passions.  Anything from skill and ministry expression, to intercession, evangelism and church planting to music, drama etc.

South Sudan is the newest country in the world. Yei is just three hours from Uganda and is safe for visitors. The young people there speak English and are eager for more experienced people to help them grow. It’s a place where the fields are white unto harvest. All we need are laborers and sponsors.

If the Lord is stirring your heart to align your dream with our vision and partner with us, please send me an email: ucheizuora@yahoo.com. We want to know you and how you hope to labor with us.