Silence can speak loudest

“Even
the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut.”Prov 17:28

“Most
of us know how to say nothing; few of us know when to let our silence speak
louder.” C. Krosky

As Elisha followed
his master Elijah out of Gilgal, the sons of the prophets in Bethel and Jericho
had something to tell Elisha (their contemporary) which they thought he didn’t
know, though they had the option of keeping quiet like those in Jericho.
 “I know, keep silent” (my paraphrase) was his reply to them.
2Kings 2:1-5

Have you
ever felt so pressed during a conversation such that you couldn’t wait for the
speaker to finish their sentence, before you gave your response? The moment
something is said which may or may not agree with you; instinctively, you feel
you must interject that very second; else you’d miss the chance to hit your
mark.

Most times,
what happens here is that when we miss that first chance, we put our listening
in pause mode. Though we may appear to be holding our peace, no,
we’ve let it out through the back door the moment we started preparing how we’d
express our thoughts with the next opportunity, thus missing succeeding remarks
or even bubbles (unspoken expressions) that may explain the initial
comment(s).

Have you
ever been in a formal or informal meeting and comments on an issue you
are passionate and knowledgeable about were made and you felt pressed to
contribute but for some reason, you kept silent? And just as your patience was
running out, someone makes the exact comment you wanted to make. Do you feel
elated, deflated or comforted? The temptation to say something at that very
moment could be over bearing, but you can opt for silence.

On
the other hand, have you ever witnessed a crime and for some reason(s) you
thought appropriate, kept silent about it? Is it still a weight on your
conscience or have you silently silenced the voice of truth by amplifying
logic?

Silence is a
double edged sword. We can use it to gain time for increased understanding of
projected issues and learn more about the listener (observer) or the speaker
(actor) as they respond to its application; but sadly too, it could be used to
strike a below-the-belt punch.

When used in
love, it shows we respect and care deeply enough for the speaker to want to
understanding what they are saying before we reply, if we need to. We may turn
off our cell phones to avoid distractions or relocate to a private spot in
search of serenity to aid our listening.

Our silence
could also give the speaker time to process their comments and make corrections
if necessary. Anyhow, being comfortable with silence, as a receiver or a giver
takes practice, love, self-control and I think, good understanding of the given
cultural setting.

If your
intention is to ridicule, hurt or let someone know you are displeased with
them, silence could be a risky weapon to deploy. In some marriages, couples use
the “silence treatment” on their spouses and the result is often
messy. Someone in there may need control and the other, connection.
Unfortunately, where noise is the norm, one is most likely to mistake
silence for a lack of understanding but especially indifference.

Prolonged
silence in any relationship or in the course of a conversation can provoke
unnecessary emotional tension; as the speaker may not know if they were heard,
understood or just being ignored. The latter is often believed to be the case
but a sincere and skillful user of the art will notice, and address the
situation wittily.

Silence can
communicate many messages. It can help shed light or place a veil of darkness
on a conversation. There’s a place and time to speak out and even shout; and
there’s a time for silence. But the value of silence is diminished wherever
noise is celebrated. The ability to effectively use silence is one of the
greatest conversational arts.

Is your
silence speaking loud enough to the people around you?  Can you use
silence to make your point? Have you ever consciously tried it? Were you
successful? If you were successful, perfect the art with practice. If you
failed, try listening more and hold your peace the right way up –
lovingly.

As I
continue to practice this art, I must confess it is quite challenging.

Introducing: Perspectives On The World Christian Movement

 

When a dear senior friend Pastor Austin Ukachi recommended this internationally acclaimed course called Perspectives to me in 2005, he told me I’d need what this course is offering to help me step into this new life of missions and ministry. I didn’t understand what he meant but I trusted his judgment. Necessity met with opportunity and I took a bite. Life has never been the same for me since then. What a joy! What a privilege!  

This course, Perspectives On The World Christian Movement developed by U. S. Center for World Mission (USCWM) is currently running in Aba, Abia State Nigeria. Thanks to God and my mentor Tim Olonade, the Executive Secretary of NEMA, I had another wonderful privilege of gathering with 120 Anglican Priests and some of their Bishops in a camp-like atmosphere to facilitate and engage a few ideas projected by this life transforming ministry tool. It is wonderful to watch the Anglican Communion in Nigeria embrace this course with such indescribable passion. They know where they are going.

Billy Graham said of this course, “There is no course of which I know that will inform, inspire and motivate Christians for world evangelization like Perspectives. It will stretch your mind, warm your heart, and stir your will.”  

Pastor Mrs Aina of RCCG Lagos said, “Since I started attending conferences and courses…I have never attended one like this…with such depth, profound convictions and motivation.” 

Perspectives is introduced as a course of vision – a vision that mobilizes and equips the people of God to live a life of passion and purpose as Jesus did. It is aimed at helping participants grasp a clearer understanding of God’s mission in the world so as to enable them make informed decisions about their strategic participation with Him in world evangelization.

This 15 lesson course insists that God has a ‘world-size’ role for every Christian in His global purpose. Whether people go to distant countries or stay at home is a secondary issue. The primary issue is what most people are hungry to discover – vision to live a life of purpose. Discovering that vision makes this study program valuable and I dare to add, crucial for every Christian.

Carefully selected articles from over one hundred authors like the late Dr. Ralph D. Winter, Steve Hawthorne, John Piper, John Stott and a host of others make up the Perspectives Notebook.  See these few ideas extracted from the Notebook.

“Understanding the promise God made to Abraham is indispensible to understanding the Bible and Christian mission. The whole of God’s purpose is encapsulated here.”

“The ultimate value of [our] salvation is not to be seen in what [we] are saved from, it is what [we] are saved for that really matters. People are saved to serve God in worship.”

“The only heroes who operate alone are figures of fiction. The stories of accomplishment and significance always unfold as stories of teamwork…. The only way to exchange the illusions of fame and self-importance for God-granted greatness and blessing is by working in partnership with others.”

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate not mission because God is ultimate not man.”

“World Christians are day-to-day disciples who Christ’s global cause has become the integrating, overriding priority for all that He is for them.”

“Obedience to the Great Commission has more consistently been poisoned by affluence than anything else. The antidote for affluence is reconsecration. Consecration is by definition “the setting apart of things for a holy use.”

I’m always awed and sometimes amused by the initial attitude of some participants towards this course, especially those who have been in ministry for a while. They come, wondering what new teachings or ideas this course has to offer. Their initial queries and even body language reveal a measure of indifference difficult to disregard. But ignorance is soon exposed and a fire ignited in their hearts as perspectives on familiar Bible stories and events from history are blended into one unfolding saga. Ordinary Sunday school stories suddenly mean more than simple lessons in righteousness, obedience and faith or their lack.

In Nigeria, the Perspectives Study Program is coordinated by Nigeria Evangelical Mission Association (NEMA). This Association exists like an umbrella body for mission’s thrusts in Nigeria, with a broad spectrum of membership from the core Evangelical Community, Mainline Denominations, Charismatic and Pentecostal Communities and Non and Inter Denominational Bodies. Serving as a networking and equipping para-church organization, NEMA strives to mobilize the Nigerian Church towards fulfilling its role in world evangelization.

I recommend this awesome ministry tool to you and your organization. If you’ve passed through this class at any time, please comment on your experience. If you are interested in the Perspectives Study Program in Nigeria, kindly express your intent via this email to the National Coordinator: pspnema@gmail.com

A few more classes are lined up for this year. Seize the opportunity. You’ll be glad you did. This is a course of vision, hope and passion. Engage!!

Our Porn-Again Believers’ Class

A group of young boys aged between 13 and 19 were hanging out with me some time ago and just wanted to hear me share something, anything on any topic with them. One even begged to hear stories of my mission trips. It was one of those unplanned but priceless moments. How I love connecting with young people!

“What do you think of pornography?” I asked them.

The question hung in the air for almost two minutes. I observed as heads bowed and some literally docked behind others, giggling and muttering away. This was not what they expected. 

Suddenly, one of them asked; “what is pornography?” His face expressed amazement. I knew he was innocently confused and must be carried along.

“Who can tell our brother what pornography is all about?”

We waited again; no one was ready for this, so answers have to be well thought out. A sense of seriousness seemed to grip some but I wasn’t going to wait forever for a response. 

I fancied one of them, who I thought could bail out the class; so I directed the question to him. “What do you know about pornography?” He turned to look at the guy behind him, pretending not to know I was referring to him. “Yes, you.” “Me?” I nodded.

His reply kicked the class into motion. “It is pictures and videos of naked “babes” (girls) and guys banging (having sex), you know em, em, em, that kain thin shaa…”

It was not just his choice of words that rocked the class – using babes for girls and banging for sex but the way he expressed himself. His body language communicated more than his words on this subject. It excited everyone and ushered in the right atmosphere for a meeting like this.

As the class bellowed in rapturous laughter, I turned to the fellow that didn’t know the word, lifting my eyebrow; he gave me a sheepish smile and several nods. He got it, he knew this thing, just the name for it was missing. These kids were all born again but it was clear that there was “porn-again” in their Christian experience. How far have they gone? I was soon to find out. That’s how our one-day porn-again believers’ class set sail.

I started by sharing my own experience and experiments with pornography, as a way of releasing them to engage the subject without disguise and the fear of rejection and condemnation. I’d never done this before but I sensed the atmosphere was right for such disclosure. The Scripture is so true, “What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!” (Proverbs 15:23)  

Our chat naturally progressed into talks on pre-marital sex and masturbation. When I asked each person to share their experience here, it was explosive. I heard shocking revelations and on-going challenges, some almost impossible to believe, making one hour seem like ten minutes. Right there with me were fathers at age 16 and 17!

One of them even said he heard from a “man of God” that masturbation was okay, it is safer, there’s no chance of getting AIDS, you are not hurting anyone, you need to relieve yourself sometimes as nature demands…” I told him that was the devil speaking. Pornography and masturbation seemed to be very attractive to those boys. Sadly, its false promises had sponsored major cracks in their walk with Jesus. But were they looking for solutions? I wondered.

It was clear that those with big problems began with the desire to experiment, to explore, to assist an initial sexual desire with a little pornographic material. This discovery stage is the first of three major stages of this devious and demonic act. When they notice that no “bombs exploded”, they got deeper and deeper, thus building a habit, and the next stage, repetition is birth.

The tragedy assumes monstrous dimensions as the body adjusts to new levels of stimulation it is being subjected to. Just like our love for sugar, the next session has to be more fascinating than the last (by this time we are talking incorporation, a lifestyle). The porn user is now craving intensity. He seeks, buys and stores pornographic materials in several places from the internet, to hard drives, to cell phones, where they are now more readily accessible and especially “renewable”.

Pornography darkens the mind; reducing one’s tolerance for what is real while increasing dependence on mere fantasy! Initially, it seems harmless but like weeds, it soon proves fatal as other vices like masturbation, fornication, homosexuality, and adultery take hold of the user. God rescued me!!

My goal as I discussed with those boys that day was not just to highlight the need for sexual purity which I hoped they desired but also for responsible and honorable stewardship of their bodies, as commanded in the Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5). It had to start now. Marriage is great, but does not cure sexual immorality nor delivers one from pornography.

As we progressed, I saw that bringing them to a place of personal repentance was easy, as God had begun working in their hearts. But the challenge lay in forsaking the habit and recovering fully. Some still had porno stuff on their cell phone right there!!

Five steps helped me explain the challenge of pornography and start a recovery process for some of them that day.

Be Realistic: Recognize that sexual temptation is inevitable. But pornography is avoidable. Erotic images on newspapers, billboards, films, television, and a thousand other stimulants are bombarding you daily. But don’t feed on them.

Be Ready: Decide in advance what to do when you’re tempted, how to distract yourself, who to call, how to escape entrapments. There’s always a way out.

Be Sober: Pornography amplifies immoral sexual fantasies and every flirtatious conversation you keep, or every “second look” you indulge in is the seed for fornication, adultery, a broken relationship, HIV/AIDS, a shattered life and worse still, eternal damnation.

Lights On: Sexual sins like using pornography thrive in the dark. The secrecy surrounding it is what strengthens its hold on you. Deal with shame (see how-to here); come into the light by confessing to someone that can help and stay in the light by being accountable.

Get Help: The use of pornography is indicative of deeper emotional problems that someone is trying to fix with the wrong tool. Please get help from a trusted mature Christian.

This worldwide multimillion-dollar evil business that has no class or creed restrictions cannot be tackled without the deliberate refocusing of those shackled therein by way of a spiritual heart transplant.

If you have more practical suggestions, please leave a comment below. Someone’s deliverance could depend on it.

I love John Piper’s approach to this problem in these video clips. You can click here and here to view them.

One good reason to return to Sudan

While planning for the Students’
Holiday Camp in Yei on my last trip, someone asked, “Uche, since you’ve
been holding these meetings with students, over the years, how many have
committed their life to Jesus and are still standing today?”

Initially, I
was tempted to think the question was cynical and somewhat sarcastic than
constructive. But I shrugged off that thought and chose to see it as an
opportunity to bring this fellow and others there alongside us as we prepared.

So, I
responded immediately using some statistics to buttress my assertion. But as
soon as I laid out my points and facts, I felt strange. I knew this was not
right. Not that my claims were false but my reason for the response was simply
pride. I loathed myself. I’d been stuck with this “numbers” thing,
counting how many came, how many filled the slip and made a commitment. The
more the merrier they say; but there’s another serious aspect to consider.

The gospel
does not only have a quantitative side, the qualitative side is the second side
of the same coin. Jesus’ command to go make disciples in all the world,
preaching to every creature and the gathering in of a great multitude which
no man could number speaks of quantity; yet He longs to present  everyone
of that great number to himself, as a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle…; but that it should be holy and without blemish, is indicative
of a set quality. Both are necessary in the big picture.

There’s a
corporate effort in both cases. We preach, He convicts and converts. We make
disciples as He works in them to will and to do His good pleasure.

I have one good reason to return to Sudan when the stage is set. It will not be for
numbers but for members, for QUALITY.

Some young
disciples that had unique encounters with the Lord during the Student’s Holiday
Camp and also at the Coach Me classes are pressing into Him for more and I long
to be part of it.

Their
honeymoon period may be over soon and the euphoria could fade anytime but we
need to plow deep and hard for a lasting harvest. Pastor Stanley is doing a
great job maintaining the momentum in his church and I’ll be returning to
assist him.

Discipleship,
which is the process of maturing into the image of Christ, could be as arduous
as it could be complicated.  Converts soon realize it’s a narrow way and
the temptation to return to a known path and a comfortable environment seem
more appealing as soon as challenges come banging with both fists on issues
from the past that don’t just go away without a fight.

Precious souls
like Sister Tabita were at the camp. I long for more for them. I desire a
deeper, richer and more meaningful relationship with the Lord and with the
world He loves.

As I
listened to radiant and joyful Tabita share her experience (see the clip below)
and observed her expressions of hunger for truth after that Holiday Camp, I
knew we’d struck the right cords. I said to myself, “… if this camp was
designed just for you dear girl, it was worth it.”

I’ll be
going back to help fan the flames of this fire in her soul. Thankfully, she’s
not alone. There’s a good number pressing in. That fire must spread. God
helping us, we’ll be at the furnace, working the hole and hoping to see the
dross give way for pure gold to flow forth.

When the Lord said, “Let us go
back to Judea.” (John 11:7) His request didn’t go down well with any of
His disciples. Worse still, His reason for that dangerous trip seemed ridiculous
as far as they were concerned. But we know how it ended. A certain Lazarus had
in his sickness, death and eventual resurrection, the platform for one of the
greatest miracles in the Bible. 

Great glory could be waiting to
spring forth but on whose account? Even people close to us may think we need to
see a psychiatrist when God prompts us to take certain actions in faith and we
go public with it. How scary is that task God is nudging you to undertake for
Him?

As I continue to ponder on these
and on that one strayed sheep from the ninety-nine, I’m persuade
that Tabita alone, though not a straying sheep (far from it), is enough
reason to return to Sudan. I’m not finished.

Hard lessons from my last trip Pt 2

Strength and beauty lie in differences, not in similarities; if only we can strive for the big picture. I learnt a few hard lessons on teamwork recently.

One’s enthusiasm could be a tool to trigger other people’s emotions so they instinctively help and support us serve a noble cause.

I wonder how many worthy causes have been jettisoned simply because the immediate perception of one’s passion for it was misunderstood as a gratuitous fad and worse still; the show of dissent was in body language which seemed to contradict verbal approvals.

How can you deal with it? Listen patiently and respond with meekness (not always easy) or ignore them and go solo or seek support elsewhere (these are ready options any day and come naturally) or abort the cause/job/mission altogether (who loves stress?). But what do stressless teams look like? I don’t know.

If you lead a team and have people who always easily project on the outside how they feel on the inside; rejoice! Have you ever interacted with someone for the first time and suspected that their attitude was poor, yet you were unable to put your finger on exactly what was wrong? I observed four common attitudes that can ruin a team.

  • An inability to admit faults;
  • An unwillingness to forgive and forbear, which fuels suspicion;
  • Petty jealousy, which breeds a critical spirit and certainly,
  • Lack of passion for the cause.

Most bad attitudes are the result of selfishness. If you have someone that puts others down (especially in their absence) or sabotages teamwork (by exhibiting dishonesty and/or indifference) or speaks more than they listen (busy thinking of what to say next while you are still talking) or make themselves more important than the team, as Butch Maltby put it, “by sucking up all the oxygen in the room as soon as they arrive”; then you can be sure you have someone with a bad attitude.

Our attitude determines our approach to life. Our attitude determines our relationships with people. Our attitude is often the only difference between success and failure. Our attitude at the beginning of a task could affect its outcome more than anything else. Our attitude can turn problems into blessings.

The challenge sometimes is that our attitude is not automatically good just because we are prayer warriors or pastors of a mega church or missionaries among a distant nameless people. Yet, people we deal with have expectations and as humans, we disappoint them now and again.

I learnt that within teams, the fear of conflicts and misunderstanding has a way of frustrating the sweet flow of the Spirit. If conflicts and differences are openly discussed as an aid to problem solving, a team faces decision making on controversial and emotionally charged issues with less tension if prejudices are set aside in the interest of the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

Effective teams do not shy away from conflict; rather, they learn to use it to their advantage. Though that learning process could seem like an unending course without a hope of graduation, but there’s great reward if we persevere. Team issues shouldn’t just tame us but teach us.

I had the privilege of working with and learning from a few informal teams in different settings during my last trip. Believe me, I had my grinding moments but God brought sweet spirits my way with every step. An effective team at work is so wonderful to behold. Communication, whether written, spoken or unspoken is invaluable.

As I mused on teamwork few weeks ago, I asked myself some questions:

“What should be the appropriate level or medium of communication between team members?”

“What if they are afraid to speak up and/or ask questions?”

“What if someone feels they must be understood but never pay attention to others?”

“What if everybody accurately states their view and others listen and understand what is being said?”

“What if most of the team members restrain themselves and filter their critical remarks with grace?”

I wonder what you think about these questions but I noticed that in teams with a supportive atmosphere, there’s a willingness to take risks, listen, express opinions, and venture new or different ideas. Team members feel they will be listened to and not be belittled for openly expressing their viewpoints. Correction is given and received well. Criticism, gossip, suspicion and blame casting are not part of an effective teams’ atmosphere.

In an untrusting, non-supportive environment, members feel they have to put up a façade, because to let people know what’s going on inside could result in them being vulnerable and hurt. So, tools of manipulation and control such as tears, silence, outbursts of anger or even laughter…, come into play.

If your weakness or a stronghold that bedevils you shows up while working with a team, blessed are you if there’re team members who will love on you with no gloves on.

It seems to me that effective teams usually comprise of disciples whose contrasting personalities are carefully knit together by the Master to fix their individual broken parts and in the process, fulfill His eternal purpose.

He’s still working and expects our total cooperation.

Hard lessons from my last trip Pt 1

After three months of ministry that took me to Uganda, Sudan,
Congo, and Kenya, I returned home last week to the warm embrace of my wife,
kids, church and friends. I’d lost quite a bit of weight which worried my wife
but I gained a wealth of experience from meeting people with a wide range of
issues, real issues; which I hope I can properly communicate their crux in a
few words here.  

First, I’m awed by the great need for authentic living and fellowship
among Christians. Our churches are gradually becoming a haven for fakes. The
lessons I learned in the last three months while discipling many youngsters with
the rich insights I’d gleaned from The Mask has influenced me tremendously. God
help me, I hope I’m not getting cynical.

There’s a silent, yet desperate search for a safe place to
unmask or a secure person to unmask to. Seth Barnes has done a great job
addressing some of these issues in his blog topics listed here. I’ll be quoting
him extensively in this article.

What is this unmasking deal all about? I understand it as being
naked and not ashamed, being the me
that God made to enjoy, without regrets, walking in the light as He, Jesus, is
in the light.  

The Lord Jesus
says, “This is the crisis we’re in:
God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the
darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in
pleasing God.

Everyone who makes a practice of doing
evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it,
fearing a painful exposure.

But anyone working and living in truth and
reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it
is.” (John 3:19-21 The Message)

He calls it a crisis
and who can dispute that?

When we take a good look in the mirror, how do we define who
we see? In an age where sincere self examination is unpopular, seeing that self
help books and many teachers tell us who we are; the truth about us is fast
becoming a matter of others opinion. So, how do others define me? What do I
relish about their view of me that makes me feel good about myself?

But, what do they not know about you, that if they knew, will
certainly change their view about you? How far away from the open are such
things? Are they secrets that dare not cross the minds of people you seek their
approval and respect? Could a false self be at work? Could that enigmatic personality who
lives daily in trepidation be longing for freedom and not getting it? Why?

I learnt that the false self thrives on self love. “They went for (chose) darkness because they were not really interested
in pleasing God.” But they successfully created a false impression, the
impression of a sound and sincere love for God, which is a mirage, a smoke screen for their private evil fantasies and obsessions. The continued
hidden practice of those sins is testimony to a denial and an illusion; to the presence
of a masked insidious tyrant.

I learnt that we need help getting rid of it. It’s a cruel
world with precious few maps to navigate by. We may not even be aware of the
false self we’ve taken on. The ego props may seem like such a natural part of
our identity that we no longer recognize who we are and where we need immediate
help.

At some point, all of us need to take a closer look at our
search for identity, for acceptance and respect. Have you found a safe place?
Have you sought the approval of men and settled for something counterfeit? Is
the persona that you’ve let others see the real you, or is it a false self?

But so many of our bad habits and our broken character will
only change as a result of our conscious effort to repent and yielding to the persistent
workings of the Holy Spirit’s power which could last a long time.  This is
where discipleship takes center stage. I sense this need is more desperate today
in the life of men and women who speak publicly for God.

Since returning from Sudan, I’ve continued to receive the warm
welcome and accolades of brethren on our work there. But that mission and
vision is NOT Uche. God sees the bigger and brighter picture. I’m listening to
Him for it.

Thank you Seth Barnes!

Testimonies of changed lives

When people have radical divine encounters that challenge and ultimately change their worldview, what we have is another addition to the story of God.
 
The testimony of one changed life is the strongest and
surest witness to the efficacy of the gospel of Jesus.

Sometimes, narrating events that left us totally speechless
could be a very challenging task. However, we cannot but report all we’ve seen the Lord do, the best way we know how, as He continues to work where we walk.

The Bible is not just a chronicle of wonderful stories. It
is one story, the greatest and grandest ever told. This story is reflected, but
not fully expressed in what has been commonly called “salvation history”; because
it’s not ultimately a story about people and how they get saved. It is a story
about God, and how He brings glory and followers to Himself from all peoples of
the earth.

As God’s story unfolds in our day, a foreknown and select
number will continue to dare to believe His promises and wait for them. Their
undying passion, obedience, commitment to Kingdom values and voracious appetite
for God’s glory in global worship will always create the much needed platform for the miraculous giving them regular flesh encounters with the Author of life.

It was that time for many students at the holiday camp 3weeks
ago in Yei. They’d waited for a while for something like this. God honored
their faith and hunger with His awesome presence.

The testimonies of a few in the video clip below gives
an idea of the varying issues and points of encounter these youngsters had with God during
the last holiday camp. If you ask me, I should say with much confidence, “Their future is brighter today than yesterday.” All glory to God!!

A fuller documentary will be ready soon. If you email me
your postal address, I’ll send it to you when it is finished.

We earnestly covet your prayers for a sustained blaze of
this flame that the Lord has lit in Yei among the students.

God’s story continues. Don’t just watch it and read it,
please make it, make His-Story with Him.

I confess, I am positive

I know some negative people will not like this blog. However, it’s a free world and as such, I’m entitled to my space.
Most times when discussions switch to matters on HIV/AIDS, ignominy and a sense of hopelessness pervades the heart of all directly involved. In many cases till date, death marks the end of each
individual tale; as sadness, regret, bitterness and anger continue their feast
on those left to mourn the casualties. 
This is my confession. I AM POSITIVE. Yes! Tested and confirmed.
I imagine you could be horrified and worried now. Don’t be; and don’t feel sorry for me
either as that will hurt my feelings.

I use to hide my status but not anymore. I’m tired of
hiding, of playing safe, of seeking to be loved and accepted. Someone said, “Your
status will find you out.” And they’re right. Here I am, with my face unmasked.
My wife and some other positive people in my life have greatly encouraged me to speak out using this platform.

When I got infected, I was terrified beyond measure.
Something like this had never happened in my family. Secretly, I
vowed to infect others and change
their fortunes too. Isn’t that mean and wicked? Shouldn’t people like me
be prosecuted and exterminated? Well, I have no control over any one’s views about
me. I know what and who I am. I’m not vengeful nor acting out of anger. I could
have, but I’ve gained richer perspectives by hanging out with other positive people and seeing the big
picture with them.

My story is a long one. But I wont bore you with
details. Many negative people relish bad news and often misinterpret simple events as they endlessly seek to know the whys of both mindless and well orchestrated occurrences.
Mine has a sour-sweet tinge.
 
It was one meeting, one unplanned act that stripped
me of me. My eyes were opened that day and I knew good and of course, pure evil. My
nakedness became real, almost tangible. Do I regret it? NEVER!! In fact, the
shocking reality is that I didn’t get what I truly deserved, after years of
unfettered madness.

I didn’t see it coming but God did. It’s like He planned
the entire thing to get my fullest attention. My downfall was set before
Him. Now, I’m stuck here, thinking about how it all happened and wondering
how many more could be hit today.

I recently told a friend I now introduce myself as a farmer. He didn’t know why. I didn’t volunteer much info either. Sometimes I’m so afraid of spreading my seeds and pursuing my agenda to the end because I dread the stigmatization, the shame, the
insults, the hate emails, the negative comments, the deafening silence of close friends and family who once shared secrets with me, their look of
ignominy and disgust. These things literally kill me
off just thinking of them alone. But the truth is coming out here; I’m
positive.

Being positive guarantees plenty of negative life experiences. But some positive wise men told me that when someone is confirmed positive,
they quickly learn how best to make their remaining years count and have fun in the
process. This has been my experience. I’m doing what I do today because my days are numbered.
Most negative people don’t get it. There’s hope for positive
people. Great hope that assures new beginnings. Yes, positive people may live in
the awareness of the imminence of death; but they’ve lost their fear
and respect for it. I Know I have.

I’m positive, not with HIV. My virus is the precious
love of Jesus and no medication cures this. My positive status is a progressive work of grace anchored on faith in the finished work of Christ. My confession here
is meant to appreciate my Lord Jesus for His mercy and publicize His great
love. I’ll spread it everywhere and hope more people catch it. 

I’ve seen that personal contact
is best though accidents do happen. Whichever way works, I’m sure someone will get it today. Your views about negative people will change when you get
infected with the real thing.

Someone said that the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is like the AIDS
virus in a number of ways. I’ve been thinking about that for a while and welcome your perspectives on it.

Over twenty years into the HIV/AIDS pandemic, being positive still
carries a stigma. Can we say same of Christianity? The Way, as
it was known 2000years ago has always attracted negative reactions from people outside its path. Should our positive status in Christ in this 21st Century elicit stigmatization? Is there any type of  mockery that’s unacceptable?
What kind of humiliation have you suffered for Jesus lately? Are you living in a place where your testimony for Jesus is never challenged? If so, your world must be different from the one Jesus told His disciples about. Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17 and John 15:18-19 all
say the same thing, “You’ll be hated by all men for Jesus’ sake.” (My paraphrase) How strong is your positive status for Christ and His global quest?

If you are reading this article and you are HIV
positive, I dare not appear cynical of your life challenges with any comments here.
God forbid! Whatever your story, there’s hope for you. There are realms of joy
and peace your soul has never dreamt attainable in this present world. But they can only
be found in Jesus Christ. If you’ve looked in many places and couldn’t find the
warmth, love, care and understanding you deserve; please look to Jesus today. 

He says, “…I will never turn away any one who comes
to me.” (John 6:37)

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying
heavy loads and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

You may have heard all these lines before and they could sound like some stupid religious jargon. All the same, it’s my earnest prayer and hope that you find Jesus’ love in the next professing Christian you meet. His Spirit lives in humans and makes them test positive with
His love and life. He’s sent them with a message of hope and goodwill for all
peoples, regardless of their status.

Apostle
Paul says, “Now
we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with Jesus the Messiah gets a fresh
start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” (2Corinthians 5:17 The
Message my emphasis)

There’s
a place of comfort for you in Christ. Seek Him, get Him and rest in
His peace.

The perfect surprise

The Students’ Holiday Camp 2010 which was held at the Yei Teach Training College (YTTC) from the 23rd to 29th of May in Yei South Sudan will be remembered here for a long time to come.

As this camp drew closer, I began to look out for God’s

promised surprise with heightened enthusiasm.

Funds were scarce, so naturally, I thought the surprise would come in that direction. I hoped and dreamt of some unexpected donation that would put pay to my anxiety which seemed to gain momentum as the students registered for the camp from day to day.

I can’t recall how many times I smooth my nerves with the line, “Uche, you are having birth pains.” I gritted my teeth and trudged on towards the first day. I had too many unanswered questions and too many concerns that tried to cripple my faith, but God was planning His surprise and 129 students who were put in 7 groups with 13 facilitators were about to have a memorable week.

Nothing could have prepared me for the awesome reception and positive attribute to Kingdom truths expressed by these students. It was impossible to anticipate the events of each day.  It got better, richer, and more exciting as we progressed, despite the challenges.

These kids got the message. They tasted the goods we offered and knew it was the real thing; the missing thing and they wanted more.

We declared a general fast from morning till evening on Friday. About 70% of the students would be fasting for the very first time. What would happen? How will they take this? Will someone faint or get really sick as a result of this radical thrust? These and many other questions were gnawing at me.

“Uche, don’t you think they should take water?” One of the ministers asked. “No, they’ll be fine.” I was right.

As sure as God would watch over His word to perform it; just before noon, after the Discipleship class lesson on- The Place of the Holy Spirit, the power of God came down heavily on the students in the group led by Pastor Kenneth.

It was holy chaos. All the students in that group burst into tongues and tears almost simultaneously. They continued praying for hours.

The camp went into over-drive and everyone knew something unusual was in the air. Those in other classes knew that this was something they should experience. But why was it only in that class? What did their facilitator do or say to them? Their prayers maintained a steady high rhythm and drew the attention of some surprised staff of the college.

That evening, during the general evening prayer and worship session before the break of the fast, the commotion spread, and more students were filled with the Holy Spirit. We could never have planned it. This was the promised surprise!

But there was more to come. During the night session, Rev. Yemi Ayodele, our guest speaker ministered and the power of God came down again with a special package for the ladies this time. The Lord addressed the deep things from their past, the shame, pain, guilt, and hurts. Broken lives were mended as tears flowed from end to end. God’s signature of love, peace, and comfort filled the hall of the meeting.

We had three types of students in the camp on the last day. Many had encountered the Holy Spirit with undeniable testimonies, those that wanted Him and were willing to stay behind and do anything for their own personal experience, and a few that didn’t understand what was going on.

Testimonies about seeing and experiencing the fire of the Holy Spirit were told by many. One student put it like this, “When I saw the fire come on me, I didn’t understand it as fire that could burn and hurt me, I was too shocked to know what to think. It took me a while before I realized that this was fire all over my body, real burning flames…”

Another said, “God came inside our class, I was too afraid to open our eyes and look, my whole body was shaking… I was speaking a language I didn’t understand…”

Many students testified with so much confidence and assurance about hearing God’s voice that I was overwhelmed with joy. Surely, many had Come Up.

This was a perfect surprise.

[Please watch out for the video clips of these testimonies. You’ll be glad.]
They cried out to God for hours, wanting more of Him!
One of the 7 discipleship classes engaging the material.
 

 Another class discussing and soaking it all in.

They broke that fast in style:))
Raw fun and excitement all the way.

Rev Yemi Ayodele teaching and challenging the students.

Discipling with The Mask

We called it: Coach Me – Youth
Forum. We set out with some youths in our church here in Yei, on a trip to
somewhere and in search of something we all knew we desperately needed – TRUTH.
This invaluable commodity seemed to
be elusive.

To move as a team, we had to define the terms governing our
time together. We agreed to meet every Sunday evening for 2hrs, we agreed on
this and that. God would be the Driver and Uche will serve as the conductor,
which meant he’d call the stops and be on the trip till we arrived our final destination.
Anyone was free to get off wherever they wished so class ended with 25
disciples out of 34 that started.

When at our first meeting I introduced The Mask to these young
chaps and used my life, my past failures and hypocrisies as the guinea pig, explaining
the stifling and fearful nature of a masked life; I didn’t know what to expect.
But I knew that whoever among them would embrace the profound message of the
Mask before we depart the station
would never be the same again.

When they finished reading this great article which I had
reworded a little for their understanding, it was as if a bomb went off inside
every one of them. That was the same experience I had! It was the moment of
TRUTH for me and them.  Age old Masks must
be removed as a prelude to this class.

After that first class, it was clear that something had gone
right. The demystification of the Masks and the persons behind them completely
changed many lives here in the past 7weeks. The Mask served as the compass to our final destination.

We held a total of 10 meetings, discussing various life
matters from how to remove our masks and why it’s necessary for discipleship,
dealing with spiritual strongholds, understanding and dealing with the four
personal fears.  Embracing pain as a
divine tool was not left out.

They gathered for each meeting and like sponges, soaked up
every detail, asking awesome questions in the process. How do I narrate their
facial expressions when shocking revelations were understood or the anguish
conveyed, on seeing how insidious self preservation could be? The sound of
laughter and pure fun greeted every joke from anyone. This was a family affair.
It was deep, rich and liberating. I had some of my best moments ever in Sudan
within the last 2months.

Their open confessions of wrong and the desire for change
shocked me. Week after week and up till yesterday’s meeting, there were still unforced
open confessions and repentance. The small group discussions during the
meetings awakened a passion to be real and to know more. Never
underestimate the power of openness and truth. This is one profound lesson I’ve
learnt from these lads.

How can there be
authentic worship without the freeing of the human soul to embrace truth,
regardless of the discomfort it could render? When we are unfettered by
lifestyle strictures mandated by theological curmudgeons, we find our wings and
take flight. That’s a great line from Seth Barnes.

Here are the brief comments of some of the disciples after the last
class.