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April - June, 2008

 

I can say with Paul that, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”  For all the heartaches and burdens that the ministry sometimes presents, there is nothing compared to being in the ministry.  Seeing people saved, lives changed, and the Gospel furthered is a joy unsurpassed.

 

Prayer for Our Pastor: Before I give you any news of Uganda, let me first say that I covet your prayers regarding my pastor, Pastor Hank Thompson.  For reasons known only to God, my pastor has truly gone through the afflictions of Job regarding his health.  Some days he feels great, and then the next he is in ICU believing it to be the end of his life here on earth.  How greatly I love my pastor and what a great influence he has had on my life.  Please pray for him daily!!  I need him, our church needs him, and independent fundamental Baptists need him.  However, I want the Lord’s will to be done in his life.  “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Please intercede for him to the Father.

 

Praise for Physical & Spiritual Healing: These last three months have been one busy week after another.  We were privileged to once again host Operation Renewed Hope with their team of 40 doctors, nurses, and assistants.  Along with ministering to the medical needs of the people, Evangelist Tom Farrell clearly presented the plan of salvation to each person enabling them to choose spiritual healing as well.  About 1,500 Ugandans were treated medically, and over 700 of them made professions of faith in Jesus Christ.  The mayor in one of the towns gave such a great testimony after receiving Christ as his Savior.

 

Praise for the Word of God: After the group from ORH left, we received a group of three men from the West Coast Baptist College.  For 2-1/2 weeks, these three were a blessing to the ministry in helping out in any way they could. We pray that God will continue to work on their hearts about the possibility of returning to the mission field.  During their stay, we received a 20-foot container of the Gospel of John that we had translated into Luganda.  This is the first time that the Word of God has been mass distributed in the local language.  Hallelujah!  At the writing of this letter, we have passed out over 9,000 booklets, leaving us with just 421,000 more.  Our greatest appreciation to Victory Baptist Press in Milton, Florida for printing and shipping this literature us.  May God richly bless them for their great ministry!

 

Prayer for Radio Outreach: Broadcasting the Gospel through Christian radio reaches more people than we could ever reach door-to-door.  To expand our listening audience, we are praying for the means to purchase a 650-watt transmitter.  Already someone has committed $2,000 to help with this need.  Would you pray with us for the remaining $5,000 balance? We realize prices are increasing everywhere and the dollar is weakening in value all around the world, but our God is still “rich unto all that call upon Him.”  Join us in praying for monthly financial supporters of Word of Life Radio.  Everyday we have the opportunity to reach over 1,000,000 Ugandans with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Wouldn’t you like to be a part of this?

 

Praise for Reached Prisoners: One of our many ministries here in Masaka is the prison ministry.  Every Sunday I go with four men from the church to preach to the inmates.  It has been a very fruitful ministry with many saved and two faithfully attending our church after their release.  Recently I gave one of the prisoners a Bible from the BEAMS ministry, and this is the letter that he wrote, “Praise God!  I am sending to you my sincere greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I am grateful to have got this opportunity to thank you for the precious gift (Bible) you presented to me through Masaka Independent Baptist Church.  I got saved earlier this year while in prison, where I am serving a sentence of eighteen months imprisonment. . . My being in prison has brought many changes to my spiritual life.  I am also eager to listen and to learn more about God’s Word.  All in all, I thank you very much, and I request you to continue presenting such precious gifts to people who need the Word of God. . . May God bless you. . .  Amen”  Testimonies like this keep me encouraged and eager to serve God.  You never know how your giving can make a difference.  Pray for Jonathan that we will be able to continue to disciple him and that God will greatly use him both in the prison and when he is released.

 

Praise for Extended Ministries: Masaka Independent Baptist Church is continuing to grow, not only in attendance but also in ministries.  Pray for our school, Grace Christian School, which has 32 students and for Grace Christian Orphanage that has 30 orphans.  With the radio, the school, the orphanage, and the care of the other churches that we have started, our days are kept busy.

 

What a privilege to serve our Lord, and how thankful I am for you who pray for us and financially make it possible for us to continue serving the Lord here in Uganda.  May God richly bless you as we continue in His work together!

 

Because of Christ,

 

 

Keith L. Stensaas

 

                 

 

                                                                    Our Family:                                                                                                    Our Pastor & Friend, Hank Thompson, with his wife, Mona

                  Keith, Sally, Shane, Stanley, Shae-Lynn, Shiloh, Skyler, & Savannah

 

 

Field Address: PO Box 478, Masaka, Uganda; East Africa

Phone: 011.256.782.263.654 or 011.256.782.263.593

E-mail: kstensaas@gmail.com

Birth Dates:

     Keith = 08-11-71

     Sally = 08-20-72

     Shane = 03-08-95

     Stanley = 09-29-97

     Shae-Lynn = 02-07-00

     Shiloh = 04-11-02

     Skyler = 08-12-04

     Savannah = 10-07-07

 

Anniversary:

     06-12-93

 

 

One Million People

 

If you had the opportunity of reaching 1,000,000 people with the gospel, would you do it?

 

       In 2002, God gave my family and I the tremendous opportunity of establishing a Christian radio station here in Uganda.  We dedicated it, Word of Life Radio, as its purpose is to proclaim the Word of Life to a lost and dying world.  Only heaven will be able to tell us the true effect that Word of Life Radio has had, but the visible results are just amazing.  In five years, we have had two churches started as a result of the radio station, several people added to our church (including our language teacher and his family who received Christ while listening to the radio) and received numerous amounts of phone calls, letters, and personal testimonies of lives that were changed as a result of listening to Word of Life Radio.

 

                   

 

               Word of Life Radio in the Twilight - "the night cometh when no man can work"  Word of Life Radio with it's 175 foot tower

 

       Every day with the radio we are able to reach three districts in Uganda: Masaka, Rakai, and Ssembabule, plus several islands in Lake Victoria.  In these districts there are approximately one million people living and working from day to day.  Unlike developed countries that have many types of entertainment, radio is still the main source of media in Uganda.  It is listened to in the homes, the work places, the fields, and the villages.  Nearly every one has one or has access to a radio.

 

          

 

                     A map showing the listening radius of Word of Life Radio                Our Staff:  Manager Moses Walugembe, John Omongin, & Eric Mbusa

 

       Although the radio is not nearly as expensive to operate as in developed countries, it does cost us about $1,500 dollars a month to fully operate the station.  Since the beginning, I have been able to operate the station from my own personal support.  However, with rising costs, lower exchange rates at the forex, and the need to assist men as they go out to start churches - the full amount of money is no longer available  We have had to cut back on many things necessary to a radio station, including staff.  As of March21, 2008, we have $300 coming in on a monthly basis for Word of Life Radio.  We need your help!

 

           

 

                      Churches started as a result of Word of Life Radio: Kalisizo Independent Baptist Church & Kamuzinda Independent Baptist Church

 

       I think all of us would agree that $1,500 a month is a small price to pay to reach one million people every day with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What an opportunity God has put before us!  Would you help us?  If twelve individuals and churches could support the radio for $100 per month or twenty-four for $50 per month, this need would be met, and Word of Life Radio would continue to have an impact on the lives of the Ugandan people.  The following is the monthly budget for Word of Life Radio:

                        $470 – Four staff members

                        $380 – Utilities (including internet news access)

                        $150 – License Fees

                        $500 – Escro (updating & servicing equipment; misc. monthly needs)

                        $1,500 - Total

       I truly know what Paul had in his heart when he told the Philippians, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to you account.”  A radio station takes a lot of time and work, and there is no money-making in a faith-based radio station.  However, it is worth it to me to see one more soul come to know Christ through this ministry.  Would you pray about helping us financially?  Would you add Word of Life Radio to your prayer list and pray for us every day?  I know that you will see fruit on your account in heaven.

 

           

 

                  Myself, with my interpreter, on the program, Issues & Answers                                 Manager Walugembe interviewing two believers

 

       If you have any questions or if you need more information, please feel free to e-mail me at kstensaas@gmail.com or call me at 011.256.782.263.654.  If you should choose to help us on a monthly basis you may send your support to:

            Keith Stensaas (793)

            c/o BIMI

            P.O. Box 9215

            Chattanooga, TN, 37412

Please earmark your support as “Support for Word of Life Radio”.

 

                          

 

                                Eric Mbusa programming the week's schedule into the computer          25 watt FM exciter with a 500 watt amplifier

 

       I believe that the Lord is soon returning.  It is time to “pull out all the stops.”  Let us take advantage of all the open doors that God gives us, so that we may fully reach this world for Jesus Christ.  May God richly bless you as we continue in His work together!!

 

Your Servant for Christ,

Keith L. Stensaas