December - January, 2009
December 2008 – January 2009
January’s Showers: Greetings from a very wet Uganda. Rainy season started early this year, and we have had rain everyday for the last two weeks. We praise the Lord for our four-wheel drive van; otherwise, we would not be able to get to our house or the radio station. The dirt roads are a toddler’s dream of one big mud pie. But living in a beautiful country where everything is green all year round kind of makes up for the discomfort of so much rain.
That I May Know Him: Pastor Stanley Onyutha introduced this theme for the coming year in our 2008 Mission’s Conference. Stepping out by faith, our people committed to give 3,200,000/= Ugandan Shillings (about $1,641) to missions in 2009. With this increase in giving, we are going to help support seven Ugandan nationals in church planting: Pastor Diton Ssendegeya of the Kalisizo and Kyotera Independent Baptist Churches; Brother Angelo Lubega of the Kamuzinda Independent Baptist Church; Brother Kenneth Ahimisibwe of the Kyongera Independent Baptist Church; Pastor Stanley Onyutha of the Uganda Baptist Church of Nebbi; Pastor Benard Musukwa of the Uganda Baptist Church of Kampala; Brother Stephen Tumwebaze of the Independent Baptist Church of Kanungu; and Brother James Sebyoto of the Lakeside Independent Baptist Church. Pray for each of these men as they are burdened to see their own country saved.
The Cost of a Gospel Tool: Word of Life Radio needs your prayers. The devil would like nothing better than to see the Gospel stop penetrating into hundreds of villages. Reaching into Tanzania and covering the islands of Lake Victoria, Word of Life reaches people we will never meet face to face on this earth. We believe Christian radio is an effective tool of Gospel witness, but tools cost money. To operate the station the way it should be operated costs $1,500 per month. However, it can operate with $1,000 per month. We praise the Lord and are very grateful for the churches that are able to support it for a combined amount of $350; but if we cannot raise an additional $650 per month support for the radio by July of this year when our radio license is due, we will be forced to close the station. I do not believe the Lord wants us to go into debt to keep it going, nor do I believe that we should continue to use other resources that should be helping the above mentioned men in their church planting efforts. This is our eighth year of broadcasting, and it grieves me to even think about shutting it down. Thousands of people will be dead and buried before we return to the States in 2011 to report to churches and to raise additional support. Word of Life Radio has a listening audience of one million. Just $50 a month would reach 20,000 souls with the Gospel message every day. Please ask God what He would have you to give to help rescue someone from the devil’s pit. If God leads you to partner in this ministry, please send support to BIMI and earmark it “Radio”.
Don’t Ever Be Disappointed In God! These were some of the last words of wisdom I heard from my pastor despite physical pain he had endured for years. On January 25th Pastor Thompson stepped over into Glory and into the presence of our Saviour and God. More than anything else, Pastor Thompson was my friend. I am going to miss him dearly, but the assurance I have of seeing him again is refreshing to my soul. So many times we heard him say, “God is ALWAYS right, and God is ALWAYS good!!” Join us in praying for Adam Thompson as he follows his father’s steps in pastoring Capitol City Baptist Church.
Thank you for all of the Christmas cards and gifts for our family. It is so wonderful to be remembered during these times. In the presence of the world’s financial crisis, your continued support and prayers are greatly appreciated; we are humbled at your sacrifice. May God richly bless you as we continue in His work together!! “That I May Know Him” is our prayer for 2009.
Keith L. Stensaas