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Taking God's Healing Love to the Nations
Teaching pastors and leaders in Kisoro
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The January 2001 Uganda Evangelistic Campaign
By: Bob Jepsen, Director
We loved Uganda! The country is lush with green tropical growth everywhere. The climate was very pleasant because Uganda is at a higher elevation with beautiful mountains as well. Most appreciated was the extremely warm welcome given to us by a very gracious and loving people. When we were introduced at the conference in Mbale, the more than 1000 present clapped, shouted, and cheered as if the Queen of England, herself, had arrived. This is very humbling and touching. The Christians in Uganda taught us a lot about expressing and proclaiming their love for Jesus.
At the close of the conference all of the clergy anointed with oil and prayed over nearly everyone.
I was asked to teach on the healing ministry of Christ, both at Mbale and then at Kisoro at the opposite end of the country. I am pleased to report we certainly saw the hand of God at work in our midst. An Anglican priest, Mike, from the UK, joined me in praying for an older man who had developed pain in the stomach area. After a few minutes of prayer, almost all his pain was gone. Another woman testified to the conference that the pain in both of her legs left and for the first time in years she could walk without her cane. At the close of the conference all of the clergy anointed with oil and prayed over nearly everyone. This Anointing Service lasted over three hours. The power of the Spirit was evident as many people rested in the Spirit.
While in Mbale, Meg and the boys visited an orphanage with 30 children whose parents had died of AIDS. They listened as the children sang and danced in worship and praise to "Yehsu" (Jesus). Meg and the boys had frequent interactions with children in Sunday School and on soccer fields and were able to share some children's praise songs and even the good old American children's game of "Duck, Duck, Goose" as well as lots of soccer and hacky sack.
Orphanage kids worshipping
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On Sunday I preached at two services in a village parish. The pastor asked me to pray for the congregation following my sermon. What a joy to lay hands on many, including the children who came forward and knelt at the front. I learned later that a number of persons were healed and 21 people were saved as a result of the testimonies of healing.
In Kisoro, in the Diocese of Muhabura, we stayed in the guest house of the Bishop's home. Bishop Shalita and his wife, Joy, were so kind to provide home cooked meals and met our every need. It was a privilege to speak to some 30 clergy and a few of the diocesan staff. I gave six messages covering the basics of healing ministry. To demonstrate that Christ heals today, I invited a volunteer to come up for prayer. A man, Peter, came forward explaining he had injured his ankle in a fall and he now had pain. Another priest and I prayed for Peter for about five minutes, checking how he was doing. After examining his ankle he broke into a big smile and told everyone that all the pain was gone. We gave praise to God!
What is so remarkable, and refreshing, is the simple, child-like faith to receive from God.
One last story. The last day, a woman came asking for healing for her back and knee "because I want to be able to serve God as His minister". Again, following several minutes of prayer she began to move her knee and back and exclaimed she was pain free. What is so remarkable, and refreshing, is the simple, child-like faith to receive from God. Fortunately, and to their real benefit, their belief has not been diminished by our western mind-set of rationalizing away the miraculous.
In the book of Habakkuk the prophet prayed a prayer for the church today: "O Lord, I have heard report of you and your work...renew your works and make them known, in wrath remember mercy." What is exciting is that we are witnessing the answer to this prayer: Report of who God is and what He is doing is spreading all over the earth and He is renewing His work that many may report of it and return to Him. Let us pray this same prayer for OUR church in the United States.
Bob +
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