We are Safe, our God is BIG!

This God, we serve……He’s really Big. Really, really BIG!

December 17^th. The date had been set for a few weeks. It was our departure date from Nasir, South Sudan for our scheduled Kampala assignment and Christmas break. Originally we had tried for a few days later, but nothing was available. So it was booked for 12/17. I’m learning on the field, that not much is a coincidence.

It’s noon December 16^th and our plane arrives in Nasir. With it, are the pilot and a radio specialist who came to asses our tower. Both of these men, have families waiting for their return. As they land in Nasir ( I really wish you could see our dirt air strip),  a few men that are there mention that there is fighting in Juba. The plane should not be here, they tell us.

In our minds, with no paved roads, Juba is a bazillion miles away. Though the fighting in Juba saddened us, we didn’t see it affecting our travel plans much.

The next morning, we set out for Kampala. It takes two stops before we can get there though. We were originally supposed to refuel in Juba (Capital city where the fighting was taking place). But somehow God orchestrated us to refuel in Bor

When we landed in Bor, armed UN guards tell us there has been night fighting there. They tell us the air space over the whole country has been shut down. They confirm our citizenship and let us on our way. But first, two Americans who were trying to leave South Sudan to see family for Christmas in the states, ask if they can ride with us to Kampala. We had 2 empty seats on our plane. Oh, how our God loves us.  “Of course!”, we told them. What a blessing that God used us to bless others that day!

A few hours later, we finally arrive in Kampala. Safely. We knew that God had orchestrated it all. We knew He was really BIG. But we didn’t know all that was about to ensue.  A few hours later, in the city of Bor, the fighting intensified and violent clashes are still going on there, even as I write this.

So this God we serve…..He’s really Big. He also gives people freedom to make their own choices. And right now, South Sudan, the worlds newest nation is fighting.  It’s fighting a physical attack and a spiritual one. But God is so Big. He saw that we needed a savior. So He emptied himself. He became flesh and came to this earth as a baby. From His birth to His death to His resurection, it was miracle upon miracle.  

As we celebrate Christmas this year. Will you join me in praying for a few more miracles?

Will you pray for peace to fill South Sudan? Will you pray for an agreement between tribes to come quickly? Will you pray that this Gospel (The only thing that can save us or them) would come to, and be received by all people of South Sudan?

God we need another miracle. One as big as you are. We love you and trust you.

Philippians 2:5-11

English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

P.S. One of the reasons, I fell in love with South Sudan is because, it seems to be unknown or forgotten. The country is roughly the size of Texas with very few paved roads. It's difficult to give a good number on population, but World Bank estimates close to 11 million people. It's a country that's seen years of war, persecution and hardship. A country filled with beautiful people. People that I love. People that God loves more. Please war in prayer on their behalf. 

A walk with Samuel

12/13/13
As I walked with Samuel across the dry cracked ground of Nasir in the dry season on our way to the market, we began to talk about things that he had heard about America. 

The conversation quickly turned to the spiritual condition of our respective home nations. 

We talked about the people in them that were Christians by name only. We talked about the danger of false teaching and how important it was to have the Word of God as the guide to truth. It broke my heart as we talked, and it became finally fully clear that while Samuel called himself a Christian and went to a local church--he was convinced that Jesus was not God. 

He thought he was saved, but insisted that the Jesus he knew was not God. The discomfort of the heat and the walk faded as I realized that our purpose for God calling us here was being confirmed. One-on-one discipleship is for some people here in South Sudan the only way they are going to hear the hope of the Gospel. 

It was apparent that for some, it was going to take a face-to-face conversation with someone that they trust before they would consider the Gospel as truth. An ongoing relationship may be the only way to provide enough specific teaching to correct some of the false teaching that plagues this country, because the people have so little access to the Word of God.   

While I realized that one-on-one discipleship was a necessity, I also became overwhelmed by the task. We are only nine people among 8 million. I understood in a new way the urgency for high quality, locally produced radio that has the capability of reaching the community at large with the truth.

Radio carrying oral Bible stories seem like the only way to give all the people of South Sudan an opportunity to hear of the love and grace that Jesus has offered. I was suddenly grateful for all the hurdles that we had to jump the week before as we pursued improvement and sustainability of local gospel-centered radio. 

All the frustrations we had experienced recently seemed worth it and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of what God is doing here in Nasir.