Due to difficulties with the network, my pictures are not loading. :( I will add them as I am able, but for now, I will put some on Facebook. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support for us and this mission.
Since my last entry, life in Uganda has been very busy. Evangelism is always part of our program. We have gone out to very deep villages, with long dusty or muddy paths, sometimes to be welcomed and well received—other days, we are chased or not welcomed. The largest threat came to Jim, who, while preaching to a family, had a madman come out of his hut swinging a club, moving straight toward Jim and his translator! Praise God, Jim and his team were faster than the attacker. While we are prepared for opposition, it still reminds us of the hostile realities we occasionally face here.
Jim joined Eli in preaching and teaching. He preached on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and it was a wonderful sermon. God continues to grow these men into blessed proclaimers of truth, for His glory.
We visited the villages of Muisi and Mbula with our evangelism teams. In Mbula, we spent the day with Pastor Isaac Othieino and some of his church family. They were truly gracious and made us feel so welcome. Pr. Isaac even cooked for us - such a humble servant.
We had the distinct privilege of leading a
conference for church leaders this week in the village of Iganga. I’ve
previously mentioned Iganga and Pastor Nicodemus, who hosted the conference in
his home-church. There were over 40 in attendance. Being that this area is a
strong Pentecostal stronghold, the practice of female pastorship/eldership is
common. This became a main teaching point at the conference. As I taught women,
two of who claimed to be pastors, Jim and Eli taught the men about proper roles
and responsibilities the Lord has assigned to us. We presented two sessions,
morning and afternoon. My first topic included why God forbids female
eldership/pastorship – to include females teaching males. I cannot deny that
throughout my sessions I was a bit fearful. I was met with glares and scowls
from several women. I never pointed fingers, but the Lord provided His Word,
which I spoke with clarity. At the end of the day, the ladies had a time for
questions and comments. It was then that the two “pastors” publically repented
and thanked me for the teaching. They confessed that they had been wrong in
calling themselves pastors and asserting authority over men in their churches.
They admitted that they had heard it was wrong, but no one had ever shown them
in Scripture. Now that they had seen it with their own eyes, they desired to
change! Praise God, for His perfect Word, which opened the eyes of the blind.
Though I did not hear what Jim and Eli taught,
it was said that they brought clear teaching from God’s Word and it cut
straight through the hearts of many of the men. There were a few that struggled
to take teaching from a man as young as Eli, but they could not dispute the
Word. Please be in prayer for these pastors who go back to their community with
truth.
We concluded the week with church service in
Nagongera, a village we have visited since we started coming to Uganda. We were
hosted by Pastor John Obbo, and we were blessed to spend time with his wife,
Susan, and long time friend, Scovia. Please continue to pray for Pastor Obbo
and his family, as they hope to complete the construction of their home. Also,
pray for Nagongera Baptist Church, as it continues to be a place of hope and
truth for the lost.
This week concludes our second month here. We
have completed two-thirds of our adventure. I am not ready to come home, so I
pray this final month does not go by too quickly. It took so long to return to
Uganda, I don’t want to think about leaving yet. However, we keep a countdown
calendar so we make the most of every moment. May each of us live like this, as
we ask the Lord to teach us to number our days. We are not promised tomorrow,
so live for the Lord with your whole heart!
Our faithful brother and ministry partner, Julius Odungo, continues to be a constant means of support and encouragement. Between managing church business and ministry, he still finds time to go with us to the deeper villages, evangelizing and encouraging right along with us. He is part of our family forever, and we ask that you continue praying for him through the challenges and joys of ministry.
Next week, we will be traveling to the mountains of Kapchowra to visit Grace Hill Baptist Church. After we return, we will be focusing on developing a
marriage workshop and preparing for marriage counseling, while Eli works with
the children and youth. Please pray for us to have wisdom and discernment, as
we navigate through destructive, cultural traditions that negatively affect
many marriages here. We hope to present this blessed union as the shadow of
Christ’s love for His bride. More to follow on this endeavor…
And now, may the grace and peace of Christ be
with each of you, as we continue to contend for the faith from different sides
of the world. You are prayed for and we look forward to our joyous reunion next
month.
Remember, if you are interested in partnering or assisting us in this blessed ministry, please contact me via text 915-667-1571, email: cabrockman66@gmail.com, or FB Messenger. Thank you.
“Now
to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless
before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority,
before all time and now and forever. Amen.” ~ Jude 24-25
Hey, it’s Eli. After a brutal fist-fight with my mom, I have successfully hijacked this blog and wanted to let you know I am accepting/expecting Chick-Fil-A gift cards for our return. Must be $20 or over. No trades. No gimmicks. I’m a growing boy and I need my protein. As gratitude, you receive a (painful) church side-hug or fist bump.
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