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Not With Words of Human Wisdom

September 8, 2008 - Read all blogs

Dear Friends,

We have a very busy but wonderful week with a team of eight from Living Word Christian Center. One of experiences we wanted the team to have was to visit a refugee camp. Prepare the Way School of Ministry has a center in Pabbo Trading Center outside of Gulu, Uganda. We rented a large bus and the team embarked on a long, bumpy journey. It took us all day to arrive at our destination. The team was tired but had hearts full of anticipation and the Holy Spirit.

Early Sunday morning, we drove out to one of the sub-camps. We then divided into small teams to minister in three different churches and do outdoor children’s ministry. Each team sensed an increase in the people’s hunger for God after ministering to them.

We again boarded the bus for yet another long bumpy ride to minister in another sub-camp. You may remember that the sub-camp is a transitional home between Pabbo, the main camp and the home villages of the people. The officials of this particular sub-camp have been resisting the starting of a church. Just last week, they denied Pastor Bill and Pastor Bosco the starting of a church. Our purpose in choosing this sub-camp was to see the hand of God change the hearts of the officials and allow a church to be started. We again divided into teams and began going hut to hut to share the gospel.

It is a very humbling experience, to know that others have sown in tears, and we were able to go in and reap a harvest. It was as if the people were just waiting to have an opportunity to give their lives to the King. About 75 or eighty people received Jesus that afternoon. People were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

1 Corinthians 1:17 “…to preach the gospel-not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power”

The last hut that we visited, housed a small family. The man of the house had known Jesus but had allowed his heart to grow hard to the Lord. He had been praying for a way to come back to the Lord. Some of the team members ministered to him. He came back to the Lord and was filled with the precious Holy Spirit. He was overjoyed. The woman with him had tears running down her face as the Lord dealt with her heart. She eagerly received the Lord and was also filled with the Holy Spirit. Pastor Bosco later told us that this man was in the Bible School to become a pastor. He was being transformed by the gospel. His family was chosen to move out of the main camp (Pabbo) and relocate to this sub-camp. The camp did not have a church to help strengthen him and he drifted away from God. The Word that had been planted during Bible School continued to work in this man’s heart until he returned to the God that he had grown to love.

As darkness began to fall, the team began to set up the equipment to show a gospel film to the residents of the camp. With determination and faith in his heart, Pastor Bosco visited the officials again to show them the list of people who had given their lives to the Lord and wanted a church. We had the favor of God, and the very same officials saw the demonstration of love and now agreed that the camp needed a church.

People began to pack in like sardines to watch the movie as it began to play on a white tarp which was attached to the side of the bus. There were so many people that it was difficult to see the “screen”. Many clever people went to the opposite side of the bus and watched the movie through the backside of the tarp. Others were standing on chairs with their children on their shoulders. Some were atop their bicycles to gain height. The team guessed that there were about 800 people present. Due to heavy rain, we were unable to finish the movie. Pastor John prayed with the people and told them about the new church.

TESTIMONY FROM A PABBO PASTOR

The Lord is good all the time and that is why I praise His name. I have learned is that to get the blessing of God, you need to be patient and faithfully obedience then you will see the hand of God.

I became born again in 1991. I have come from a poor family. I served God for sixteen years riding my bicycle to minister to others. It was not an easy thing.

Today, I praise God for His provision. He brought a faithful God fearing man that is Pastor Bill to our land. He has blessed me with the brand new motorcycle, Baja type which is a very good motorcycle here in Uganda to do ministry. I can now go to a far distance and come back in the same day I praise God for that. This motorcycle is going to help me serving God in a wider area in Northern Uganda. I am now free from the burden of transport.

I am thankful for the Bible school started in Pabbo. Through it powerful men and women of God are being raised up in the land of the Acholi. Thank you for laying down your life for us.

The thirty-two leaders are getting their training from this center. They are very happy for the good material and for this school. You really bless our lives, and we are growing very strong in the word of God.

We are looking forward to the coming graduation in September 2008. We are going to have two hundred and fifty invited guests. All of the Sub-County leaders will be invited for this wonderful occasion.

Pastor John Bosco

Please continue to pray for us. We are seeing God move in mighty ways. The enemy is using deception and witchcraft to influence undiscerning men and we are feeling opposition. We are remaining in God’s love, forgiving each offense, and learning a new dimension of unconditional love.
In Christ’s love,

Pastor Bill and Linda Campbell