Spiritual Health Ministry Update

Praise be to the Lord for the things he is doing in Oyam. Of recent we had an evangelism mission in three nearby centers that is Barrio, Achokara and Abok. GRI was working in coalition with a team from a non-denominational Christian organization called Children of the Nation which is based in Lira, Uganda. The strategy used in the mission was to start by open air campaign followed by the Jesus Film. We had a team of nine matured people from COTN joining us for the mission.

On the 20th we arrived in Barrio which had stayed for some time without rain to water their land and the people started by asking us to pray for rain. Miraculously before we even started the campaign, there was a sign of a heavy rainfall which then started falling immediately we started the campaign. Speaking to over a thousand people, 18 adults and 64 children confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.

The 21st was a clear day and the move was scheduled for Achokara. Some new believers who had followed us at our camping site for follow-up were given Bibles when they requested for. We had pastors from other centers coming to witness what the Lord was doing. There was a session of speaking to the Pastors in the morning, then evangelism in the evening. It was such a blessing to have over two thousand people hearing the gospel and watching the Jesus film which ended at around 10:00pm in the night. At the end 29 adults and 92 Children confessed Christ as their Lord and Savior. So many people were prayed for, for healings and deliverance.

The 22nd was the last day for the mission and the team was to first go to Achokara for follow-up of the new believers then in the evening go to Abok for the last campaign. Just before the team left for Achokara, there came a woman carrying a baby plus a kid of a bout three years and she asked us for a lift. This is her story:

Stella Apio had taken her child to the hospital in Lalogi which is in Gulu district and she was discharged on the 22nd of May but she had no transport means to go back home (their home is in a village in Otwal, Oyam districk). Her husband had left the hospital a day before. We gave her a lift up to Achokara which was still some distance away from their home. She was counseled by one of the team members (Rose). Stella said she had been praying all the way for the Lord to send somebody to help her and indeed the Lord was faithful to her. Stella renewed her faith in the Lord and the team paid for her transport back home.

“The Lord has not forgotten or left His people, no matter whatever situation or circumstance we are engulfed in”

After the follow-up, we headed to Abok for the last crusade which was attended by around 2200 people. At the end of the crusade, 43 adults and 76 children gave their lives to Christ.
I give praise and glory to The Lord for what he did during the mission. Thanks go to GRI prayer team and everybody praying for us every time, may the Lord bless you abundantly. We are still praying for the Lord’s direction for where to have the next mission and we request you to continue praying for us.

May the Lord God Almighty bless everyone reading this testimony,
Walter Oyo, GRI Spiritual Health Ministry Director.

The Cows Come Home

Thanks to the generosity of Rock Creek Church in Colorado, we were able to donate oxen and bicycles to pastors in need from the villages where we work.  At GRI, we partner with pastors from various denominations and villages to assist us in evangelistic and outreach events, including open air teachings, Bible studies, and Jesus Film presentations.  A total of 40 pastors benefited from the distribution, which included 10 pair of oxen and 30 bicycles.  The gifts were given as a ministry so that those who received would also be able to help their church members when certain situations arise.  Oxen are used to plow the fields and are a significant asset in this agricultural society.

The day was one of rejoicing and thanking God for his many blessings.  Pastor Walter, the head of our GRI ministry department in Uganda, led the meeting and many church leaders had the opportunity to speak, sharing encouraging words from Scripture.  Members of local government were also there to show their support of the work 

GRI is doing throughout the district.  I was honored to be able to address the group.  I shared from Genesis 12:1-3 where Abram (later  changed to Abraham) was called by God and given a promise:  "I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."  God was referring to Israel, and ultimately to Christ.  Through Abraham, God blessed the entire world through Christ's death and resurrection so that in Christ we could inherit eternal life.  When God blesses his children, he does it so that we may then be a blessing to others.  The blessing should never stop with us.  It is a "pay it forward" system of kindness, love and grace, and it is all possible because God first loved us.  "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  "We love because he first loved us."  (I John 4:10,19)

We praise God for his goodness, faithfulness, and unfailing love!  These pastors were overwhelmed with gratitude and greatly encouraged to continue laboring in the Lord as they serve the flocks God has entrusted to them.  Apoyo ma tek (thank you so much) Rock Creek!  God has blessed us through you.  And thank you to all of you who support and pray for the work here in northern Uganda.  It does not go unnoticed in the Kingdom!

-Wes