Uganda, July 22- August 4, 2009
Years ago, an evangelist whom I thought highly of, told me with a straight face, “Dan, one requirement for being an effective evangelist is to have an over-inflated ego.” He was serious. Even at a young age, I knew something was wrong with that. I determined to be an evangelist totally devoid of ego. I have certainly not succeeded in that desire. Pride continues to be the root of all my problems, as it is with us all. But I do battle with it. That brother, by the way, is no longer in the ministry.
But preaching to thousands of people who are hungry for the Gospel and deeply appreciate you coming to the other side of the world to tell them about Jesus is an amazingly humbling experience. Who am I to be used in such a way and to be able to experience such unexcelled joy? On the plane from Houston to Amsterdam, I read what George Whitefield, the greatest evangelist since Apostolic times, said. “I was so oppressed with such a sense of my base ingratitude to my dearest Saviour, that Satan would have fain tempted me to hold my tongue, and not invite poor sinners to Jesus Christ, because I was so great a sinner myself. But God enabled me to withstand the temptation; and since Jesus Christ had shown such mercy to me, and did not withdraw His Holy Spirit from me, the chief of sinners, I was enabled the more feelingly to talk of His love.”
I’m reminded of what Adrian Rogers used to say, “You can go out tomorrow and find a better preacher of the Gospel than I, but you’ll never find anyone who can preach a better Gospel.” It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, not the evangelist, ego not withstanding. There is an extra word in our English versions of Romans 10:14, added for clarity, that really should not be there. “How shall they believe in Him OF whom they have not heard?” ‘Of’ should not be there. Now read it. It is a major change in meaning. How can anyone believe if they have not heard HIM? When the preacher is true to the Word of God, and is a cleansed vessel, it is actually the Lord Jesus preaching through him. That should be the most humbling, and frightening, thought to any preacher. I have been aware at times of that Other Presence while preaching the Gospel.
*Revival: an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.
Yearnings: protracted, insistent and strong desires or cravings, especially in wishing for something lost; longings for the attainment of something unfulfilled.
“Dan, think you for coming to Uganda to peach the Word of God and I am saved if you go back you greet for me your family. By Wasswa David” (unedited thank-you note handed to me after a school assembly) What a privilege!
Ramblings from the journey
Left Houston 3:20 PM. Arrived Amsterdam 12:15 (midnight), 7:15 AM Amsterdam time. Couldn’t sleep all night. Now at airport, can’t stay awake. On to Kampala, capitol of Uganda. Total 26 hours in air, airport.
Apollo Kabaale, our coordinator, “Until you have seen Uganda, the source of the Nile, you have not seen the real Africa.” $1 (USD) =2000 shillings.
Met with our N.E.S.T. evangelists (David Stockwell’s National Evangelist Support Team) Spoke on Revival bringing most glory to God, Is. 32:12-20.
Young evangelist, Jeremiah, abandoned by mother at 3 months. Never saw her again until he was 20. Lived naked until he was 14. Father drunk. Step brothers and sisters spoke English. Prayed, “Jesus, You’re going to have to teach me English.” Dream…Jesus came with a new tongue on a plate. Cut out old, put in new. Next day began understanding some. In 6 months was speaking English.
Victorious Life Conference…preached on Regeneration, Holiness, Revival and Hell (closing message.)
Grace, our waitress every day at motel. Very gracious, delighted to serve us. After a couple of days, I walked over and whispered to her, “Grace, do you know the Lord Jesus?” “I used to.” “Well, I’ll be praying for you.” Told her 2 or 3 times the next couple of days, “I’m praying for you. We’ll talk soon.” One night after super, I asked her privately, “Grace, did I understand you to mean you used to be a Christian?” “Yes, something like that.” “Have you strayed away from the Lord?” “Yes, that’s it.” It seems she has been deeply wounded. I brought her a New Testament. She lit up and said, “Thank you, I appreciate it.” “God is going to do something very sweet in your life, Grace. Soon.”
July 26, Sun AM Zion Awakening Church, 7:00AM service. Isaiah 45:8, preached on Revival. Whole church came to front, poured out their hearts to Lord for awakening in Uganda. 10:00AM service, preached on Hell. 6 professions of faith, including a Catholic and a Muslim.
Heard about a Sudanese family, very poor, with 11 children. Some men from Uganda told them they would take 5 of them to Kampala, give them homes, clothing and 3 meals a day. Bought the kids for $5 (USD) a piece. Boys are forced to beg on streets and bring money to owners. Girls(children) are sold as sex slaves. Children are kidnapped here and sacrificed in witchcraft ceremonies. Sometimes, they are thrown live into foundation (fresh cement) of new buildings to ward off evil spirits. Last November was largest number of child sacrifices on record in Kampala. 100.
Huge mosque on mountain downtown, started by Idi Amin, finished by Mohamar Khadafi. Called “Khadafi mosque.” Nearby is birthplace of HIV/AIDS.
Obama family 2009 calendar in every school office. I would ask headmasters, “Now, was Mr. Obama born here in Uganda?” Every one of them would say, “Oh no, he was born in Kenya. Everybody knows that!”
Benny Hinn spoke here at a huge church, 10,000 people. $50 (USD) a head cover charge.
Our team saw 3 different motorcycle wrecks here. One guy ok, one broken leg, one died in Apollo’s arms. Motorcycles everywhere. Serve as taxis. People rush up to ‘help’, then steal wallets, cell phones, sometimes, the bikes.
I have invitations to go to other parts of Zambia and Uganda, to the Congo, Kenya and the Sudan.
Many Muslim kids in these schools. Many have professed Christ. What have we done to them? What are they going to face when they tell their parents? Is it worth it to know Christ? Absolutely! But my heart grieves for the persecution they will inevitably face.
Preached in 10 schools this week.
August 2 Sun AM Stepped out of my room to go preach. Maid, “Oh, are you going to church?” “Yes, I’m going to preach.” “Please, pray for me.” “I will. Are you a Christian?” “No.” “You need to be.” “I want to be.” “Will you be here all day?” “Yes.” “We’ll talk this afternoon.” Her name is Harriett. Preached at Trinity Church. 25 professions of faith.
Saw Harriett as soon as I got back. She was ready. She was number 3,362 for the week. She was worth the trip. Of course.
Got home late Tuesday night. Kyle, my 7 year old grandson was waiting up for me. 1st question, “What did you bring me from Africa?” 2nd question, “Grandpa, did you know that I’m your brother now? I got saved July 20, 2009.” I baptized Kyle the next Sunday morning.
Dan