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NelsonNews December 2013 JESUS - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD As I gazed across the far reaching night jungle, I was amazed at how utterly black the nigh
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NelsonNews
December 2013
JESUS - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD |
As I gazed across the far reaching night jungle, I was amazed at how utterly black the night was – and yet I could see, as if there were starlight illuminating the tops of the trees and the sky. But there were no stars and no moon. Then a huge man, equally black with the night, rose up out of the forest, blocking out the sky. As he stood, he simultaneously raised a colossal bow and arrow, pulling back on the string, and loosing the massive arrow across the sky. I saw the arrow arch off and land somewhere on the far side of the horizon. Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “You are that arrow.” |
That was the first of several visions God has given me over the past nearly 15 years in the Luweero region of central Uganda. An area known as the killing fields during the civil war. All of the visions have shown the blackness of night, darker than night. And indeed Luweero is the spiritually dark heart of Uganda. |
A few years ago, I introduced the new tradition to our church New Life Centre of doing a Christmas Eve candle lighting. People in Uganda attend a church service on Christmas Day, but never on Christmas Eve. They are busy preparing for Christmas dinner. We rent a generator and show a movie. Then we serve a Holy Communion. It is all timed so that by the time those are finished, it has become dark. Then a single candle is lit, showing the strength of one mere candle in the utterly black African night. This represents Jesus in the night of the world. Then that one candle lights another candle, which lights another candle, until every candle in the church is lit, brightening the whole building. We sing Christmas songs, and then ask the people to walk home with their lit candles, to signify taking the light of Christ into their dark neighborhoods. |
This is symbolic of what we at New Life Centre are doing in the darkness of the Luweero district. And many are helping us in our efforts. |
In March my daughter Julee Bailey and my granddaughter Emilee flew over to Uganda from Washington State. We joined together with a few church members and helped Em paint a mural in our church, as her senior project, just before she graduated. I flew home with them in April for my furlough, returning to Uganda in early August. |
Just 3 days before my return, one of our pastors, Pius Senyonja, was killed in a motorcycle accident, and his wife Damali, suffered a broken leg. Damali has recovered, and Pius’s church continues, but we’re praying for the right pastor to take his place. During Pius’s brief life and ministry, he was saved and delivered from alcoholism, witchcraft, and AIDS, and he left a big mark for Jesus behind him. |
In August we had 350 people attend a monthly village church conference at New Life Centre. The Operation meets in a different village each month, and has done so for just over 2 years now. I am a regular teacher with this ministry now, helping people learn to use the Word of God more in their lives and ministries. |
In October Ken & Marilyn Moore came over for 2 weeks from Alabama, and ministered in a weeklong seminar on starting home fellowship groups for church growth. We have since been going back through their materials and teaching our church more in depth, how to grow both spiritually and to expand into their neighborhoods. |
Children are now home from school for the holidays, until February. This is the “summer” off season for them. People are traveling upcountry to be with relatives over the holidays, so it seems the entire population moves out of the cities. We will conclude the year with our Christmas Eve candle lighting, reminding us all that Jesus is truly the Light of the World, and in His name we all go forth, lighting our own small parts of this dark and groaning earth we live on. And we truly look forward to when He will come back and light up the Eastern sky as He returns for His bride.
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! |
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60: 1-3 |
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