If you see Jesus in the store, remember He is not there looking for “something”, He is there looking for “someone”. And He isn’t there to sell them “something”, but to give them “someone”. Himself.

We were blessed by Pastor Chris, the Harvest Vision coordinator for northwest Uganda, who shared the testimony and photos of their recent trip to the market in one of the communities. They shared the gospel with these shoppers and business owners and 21 people came forward to repent and accept Jesus Christ and the eternal life that He offered to them. Now we witness the joy of them becoming a part of a local Christian family and being taught to become true disciples. Chris also shared that through their home groups, 11 new souls were added to the kingdom and are now involved in discipleship groups.

We are thankful that these testimonies continue as

“they break bread in their homes and eat together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number every day those that are being saved”.

Acts 2:46-47

A French poet tells a story of how, near a river that flows between France and Germany, a blacksmith was busy one snowy night near Christmas. He was weary after a long day’s toil. He could see the lights of his cottage where his wife and children were waiting their festal supper when he should return. He had reached the last piece of the work, a difficult rivet that was to hold together the last strain on the bridge. This was a peculiar design, intended by the builder to pin together the metal work of a bridge that was being laid over the stream.

The smith was sorely tempted to hasten the work in his shop, but his better self whispered to him that he should do his best on this last piece. He turned again to the work with a sigh. Nor did he rest until he had made the rivet the best possible.

Years passed on. War broke out. A squadron of the blacksmith’s countrymen were driven over the bridge headlong in flight. Men and horses and guns tested its firmness. For a moment the bridge seemed to tremble, as the weight of the mass hung on that one rivet – but the rivet held. This old smith had given his countrymen their chance of safety.

Possibly under the strain of trouble, or care, or haste, we have failed our fellow men and our God by putting less than the best into the one rivet, the one moment, the one task on which their destiny at a later time must hang.

May every rivet be the best!

(Excerpts from “Answered prayers and soul-winning incidents – published in 1940)

Many thanks to these two young men that have been helping put together the fellowship center for the Garden of Eden family ministry. There are others and we thank them all.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Colossians 3:23-24

 

It is a always a blessing when our coordinators in central Africa share their testimonies. Pr. Evariste in Burundi shared that diplomas and certificates were given to the pastors and leaders that completed the Bible schools in Bujumbura and Cibitoke provinces. They also used their sound and video equipment to coordinate 8 outreaches in the month of November where 445 new believers accepted Jesus and 165 have already been baptized. The pastors and leaders that help do outreaches will be meeting on January 15^th to plan outreaches to the different provinces for the remainder of the new year. We were also blessed to receive these photos from Pr. Augustine who coordinates outreaches in the eastern DRCongo.