Update - Intervarsity Mission to Mbarara/Kyengera 30th January - 13th February 2011

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." - Matthew 24:14. As the Intervarsity Ministry goes to Mbarara and Kyengera this season, we carry Good News to God's people both in Word and in deed. We will visit the sick in hospital, the convicted and condemned in prison, the young people in schools as well as the masses in the community, with a word and a touch of love. We'll preach the gospel person-to-person, door-to-door as well as via open-air crusades. We'll spend the first week in Mbarara and then proceed to Kyengera. Help us manifest Jesus; be a part of this. You can plan to attend or to contribute. You're blessed.

Contact Jonathan on 0777 104 362 or 0703 361 520 for inquiries, contributions and registration.  

The truth will always have the power to save

There are times when we think it's inevitable to lie - when it seems like it's the only thing to do and 'even God sees it'. However, the truth will always retain its supremacy over deception. Someone forwarded a good mail today with the following story and I thought of displaying it here:

An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you."

The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here after one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!"

One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.

Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened, Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey nice try."

When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "What great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!" All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy. If you plant patience, you will reap improvements. If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.

But

If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust. If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness. If you plant pride, you will reap destruction. If you plant envy, you will reap trouble. If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation. If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation. If you plant greed, you will reap loss. If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies. If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles. If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.  

"Good" is different from "Right"

It’s one thing to have good people around you and it’s another to be surrounded by the right people. The good may give you comfort but the right will have what you need. Furthermore some may only be pretenders. 2Corinthians 11:14

Consider the Positive Past

It is dangerous to dwell on the negative past as a platform to predict a negative future. That is a perspective that comes from hell, sponsored by the spirit of fear. When such an attitude develops in someone there is a great danger of making resolutions and determinations that are not in line with the will of God, in the bid to escape from the terrible future (that has been created in their minds). Many times the solution to a problem is not to quit but to identify the source of the problem and hence address it for better results. Don't easily give up on people because of the negative that may have happened in the past; most especially if they portray the willingness to change - remember they have the positive past as well. Be more of a believer than a 'doubter'. People can always change for the better.

We need to be ready

Brothers and Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's live our lives with the conscience that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back anytime for those that are ready. He says in Matthew 24:36-42, "No one knows about that day or hour, ... As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Remember He's coming back for a church "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:27). We just have to be ready; anytime He can show up! I don't want to be Left Behind and it is not something I desire for anyone on this planet. May God help us.

Campus Flavor 2010- A few hours away

We are just a few hours away from September 11th, 2010. We believe God is going to use this as a platform to change many lives and to raise many for this season. I have the expectation that many who had lost that fire/passion (due to many circumstances and situations in life) will be able to bounce back. We have invested in this one-day event money that is not readily available in our pockets for one reason - Jesus doesn't only deserve our best; He deserves a sacrifice. Keep praying and declaring upon this day. I'm believing, not only for revival, but for a revolution in many lives.

Campus Flavor 2010 - Kyambogo University - Saturday, September 11th 2010

‘Campus Flavor’ is basically an open-air evangelistic crusade designed for a university setting. The Intervarsity Ministry has, in the past, organized such events in conjunction with Kampala FM (Now FM J). Campus Flavor 2010 in Kyambogo will be held at a time when first year students have spent approximately 1 month at University and the continuing students will have spent less than a month into the new academic year. This event is organized by the Intervarsity Ministry and mainly financed by the alumni of the group and well-wishers. 

The objectives of this event will be achieved through various activities between 4pm and 9pm on September 11th 2010. We will have Music, Testimonies, Preaching, Live interviews, Altar calls, Praise and Worship, a time of prayer and so much more.

The bottom line is that the Gospel will be preached, people will surrender and re-commit their lives to the Lord, God will do mighty works through these various activities and the name of Jesus will be glorified. 

We need at least UgShs 1.7M to cover this budget. May you please keep it in your prayers and contribute in any way you can.