God Knows Where You Live!
This world is one big place and our God is one big God! He spoke and it all came into being. From the heavens above to the earth below, He is the creator of all and the author of life. We were created by God, placed on this earth for a divine purpose, to bring honor and glory to His name. I want to invite you on a little journey with me—it won’t take long and I know it will touch your heart in some way. This journey will take us to a real place. There aren’t many people, lights or glamor. It is just a little church on the side of a hill, and a man willing to do anything for the Man who died on the cross for him. His name is Pastor Humstead, and the Man who died on the cross for him is Jesus.
I was humbled by what I saw as we arrived at the little church on the side of the hill. It was a small building with a very big God!
Earlier this year Pastor Fred Muyimba and I were traveling through the villages of Uganda, meeting with pastors and getting a tour of the new churches they were constructing. Our hearts were filled with joy and awe to see the work that was being accomplished. Every now and then I would look at Pastor Fred and we would shake our heads and say, “Our God is so big!” As we worked our way towards the end of the journey and drove to our last stop, I had no idea what God was going to do in my heart. By this time, our traveling team was pretty tired. We had visited many villages, shared meals with hundreds of people and enjoyed the rich fellowship with the amazing people in the villages of Uganda. And now, one more stop! I remember Pastor Fred turning off the main road onto another one-lane dirt road, and I had the sense that this was not going to be an easy ride. We were going to need some help from above if we were going to make our final destination safely. As we drove down this narrow road, our four-wheel capability was going to be put to the test. Overgrown brush would scrape against the sides of our vehicle. Deep holes would take time for us to navigate as we slowly inched along. Up the next hill we would go, around a sharp turn and up over rocks we would climb. At this point, I am wondering if this is worth the effort and does God even know where we are going? And finally as we broke through the thick brush, it opened to this beautiful hillside. About a hundred yards away, I could see this one lone man standing in front of this very small brick building. Pastor Humstead was waiting for us!
Before we went in the church we took a moment for a picture with Pastor Sydney and Pastor Humstead.
We finally arrived at our destination, and my world was about to be impacted in a very powerful way. In my eyes, we were really in the middle of nowhere. In God’s eyes, we were in the middle of His divine plan and purpose. As we opened the doors of the vehicle, we were greeted by Pastor Humstead. I have known him for many years through our pastoral leadership training that we have been doing for the village pastors. But this was my first visit to his village and his church. Pastor Humstead is a very humble and quiet man; yet deep in the depths of his heart is a man with a strong passion and commitment to serve God with all his heart. A few years ago, the Holy Spirit led him to this very remote village to plant a new church. This would be no easy task, yet nothing was going to stop this man from doing something big for God. As I approached this little brick church, my heart was moved and I was humbled to the very core of my being. I asked myself this question, “Would I be willing to do this for God?” You see, Pastor Humstead was poor in earthly wealth but rich in faith and the Spirit of God. So he started to build, one brick at a time, and before he knew it that little church was full of people. God can do amazing things through us when we make ourselves available to Him.
As I ducked my head and walked through the door of that little church, I knew that God had done something very big. He took a simple ordinary man, placed a vision in his heart and provided the resources to build a church that would impact a village for all eternity. On the wall in my office, I have the pictures that you see on this page of the newsletter. They are a reminder to me of the grace and love of God. They tell me all things are possible for those who believe. The God of the universe knows where Pastor Humstead lives and I have this feeling He knows where you live too!
Once inside the church, the feeling of God’s presence was evident and overwhelming. His light filled the room and our hearts.
His Kingdom Will Never End
The birth of Jesus is one of the greatest miracles that Heaven has ever unleashed on this earth. Each time I read the story out of Luke, my heart is filled with awe and gratitude that God would send us His most precious gift. It is my prayer that this Christmas will impact you and your family like never before. As you face the challenges of life here on earth, may you be reminded that nothing is impossible with God. Jesus grew in wisdom and knowledge and now He is King of kings and Lord of lords and His kingdom will never end! Merry Christmas from the empty tomb!
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord’s servant, “ Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”
Thank You for Helping Me Plant Seeds!
As 2016 comes to a close, I wanted to thank the hundreds of people who have prayed and supported this ministry this past year. This year had a very special meaning as ETM celebrated 25 years in ministry. Many prayers have been prayed, many miles traveled and thousands of dollars given to support ETM and the work we are doing, not only here in the U.S., but around the world. It truly has been a team effort by so many people willing to give of themselves and their resources. As I reflect back on this year, I see the faithfulness and power of God through the Holy Spirit. There have been many new doors opened and countless hearts challenged and changed through the love and grace of Christ. That baby born in Bethlehem was God’s atoning gift to the world.
And now a new year is upon us, with many new challenges on the horizon. I want to invite you to join with me on an incredible journey of faith and power as we share the hope of Heaven to a lost and dying world. I am willing, but I need your help! Your financial support releases me to go to the ends of the earth and touch lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus gave His disciples the great commission, it wasn’t a suggestion, but a command! As we invest in the Kingdom of God, we are promised as we give generously that we will also reap generously. As we give, God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work!
Thank you for believing in ETM. Thank you for joining with me on this journey of faith. Your gifts are tax-deductible and will be used by God to spread the truth and hope of the Gospel around this world. Who would have ever dreamed that your financial gifts would end up in a little church on the side of a hill in a remote village in Uganda! Pastor Humstead says, “Thank You!”