This week our church’s building was finally completed. After many months of worshiping in our “banana leaf church” - made of just reeds covered with leaves, God has completed this “Nehemiah wall.”
About six months ago we bought the land for our church and have been slowly but significantly contributing to building costs, yet we are thankful to see that God has allowed us to help in a way that has also encouraged the congregation to remain independent and self-sufficient. Church members did almost all the labor on the building themselves and contributed substantially to the costs, no small sacrifice.
Imagine my amazement as I saw the completed building on Saturday after returning from Kampala . . . . It looks just as it did in the dream I had, at the time that we had felt the clear calling from God to buy the land for the church; from the placement of the building, the size, the windows and even the shade of the blue paint on the doors (in a place where very little paint is used). What confirmation.
Yesterday we celebrated in the church with a big celebration Sunday. The LC (Local Council member/mayor of the area) came as did many neighbors and visitors. We sang, danced, prayed and heard God’s word. There was a tremendous amount of joy and victory. We had sponsored a feast for the entire church and neighboring community and God multiplied food again to provide for almost 100 more than we had planned for. I love to see people fed because I think it’s such a picture of God’s kingdom come.
Despite Satan’s ongoing attempts to stop the production, through breakdowns in almost every possible piece of equipment, at five pm, after a full day of celebrating, we showed the Jesus film in Lubwisi to about 400 people packed into our church’s building. It was HOT! I love watching the reactions to the film, as people clap and cheer at each miracle Jesus performs and the house comes down when the resurrected Jesus appears. The gestures and articulations of amazement are precious. We pray that God saves hearts and changes lives through the showing.