A NEW MINISTRY BIRTHED OUT OF ADVERSITY!!

MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED AS YOU READ THIS STORY! BE ENCOURAGED!!

"All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose."

And someone has said that the more bitter the battle, the sweeter is the victory. This has definitely been the case for my friend, Pastor Atukwatse Onesmus, over the past 3 months. He has walked through this dark valley of adversity and despair.

I thank you for all the support you've given to Pastor Onesmus (in UGANDA) during this time. But praise God, He has used this experience for His glory.

The Apostle James says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

I thank the Lord that He has placed me in a position to witness all this firsthand. I first met Pastor Onesmus and his wife Bashabe back at the start of May. On one Ning network he shared his testimony with me. He wrote:

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God met me at a time I was a wasted creature, lost in the world of sorcery, witchcraft, drug addiction, sexual perversion, one without purpose for life. In fact the Lord God met me at a time i was going to commit suicide after leaving a prison as an exconvict of attempted rape, a crime for which i served 3 years sentence to hard labor in prison.

As i was still thinking about committing suicide, i went to a cafe. On opening, a friend had forwarded a link to me which i opened and behold, these were the Campus Crusade online gospel preachers. I was convicted in my heart and I gave my life to Christ. It wasn't easy for me to be emotionally healed, but God used the online correspondent I was given to teach me and help me overcome all the habits, find purpose in life, and understand the word of God
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She went ahead and sponsored me to join a bible school after God had called me into his service, three years after an encounter with him, and for the last 17 years, the Lord has used me and my experience to reach out to many degenerate people. That is why i have a crushing burden for people who have lost hope and purpose in life, God is calling me upon to begin internet ministry. As soon as i get a computer and a network modem, i will embark on that.

Practical gospel helped me become who I am. That is why I believe in preaching practical gospel of love to the most unfortunate societies.
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Since that first meeting, I have been supporting this pastor and his work, and so has my husband. I administer "Power in the Word" Ning network with him, and I've helped him get a web/blog site together. Their ministry is call REPEMU International. Please check out his sites when you have the time.

So now, I want to share with you the journey the Lord has had us embark on this past 3 months, and for Pr Onesmus that has been one of terrible affliction.

One Friday night at the end of May, Onesmus comes on the chats and tells me that his 10yo son, Ian, had been involved in a bad bicycle accident, and that he was in the hospital in a coma. This had happened when they were away from their home town. We prayed, and for 6 weeks he was in the coma... and they battled to get funds to pay for the operation and for medication. Then after the 6 weeks, the Lord woke Ian up, and now he is "extremely well" (as Onesmus says), and we rejoice. But still there was one problem. The hospital wouldn't discharge him until the bill was paid. But for some reason, even after appealing for people to help, the money didn't come through. This made we wonder what God was up to. Why did He have them stuck at this hospital, away from their home and their other children?

Well, two weeks ago (Aug 24), something remarkable happened. Pastor Onesmus received a phone call from a young lass who had just joined the network. She and a few student friends had joined. While Onesmus talked to her on the phone, they realised that they were only a few block away from each other. Of course, Onesmus was able to meet up with her in person. Onesmus was able to minister to her. But that's not all! That evening, she took him to the college to introduce him to the other students. They shared together and Pr Onesmus ministered to them for some time.

Over the past few weeks, Pr Onesmus has met with the students a number of times. What is remarkable is that he would not have met the students if young Ian had been discharged from hospital as we'd hoped. Instead, this time of affliction has birthed a brand new ministry.

Last Sunday, Pr Onesmus preached to over 200 students. The students are really hungry for the Word of God, and they want Pastor to plant a church for them. They have been looking for a building they could hire and it seems they have found a suitable venue.

So, could you please pray that God will provide them the funds for the rent and that he will provide chairs and the sound equipment they need. They also desperately need Bibles.

I pray this story encourages you to press on even in the midst of trials.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness you lead me,
Rivers in the desert will I see;
Heaven and earth will fade, but His Word will still remain;
And He will do something new today.

Bless ya!

PS. Pastor Onesmus is in Uganda, and this new work is starting in Mbarara, in the south-west region. His other church in near Kampala.