Praise and Prayer—July 2014

Reflections—Incarnation (the enfleshing of God—manifesting of God in flesh!)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:1-5, 14.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you..” I John 1:1-3a

God enfleshed (incarnated) in us and through us!

“People are not looking for doctrine. They’re looking for a God with skin on, a God they can know, speak with, learn from, struggle with, be honest with, get straight answers from, and connect their lives to…The incarnation is what those inside and outside of Christianity are looking for, …’Jesus teaches you to live your life as He would live your life’ (Willard)…Once you understand the incarnation of Jesus, I believe you will find some remarkable possibilities. First, He is able to live your life, and second, you are in turn able to live His—not completely in either direction but full enough and close enough that your imagination will come alive to a much larger vision for why you exist on planet earth. ” Flesh, —Hugh Halter

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“..put off your old self…be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

“Only a crucified saint can become an equipper of others.” Primal Fire, Neil Cole

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…And he is the head of the body, the church…to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory…that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:15, 18, 25-28.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-15

“The equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, is the true calling of a leader in God’s kingdom….When we are more concerned about the success of our spiritual children than our own success, we pass into this phase of maturity. From this point forward our mission is to equip others.” Primal Fire, Neil Cole.

“Depending on the translation, at the very most, ‘leader’ is used only six times in the New Testament, while the word ’servant’ can be found over two hundred times. We should be asking why those of us who have a calling to serve the church obsess so much more over leadership than servantship. Jesus said, ‘I am among you as one who serves’ (Luke 22:27) If we honestly want to be like Jesus—if we honestly want to follow Jesus—we will pursue servantship rather than leadership. We will work to become the greatest servants we can be.” Flesh, Hugh Halter as quoted from Unleader by Lance Ford.

I want to be like Jesus!

Give me a heart that’s pure and true,
Kind and loving in all I do,
Full of mercy for all who come
Running into the Father’s arms.

I want to be like Jesus.

I want eyes that see you.
I want ears to hear you.
Feet that follow after you.
I want to be just like you.

I want to be like Jesus!

Praise
-for the amazing two weeks we experienced in Kenya together with the team from Trinity Christian Academy (TCA), Dallas. Diverse experiences shared together with the team provided innumerable opportunities for all of us to put into practice, not only being like Jesus, but being Jesus’ body—his ‘flesh’ coming into contact with others as we allowed Jesus to lead and live in and through us. “Oh, how He loves us!” This was expressed formally and informally as together we engaged in work projects, VBS’s, church and school meetings and programs, celebrations of completed projects (bus for disabled school in Machokos, bore hole for Masai community at Rruya (Kajiado), water purification for the Otto Hoffman children’s home (Thika), visits to children’s homes and schools for disabled children (Machokos, Kajiado, and Thika), safari to Ol Pejeta and Sweetwaters Tented Camp in the Mt. Kenya region (Nanyuki), worship, and devotional times together. (tcamissionafrica2014.blogspot.com)

-for safe travel by road back to Uganda and on to the Ssese Islands by boat with Chris Hamilton and Melanie Musselman. I had the privilege to assist Debbie as she facilitated the Healing the Wounds of Trauma training at Buyovu with 25 leaders from the islands fellowships. We had a wonderfully hard week together! Through progressive teaching and application of Scripture, heart wounds (some deep-seated) were exposed; opportunity extended to bring these wounds to the cross of Jesus and be symbolically nailed there and be buried with Jesus in his death; forgiveness offered and received; healing obtained, and freedom and hope released. We look forward with anticipation to the impact that these men and women will have in their respective island fishing communities as they actively engage in being more like Jesus and representing/manifesting the reality of HIs body in these communities!

-for the Prayer Summit that is taking place in S. Sudan this week. Leaders from the church denominations that AIM has partnered with in the region will be joining together some AIM leaders for sharing, fellowship, and prayer. May they experience and be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Prayer
-that Debbie and I will be more and more like Jesus! That we will be an expression of Jesus body—loving, serving, and equipping others! That we will clearly hear Jesus’ voice leading and directing us in our day to day decisions and activities, as well as for longer term ministry possibilities and assignments. Debbie will be leaving Africa to return to the States July 20th and I leave Entebbe August 29, following a few more weeks in Congo working on the housing for the team headed to Banda. Debbie has been asked to facilitate several Healing the Wounds of Trauma trainings in the States—a follow-up to the one she was involved with in W. Virginia and a couple trainings with AIM personnel in the Fall. I am hoping to do the advanced training in the Fall. Pray with us, that we will know where, and that when Debbie gets back to the States she will be able to establish an appropriate base from which to launch Stateside ministry opportunities. Phil Byler, AIM Central Region’s Executive Officer (REO) requested to meet with us last week on our way through Kampala to Entebbe and the islands. He presented and asked us to prayerfully consider the assignments that he was offering us with the region. Join us in praying that we will ‘be filled with the knowledge of his will’ related to this. This week, among other things we hope to also look into what is needed to extend our Uganda residence permits which expire in October.

-for the Healing the Wounds of Trauma training to be held at Buyovu, 13-18 July. This will be with the Community Based Volunteers (CBV’s) that Debbie trained and worked with for many years. We are looking forward to doing this training together. Pray for the AIM Ssese Islands team. Leo and Menda Fowler and family (logistics, boat maintenance, building, etc.) are in the process of reestablishing themselves back home in Alaska. Kathleen Burns, the nurse from Scotland who has been working in the islands for many years now, recently returned to the UK to undergo medical tests and treatment. The timing of her return is uncertain. Last week Debbie and I stayed in Kathleen Burns’ nearly completed house at Buyovu, and felt her pain, knowing that she would have loved to have been there herself. Chris Hamilton and Melanie Musselman are pressing on seeking ways to encourage and strengthen the leaders and believers in the islands fellowships.

-for the details/logistics of purchasing the needed materials/supplies and getting back to Banda, together with the indigenous missions building team from Oicha, as soon as possible after Debbie leaves on the 20th. We need to finish the rehabilitation of the houses for Wendy Atkins, Williards, and ??. Plans are currently in place with MAF for Wendy and Aaron Williard to be flown to Banda with Wendy’s belongings July 24th. Unfortunately, as it stands her house will not be ready. I estimate that there remains at least 2 weeks of work to be done to get her house ready and 4-6 weeks for all the other houses to be ready to be occupied.

-for the details/logistics being worked out with CECA-20, the UNHCR, and others to help the Congolese refugees from Assa and the surrounding area return home from Zemio, CAR. They fled from the LRA in 2008 to Zemio and are now wanting to return to their homes in the Assa area. I have been asked on behalf of AIM and CECA-20 to help facilitate their return.

-CAR—See report below

Christ is in me—the hope of glory!

Steve & Debbie

Stephen & Deborah Wolcott
Alert everyone everywhere in every possible way to the universal rule, reign, and Kingdom of King Jesus! Our God Reigns!

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
wolcottsd@gmail.com
Blogsite:http://www.sdwolcott.aimsites.org
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269

Reflection on Incarnation—flesh continued:
“..blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3

“..filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God……to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 1:9,10; 2:2,3

CAR report

3.JULY.14

Greetings.
Just a week ago, I was setting off for Carnot and Berbérati. I thank God for his faithfulness and protection, due to your prayers. It was an exceedingly difficult journey due to the state of the roads, and our return to Bangui was delayed several days by mechanical problems, as all our vehicles suffered broken suspensions. And yet, when you see the joy of the brothers and sisters at these visits and when they receive the supplies we bring with us, you know it is all well worth it.

I got back to Bangui on Tuesday morning, and am leaving again today for Boali, Bossembélé and Yaoké(places visited in the latter part of last year). These towns are quite easy to get to, and I am planning on returning to Bangui by the end of this weekend. In contrast to that though, could you pray for the following trip due to start at the beginning of next week, which will take me to Bozoum and Paou in the north. May we find grace in the course of all these travels.

Today in Birao the Seleka are meeting together to establish a new headquarters. These gatherings are being orchestrated by Adam Nourédine (Seleka strongman and second-in-command to President Djotodia in the government that came to power in the March 2013 coup). He is in contact with Boko Haram and also with Al-Shabaab militants from Somalia, according to a daily newspaper out today; the International Criminal Court will be after him. We remain convinced that God will send increasing confusion into the ranks of those fomenting trouble in the country.

The CAR E van gel ical Alliance held gatherings in all the districts of Bangui last week, with positive results. A number of our Mu slim brothers readily asked the Chris tians for forgiveness, wishing to begin their Ramadan fast in a spirit of reconciliation. Some came to the closing meeting on Sunday.

The town of Bambari in the middle of the CAR continues to be divided in two, with the anti-Balaka stationed on one side of the Ouaka river, the Seleka on the other, and the French Sangaris in the middle. There have been many atrocities. All Chris tians daring to cross over to the Seleka-occupied zone to get provisions are systematically killed. Pray against manipulations and interference from outside, as there is the question of how the anti-Balaka came to be there in the first place.

God bless you.

This report from Bambari where the Seleka (mu slim rebel group that took over CAR early this year and terrorized the country much of last year) have taken over the town of Bambari as their headquarters. This is the location of a large group of B apt ist chu rches started by B apt ist Mid Miss ions many years ago. It seems the mission station is now serving as a refuge. Anti Balaka are non Mu slims who are fighting the Seleka, but they have gone way too far in revenge killings and almost as many atrocities as the Seleka are guilty of, and now kill other non-mu slims who possibly have had contact with mu slims. Bambari is on the one main road leading from the capital Bangui to the eastern end of the country. If the Seleka control it, it will be very difficult to get supplies to the whole eastern end of the country. Please pray.

Got a call from Goumba this am. He said that if we were to see the station we wouldn’t recognize it. There are at least 2000 people there, and they figured that yesterday there were about 5000! People are just everywhere. Every house is being used to maximum capacity, including the Elmer house, and people are sleeping on the ground or grass all around the station. They are there because the seleka and the anti ball-aka groups are having a confrontation. On one side of town, the seleka are raiding houses & killing people. And on another side of town it is the anti AKA group who are doing the same. So people are afraid.
Pray for Goumba personally. First, because he is at risk from the anti balaka. The rumor is that since he went several times to speak to the seleka commanders over the last year (he was wanting them to leave the station alone), then therefore he was on the side of the seleka. The logic isn’t good, but people on both sides have been known to seek to kill you simply for praying for their “enemy”. Some people are urging Goumba to go hide, but at this point he doesn’t feel that God would have him do that.
Second, pray for Goumba and the other leaders there because they are doing their best to protect and serve the sheep who have come to the station for some shelter. Goumba asked the Sangaris (peacekeeper) troops to send someone to assure the safety of the masses at the station, and they refused (which has happened in other areas too.) So the only protection is God. Pray that He will be glorified and that this will be used for the cause of faith.
PS. Kilas came to see me today. He said he barely escaped with his life from the Selaka, and that his house was completely looted. In fact, he was robbed or looted 3 times over the last year, and the last time the folks took everything, including the kids beds, cooking stuff, etc. He is now sleeping at the yaka, and doing what he can to tend the fields, but doesn’t have much strength. He is praising God for life and a measure of health, because he has been out of meds for quite some time. I gave him enough to purchase all that the doctor recommended, and he hopes to head back to sibut tomorrow.

Reflections—Kingdom of God—a priceless treasure here and now!

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 4:17

What do … spokespersons for Christ do? They bring the life of the kingdom to other people. They bring that life in themselves. That’s what Jesus himself said, and that’s what he did. ..What was at hand? The kingdom that was in him. As people looked at him and listened to him, they realized that the kingdom of God was there and that it was available to them, and they became disciples of Jesus because of that. ..spokespersons for Christ exemplify eternal living and bring it to bear on everything around them. Eternal life is the life we live now, because our life is caught up in God’s life. It is not later. What Jesus is doing is a part of what we are doing, and what we are doing is a part of what he is doing. Living in Christ’s Presence, Dallas Williard, pp. 19,20.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is heaven. …
Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…..For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body what you will put on. Is not your life more than food and your body more than clothing?….your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:9,10,19-21,25,33

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” Matthew 9:35

So what did Jesus preach? What was his gospel? His gospel was the availability of life in the kingdom of the heavens, or the kingdom of God, now. …Isn’t this the gospel: that when others not only hear the content of it but also see how we live it and present it, they say, “I want that. I want to be a disciple of Jesus. I want to be one of his students, learning how to live in the kingdom of God now as he lives in the kingdom of God”? …Jesus is about bringing the life of the kingdom of God into my life and making me a citizen of that kingdom. Living in Christ’s Presence, Dallas Williard, p. 20.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13: 44,45

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sin and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5b,6

..our job is not to make things happen. We live in the kingdom of God, where God is active. His Spirit is present, His Son is alive. That’s where we live. Living in Christ’s Presence, Dallas Williard, p. 21.

The kingdom is not ‘by and by, pie in the sky’ (heaven); it is here and now! Am I actually living in the reality of the kingdom moment by moment—dead to sin and to myself, but alive to God in Christ? Every moment is an opportunity to be with our teacher, Jesus, and to learn to live in the Reality…to arrange our lives around the kind of practices and life Jesus led to be constantly receiving power and love from the Father..to live as though I am an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s glorious universe. Living in Christ’s Presence, Dallas Williard, pp. 42,46.

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Praise
-that Bo’s training with Panda Express and the resulting family separation while he completed the training is coming to an end. Debbie was able to go to S. Carolina to spend time with Abbie and Tim and they came back with her to Arkansas for a couple of weeks.

-for a change of pace for Aaron and Bethany with the summer break from Denver Seminary. Aaron is working at Home Depot over the summer and Bethany continues with her accounting job with the inner city mission.

-for safe travels to and from Banda—two full days by road each way (1000 kms) from Entebbe to Dungu, and a 50 minute flight on the MAF Caravan from there to Banda. Praise that I was able to get to Bangadi to participate in the graduation ceremonies for the Portable Bible school. What an amazing experience to see men and women from different churches and backgrounds being recognized for having completed the training and being sent out as spokespeople of and for the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ. Pray that they will live in the Reality of the Kingdom.

-for what we—Mark Knoner, me, the indigenous Congolese missionary team of 4 (two masons, a carpenter, and Pastor Etienne Ngadu—a disciple maker/teacher), and a young lumberjack from Bangadi were able to accomplish at Banda toward the rehabilitation of the three houses for the AIM team. Pastor Etienne was able to follow-up with those who he and a team of indigenous missionaries led through a 3 month discipleship program in 2011. He also had the opportunity to lead devotions during the Banda Section church council meetings and to teach/preach several times. I had the opportunity to preach in the French service in the Banda church on—the kingdom of God, here and now! Our expectations of having the locally available supplies of sand, gravel, and timber provided through local church participation and on hand when we arrived were not met. This together with the fact that the truck delivering the building supplies purchased in Ariwara (cement, re-bar, roofing, etc.,.) only arrived on the 20th prevented us from getting as much done as we would have liked. In spite of the heat and Mark not feeling ‘up to speed’ the whole time we were there, we worked hard making arrangements for the sand to be dug and delivered from three separate sights, trees felled and timber sawn with a chain saw and delivered, poles and ceiling materials cut and delivered, walls scraped and prepped for finishing, windows, doors and frames removed, repaired and replaced, etc.,. There remains 4-6 weeks of work to be done in getting the houses ready to be occupied. The church has requested that I return ASAP with the same team to complete the work. This is a matter of both praise and prayer! Praise that the Banda church leadership recognizes the value and necessity of the indigenous mission team to complete the work; and prayer, for the logistics of actually getting the team back to Banda ASAP for 4-6 weeks.

-for the opportunity Debbie had to facilitate the Healing the Wounds of Trauma training at IBCD and again this week in W. Virginia.

Prayer
-for Debbie as she travels with the Trinity Christian Academy team to Kenya, leaving Dallas on the 11th. I plan to travel by road from Entebbe and meet up with her (really looking forward to that—2 months apart is a long time!) and the team at Machokos where we will be involved in a project for Scott Theological College. We will also be traveling to Kajiado, Thika, and El Pejeta involved in projects, holding VBS’s, clinics, etc., Pray that we will be an encouragement to the TCA team members and through our lives, words, and actions point them to Jesus and his kingdom. Along with this pray that we will specifically be able to help with cultural issues, sensitivities and interactions. We will travel together back to Uganda after the team returns to the States on the 26th. Debbie has been asked to facilitate a Healing the Wounds of Training at Buyovu with the pastors from the Ssese islands fellowships.

-for clear leading and direction as we consider establishing an appropriate base in the States from which to launch ministry opportunities, as well as the establishment of an appropriate base in Africa.

-for the details/logistics of getting back to Banda with the indigenous missions team to complete the rehabilitation of the houses. Wendy Atkins has plans in place with MAF to be flown to Banda with her belongings July 24th. Pray with us that we would be able to get back to Banda and have her place ready for her to move in to by then. Current plans are for the Williard family to move from Bunia toward the end of August. Your prayers, along with those of the local believers, towards an end to the insecurity in the surrounding area due to the ongoing presence of the LRA continue to be needed.. Several incidents were reported during the time we were at Banda—one a few kilometers away on the Banda-Doruma road where a soldier’s wife was abducted and then released, and two along the Banda-Dakwa-Ango road where several young people were taken. The report from an abductee who escaped was that the group is made up of more than 35 well armed individuals who are primarily interested in finding food reserves for themselves, not causing harm to and hurting people. Nevertheless, due to the experiences of the past, their presence causes alarm and panic among the villagers.

-for the details being worked out with CECA-20, the UNHCR, and others to help the Congolese refugees from Assa and the surrounding area return home during the month of July from Zemio, CAR. They fled from the LRA in 2008 to Zemio and are now wanting to return to their homes in the Assa area. I have been asked on behalf of AIM and CECA-20 to help facilitate their return.

CAR—See report below

Because His Kingdom is present, is being established, and is an everlasting Kingdom!

Steve & Debbie

Stephen & Deborah Wolcott

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
wolcottsd@gmail.com
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269
Alert everyone everywhere in every possible way to the universal rule, reign, and Kingdom of King Jesus! Our God Reigns!

Reflection on the Kingdom continued:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

“Truly I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23,24

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7: 21

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’. …Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” Matthew 25:34,41

CAR Report
28.5.14
late evening

There have been almost daily armed confrontations between the anti-Balaka and Mu slim extremists in the Km5 area of the city. This afternoon, Burundian MISCA peacekeeping forces were fighting in support of the Mu slims against the anti-Balaka. The coast being left clear for them, Mu slims in pick-up trucks turned up at the Cath olic chu rch of Notre Dame de Fatima and climbed over the enclosure walls behind which thousands of refugees had taken shelter. In the ensuing massacre, defenceless men women and children had their throats cut, were shot, or slashed at with machetes. The parish priest was stabbed, taken to hospital and died there shortly afterwards. Tens of people were forced into the pick-ups; those who resisted were shot. The people taken away are now being tortured and killed without anyone doing anything to go in search of them.

The confusion, disarray and devastation were total. I went to the site of the chu rch myself, to take photographs of some of the dead bodies*. I then learned that Elvira, one of the orphaned children who we have been caring for, was among those taken to hospital as an emergency. I went there and saw her; she is now out of danger but remaining under observation until tomorrow. Other injured people were having bullets removed.

I have more than once already referred to the presence of extremists in Km5, and recently also to Mu slim fighters arriving in a pick-up (e-mail sent 27.5.14). Please pray for the unhappy civilian population who are continuing to suffer. While we are working for social cohesion and unity, the actions of the radicals are continually undermining our efforts. But we will continue to call on the Lord, and will not give up under any circumstances.

29.5.14

Provisional number of dead from the killings at the Fatima chu rch currently stands at 15, in addition to those seriously injured. Still no news of those who were abducted. They were taken by pick-up in the direction of Koudoukou avenue, the so-called “corridor of death”. Pray for them and their families. Also for an easing of tensions. There was gunfire all night in the northern parts of the city, and barricades up everywhere today.

30.5.14

No electricity last night, no-one able to get about, and the whole city in lock-down. Living conditions just get worse all the time – we have had no running water in our part of town for weeks. But all of yesterday we had militia groups going around, telling everyone to get out, because they were planning an attack. A few have chosen to stay, including ourselves. The area where we live has become a base for training young people in armed combat.

Out of the twenty or so people abducted following the Fatima chu rch massacre, two have been released : an old man and a child. There is no news of the others, except they were taken to the town hall in the 3rd arrondissement of the Gbaya quarter in Km5 district.

People were out demonstrating from 4 am today, banging pots and pans. Please pray for our protection. The presence of the militia groups is in no way reassuring, as we have some brothers in the Lord formerly of the other religion with us in our house, and some who have come to spend the weekend in prayer.

31.5.14

Greetings.
Things were relatively quiet in Bangui today, though there was no traffic on the streets. We are continuing in prayer. As of Wednesday evening, we have been obliged to put this week’s programme of events on hold, which was to culminate today, Saturday, in a big reconciliation gathering.

Three people were killed by international forces during yesterday’s demonstrations.

The Mu slims in Km5 were planning a protest march following a speech by the lady interim President yesterday, in which she declared that the Km5 area needed to be disarmed. Thank God it did not take place, as young people were on the point of attacking them in counter protest against their behaviour.

Please continue to pray for us. God bless you.

Praise and Prayer—May 2014

Reflections—the church!
The church is not a doormat; it is Christ’s beautiful, thinking bride. —Churchleaders.com
The local church is the hope of the world—Hybels

“..Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.” Ephesians 5:23b
“..Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present her to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5: 25b-27
“..the churches, the glory of Christ. 2 Corinthians 9:23b

The church, Christ’s bride, is God’s chosen means through which his splendor and glory is declared and displayed to all creation—both seen and unseen! As God’s image bearers we are glory bearers. Through the church, made up of every member blessed and equipped in Christ with every spiritual blessing, the universal rule and reign of King Jesus is magnificently displayed and declared. Unfortunately much of what is declared as ‘ hurch’ today is an impostor/counterfeit of the real thing. We live in a time when there is increasing disenchantment with the church and her ‘religious’ practices. A few days ago during a God-arranged encounter with our former landlady in Entebbe she made the statement, ‘I love my God, but I don’t know what church is a good church, so I no longer attend anywhere’. This was in response to her brother losing everything—his business, his home, his car, etc., to the twisted continuous appeal to ‘sow’ generously, all to the pastor’s benefit. The apostle Paul warned against such me, who are deceivers, filling their own bellies.

People are increasingly anxious and uncertain about the world around them. The resulting disenchantment, often in particular with the church (religion), ‘leaves us operating in a universe that is dull, routine, flat, driven by rules rather than thoughts, a process that culminates in bureaucracy run by specialists without spirit, hedonists without heart’. This is the world the church, including mission agencies operates in. In A Secular Age, Charles Taylor questions what occurred between 1500 and 2000—the modern age of Western society—when in 2000 it was possible not to believe in God, while in 1500 it was impossible to do so. His answer: disenchantment, which led to secularism.—Michael Frost, Incarnate

For further reflection see below: Glory-bearing church vs Impostor church

Praise
-that Abbie’s gall-bladder surgery went went well and that Debbie was able to be with her and Timothy.

-for the opportunity Debbie had to travel with her Mom to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Glorieta Camp to spend a couple of weeks and celebrate Easter with her sister Valerie and her family. Aaron and Bethany drove from Denver to join them for Easter. Debbie’s Aunts Marti and Ellen connected with her Mom and the sisters kept things hopping and had a great time together!

-for the great 10 day trip that the AIM team together with Pastor Gabriel Kpako (leader of the CEEC church—our partner in CAR) were able to make to the Central Africa Republic (CAR) in order to visit, encourage and strengthen the believers. They visited Zemio, Obo (participated in Rene Zanigba’s ordination service), Rafai, and Bangui. Here are some excerpts from one of the reports; “Touching down at the airport In Bangui “our plane raced past the refugee camp, where thousands have sought refuge from the brutality which has plagued their areas of Bangui. The feeling of conflict was immediately noticeable. Our drive to the FATEB guest house (FATEB is Francophone Africa’s main theological institution) was striking, with the many armored military vehicles representing various military presences in Bangui (French, Africa Union, United Nations). Though people were walking about the streets seemingly normally, the reports we were told by our escorts were troubling….We witnessed lots of rubble along the way, which were all that’s left of churches the Seleka destroyed. Now, with the Anti Balaka presence, young angry men are tearing down mosques—apparently 72 out of 80 mosques have been destroyed in the city. All of this was going on while heavily-armed soldiers stood by…. policing these matters was not part of their mandate…the international media has grossly misrepresented the conflict which has plagued CAR. The conflict is first and foremost of a political and retaliatory nature. The Anti-Balaka are NOT representing Christianity as the news stories report, but rather are bands of largely youth, many of whose villages and families have been entirely wiped out. They are on a quest for personal revenge as well as the for the overall good of the country—in their efforts to purge CAR of the abusive Seleka forces. The church wanted to be clear on this point: Anti-Balaka are not representing Christianity in any way…We were able hold a combined church service within the safe compound of FATEB, where I preached about Elijah. God never gave up on him, despite his complaining, self-pity, and depression. I hoped to link the Bangui church’s own struggles and persecutions to show that God still very much love them and has a purpose for them as well.” Much to give praise for and continue in prayer about!
-that the truck loaded with the Kubota RTV and trailer, as well as the building supplies and Bibles is on its way from Ariwara to Banda. The supplies are for the rehabilitation of three houses at Banda for the AIM team that will be moving there later in the year. I was able to get the Kubota RTV running, sort out the hitch and wiring for the trailer, gather together necessary tools and supplies, load the Kubota on to the trailer–hitching it to the loaded LandCruiser, and head out on the 12 hour drive for Ariwara, DRCongo. I spent three days in Ariwara completing the purchasing of supplies and loading the truck.

-for the opportunity Debbie has to be involved with the Institute for Biblical Community Development (IBCD) that Dr. Kim and his wife started and oversee through their growing base across the state line from Siloam Springs in Oklahoma. In May she will be facilitating a Healing the Wounds of Trauma training at IBCD.

Prayer
-for Debbie as she continues to look for a place to stay and call home between now and when she comes to Africa in June with the Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) team. She will be involved with a Healing the Wounds of Trauma training with the Institute for Biblical Community Development (IBCD) this month, as well as another training in West Virginia in early June. Then she will be joining me here in Africa in early June. Pray for clear leading and direction as we consider establishing an appropriate base in the States from which to launch ministry opportunities, as well as the establishment of an appropriate base in Africa.

-for the travel arrangements to get the work team and supplies to Banda in a timely and cost-effective way. The current plan is for Mark Knoner and me to drive from Entebbe to Dungu, leaving early Friday morning (Mark was to have arrived tonight (30th April) but his flight is delayed and he will be arriving late tomorrow evening). Pray that Mark and I will be able to get to Dungu Saturday so we can fly Sunday with ASF (Avions Sans Frontiers) to Bangadi to participate in the closing ceremonies of the portable Bible school. This started immediately following the Discipleship training with the military chaplains at Bangadi (a couple of the chaplains have been students). Pray too for smooth travel arrangements for the indigenous missionaries (2 masons, a carpenter and Pastor Ngadu) to Dungu. Two of them will be traveling from Oicha and one from Durba. Pastor Ngadu is at Bangadi. They will be using public transport to get to Dungu where we will meet up early next week and hopefully continue by plane to Banda. They will be helping with the rehabilitation of the houses at Banda, as well as following up on the discipleship initiatives that were launched by previous teams of indigenous missionaries who have served at Banda for several months at a time over the past several years. Pray specifically for the arrangements (still be worked on) to get by plane from Dungu to Banda. The ideal would be to be able to charter either the MAF or AIMAIR caravan early next week from Dungu to Banda. Pray with us that either MAF or AIMAIR would have a request for a caravan flight to Dungu early next week, and be available for us to charter Dungu—Banda.

CAR Report: see below

For the Glory of God, the good of others, and the fame of King Jesus!

Because He Lives!

Steve & Debbie

Stephen & Deborah Wolcott

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
wolcottsd@gmail.com
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269
Alert everyone everywhere in every possible way to the universal rule, reign, and Kingdom of King Jesus! Our God Reigns!

Consider carefully the following comparison of Healthy Religion vs Unhealthy Religion (the glory bearing church vs the imposture church) taken from Incarnate, by Michael Frost.

Healthy Religion (Glory Bearing Church) Unhealthy Religion (Impostor Church)
Is concerned with the pursuit of God Is concerned with the things to avoid
Measures godly qualities Measures quantities (of giving/service, etc.,.)
Finds our identity in grace Finds our identity in behavior
Expands life Constricts life
Results in transformation Simulates holiness
Seeks wisdom Seeks argument
Keeps learning Maintains blind spots
Promotes praise/rejoicing Promotes suspicion
Releases Suppresses
Welcomes Isolates

Current Report of Situation in CAR
Saturday 26.4.14 The situation in the north shows precious little sign of improvement, with new Seleka forces in charge. In Bouca, three days ago, while the people were being massacred, African MISCA peacekeeping forces just looked on, saying that they had not come to fight the Seleka. The leading townsman there was beside himself at such conduct, going as far as to declare that the Seleka were indeed on friendly terms with MISCA. Humanitarian and religious workers in Bouca have been transferred to Bossangoa. Yesterday we learned that the Seleka had apparently left, leaving tens of victims behind them.
In Bangui the entire family of a CAR army man has been decimated by Mu slims, and tensions are still running very high. Mu slim and French Sangaris fighters have been locked in deadly combat in the Pk5 sector of the city. Please continue to pray for us.

Saturday 26.4.14
The Chadian leader of an anti-violence organization got on his bicycle and set off on a trip taking him from Goré in Chad to Paoua in CAR, where he could see with his own eyes all the villages that had been burned down. The commune of Bedam, which numbered 5000 souls, lies waste, with not a single inhabitant remaining and all the houses burned down. More than 20 villages have been destroyed. He then observed the massive Hausa presence from Nigeria on the two borders. Why is Presdent Déby of Chad allowing the Boko Haram to pass through his country to destroy the CAR? Doesn’t he reckon that once they have done with the CAR, these terrorists will turn on Chad itself?
Please pray for us. The terrorists are not only to be found in the north of the country; they are also here in the Km5 district of Bangui, killing three or four people each day without the world media saying a word about it.
Our government is powerless, and the international community indecisive.
Monday 28.4.14 On Saturday 26 April 2014, Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, former companion in arms to Osama Bin Laden, called on all Mu slims to provide military support to their brothers in the Central African Republic. This may indicate the start of yet further renewed hard times for Chris tians here. There have been at least 22 deaths, also of aid workers, in the village of NanaBoguila. The infiltration was carried out by rebels coming from Batangafo. This new rebellion is said to be underwritten by the son of the late President Kolingba. Désiré Zangba KolingbaBilal, to give him his full name – he is also a convert to Is lam – was the other main candidate defeated in the vote held by the National Transition Council in January for the post of new interim President. (The winner and current President, Cathérine Samba Panza, comes from a Chris tian background). Such a state of affairs is incomprehensible to the Central African man in the street, but Désiré is henchman to President Déby of Chad, and is supported by Qatar. Please pray that those who aspire to political leadership of the country come to their senses and give up trying to do it by force of arms.

Humanitarian workers are encouraging the displacement of Mu slims from Bangui to the north of the country without consulting with the government, which further undermines cohesion and the opportunity for dialogue. Pray that our international partners, both humanitarian and military, do not further deepen divisions already existing between people in CAR, regardless of their religion.

Pray for a certain Tihara – his real name is Abdel Hissen, and he is well known to us – who is now the leader of those carrying out attacks on Chris tians and their families in Bangui. The Km5 sector is a complete war zone, with sustained firing of guns of all kinds over the weekend and all night by the Seleka, entrenched again in this part of the capital, and by armed Mu slims. How long will it be, until international forces turn up to disarm them?

The usual Sunday afternoon gathering of past ors at the FAT EB Bib le school took place yesterday. The new chaplain to the French Sangaris forces was there, to introduce himself and greet those present. It was another occasion for God’s people to raise their prayers and intercessions to Him.

Praise and Prayer—April 2014

Redeemed to redeem —Some reflections taken from VERGE 2014

“God will take you where you have no intention to go or could not go to produce in you what you could not produce on your own.” —Paul Tripp

Your Redeemer is going to ‘mess’ with:
explode:
YOUR Plans
Ambitions
Strategies
Dreams
Discipleship—process of moving from disbelief to belief in every area of life.

Affection: drives Action
to Jesus
Fueled by love
Produces joy
Identity in Christ:
Propels to joyful service
Produces a love for God’s
People
Actions: don’t define who we are
Reveal: who we are
where our affections are
Disciple is spelled L.O.V.E.R.
of God
Others

Is Jesus ‘Better’ than everything to me?

Jesus + nothing = Everything
No Entitlement!
Alert everyone, in every way to: the fact that OUR GOD REIGNS!
the universal REIGN & RULE of KING JESUS!

Praise
-for Father’s leading, strength, and enablement in our lives. We were blessed during the month of March to: 1) share and participate in Good Samaritan Community Church’s missions conference at Good Samaritan Village in Kissimmee, Florida—theme: The Miracle of Redemption. 2) spend time at Media (AIM’s retirement center in Minneola, Florida) interacting with a number of the ‘retired’ missionaries—some of whom are our personal ‘heroes of the faith’. 3) participate in the Healing the Wounds of Trauma Community of Practice (COP) in Philadelphia (Debbie has been endorsed as a Master Facilitator for this worldwide movement that offers a Biblical response to all kinds of experienced trauma). 4) attend the VERGE 2014 conference {Steve} (theme—Redeemed to Redeem) in Austin Texas. 5) meet extended family while in Florida (Debbie’s aunts and spouses—it was a special treat to spend time with my cousin Jeff Ames, to hear his story, and begin to explore together kingdom building possibilities through initiatives Father is leading him in to. 6) spend several days with Audrey and Francis following the COP meeting in Philadelphia.

-for the opportunity Debbie has to be involved with the Institute for Biblical Community Development (IBCD) that Dr. Kim and his wife started and oversee through their growing base across the state line from Siloam Springs in Oklahoma. In May she will be facilitating a Healing the Wounds of Trauma training at IBCD.

-for the provision for me to be able to return to Central Africa to continue focusing on encouraging and strengthening the church in what I have come to refer as “The Black Hole of Africa.” (I am writing at 37,000 feet, en route from Minneapolis to Amsterdam) It is an area in which the battle of the ages for the souls of men, women, boys, and girls rages. In recent years, months and even days the battle’s brutality and expansion has been demonstrated again and again—particularly in Northeast DRCongo, S. Sudan, and CAR. In my mind, the area in which Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army have since Dec 2008 continued to commit brutal atrocities against innocent people resulting in mass trauma that has fomented debilitating fear, instability and insecurity has defined “The Black Hole”. But with other militias (Seleka, anti-Balaka, etc.) and rebel leaders and their followers perpetrating atrocities in CAR, S. Sudan, DRCongo the ruler of the kingdom of this world is clearly opening avenues for the penetration, infiltration, and expansion of I$ lam. This is basically the same area that the founder of AIM (Peter Cameron Scott) envisioned ‘the establishment of a line of mission stations from the East Coast of Africa to Lake Chad as a defense to the spread of I$ lam southward’. The church is being severely challenged and tested in this expanding area. Our brothers and sisters need encouragement and strengthening in order to not only stand as a defense to the spread of I$ lam but to boldly proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God and see her expansion north. I was invited by Phil Byler to join him, Ian Campbell, Steve Entwistle, Wendy Atkins, and one of the AIMAIR pilots next week on a flight to Central Africa Republic (CAR) in order to once again visit and encourage our brothers and sisters. At this point it doesn’t look like there will be room for me on the flight (Cessna 206). So, I will follow up on making arrangements for the purchase and transport of building supplies to be taken to Banda, DRCongo so we can begin rehabilitating houses for the team that will be moving there later this year to encourage and strengthen the church in this part of ‘The Black Hole’.

Prayer
-Am in Entebbe, Uganda preparing to hit the ‘Send’ button. Just heard that Abbie is scheduled to have gall bladder surgery tomorrow. Debbie is looking for a flight ASAP to go to N. Carolina to be with her and take care of Timothy. Bo is currently in Atlanta most of way through a rigorous training toward managing a Panda Express restaurant.

-for Debbie as she continues to look for a place to stay and call home. We have packed our belongings from the cabin and stored them for now. Next week Debbie will be traveling with her mom to visit her sister in New Mexico. Aaron and Bethany will join them for Easter and then they plan to go to Denver to see where Aaron and Bethany have settled in. Debbie has been asked to facilitate a Healing the Wounds of Trauma training out East later in the month and then returns to do the same in May at IBCD. She will be joining me in Africa in June We have been asked to assist the team that Debbie’s cousin and his wife (Jon & Jenni Millet) facilitate each year from Trinity Christian School at Scott Theological College in Kenya. Continue to pray with us for Debbie’s complete healing.

-for the arrangements for the procurement of building supplies, their transport, and the rebuilding of former missionary houses for the team going to Banda. Pray too for the possibility and arrangements for having indigenous missionaries (masons, carpenters, etc.,.) from among members our church partner involved in the rehabilitation of these houses. Pray with us that the details will fall in place for Mark Knoner to be involved in the rehabilitation of these houses. And for the preparation in every way of the team members who will be occupying these house later in the year as they seek to encourage and strengthen the believers in Banda and the surrounding area.

-that the trip to CAR next week by AIM leaders will indeed encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters in the local churches of the CEEC (our partner church), as well as other church leaders and believers they may have contact with. If you have access to Christianity Today, please take note of the short statement made by the President of the Evangelical Community of CAR.

Report from CAR
Chadian soldiers on their way to Boda (where we visited earlier this month) to act as escorts for the Mu slim population there, fired on the inhabitants of the Pk12 and Gobongo districts of Bangui, killing a number of people. Please pray, as the anti-Balaka are all set to launch counter-attacks.

We thank God, who has led the churches during this month of prayer. Yesterday, the idea was to conclude the time with a big Sunday thanksgiving service, with all the evangelical churches in Bangui gathered together in the Omni-sport stadium. But when they mentioned it to the bishop in charge of the Catholic churches, they (the Catholics) asked if they could take part too – and then so did the Muslim imams. God transformed the occasion into a service of reconciliation, with Christians (Catholic and Protestant) and Muslims crying out to God together. The anti-Balaka and Seleka, though they had not been invited, also had representatives there, who expressed reconciliation in front of everyone, with a symbolic enactment of “burying the hatchet”. The lady interim President of CAR had also not been invited, but in the end was represented by the lady Minister for Communication and Reconciliation. At all events, God surprised us. This powerful occasion was accompanied and concluded by prayers, declarations and the singing of the national anthem. Please pray for how we go on from here; we are preparing another programme for April.

Redeemed to redeem!

For: The Glory of God
The Good of Others
The Fame of Jesus

Steve & Debbie

Stephen & Deborah Wolcott

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269

Further Reflections from VERGE 2014 on Ministry and Leadership
Ministry is War!! A Battle fought on the turf of my heart.
between the kingdom of self (Mt. 6:19-32)
Kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33)
What am I seeking to get out of ministry that it was never intended to give me? Position
Respect
Identity
Significance
Power/Authority
Am I building a platform for myself at the expense of others?
Every ounce of my influence belongs to God and is meant for redemption.
Is my leadership/influence being used to: build up self
Increase my image
Position
Respect
Identity
Significance
Power/Authority
Or
Is my leadership/influence being used for Jesus’: Purposes
Plans
Will
Kingdom

Leadership is Powerful & Dangerous
can Empower Destroy
Bless Curse
I have to take ‘ME’ out of the picture

Leadership focuses on God’s image-bearers
people made in the image of God
sons and daughters
How we treat
teach
future leaders
Is cultivating and growing sons and daughters
Enables those we lead to be successful in living out the mission of God

Leaders—find ‘faithful’ men…
start with character
and then teach competence.
Do I see the potential of the Spirit of God released into ordinary (broken) people?
Release potential of men and women who are filled with Holy Spirit.
In the ordinary the glory of God is at its most glorious and most gloriously displayed!

Praise and Prayer—March 2014

“The Miracle of Redemption”—the theme of a missions conference we are participating in March 2-9. The miracle of redemption is this; while I was yet a sinner, with all the wrath of Almighty God focused against me, Christ died for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus (justified)! The wrath and fury of God toward sin was focused against and ultimately on Jesus who, although innocent and free from sin, was condemned as a criminal; took sin upon himself (became sin)and was made to be guilty–experiencing death and separation from Father, so that I can have peace with God and become an heir of eternal life! The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me giving life to me. That is the indescribable cost and miracle of redemption!

Romans 2:4,5 God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. But because of your hard and impertinent heart you are storing up wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. …vs. 9 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Romans 5:1,8, 10, 17, 21 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

2 Corinthians 5: 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.…For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life…much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ…leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin…set free from sin…died with Christ…will live with Christ.

Romans 8:2,5,6,10,11, 15-16 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death…For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace…But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you… For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…
Christ died that I might live…I must die so that Christ might live in and through me!

Praise
-for the incredible opportunity to help facilitate and be involved in the discipleship training of the chaplains from the 906th Regiment of the Congolese army. Both Colonel Amuli’s bodyguard and the Major chose to become followers of Jesus rather than be followers of Mohammed. Father richly answered our prayers for safety in travel, health for teachers, students and their families left behind; open minds and hearts to hear, understand, and apply what was taught. Continue to pray for transformative application in their lives and in the lives of those they bear witness to of the principles learned and being put in to practice. Praise for Colonel Joseph Amuli’s vision for and implementation of a chaplaincy program throughout the 906th Regiment and his request for CECA-20 and Samaritan’s Purse to provide them with the training. Colonel Amuli’s story is long and complicated, with multiple reasons for despair and turning away from God; but weaved through his story is God’s Story of love, redemption, and healing; and his own deep love and trust in God who continued to pursue him with steadfast love through difficult circumstances. 14 years ago he was sent as part of an advance force to defend DRCongo’s integrity. The advance force was decimated and when he did not show up and his body was not found he was considered dead. He had left behind in Kinshasa a pregnant wife who eventually ended up with her son as a refugee in the States. They now have regular communication with one another by phone, but have not physically seen each other for 14 years. Col. Amuli has never seen his son—he has regular photos and news from him. Join us in praying for and seeking the means to reunite Colonel Amuli with his wife and family.

-for the productive trip with AIMAIR to Banda, Assa, Ango, and Bangadi from the 17th-21st. The purposes of the trip were fulfilled as Pastor Pillo (CECA-20’s vice president), Pastor Mbanza (CECA-20’s Regional Director), Phil Byler (AIM Central Region’s EO), Jay Mundy (pilot), and I were 1) able to see, hear, and experience first hand the needs and opportunities that exist in this remote area of DRCongo (it was the first time for Pillo, Mbanza, and Phil to visit these places and the first time a mission plane had landed at Assa in many, many years!) 2) able to meet with church leaders and move forward with arrangements for housing for the missionary team that is expected to take up residence at Banda later in the year 3) able to meet together at Assa with church leaders, members, and the delegation from the Assa Section refugees living in Zemio, CAR, in order to continue the process toward their repatriation and reintegration into the life and activities of the Assa Church Section 4) able to meet with church leaders and members in Ango and get a feel for what is going on in this strategic center for future possible engagement 5) able to participate in the closing ceremony of the discipleship training for the chaplains of the 906th regiment.
–
that I was able to leave the remaining ‘God’s Story’ and the NT MP3 players in Fulfuldde with pastors/believers who are interested in reaching out to the Mbororo around Bangadi, Banda, and Ango. In particular, praise for the opportunity to leave a player and portable amplifier/speaker with the God’s Story at Ango; in the hands of Mama Tchad’s wife. Mama Tchad is the paramount chief of the Mbororo. He was away on a trip to Mboki. I was given his number and with a cell tower at Ango was able to call him and using Bangala to communicate ask his permission to leave the player for him. He asked that I leave it in the hands of his wife. She was thrilled and began listening to it immediately, surrounded by others. I was blessed when his unnamed 3 day old son was named Stivi in honor of the visit and gift.

-for yesterday’s report from Mukanirwa that Pastor Nyadria continues to experience healing. ‘His joy is evident, he is able to walk further than before, and he is asking more and more about other people. Praise for the funding from various sources that has made the building of a home for him and his family possible. Doors and windows have been installed, but he has not been able to move in as the building has come to a standstill due to the need for additional funds to complete the ceiling, toilet facilities, and paint the house.
Prayer
-that Debbie and I will know where to move and/or store our things, and that together we will know the specific next steps Father has planned for us.

-for understanding, discernment, and Father’s leading as to our involvement and engagement in ministry needs and opportunities related to cross-cultural indigenous missions initiatives, discipleship, trauma & reconciliation seminars, etc., Pray with us concerning the possibility of my returning to Africa in April to engage in the rebuilding of former missionary houses for the team going to Banda. There is also a possibility to join mission leadership on another flight to CAR to encourage the church there. We have also been asked if in June we could again assist the team that Debbie’s cousin and his wife (Jon & Jenni Millet) facilitate each year from Trinity Christian School at Scott Theological College in Kenya.

-for insight, understanding, and ongoing motivation for practical ministry engagement through the opportunities we have this month to share and participate in a missions conference in Florida, the Healing the Wounds of Trauma consultation in Philadelphia, and through the VERGE 2014 conference (Redeemed to Redeem) in Austin Texas.

-for CAR; Continue to pray that the leaders, as well as the perpetrators of insecurity and violence (organized disorder) will be brought face to face with ‘the wisdom that is from above’. This wisdom is “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits (Galatians 5:22), impartial, and sincere. It’s result is a “harvest of righteousness that is sown in peace”. Here is a current update: “Today ‘Open Doors’ an international Christian organization, explained how it is having difficulty to bring western churches to come alongside the suffering of believers in CAR because of the confusion being created by media naming the Anti-Balaka, as Christian militias. Boko Haram has declared war against believers in CAR because of the same reason. May the Christian media avoid such confusion. More than 2 million people are desperate and in need. Since the beginning of the Seleka’s rebellion, churches are closed, centers where people gather for prayer are being burned down and believers are not having any meetings in the remote parts of the country. Actually the whole country is crying out for help. How can churches in CAR survive if the brethren in the west don’t react quickly? Many church leaders live in refugee camps in Bangui and elsewhere and are deeply in need of help. I hope that in the future you could work in such a way that the Christian world might appreciate how believers have been challenged for more than a year now and are still struggling for their faith and need compassion. The other side of the story is that many of the Seleka and mercenaries who went to Chad are now back in NDELE – a city about 400 miles in the north of the country – and are preparing to launch an attack against the capital. Christians living in this part of the country are under pressure as their belongings are destroyed, their lives in danger and their churches burned down. Not only do they need prayer but their situation needs also to be made known to the rest of the world.” that Pray that we will be willing and able to regularly take the necessary and appropriate steps to support and encourage these believers who are increasingly being threatened and marginalized by both religiously and politically backed groups propagating their agendas through insecurity, destabilization, and encroachment (organized disorder propagated through the LRA, Seleka, Janjaweed, ADF-NALU, Mbororo, etc.,).

Redeemed to redeem! A result of the miracle of redemption!

Steve & Debbie

Jesus died that I might live: I die that He might live through me! — a ‘taxi’ through which Holy Spirit can have his way!

Doing for Jesus vs Being with Jesus
Working for Jesus vs Working with Jesus
Knowing about Jesus vs Knowing (intimate relationship) Jesus
Listening to Jesus vs Hearing Jesus
A Fan of Jesus vs A Follower (Disciple/Apprentice) of Jesus
An Acquaintance of Jesus vs A Friend (identity in though, heart, & spirit) of Jesus “I have called you friends”
Stephen & Deborah Wolcott
19212 Fisher Ford Rd.
Siloam Springs, AR. 72761

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written. “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
Heb. 2: 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Col. 1:13,14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Romans 1:18- For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth…For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived.
–exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images–exchanged the truth about God for a lie—worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator.–exchanged natural relations

 

Praise and Prayer—February 2014

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?….You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world make himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?”‘ James 4:3-5

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-3

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 9:34-35

Here’s the ‘check’ for wisdom from above! Am I pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits (Galatians 5:22), impartial, and sincere? ‘A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.’

Praise
-for the Healing the Wounds of Trauma seminar that Debbie was able to lead/facilitate over the weekend of the 24th-26th in Siloam Springs. A good group came together from various churches; benefitting from and enjoying interactions with one another as they were made aware of the causes of, worked through and were able to bring to the cross, their personal wounds for healing. Praise too for Bo, Abbie, and Timothy’s visit from Columbia, SC. They were able participate in the seminar and help Debbie, with Bo leading worship and Abbie helping to facilitate the training. Loving on Timothy was an added benefit for ‘Jjaja’–Grandma Debbie!

-for the contacts being made to lead/facilitate more Healing the Wounds of Trauma seminars—ICBD (Institute for Biblical Community Development), through AIM, and with the Bible Society.

-for the opportunity for Mukanirwa and me to spend time with, and pray for Pastor Nyadria and his family in Aru, DRCongo. When I asked him how we could pray for him, he responded, “That I will be completely healed’. And so together with him and his wife and daughter we joined together in faith to pray this very thing for him. Please join us in continuing to do so. Praise for the healing of the nasty burn/infection that he had on his ‘paralyzed’ leg that was the result of being carried to/from church on a motorcycle. Praise too, for the good progress that has been made on finishing a house for him and his family. The interior plastering has been completed with door and window frames installed. The exterior plastering should be completed today and the floor completed next week. Praise for the funding from various sources that has made this possible. Praise for the initiatives being made through the church to find the additional funds to complete the ceiling, toilet facilities, and paint the house. Our hope had been that he could move in by the end of January—the benchmark has been moved to the end of February!

-for the amazing way Father opened the way through AIM leadership for Ron and Donna Pontier, Mukanirwa, Jonathan Koski (AIMAIR pilot), and myself to fly to CAR and spend several days visiting with and encouraging the church leaders and members of the CEEC (our partner church) in Mboki, Rafai, Zemio, Djema, and Obo. We also had the opportunity to meet with church leaders and members from the Congolese refugee community at Zemio. Together with the church leaders from CECA-20 (our church partner in Congo) we are in the process of trying to work out with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) how to get them back home to Assa and the surrounding area. Our time in each place was short; it would have been nice to have had at least an overnight in each place—preferably more than that—to be able to absorb what has and is going on in their communities, better understand their situation and more fully come alongside them in order to help ‘carry their burden’. In spite of the shortness of time in each place, we experienced Father’s rich blessing of encouragement being poured out through us to our brothers and sisters. This was testified to over and over again. Father gave a specific message for each place based on reflections from James 3 & 4. The message in each place was linked to the Gideon message that I delivered 14 months ago, with specific illustrations from Scripture for each community, showing how wisdom from above begins with a giving up of our own passions, laying aside every weight and sin, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, running with endurance, looking to Jesus—all to follow Him ‘who yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us”; in total abandonment! Mukanirwa summed the trip up this way, “Father accomplished in a few days what would normally have taken over a year to accomplish, in terms of Kingdom value.” Join us in praising Him, who alone is worthy ‘to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing’.

-that I was able to leave 10 of the ‘God’s Story’ and 5 of the NT MP3 players in Fulfuldde with Jean Baptiste in Zemio. Praise for the opportunity Mukanirwa and I had discussing with him how to strategically use these players among the Mbororo and Houda to introduce them to Jesus and His Kingdom. In Father’s providence, through the Bible Society he had in his hands an article in French on how to strategically and effectively use MP3 players with oral communities to communicate the ‘God Story’ and transmit the NT. Praise too for Pastor Yakanza’s desire to engage the Mbororo at Mboki. Pray that he and Jean Baptiste will be able to meet soon in order to come up with a plan as to how a few of these players might be effectively put into use at Mboki among the Mbororo and Houda.

Prayer
-that Debbie and I will yield our passions, dreams, visions, plans, strategies to Father—that the spirit that He has made to dwell in us and that He yearns jealousy over will be totally abandoned to Holy Spirit—to the wisdom that is from above that alone can truly lead and directs us. Debbie has been able to postpone the packing and moving from the river cabin until after I get back from Africa. Pray that we will know where to move and/or store our things, and that together we will know the next steps Father has planned for us.

-for the ongoing planning of and logistical support for the discipleship training of the 35-38 military chaplains from the 906th Regiment at Bangadi from the 10th —20th. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to engage with/train these military chaplains who rub shoulders daily with the Congolese troops operating in the area affected by the LRA in DRCongo. Pray for safety in travel; health for the teachers, the students, and their families left behind; open minds and hearts to hear, understand, and apply what is being taught; and transformative application in the lives of the soldiers on the ground as the principles are put into practice.

-that the details for the proposed flight with AIMAIR to Banda, Ango and possibly Assa from the 17th—20th with Kokole (President of CECA-20, our church partner), Phil Byler (REO AIM Central Region), myself, and ?? will become a reality. The primary purpose of the visit is speak with church leaders on the ground in order to begin to put in place arrangements for housing for team members scheduled to arrive later in the year to begin ministry among the Zande and Mbororo people. The trip provides a unique opportunity for Kokole (and us) to interact with and encourage church leaders and members in this remote area; as well as to participate in the closing ceremony of the chaplains seminar on the 20th at Bangadi. At Ango we will be able to continue the process of exploring how we can assist in the relocation of Congolese refugees back from Zemio, CAR to Assa. I will be also be distributing the remaining 10 MP3 players with the God’s Story and the 5 players with the NT in Fulfuldde to pastors at Banda and Ango who have been using the ‘trial’ players among the Mbororo and Houda with an incredibly encouraging response in introducing them to Jesus and His Kingdom.

-for ongoing opportunities for discussions with church leaders related to cross-cultural indigenous missions initiatives, discipleship, trauma & reconciliation seminars, etc.,

-for CAR and S. Sudan; Pressure from the Africa Union (AU) and the International Community has resulted in a ceasefire in S. Sudan and a transitional President for CAR—both positive steps. (AIM’s presence in S. Sudan has been reestablished!) In spite of that, both of these countries continue to be torn apart by internal strife and insecurity, driven by earthy, unspiritual, demonic wisdom (bitter jealousy and selfish ambition) that is manifested through both religious and political agendas. The result is the ‘disorder’ and ‘every vile practice’ that is being carried out against innocent people. The ‘organized disorder’ has resulted in hundreds of thousands of innocent people having their lives and livelihood thrust into upheaval and destroyed as they are forced to abandon everything, run for their lives, and seek shelter in ‘safe’ environments. Continue to pray that the leaders, as well as the perpetrators of insecurity and violence (organized disorder) will be brought face to face with ‘the wisdom that is from above’. This wisdom is “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits (Galatians 5:22), impartial, and sincere. It’s result is a “harvest of righteousness that is sown in peace”. In light of the apparent religious agenda (forceful spread of I$ lam southward) being perpetrated across this region of Africa, a careful consideration of what took place in N. Africa (and how it took place) that resulted in the effacement of the Church and gospel message needs to be made. Pray that we will be willing and able to regularly take the necessary and appropriate steps to support and encourage these believers who are increasingly being threatened and marginalized by both religiously and politically backed groups propagating their agendas through insecurity, destabilization, and encroachment (organized disorder propagated through the LRA, Seleka, Janjaweed, ADF-NALU, Mbororo, etc.,). Because of his relationship with the Mbororo and his desire for them to know Jesus, Jean Baptiste’s life has been and continues to be threatened. The believers in Mboki know the stated agenda is that their church be made a depot and the Catholic church a mosque. Prayer is the starting point—the womb of God that births His response/action! For current news reports and info, check these out
http://www.irinnews.org/report/99567/central-african-republic-clerics-lobby-for-peace
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25988109
http://www.irinnews.org/report/99486/martha-anger-refugee-from-south-sudan-they-opened-fire-on-us
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25979967
http://www.irinnews.org/report/99538/a-look-into-the-adf-nalu-militia
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25872951

Redeemed to redeem!

Steve & Debbie

Jesus died that I might live: I die that He might live through me! — a ‘taxi’ through which Holy Spirit can have his way!

Doing for Jesus vs Being with Jesus
Working for Jesus vs Working with Jesus
Knowing about Jesus vs Knowing (intimate relationship) Jesus
Listening to Jesus vs Hearing Jesus
A Fan of Jesus vs A Follower (Disciple/Apprentice) of Jesus
An Acquaintance of Jesus vs A Friend (identity in though, heart, & spirit) of Jesus “I have called you friends”
Stephen & Deborah Wolcott
19212 Fisher Ford Rd.
Siloam Springs, AR. 72761

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
243-824-494864 (DRCongo)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269

 

Praise and Prayer—January 2014

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 4:4-7

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I desire, and I believe each of us as believers desires, to be known as wise, understanding, reasonable, of good conduct–even righteous; and to be filled with the peace of God that guards my/our heart and mind against fear and anxiety.. But, if I am honest, the wisdom I seek and follow is so often earthly, unspiritual, demonic. It is driven by jealousy (even bitter jealousy) and selfish ambitions. Rather than rejoicing in my circumstances and expressing my dependence on Father by making my requests known to him and trusting him for answers and direction, I begin to manipulate circumstances and other people to get ahead and fulfill selfish ambitions—all of this couched in spiritual language and overtones. The result is agitation, quarreling, and even fighting; as James goes on to express in chapter 4. All of this a result of being a friend with the world–asking in order to fulfill my passions rather than God’s purposes—’Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’!

Peace is the supreme indicator/measure that we are aligned with and moving in the wisdom from above, and not in wisdom driven out of jealousy or selfish ambitions. Peace is the check that Father provides us—his beloved children! It is the check to keep us from running before (ahead of) God’s guidance and his wisdom—the check that makes us aware that we need to act to prevent bitter jealousy and selfish ambition from being the drivers (the wisdom) behind our thoughts, behaviors, and actions! Peace is a confirmation that internal martyrdom has taken place—that I have come to the end of myself and my self-sufficiency and am relying on his sufficiency in the particulars of my life. The ‘peace that surpasses my understanding’ is the assurance that wisdom from above is in the driver’s seat of my life—my thoughts, behaviors, actions; and ultimately—my destiny! If there is doubt, anxiety, fear—I am not walking/moving in the wisdom and guidance from above. When there is doubt, fear, anxiety—DON’T!

Here’s the ‘check’ for wisdom from above! Am I pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere? ‘A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.’

Praise
-for the opportunity to spend time with our kids during the holidays! Aaron & Bethany were with us in Arkansas for Thanksgiving and stayed on into early December. They spent Christmas with Bethany’s family in Washington state and are now back at her parent’s home in California packing and preparing to move to Colorado in order to begin studies at Denver Seminary. Audrey and Francis welcomed Debbie on the 14th to their apartment in the old farm house in Dublin, Pennsylvania. Together they celebrated Audrey’s birthday. Abbie, Bo & Timothy drove from Columbia, South Carolina and I flew in from Arkansas to join them in time for Christmas.

-for the opportunities to be involved in ‘networking’ toward practical responses to some of the crisis situations (war & instability) and development possibilities in Central Africa—CAR, S. Sudan, DRCongo! These include aid and relief initiatives to those affected by war and insecurity; as well as agriculture projects for widows and orphans (food security, and even biodiesel potential) linked with road rehabilitation (enabling sustenance farmers to get produce to viable markets).

-for the provision of funding, welcome from AIM Central Region, and a miracle in last minute flight arrangements that allowed me to leave Philadelphia on the 27th and arrive in Entebbe at 11pm on the 28th. I was able to join the other members of AIM’s Central Region on the 29th at CR’s conference at the Ankrah Foundation facilities in Mukono. Connecting with those we have known and worked with for many years, as well as many new members, was very special. It was especially encouraging to be introduced to a number of families who have arrived since we left in 2010. Being a Disciple of Jesus and Making Disciples of Jesus was the theme of the conference. By combining the content of several of the messages from VERGE13 with small group discussion focused on issues/questions related to the messages, personally being and making disciples of Jesus was made practical with significant impact.

-that Samuel Mungbandi Gambolipai (primary school director from Dikuma) has been cleared to return home to Banda. The plaster needs to remain on his leg for another 3 weeks for further healing to take place. It then can be removed at Banda hospital. MAF has a flight to Banda on the 13th. Pray that seats will be available for both him and his son on that flight. Pray particularly that he will recognize Jesus as the healer—both physically and spiritually! Pray that there will be a sweet reunion with his wife and children. They have been separated for more than 7 months following the motorcycle accident in which his leg was fractured.

-for the delivery (in time for this trip) of the MP3 players from Audio Scripture Ministries (ASM) with ‘God’s Story’ and the NT in Fulfuldde. These are specifically destined for outreach to the Mbororo in CAR and NE DRCongo. Reports from the pastors who have been ‘testing’ these with the Mbororo is that the Mbororo are asking where they can get some of these players to purchase for themselves. Pray for wisdom from above in knowing how to most effectively use this tool to introduce these people to Jesus and His kingdom. Praise too for the work that ASM has undertaken to put the Zande New Testament into an MP3 format. Praise that some funding has become available for some of these as soon as they are ready.
Prayer
-that Debbie and I will know the peace of God as we make our requests known to God through prayer and thanksgiving; and that when doubt, fear, and anxiety come we will take stock of where the wisdom we are depending on is based; and courageously wait!

-for Debbie as she packs and moves from the river cabin while I am in Africa. Although we don’t yet know where Father is moving us on to, we have peace–that ‘peace that surpasses our understanding’. Pray that Debbie will know where to move and/or store our things, and that together we will know the next steps Father has planned for us. We have been incredibly blessed and are thankful for the time spent in the river cabin. Father has etched deep spiritual markers in our lives through our extended time in the Orcutt/Torres river cabin. It will always have a special place in our hearts as a haven and command center for prayer. The times of fellowship (cups of chai) and mutual encouragement through prayer with Marshall have marked us deeply and played a significant part in enabling us to persevere. We have seen Father move through our regular times of prayer together! My ‘jerking’ and ‘squirming’ (earthly wisdom) has often been met with; “Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness in preparation for what Father had in mind for him—you’ve been here how long?” and “You have to get ‘neutral’ (not care where you end up—Africa, America, ???) so Father can place you and use you as he determines best—not how you think best!” As we have waited for Debbie’s healing* and sought wisdom from above (Father) for guidance and direction, Father has been actively at work in our inner beings—molding and shaping us! We are thankful and blessed! *(The infection and the pain directly related to it were miraculously healed one morning in November 2012. Debbie continues to seek to control the residual chronic pain and fatigue through the balancing of stretches, exercise, and rest. We continue to bring our request for complete healing from the pain and fatigue to Father, trusting him for grace for each day until that becomes a reality.

-for Debbie as she plans, prepares, and facilitates a ‘Healing the Wounds of Trauma’ seminar with those interested in Siloam Springs. And for our involvement with this through the American Bible Society’s global initiatives and opportunities—particularly in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa.

-for ‘wisdom from above’ in knowing, planning for, and putting in place the logistical arrangements for this trip—return to USA, Feb. 25 1) Father has provided the necessary funds to make the discipleship training of the 35-38 military chaplains from the 906th Regiment operating in the area affected by the LRA in Congo a reality. As soon as all the logistical pieces are in place the training will begin at Bangadi. Pray! 2) Funds to put doors and windows, pour a floor, and plaster the walls of a home for Pastor Nyadria are available. He suffered a stroke in 2009 while serving as the President of the Aru Church District. Pray that this home will be completed quickly and that he and his family will be able to settle in it very soon! 3) Visiting Banda to begin to put in place arrangements for housing for team members scheduled to arrive later in the year to begin ministry among the Zande and Mbororo. 4) Visits to Zemio and Ango to assist in the relocation of Congolese refugees back from Zemio, CAR to Assa 5) Discussions with church leaders related to cross-cultural indigenous missions initiatives, discipleship, trauma & reconciliation seminars, etc.,

-for CAR and S. Sudan; that the leaders will be brought face to face with ‘the wisdom that is from above’. Both of these countries are being torn apart by internal strife and insecurity, driven by earthy, unspiritual, demonic wisdom (bitter jealousy and selfish ambition) that is manifested through both religious and political agendas.The result is the ‘disorder’ and ‘every vile practice’ that is being carried out against innocent people. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have had and are having their lives and livelihood thrust into upheaval and destroyed as they are forced to abandon everything, run for their lives, and seek shelter in ‘safe’ environments. Check out this link:
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-africa-25594002 >

Jesus died that I might live: I die that He might live through me! Simply a ‘taxi’ through which Holy Spirit can have his way!

Redeemed to redeem!

Steve & Debbie

Doing for Jesus vs Being with Jesus
Working for Jesus vs Working with Jesus
Knowing about Jesus vs Knowing (intimate relationship) Jesus
A Fan of Jesus vs A Follower (Disciple/Apprentice) of Jesus
An Acquaintance of Jesus vs A Friend (identity in though, heart, & spirit) of Jesus “I have called you friends”
Stephen & Deborah Wolcott
19212 Fisher Ford Rd.
Siloam Springs, AR. 72761

Email: sdwolcott@aimint.net
Steve’s mobile: 479-233-0823 (USA)
256-772-415201 (Uganda)
Deb’s mobile: 479-427-2598

Africa Inland Mission, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269

 

Anxious vs. Rest for the soul!

Matthew 6:25-34   Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hebrews 4:9-11 So then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Sabbath..a day of celebration and delight
The Sabbath is …meant to be an encounter with God’s delight
The Sabbath is the kind of delight that leads to life.
The Sabbath is grateful celebration…the bread of gratitude.
God created menuha on the seventh day.  Menuha is the Hebrew word for rest…joyous repose, tranquility, or delight.
-Dan Allendar, Sabbath

Debbie and I are currently in Rochester, Minnesota, where we have once again enjoyed wonderful friendship, hospitality, and fellowship with the Fischer family.  Today Debbie began the final week of a very helpful three week program at Mayo’s Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC).  The program focuses on educating and equipping those experiencing chronic pain (and family members) with tools, methods, and strategies for effectively adapting to and managing pain in order to regain control and improve the overall quality of their lives; so they can in fact enjoy life again! Chronic pain, as opposed to acute pain, is defined as pain that continues to be experienced for 6 months or longer, and assumes that; all healing due to injury, disease, etc., has occurred; the pain may be in excess of physical findings, injury or disease process (no visible injury/pain); the pain intensity may never completely go away, the warning signal is broken; etc.,.  Chronic pain is experienced when nerve(s) misfire and send wrong messages that are being interpreted by the brain as pain.  Additional testing revealed a significant factor contributing to the chronic fatigue syndrome.  Debbie’s sleep pattern was shown to be very irregular (on average she woke up 58 times/hour). Restless leg syndrome played a significant part in this.  We are very grateful that she is sleeping much better and has been waking up much more rested as a result of the help she has received for this.

Debbie will fly to Philadelphia on Saturday (May 7) where she will be met by Audrey and Francis and the final preparations for their wedding on the 14th will be put in motion.  I plan to drive back to Siloam Springs on Wednesday (May 4) in order to attend Ben’s graduation on Saturday from John Brown University with my parents and my brother’s family (Ben is my brother Alan and Sheri’s youngest, and the last of the cousins on the Wolcott side).  Making sure not to forget Audrey’s wedding dress, I will pack the car following the graduation celebrations and in caravan with my parents head northeast with the rest of the wedding paraphernalia (sounds better than “stuff”) for both Audrey and Francis’ (14th) and Abbie and Bo’s (21st) weddings. The plan is to join Debbie at CMML (Christian Missions in Many Lands) headquarters in New Jersey before moving to Margaret Rineer’s home (AIM’s “home away from home” for college age MKs), which is just ten minutes from Perkasie, Pennsylavania, where Audrey and Francis’ wedding will take place. Aaron leaves Congo this Friday, taking a three week break from his responsibilities with Samaritan’s Purse to join the wedding celebrations.  He intends to meet up with Abbie and using her car make his way north to be with us.  Abbie and Bo will join us on Thursday!

Our plan is as a family (except for the honeymooners!) to worship with the believers at Fifth Avenue Chapel in Springlake, NJ on Sunday.  When my parents lived and worked at CMML they were involved at Fifth Avenue and we have appreciated and benefitted from the interest of, and friendship with the believers there.  From there we will drive south to Columbia, South Carolina and begin the final preparations for Abbie and Bo’s wedding on the 21st in Columbia.  With the weddings behind us we will head back to Arkansas.  We hope by then to have a clearer picture of what may be next for us.  We currently have bookings to return to Entebbe the end of May.  We continue to  seek clear leading and direction from Father as to when, where, and what He specifically wants us engaged in.

As we stop to consider (either as a whole or as independent activities or portions) all that has and is going on in our lives there are many reasons to, as a natural response, tend to be anxious.  Several weeks ago as I ‘anxiously’ sought the Lord for direction I asked, ‘What should I be doing?’ The very clear response was, “resting”.  I asked, “What do You mean by that?  What does that look like?”  Walking along the river reflecting on and seeking answers to those questions my attention was brought to focus on the many varieties of wild flowers and grasses, demanding by their exquisite beauty that I take notice of how they were clothed.  And then to the incredible variety of song birds that flitted about in and out of the branches of the trees and brush along the river without a seeming care in the world; and as they did so declared their presence through their songs emanating through the air of this particularly beautiful Spring day.  As beauty and wonder unfolded about me the verses and thoughts above came to mind and it began to dawn on me that Father was pointing me to the answers to my questions.  I returned to the cabin to read and reread and reflect over and over on these verses and their meaning.

Roy Lessin, who is a cofounder of DaySpring writes the following in his blog, Meet me the Meadow:

I believe God is good:

For the LORD is good. Psalm 100:5 NKJV

I believe He is always good. He is good in easy times and hard times, in quiet times and busy times, in smooth times and rugged times. He is good on stormy days and calm days, on smooth waters and rough seas, on high mountains and in deep valleys. I believe God is good to me and He will never do anything bad.

I believe God will guide me:

“In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13 NIV

I believe my life is in God’s hands and keeping. I believe He has a plan and purpose for my life and that He is leading me in a path that will fulfill that plan and purpose. I believe it is a good plan, a right plan, and the best plan. I believe there is not a better, higher, or wiser way for me to live or way for me to follow. I believe God knows exactly what He is doing and that He will bring things into my life at the exact time they are needed. I believe He wants me to follow Him with praise on my lips for who He is, with thanks in my heart for what He does, and with obedience in my steps for what He asks me to do.

Debbie and I have no real reason to be anxious!  We can enter into Sabbath rest, because we do believe that God is always good;  And that because our lives are in God’s hands and keeping, He will guide us.  And so we rest,  …or probably more appropriately I should I say, we are learning to rest.

Thanks for ‘praising’ and ‘praying’ with us!

Resting (celebrating and delighting) in Jesus!

Steve & Debbie