Over the next three days, The Resurgence will run three excerpts from my forthcoming book Fight Clubs: Gospel-centered Discipleship. I’m excited to announce that on August 1st the booklet will be available in three forms:
Check out the first excerpt here. Keep an eye out for the Fight Club website. Also, check out the unrelated but a similar vision of gospel-centered discipleship among men at the Fight Club conference.
Here is a description of the LEAD 09 Conference, which I will be speaking at with Tim Chester:
The main theme of “gospel | community | mission” Lead09 is open to people of all ages. We are excited to see the Church come together for Lead09, with people from high school to retired pastors; college students to pastors; lay leaders to paid staff. Lead09 strives to not only talk about community, but display it.
If you sign up now, get a free copy of Total Church and entered into a drawing for an ESV Study Bible. I’m looking forward to returning to New England, working with the Josh’s, and speaking alongside Tim. I am just about to send the titles of my talks to LEAD.
Hope to see you there!
This evening we fly out from Kampala, Uganda to Chicago, Il. This two week trip seems like it has been a month and a half, largely because we have done and seen so much, from village to urban African life. Our host, Pastor Gerald, has been very gracious, opening lots of minstry doors for the team. We have learned so much. Pray that the Spirit would help us process these important lessons, both for ourselves and for Austin City Life.
In the next few weeks we will have a Uganda presentation to share photos, videos, and stories of what God is doing in Uganda. I have also started blogging theological insights from the trip here. I can’t wait to see my family and to worship with ACL. Thanks to all who have prayed so dilligently. We escaped any serious sickness or physical hardship, and fought the fight of faith well. Grace has been upon us, underneath us, and before us. With you in the mission, Jonathan.
This blog is written by Tara Jamieson, ACL team member and Austin nurse.
Lord’s Resistance Army
This morning we were blessed enough to visit an orphanage composed entirely of children, ranging in ages from 7 to 18, rescued from the intense conflict in Northern Uganda. This area is terrorized by the Lord’s Resistance Army, who kidnaps children from their families and forces them into slavery. Girls become part of the sex trade, and boys are made child soldiers. Often the Army kills the family in front of the children. The violence leaves indelible marks on the children, both physically and emotionally, and the children fortunate enough to escape battle the repercussions their entire lives.
Stories of Redemption
At the orphanage, we heard the testimonies of some of the children. Luna, an 18-year-old girl, shared her desparation in becoming responsible for her two younger sisters after her parents were killed. She ran to her uncle for help, but was told, “I am not a bank.” Chris shared with Justin how his parents and younger sister were killed in front of him. Luna said that at first, many of the children did not want to hear about Jesus, but after repeated exposure to the word of God, He opened their hearts to His gospel.
After the testimonies, the choir sang songs for us accompanied with dances. We bought CDs to bring back! The first couple songs proclaimed their newfound joy in Christ. Their smiles were the most sincere and joyous things I have ever seen. Their last song told their story, describing the loss of their parents and the war-torn country they came from, but ended with praise to God for saving them. It was so beautiful to see tangible results of God’s promise to reconcile all things to Himself!
Murmuring and Redemption
I have been reading Deuteronomy these last couple months and was reminded of a passage while watching the children today. After the Israelites were brought out of captivity, Deuteronomy tells of how they rebelled against God, “murmuring” in their hearts towards God, saying that is was because God hated them that they were brought out. I thought of how often I murmur against God, thinking that my sufferings have much more to do with God’s lack of love for me than His immense love for me. I am much like the Israelites in all areas of my heart. I saw today, though, that the children singing and dancing never thought to blame God for what has happened to them. Instead of anger, they felt gratitude. Instead of feeling like they were owed something by the God of the universe, they were humbled that He would look upon their sufferings and call them out of the pit.
