Surrounded by a thousand stampeding Ugandans I put both arms around Annie’s torso, pulled her close, placed both feet firmly on the ground in front of me, and proceeded to be pushed thirty feet through an iron gate encompassing the stadium. With room to breath, Annie and our friend Catherine ran to safety as Catherine’s husband Ben and I turned our attention back to the crowd. Just behind us a women lost her footing, causing people to fall to the ground like dominos. Those Ugandan’s outside the gate continued forcing their way in past the trembling armed guards- not stopping to help those they were trampling. Ben and I ran to pull fallen Ugandan’s back up to their feet, only to find them pinned to the ground by the pressure of the crowd. As the guards stepped in, we began waving our arms and yelling for the crowd to stop. Soon we were able to pull people off the ground. Many women were injured, children had blood covered faces, and one child was at best unconscious. Our intentions for coming to this Benny Hinn Crusade in Kampala was to see the authenticity, or lack of, but we found ourselves blessed to escape from a dangerous situation. God was taking care of us, and the night had just begun.

Dangerous Faith

Just inside the 20ft gates holding back the mobs we were presented with a new dilemma- “No camera’s allowed”. The police gave us two options: Take the camera back through the screaming crowd to your car, or give the camera to us- never to be returned. God presented the third option, and his name is Curt. Curt is the Event Coordinator for Benny Hinn’s ministry all over the world. While I was discussing with the officers our options, Ben walked over to this mountain size Texan, and asked him for help. Immediately, Curt escorted us backstage, and then into VIP seating. The Stadium seated 53,000 people, and we were seated on the third row-15 seats from Ugandan’s First Lady, President Museveni’s wife. The show began with worship lead by a 5,000 member choir. We found ourselves divided. The music was solid, but we were soon in shock by the statements Benny Hinn would mislead the audience with.

“Sickness is illegal in the Church and in your body.”
“No Believer should die sick.”
“Cancer and disease do not belong in the Church.”
Give money, but not to me- to Jesus. If you give money to Jesus tonight he will repay you. Don’t worry I know how to spend God’s money. (paraphrase)
“Believe in the Cross and Sickness will leave your body. Touch the place where you are sick- IT IS HEALED!”

Speaking to a third world country, Benny Hinn was telling the people what they wanted to hear. If they put their faith in Jesus they will be given money and healing from sickness. He used passages from the bible, but often took them out of context. 53,000 people that night accepted his words without question. Many accepted Christ for the first time, not because of a love relationship, but because of a big production and they were promised- healing and money. This night we learned first hand about how many of God's people are being misguided- All the more reason for us to keep grounded in truth and share it however we can.

(Copyright Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 10:34 PM )

Earlier last week, my class began a special Mother's Day project. We planted flowers and decorated the tins specially for our mothers. It was really sweet to see them so excited about their mom's and making something just for them! The first picture is about half of my students showing off their flowers. The second is of one of my students from Korea, named Ji Soo, watering her flower. (And since we cannot be there to tell our mom's in person... Happy Mother's Day. We love you and miss you so much!)

Training Ugandans to be pastors has presented not only some incredible conversations, but many cultural challenges as well. Ugandan culture teaches men to have multiple wives and not to show those wives love or affection. Some Ugandan women do not feel loved unless they are physically beaten regularly. This week in the village, I was asked to teach 15 men and two women an overview of the Old Testament. When we talked about Song of Songs we dove into how much love and passion Solomon had for his wife. I had the opportunity to challenge these leader in the church to not be ashamed to love their wives both in public and in private. The men were full of questions, and the first man to ask a question is on the leadership board of the entire African Gospel Church for Uganda. It was clear that God was moving in their lives. (This picture is at the village Church with Pastor Gideon)

Diesel Mob

Bang!!! Parked in a traffic jam at the gas station, I looked over my shoulder just in time to see a motorcycle taxi (boda boda) get hit by a Land Cruiser and the two boda passengers go flying to the ground five feet from my car. The woman on the back of the boda boda stood up holding her head and crying. Immediately every African around swarmed the Land Cruiser and began yelling at the driver- who I quickly noticed was another missionary in my organization. Getting on the phone, I got in touch with our field director and in fifteen minutes we had an insurance man on site. Once we got out of our cars, we were able to talk to the Ugandans around the vehicle and work the situation out. Because the accident was the fault of boda boda, the mob died down. It was tenuous for a moment because of the recent riot acts have gotten everyone worked up. (Good news: President Museveni has backed down from his hope to sell the forest, and the people hopefully will have no more riots.)

God moves through whistles

Joining our friends John, Erica, and Jeannie this weekend in Arua, N. Uganda, Annie and I were able to see how God is opening doors for them to start local ministries. One month ago, John and Erica moved to Arua, N. Uganda to create new ministry opportunities for our organization (WGM). God began opening doors through a sport that John loves, volleyball. Just behind their home, John heard a whistle blow and he went to check it out. He told us his story... "Walking up a trail, I found two hundred African eyes shift focus from the volley ball court to me. Standing in the midst of the Africans, I heard someone say, "You are welcome." Soon I joined in playing volleyball with these Ugandans, and bump...set...spike later they began to accept me as one of their own teammates." This experience has opened doors for John to help coach several of the players, and the head master of the school even wants them to come in and help with the spiritual development of the students.