No Greater Joy

"I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth."  3 John 1:4

Georgina was just seven when she, her siblings, and her mother moved to the capital city of Accra in Ghana in search of a better life.  But the elusive “better life” they sought was not to be found, and their lives became even more difficult than before.  While just a young child, she was forced to sell water on the streets, and to take responsibility for her siblings and even her mother, who could not care properly for the children.  They slept out in the open, on the streets.  A healthy meal and comfortable bed were just distant dreams.

Within a year, Georgina was found by ECM staff and invited to Bible studies and Sunday School.  Eventually, because of her great need, she was brought to Haven of Hope, where she, for the first time in her life, had enough food and clothing, and a nice bed to sleep in.  She received a Christian education and began to succeed academically.  Most importantly, she learned more about Jesus, and today, now in high school, continues to walk with Him faithfully, committed to helping others in the same way she had been helped.  She says, “I’m really happy because I have Jesus, and I know that he wants me to serve Him.”

Like the apostle John, we have no greater joy than to know that these children are walking with God. Georgina is just one of the many ECM children who has benefited from your generosity over the years.  But as these children get older and progress in school, their education and living expenses continue to rise.  Basic sponsorship covers only a fraction of the cost for our older children.  That’s why we’ve created the Secondary School Scholarship Fund.  Donations to this fund will allow us to make sure that Georgina and other ECM secondary school students are able to continue on the life-changing journey that ECM has helped begin.  Click here to make a donation to the scholarship fund today!

Elections and Snowstorms

This winter has been relatively mild here in Northwest Indiana. Maybe that’s why the snowstorm that is blowing through as I write seems all the more significant.  While this storm is by no means the biggest one we’ve ever experienced, it is a big change from what we’ve gotten used to this winter!

In Uganda, where ECM operates ten projects, the political climate has been relatively mild for many years.  There have been occasional uprisings from the dissatisfied, but for the most part the country has been stable, and the economy has been on the upswing. Unfortunately, it appears that a storm is rolling through the country, and prayer is much needed.  In the middle of February, the country held a presidential election, as they do every five years. Once again, as he has in every election since he took power in 1985, President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected to office.  About fifteen years ago the law was changed to allow unlimited terms for the president, virtually assuring that in the case of Museveni, he would be in office until he retires on his own, or dies.  Aside from obvious political issues with this policy, it has left many Ugandans feeling cheated and mistreated.  So much that the possibility of post-election protest and violence is very real.

Today, please take a moment to pray for the people of Uganda as they navigate this difficult time in their country’s political history.  Pray for our missionaries and staff who live and work in various parts of the country, that their work would go on without interruption.  Pray for the children and communities who we strive to help. And pray that as we get caught up in the drama that is our own presidential election, we don’t abandon those whom others have forgotten. 

Letting Go

In 1994, God called my wife Stacy and I into missionary service.  But the process didn’t start in 1994!  That year was only the culmination of many years of pushing our own agenda and fighting God’s.  For years we had felt his nudging, but could never agree on how or when or even if to move forward.  We kept running from the idea, but it kept hounding us, relentless and uncompromising.  Then, on a cool fall evening in western Michigan, we finally stopped running, and the rest as they say, is history.  It would take a long time to share the ups and downs, the joys and pains, the surprises, and the frustrations of serving as missionaries since that day when we surrendered our plans to his will.  I’ll spare you the details, but I will say this:  There are many things we have learned over the years, but among the most important is this simple truth - God wants to use you wherever you are, in whatever situation you might find yourself in.  We only need to surrender to Him.  Right, I know. Easier said than done.

But that’s just the point.  It isn’t the easy way.  In fact, sometimes it’s just plain hard, and sometimes it even seems overwhelming and impossible.  But that doesn’t make it any less true.  Maybe God has something impossible for you to do!  Perhaps God is calling you into missionary service on another continent, in another culture.  You might be absolutely terrified of that thought (most of us would be), but no matter how hard you try to run from it, it will always find you.  You see, when God is seeking you, pestering you, and even annoying you, it’s likely because he has something very special for you and he doesn’t want you to miss it!  Stop running, and start listening.  Then let God begin to use you in ways you could never have imagined.  Trust me. I know.

P.S.  Like most mission organizations, ECM utilizes missionaries to assist in our work in Africa.  If you would like to talk about the possibility of serving with ECM, just contact us and we can start talking.  Don’t worry – no pressure, and no obligation!