Have you ever found yourself wondering just how important the church actually is these days? I know that I have, and maybe even more so since the start of this pandemic? In our human flesh don’t we all want to think we can manage on our own? Is that the plan of the enemy of our soul? According to the word of God, that is certainly not God’s plan for us.
Recently the Lord has made it clear to me, through His Word, that the church is critically important. It is the very body of Christ. Apostle Paul stated in his letter to the Church in Colosse, “And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church;” (Colossians 1:18). He repeats this thought in verse 24 of the same chapter, “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you,…for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
In his letter to the church in Ephesus Paul said that God intended, through the church, to make known his “manifold wisdom” to the angels (Ephesians 3:10). The angels are to learn from us! He urged his readers to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you ere called” (Eph. 4:3-4). Friends we need to get this right.
Not only is the Church the body of Christ, but it is also his bride according to Paul. “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle of any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Eph. 5:25-27). And we hear from Apostle John about the glorious future for the church in Revelation 19:6-8.
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given there to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts for he saints.)”
The True Bride of Christ is His Church.
So, is the church relevant today? Is it important? It is of paramount importance, not just here but all over the world. And I am feeling a sense of urgency to make this known. It may just be later than we realize.
It has really blessed me to observe the tremendous movement of the Spirit of God in the refugee camps in Uganda among the South Sudanese refugees. The growth in the number of churches and their spiritual depth is amazing. Their hunger and thirst for the Word of God, and their sacrificial giving for the support of the body of Christ humbles me. I am thankful we are able to partner with these chosen saints, to be on mission with God in Africa.
The resettlement camps in Northern Uganda are very spread out and they are home to more than a million people. Therefore Living Water CT has narrowed our scope to focus on one camp at this time, Palorinya, Obongi District. The area covers 23 square miles and is home to 166,000 souls. Palorinya is a closed camp, which means there will be no more displaced people assigned to live there.
Currently there are 32 Baptist Churches in Palorinya. Mother (mature) churches plant new churches and care for them until they are mature. Nineteen of these churches have buildings in which they meet. Thirteen of the churches are in various stages of construction of their shelters. Volunteer church members provide the labor for constructing the temporary buildings. The cost of the materials is covered by their own meager means. However, the roofs for these structures is beyond their ability to manage. LWCT is asking God to provide $1000 for a roof for each of the 13 structures ($13,000). Would you prayerfully consider helping with the cost of a church roof? The first roof funded will be for Judea Baptist (see pictures above).
Contributions can be made by credit card by going to our website livingwaterct.org.
Checks can be mailed to our office.
230 Sydney Drive
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
20 Baptisms in Palorinya In Jan. 
70 Young Men Heard The Gospel at Football Tournament in Morobi, Palorinya 
Church Construction in Progress 
Waiting to Be Baptized in Palorinya 
New Church Building Covered With UN Tarpaulins Waiting for Bricks 
Gospel Meeting for the Disabled 
Volunteers Making Bricks for Judea Baptist Church Building 
Judea Baptist Worship Service 
Leadership Development Conference 
eaching Young Adults “Marriage Without Regrets” Class 
Youth Conference Belameling, Palorinya