May 2011 Newsletter

Dear family and friends,

From Psalm 102

“But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her, the appointed time has come.”

The psalmist knows God is angry, yet he turns to Him in repentance and calls on the faithfulness of His grace. He knows God will have pity, and I need to know it also when I see the suffering here.

All around me are people living in small grass shelters covered with a tarp, cooking on small open fires and sleeping on mats or simple beds of wood and string. The rains (usually hard) are here now, and the people try to keep from getting soaked. Children with weak immune systems succumb to the relentless attacks of poor nutrition and terrible sanitation and hygiene – I see some of them wasting away and hear them coughing in the night. It’s often hard to know how to help when the need is so overwhelming. Poverty and fear of renewed war hang like a cloud, and yet they come, calling on God in repentance and faith. I am so limited in my ability to help them physically, and more than ever before, I find myself saying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” But my comfort is that God has appointed a time of favor for His people and that He will arise and have pity on them…and He’s using me to do this.

Last weekend the northern forces over ran the town of Abyei (about 80 miles northeast of us) and is now occupying it in defiance of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It seems they intend to grab as much of the oil-producing land as possible before the south becomes independent on July 9. They are also blockading food and fuel at the border and supplies in the market are almost gone. The price of what is left has skyrocketed. The south is not responding with war but instead is appealing to the international community…for now.

So the perilous times continue, “But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever…he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.”

In the midst of all this I’ve been able to continue my radio ministry work and discipleship Bible studies, but I’m also looking ahead to what God may have me do next. There is a great need for Christian education in our community, so Vince (our team leader) and I are discussing this and praying.

ANSWERS TO PRAYER:

1. No new trainee for the position of radio director, but a new young employee may grow into it as he matures, and this may be God’s provision.

2. God has protected our staff from family cultures that often create bondage (extremely high bride-price that resembles extortion).

3. We have not been introduced yet to the givers that are needed to establish financially a sustainable radio ministry here in southern Sudan…still looking. Will you help us look?

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. That God would lead us to a sustainable financial plan.

2. That God would confirm my next work of establishing a Christian school.

3. That the Good Shepherd would protect and provide for His growing church as the land continues to teeter on the edge of war.

Soli graci,

Scott

March 2011 Newsletter

Dear friends and family,

I’m overdue for reporting on your prayers! Forgive me, for the King has been at work and you need to be updated. God has carried us through the referendum here in southern Sudan without returning to war, and this can only be attributed to the mighty arm of God. Even though Independence Day for the south is July 9, tensions continue to rise and fall…and so we continue to pray for peace.

But there’s a real sense in which our life and work is warfare, and we’re not to expect peace. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Eph.6:12. The battle recently for the radio ministry has been in the area of personnel – the battle lines involving contentment, responsibility, and commitment. But our King fights with gentleness and meekness as He speaks the truth in love, and He helps us fight the same way.

Here’s what He’s been doing in answer to the prayer requests of the last newsletter:

1. Leaders committed to peace in the land.

2. The man chosen with much prayer to be the next radio director has had to bow out – the prospect of moving his family was too much. This was God’s protection.

3. The property disputes seem to be finished after some feisty confrontations, favor with the authorities, and the eventual arrest of our adversary. God fought for us.

4. God has given us patience as we continue to look for someone to teach sound doctrine on the radio.

Prayer requests:

1. A new trainee to begin learning the job of radio director.

2. God’s protection on our staff as each one faces very difficult cultural issues from within his family. There seem to be endless ways here in which greed causes people to put their own family members in bondage, especially if the family member works for a kawaja (white man).

3. Someone(“s”) with the gift of giving and an irresistible urge from God to be His perpetual provider for underwriting the radio ministry of Weer Bei. Our annual budget is under $20,000 but should increase by 50% over the next 2-3 years as we improve our stewardship practices (such as including depreciation figures each year as well as planning ahead for growth). We face the reality that the Christian community in this area is years away from being able to support a radio ministry.

Maybe you’ve noticed that I try to limit my newsletters to a page. It’s my purpose to give you a broad overview of recent weeks, report on how God is answering your prayers, and provide an updated prayer list. I realize there might be some out there for whom my “broad overview” is somewhat frustrating because you have the time and interest to know more. Please send me your questions and it would be my pleasure to fill in the details – I really mean it.

So now it’s back to the battleground, to pull down enemy strongholds and take captive every thought, using the weapons of truth and meekness and gentleness (I Corinthians 10).

Soli graci,

Scott