The garden, the fellowship, and cake ... lots of cake.
Creativity, fun and feeding the human spirit.
Uganda Visit, 8-18 July, God reaching into the culture of the day to save and restore His people
Jesus challenged the culture of the day. Today, God continues to challenge us, the culture of our families, ethnic groupings, and even the "way" each believer expresses themselves. This described our time in Uganda. God, the loving Father, reached out in truth and challenged the obvious and hidden personal and cultural ways of the people of Karamoja and Entebbe in what keeps them "safe", "loved", and "significant" outside of God. In this reality, God stepped into the world of the people of Uganda to bring truth and restoration.
After two years of praying, and invitations from Bishop Simon Akol Aisu and Pastor Alex Mashuba, the conference in the Northern part of Karamoja and the Central part of Entebbe became a reality.
Some of the many delegates from the conferences.
The team from South Africa and Kenya loved, served, welcomed, taught, shared testimonies, prayed, and saw the Lord restoring His people.
The Lord used the many group discussions to reach into the hearts and cultures of the delegates.
Visiting churches in Kotido, Karamoja.
We experienced God's heart for the little children, the widows, the orphans, the desperate, the marginalised, those living in shame and guilt, those who are sick, and those left in darkness.
Some of the many testimonies.
A government official in Karamoja released her anger and "forgave" God for the death of four of her six children, forgave the killers of her husband, and the people in her community who accused her of being a witch. Deep healing came to her heart.
"I struggled with anger, bitterness short temper, and the like. I got delivered from the spirit after confessing and repenting from the same. I thank God for helping me discover the bondage I inherited from my family."
A lady came to the seminar, she was weak and struggled to even sit up. She took communion and lay in the back of the church. She was touch by the Lord during worship and felt physically healed when pain left her body.
"I realised the deep anger I have against the soldiers in the army for the suffering of our people. I chose to forgive and allow God to be the judge, and fight this battle, I feel so relieved!"
As a next step for bringing healing and equipping to Uganda, key leaders from the conferences attended the 12-day Course in Kenya.
Thank you all who prayed, gave, sent scriptures, messages of encouragement, gave towards books for leaders, and sponsored leaders on the Kenyan 12-day Course!
Workers' Retreat, 20-25 August
Time with the Lord, slowing down, teaching, creativity, and exploring God's rest.
Sharing, fellowship, and laughter, are all part of the rest.
What some have said:
I left Jesus somewhere behind and went ahead with His work. I was very dry, lost, and alone. It was so good just to sit here and give my life back to the Lord, God has been resurrecting what has been dead in my life and just making all things new.
... when I came I felt rejected, felt unloved, and felt so many things, but now I'm so happy, I'm found by God, yeah I am loved by Him, I am at peace, I am at rest.
... this week I've never been so free to be me, I didn't bother myself with who thinks what about me. I think this week I really felt that God's love is really unconditional, it is really everlasting, it really does not change, it is really deep and wide!
Ellel Rwanda – "Time to put roots down"
After 11 years of serving people in Rwanda through bringing hope, healing, and reconciliation, Ellel Ministries Rwanda is trusting the Lord for help in purchasing a property that is "just the right place" to continue ministering to God's people. Having rented five different office locations since 2013, we are excited about the prospect of putting down some roots in a more permanent place! The property will cost 466 million RWF (approximately 350,000 USD), and an additional 133 million RWF (approximately 100,000 USD) is needed to renovate and equip it. We need mustard-seed faith.
Please pray with us in the process of trusting for a permanent home in this precious country.
To give, contact Lambert, lambert.bariho@ellel.org
Restoring the South African legacy
The future of South Africa continues to be challenged by the effects of the damage of past injustices, divisions, and prejudices between the different ethnic groupings. The effects still find a way into how we think, speak, and respond to each other. On 4-6 October, we want to continue seeking the restoration of the different ethnic identities of this nation's beautiful people and understand how to minister cross-culturally.
Restored Ethnic Identity to Minister Cross-Culturally, 4-6 October
This course will bring understanding of some of the ungodly cultural roots that shape our beliefs and behaviour, like prejudice, division, and racism. These in turn negatively influence the way we minister cross-culturally. Be equipped to understand the subtle difference between tolerating and embracing other cultures, and how when our ethnic identity is restored as God intended it, we will be able to live with and minister to other cultures with His heart.
Bridge from the Head to the Heart, 11-17 October
Understanding God’s love in our heads and knowing His love in the depths of our hearts are two vastly different things. When God’s love meets us in our deepest places of hurt and pain, healing rushes forth and freedom abounds. Yet, achieving that connection can seem difficult, terrifying, overwhelming or even impossible.
Throughout the week God was helping me to be more me than ever before.
Knowing God's love, everything fell in place on the inside, all the teaching just just all came together and absorbed in one color.
'So I think this week was the best gift I've ever been given.'
Thank you Gladness for 20 years of faithful serving, we pray God's best for the future
Welcome Chandani
To give
Thank you to all who continue to give and help us see God's working His healing and restoration in the body of Christ and the nations.
To give monthly, contact Marlise at accounts@ellel.org