“…there is a big church just behind my house but they have had nothing to do with me…” –Mbala George
This quote is from an email I received from Douglas, who leads IMFC’s Manna Ministry. Here is an expanded portion of his email:
During follow-up visit into the home of one of the Manna beneficiary called Mbala George, we had an opportunity to share the Gospel with George and his household. George and his son prayed to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior!! And George was pleased and excited to open his house and courtyard for a house church. Their meeting day is Sunday at 4:00pm. Another ministry opportunity that we saw was that people were very many in that area and the same courtyard could be used for showing the Jesus film. That too would be for Evangelism in that area.
George said something that really touched my heart. This is what he said:
“there is a big church just behind my house but they have had nothing to do with me, even when I was starving , none of the members saw me, but you Manna people came all the way, along ways from here and saw me… God must have sent you and thanks for coming!! You came and just asked me questions about my needs and here I am now, prayed to receive Jesus as Lord and Savoir. Your kind of heart is what we poor people here need!! I am so encouraged!!”
Why is IMFC working in Kampala, Uganda? In a country that is not “unreached” for the cause of Christ. In a country where the gospel has been preached for years. In a country that has many churches. The answer: George.
George is neglected. Sick. Desperately poor. Helpless. Sinful.
Kampala is full of slums populated by Georges. These slums are the mission field the Lord has place IMFC in. They are truly ripe for harvest.
So, why doesn’t the government help? Why will they plow down their meager mud huts to make room for upscale apartments? Why?
And why don’t the churches get actively involved in helping the Georges that live near them? Why do they obsess over their buildings and programs and overlook the very people Jesus cares so deeply for? Why?
I have to ask this, “Why are we ‘Christians’ like this?” Why do we step away from, ignore, overlook the very people Jesus came to help? The very people who were always around him, pressing in on him trying to touch him? Why?
Maybe, I need to get more personal. Am I guilty? Do I do the same thing? Am I overlooking people around me? Will the Lord have to send people from the other side of the world to care for the people I have neglected near me? Do I need to take the “speck from my own eye”?
If so, WHY?
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