It has been a while since the second of three CHE trainings in Kalongo, but we thought that this time, instead of posting photos of how the training went, we'd share some of the stories that were shared by the CHE trainers there. There are more words in this post than usual - but we do hope you'll take the time to read and be encouraged!
This is Augustine. After the first training, Augustine went home to the church that he leads. He started teaching his fellow members that God is concerned about our whole life - physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. The church was moved to start a group to support vulnerable people in the community. In the few weeks between TOT1 and TOT2, the group had gone to five homes and provided farm labour free of charge to those who could not afford help. During the same time, the church worked together to make musical instruments for Sunday worship. In a few short weeks, the congregation tripled in size! |
This is Richard. After TOT1, Richard went home and used the gospel picture booklet to share the good news of Christ with his brother. According to others from Richard's community, Richard's brother was a hardened person; a heavy drinker, a thief, and generally unreceptive to any guidance or advice. But Richard's brother connected with the message that Richard shared with him. He asked Jesus to be his Lord, and everything changed. Richard's parish priest testified that he himself feared talking to Richard's brother before, but now he was a new person, and the whole community was asking what had happened to him. |
This is Johnson. Johnson is part of a village savings and loans groups. After CHE TOT1, he went home and shared with the group about how God wants us to be healthy. Johnson is from an area where a high percentage of the population do not use latrines. The group decided this needed to change. They banded together, and within just a couple weeks, all 22 members had constructed latrines in their homes. Furthermore, Balam (another Trainer from the same area) reported at TOT3 that their movements had been noticed by the local council authorities, who have awakened to the problem and made a by-law that all families need to make a latrine, and that they are linking hands with other government workers, like the Village Health Team. |
This is Grace. After learning how to share the gospel picture booklet, Grace went home and shared with the other women in her husband's family. After that, five started attending church with her, and since then 3 have come to love Jesus. Grace is also part of the School Management Committee for the primary school in her community. After a meeting one day, some people were sitting under the tree. She felt led to take out the picture booklet and share it with her fellow committee members. Most people were not interested and walked away, except one man. This man was known to be a hard drinker and an unreasonable man. She shared the good news of Christ with him and asked him if he wanted to be saved. He said he'd think about it. Later that night, they received an urgent call to come and pray at the home of this man. On his way home, he'd developed an acute headache and became very ill. He sent his daughter to go and get Grace. Grace, her husband, and another church member rushed to the home. By that time, the man was unconscious. They prayed into the night, when they all had a vision of a spirit that was sent to kill the man, and all the boys in the family. |
They shared again the news of freedom from sin and death through Jesus with the man, and he asked Jesus to come into his heart and take the leadership of his life. Over the next 4 days, the whole household followed him. Now, they are enjoying a life free of alcoholism and spiritual oppression.
Grace says that people are coming up to her and asking her, "What did you say to him? Can you teach us how to share God's word?"
The gospel indeed is good news - God loves us and wants us to be wholly healthy, and He's made a way to be free from sin and death! May you also enjoy this whole health that God wants for us.