The title is something that reminds me we have to be careful in balancing our business of ministry with the absolute need for Relationship. Since Christ is the reason we are here we must invest in Him so that we can best be used as He works through us for His purpose. I am grateful that we are both involved in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) online. Debra has been leading a group of ladies from all over the world. I joined a men’s group in 2023 and it is wonderful since it keeps me centered in the Word for myself. 

In my work I am in the Bible all the time. In training pastors and in the books I have written for that, the Scriptures are what everything is based on. At the same time, i preach in 3 churches here and stay active in that. So being in the Word is not an issue but being IN the Word for me is different as it is personal as I see how God is speaking to me..

In all of the messages I do I get to apply them to me first. But I cannot preach the message based on what I got out of it. I teach it the way it was meant by the authors so that God can speak to each person with that message. So being in the Word for myself is essential to stay spiritually healthy.

Debra as always is gifted with spiritual gifts that keep her busy with so many different things. My work is more focused on one area whereas hers is spent on multiple areas. Women are experts in multitasking and us guys tend to be more narrowly focused. God designed us to be different. She is constantly ministering through food and I get to benefit!

She is working with at risk youth in a detention facility and she has always had a heart for that group of people. She is active with FMLK which we have been with since arriving here almost 10 years ago. God has given each of us a “canvas” to work on and just like any painting, no two are alike.

In the midst of the ministries, self-care is an issue we struggle with. We have been here this long and have only traveled a few places in this country. I travel to different towns to do conferences and seminars in the ministry work but that is work. We each take a short break away alone each year and then we try and do a short getaway together.

Most of our road time is spent driving the long 200 mile highway to Kampala to do supply runs every few months. 200 miles in the US would take about 2.5 hours but here it is 6 hours due to the horrible roads where potholes are places you can park a truck in and that is not an exaggeration!

After all this time here we still struggle with the noise, the roads, many of the culture’s dysfunctional behaviors and overall just relating well with a people who are so much different than where we came from. You learn, you adapt but it is still a struggle. In order for me to train people here, I had to study the history of the country and the culture.

I also have had to learn their version of English and how they understand me so that my books are easier for them to understand. It is hard to minister when you do not understand the people you are trying to help.

We thank God for the relationships we have built and the churches we belong to. George (Baptist church pastor for 40 years) who has been my Ugandan ministry partner all this time has been a blessing to me in not only helping me communicate (translate) with the pastors but he has inspired me in his love of Jesus and it is obvious by how he lives it out.

He talks about how much I have taught him through teaching and training but he does not realize what he has taught me through his example.

Nicholas who is the pastor of Calvary Chapel is one of the only pastors besides George who is not a false teacher. I am a mentor to him and fill in for him regularly but he is also an inspiration for me as he is a humble younger man who really loves the Word. Calvary Chapels as many of you know focuses on verse by verse through the Bible.

He was trained by an American who helped start the church. He has a great testimony of coming to faith in Christ. He has rejected the culture and the false teaching that is a cancer that destroys.

serving God is a gift FROM God and it is nothing we do; it is Him. Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Why God would give me a gift this good is beyond me!

Of course, we always are very grateful to all of our prayer and financial partners in the US who have been so amazingly faithful! We cannot thank all of them enough. They are part of the ministry and without them we could not do what we do here. God has blessed us over and over with so many affirmations showing us He is not done with us and despite our aging and some health challenges we are grateful to be staying healthy. To God be all Glory!