THE SEED OF GOOD NEWS

Rachel Chimits

March 2, 2021

World Challenge’s partners in Uganda run a support group and Bible study center for widows who are seeing great fruit as a result of the gospel spreading.

In the book of Isaiah, God gives a beautiful image of Christ and his mission to save God’s chosen people in the famous 53rd chapter.

In the two chapters that follow, though, he comforts those whose hearts have been broken and explained his great compassion for fallen people, giving another incredible promise of redemption and hope.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV).

A Voice for the Gospel

The promise of Isaiah 55 is all some evangelists have to lean on sometimes when they share the gospel over and over to people who appear, at least on the outside, impervious to its impact.

World Challenge’s partner in Uganda, Pastor Samuel, organized a widows program for the many women who have lost their husbands in the multiple conflicts that have shaken their country in the last couple decades. Anyeko Jennifer was one of the first ladies to join. It quickly became apparent to the leaders that she was not actually born again, but she faithfully attending the discipleship programs every week and even occasionally visited the catholic church near her home.

In December, Pastor Samuel was overseeing food distribution to these faithful women, and he held a small sermon about the gospel, then encouraged them all to go out and share the good news of Christ with others.

Jennifer listened dutifully, and then as she walked away, resolved that she would do it.

She began talking about the gospel that Pastor Samuel had taught them out of his good book, and the more times she repeated the story, the more it seemed to put down little roots into her heart.

Redemption and Restoration

It was in one of these very moments of sharing the gospel, as Jennifer watched the light open up in someone else’s eyes, that she had a startling realization.

She’d never experienced that soul-awakening.

Alongside the person she’d just been witnessing to, Jennifer surrendered her heart and life to Christ. Then she took them with her back to the church to share this joyful news with Pastor Samuel and the other leaders of the widows program. Now she and her friend are both coming to church and diving deep into the fellowship of believers.

In addition to Jennifer and her friend, the widows group saw another soul saved recently. One lady named Rose hosts a Bible discussion group at her home, hoping that more of her family would come to know God. In particular, she had been praying for her son’s wife to turn to Jesus for new life.

As the group was meeting at Rose’s home one afternoon while her daughter-in-law was visiting, and the young lady decided to join in the meeting. Hearing the gospel and witnessing the love of the church, she ended up getting saved. Rose was ecstatic and began praising the Lord for his constant goodness to her family and her church.

This season has been a fruitful one and cause for much celebration among the believers who are seeing God move, redeem and restore.