A Pictorial Narrative of the Uganda Experience (pt. 3)

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Robert Franklin

One of the things I did as a young man for hours upon hours was go door to door asking for the privilege of sharing the good news concerning Jesus Christ. The effort was 99% unsuccessful, but the 1% who received Jesus as Lord and Savior are now joint participants in the promise of abundant life here and eternal life in heaven. In spite of the significance of seeing 1 in 100 come to faith in Christ, I despised the process. I carried a measure of familiar discomfort as we entered Kasakoso neighborhood and the Soweto slum in Uganda to do “door to door evangelism.” As we went from dwelling to dwelling, we asked for just five minutes of time to tell people about God’s love for them.

Can We Have Five Minutes? (Our Translator's Favorite Greeting)

Can We Have Five Minutes? (Our Translator's Favorite Greeting)

 
God honors obedience in every place and every person. Our team led people to faith in Christ Jesus every time we went out although only one of us (not me) was a confident and experienced door-to-door person. More than twenty people not only heard about forgiveness of sin through Jesus’ work on the cross and the love of God expressed by conquering the grave on our behalf but prayed to install Jesus as the boss of their hearts. Every team member personally witnessed someone give control of their life to Jesus. My favorite account of this transformation involved an individual who was listening to the presentation of the good news “over the fence.” The person our team member was sharing with face to face received Christ, but the unseen hearer came around the barrier and asked if it would be ok it they received Jesus as well. When the Holy Spirit moves there is power!

I had the honor of seeing a businessman named Lubega give his heart to Christ. It was kind of odd to me. My Ugandan daughter, Penny, and I were together asking people if we could talk to him about Jesus Christ and Lubega was happy to stop what he was doing and to hear us. Although I actually tried to dissuade him from making a rash decision to follow Jesus he insisted that he pray to receive Christ. God had obviously been working in his heart, it was humbling to be present when God did what only God can do, change a man’s heart.

The first time to "eat out" for our Soweto church family

The first time to "eat out" for our Soweto church family

We took our Soweto brothers and sisters out for a meal at a local restaurant.  For many is was the first time they had ever had a “eat out” meal and many (if not most) of the children never had a soda before.  I wrote about this experience in a prior posting (click the link below). But it is worth sharing even more. The muzungu were segregated from the rest of our family and fed a fare that was less “exotic” than what everyone else had.  I had the honor of sitting with Ugandan men and eating what they had.  In all honesty it wasn’t exotic at all and very easy to eat.  The only difficult dish was millet or ground and boiled barley grain.  I actually liked the taste of the dish, it was the pervasive sand that made it difficult to eat, but I got quite a bit down and the fellow next to me finished what I was unable to eat…he was genuinely hungry.[https://parson9.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/love-feast-in-uganda/]

Outside the love feast restaurant

Outside the love feast restaurant

 

The meeting place for the Soweto church...a RENTED alley

The meeting place for the Soweto church...a RENTED alley

 

A typical walkway in Soweto: clothes, kids and sewage...

A typical walkway in Soweto: clothes, kids and sewage...

 

Where there is no trash service, people improvise (Soweto)

Where there is no trash service, people improvise (Soweto)

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Back to the Beginning

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Robert Franklin

Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. (Obadiah 2-4, ESV)

These words from the prophet are directed to the land of Edom, descendants of the man Esau.  What had Edom done to merit such a reprimand and promise of destruction?  It is a long story that began a long time before Obadiah conferred these words from the Lord.

Esau is the infamous twin brother of Jacob.  Although Esau was the elder (by a few minutes) to Jacob was promised the blessing of God (Genesis 25.23).  The Bible records that Esau was a “man’s man,” skillful and adept at all the stereotypical male characteristics including a decided lack of sensitivity and the familiar inability to value the intangibles of life.  Esau’s callousness was so complete that he sold his right to inherit his father’s estate to his younger brother for a dinner meal.  When Jacob added the insult of stealing the blessing of his father Isaac by deception, Esau purposed in his heart to kill his younger sibling. 

I don’t judge Esau and believe I would have felt the same way as he did, but one thing remained immutable: God’s promise to Jacob.  Rather than submit to God’s authority and to serve and support the brother whom God set apart, Esau became bitter in his heart toward his brother. That bitterness was exhibited by the descendents of Esau time and again. Edom refused to grant safe passage to the descendents of Jacob as they fled slavery in Egypt (Numbers 20.14ff); Edom waged war against the descendents of Esau’s nephew, Judah (2 Chronicles 28.17); Edom cheered at the destruction of Jerusalem (Psalm 137.7); Edom supported and gave aid to the conquerors of the descendents of Jacob (Ezekiel 35).

From our perspective, it would seem just for Edom to do what it did: to avenge the sorrow of the father of their nation (Genesis 27.34). The testimony of the Bible speaks against this, however, as God reserves for himself the right to recompense deeds and exact vengeance (Galatians 6.7-8; Romans 12.19-20). When Esau and his descendents chose to do what was right in their own estimation rather than submit to the blessing of God upon Jacob and to seek to support God’s work through their close relation, a chain of events commenced that resulted, in the end, in the desolation of Edom as it is to the day. In the beginning, things went awry. Generations later, the effect of choices in the beginning continued to be evident.

This is one of many Biblical examples of the impact of our choicess upon our own lives and the lives of our descendents. We ought to take warning to make decisions with not only own lives but also the lives of our children in mind. Additionally, we ought to question whether the choices made by those before us honored God. If they did not, we have the choice to repent and repair.  Edom had that option, but chose not to reverse the direction of its heading and plunged headlong into the consequence of its behaviors.

May it be said of the followers of Jesus that we pay attention to the beginning of things and seek to be obedient to God in all things for the sake of God’s Kingdom, our own lives, and the lives of our descendents.

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A Pictorial Narrative of the Uganda Experience (pt. 2)

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Robert Franklin
Best Behave!

Best Behave!

The Ugandans are very serious about keeping their children in order.  This means that even 90 minutes into a worship service, they are expected to sit quietly and pay attention.  This matron of the church is making sure the fifty or so children gathered at Kasokoso don’t forget their manners.  I am standing behind her.  It was a little distracting to be teaching and see her get up with her big stick from time to time!

Because the electronic media is mostly unaccessible to the majority of the Ugandan population (they know how to access it, they just don’t have access), Ugandans have a decided advantage in attention span.  They are not opposed to seeing something develop over time and are much more patient than the average Westerner.  They have a saying, “White men have all the watches, Ugandans have all the time!”  Being in Uganda has really challenged me to evaluate whether or not I am spending my time wisely.
DeAndra gave her testimony to relationship with Christ.  Many Ugandans think that all American girls are like the ones we see on television: sexualized, self-centered, power-driven. 
DeAndra Wagner

DeAndra Wagner

When a young woman gives testimony to being different than the stereotype it has an enormous impact.  The resonance of DeAndra’s very clear and personal journey of faith was immense.  I know we rarely think about the consequences of our culture, but we may be wise to reconsider our apathy.  Unless an American goes to a land not their own and proves otherwise, much of the underdeveloped world sees us through the eyes of Desperate Housewives, CSI Miami, and As the World Turns. It is beyond disconcerting to speak with someone whose understanding of you and your land and culture is based upon our popular “entertainment.”

Ryan Franklin

Ryan Franklin

Ryan also gave his testimony to relationship with Christ.  Men in Uganda are very reserved and tend to the “stoic” side.  They are very friendly, but also very guarded.  It is hard to read what they think because they may be excitedly in coversation with you but be emotionally disengaged. Ryan also did a fantastic job giving a clear summary of God’s work in his life, but the response was muted.  I imagine I will understand more of this dynamic as I spend more time in the country.

It is often tempting just to show the shocking photos of a an international trip, but I don’t want to give an unrealistic view of the country.  Uganda is beautiful.   They are woefully underdeveloped and do not take advantage of their natural resources in a way that benefits their population, but what a stunning place to live!  This is a tea field. 
Tea Field between Kampala and Jinja

Tea Field between Kampala and Jinja

I happen to love tea and enjoyed a cup of Ugandan tea every morning.  Uganda was once a British protectorate and still bears much of the thumbprint of British society.  I am glad they never lost their love of tea. 

Open for Business!

Open for Business!

While the typical shop looks more like a shanty, there is also an innumerable amount of formal shops…everywhere.  Small business is business in Uganda and because transportation is so expensive, getting everything one needs within walking distance is something Ugandan’s appreciate.

 

Also open for business!

Also open for business!

 

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Post-Sabbatical Report

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Robert Franklin

I want to take just a minute or two and give you a report on my sabbatical.

First, I want to extend my appreciation and genuine thanks to the Rev. Dr. Shane Garrison for making the trip every weekend to teach in my stead. I have received many affirmations of his work bringing the Word of God each weekend.

Secondly, I want to thank my staff for taking up the extra work created by absence. We run a very lean operation at Main Street and anyone’s absence, even for a day, causes additional burden on those who remain.

I also want to thank Wayne Biddle and Jerry Delaney for making themselves available to take up pastoral duties in my absence, both men are great blessings to this congregation and I am happy to have their expertise and assistance.

Your Elders and Deacons continue to work diligently to serve you and lead you, I pray you appreciate their efforts and encourage them to even greater devotion to our family here at Main Street.

Before you “zone out” I want to give you some simplified, yet very specific outcomes of my time away:

  1. My passion to lead Main Street to be a global impact church was deepened as I received excellent reports for our various mission endeavors: especially from our Ecuador mission and our mission to Uganda. We can be global; we should be global; we will be global for the sake of the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus.
  2. My heart was convicted regarding my speech. As a follower of Christ, I believe it is crucial that I model and practice a Biblical command that I committed to memory many years ago, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
  3. I also was convicted regarding my leadership. Without going into too much detail at this juncture, I believe I have not led this congregation well enough: Too often I have pointed in the general direction, rather than taking the pains to walk alongside God’s people to the specific location of the answer to their spiritual need. I have been more like the guy who tells you, “It’s on aisle 9, about half way down” rather than taking the time and effort to “take the walk.”
  4. I was allowed to stop for a while. The word “Shabbat” upon which the sabbatical is built simply means stop. My very first day at Main Street was consumed with joining a building program and capital stewardship campaign. The cumulative effect of the subsequent relocation, our consistent growth, the loss of over half of my professional staff (and close friends) during the past two years on top of the normal grind all of us are familiar with resulted in my becoming exhausted. It was good to take the sidelines for a breather and I am grateful for the grace you extended me.
  5. Lastly I was afforded the time to evaluate where we are and where we are going and to prepare for what the immediate and not so distant future holds. It is my prayer that the benefit of this extra time of preparation is evident to all over the next months and years.
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Boomerang

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Robert Franklin

Most of us carry the memory of the first time someone “hit back.” For some of us it is a very distant memory, for others the freshness of the “sting” is still around. It would seem reasonable that we would more circumspect as to how we live our lives since we know “what goes around comes around.” This is especially true for the Christian because the Christian does not rely on some unseen force like Karma that may or may not really work, but a Sovereign God who views it as “mockery” whenever we think we can operate without his notice.

During the next three weeks we will consider the spiritual significance of three of life’s boomerangs during our Sunday gatherings at Main Street. In order to prepare, I suggest reading the following passages during your daily quiet time:

Romans 12.14, 17, 19-21; Leviticus 19.18; Matthew 5.39-45; Ecclesiastes 11.1-2, Matthew 10.42; Leviticus 14.17-19; Galatians 6.6-10; Proverbs 22.6

Tossing Bread and Handing out Cold Drinks July 12 The craziness of the Christian’s call and the enormity of the return.

The Mystery of “Origins” July 19 The source of most things we find in our lives…again.

Generational Slapback July 26 The challenge of seeing the best come around through our children.

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Book Review: “The American Way”

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Robert Franklin

Carlson, Allan PhD. The American Way: Family and Community in Shaping of the American Identity.  (Intercollegiate Studies Institute: (c) 2003) ISBN:978-1932236231

I love history texts and I am intrigued by books on societal trends and politics.  This work is a perfect combination of the above.  Commencing with an expose of President Theodore Roosevelt’s policies (and writings) on the family and then methodically mapping the trends of the American family and gender role development through the 20th century, Dr. Carlson provides the reader with a research-based work that actually is a compelling read. 

I was surprised by the equinimity Dr. Carlson’s approach to reporting history, especially since much of the “action” was political in nature.  My personal views regarding “breadwinner” wages and benefits were adjusted signficantly after reading this work.  My passion for the promotion of the family was intensified. 

The conclusion of the research is to be expected since Dr. Carlson is the President of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society (http://www.profam.org/Default.htm) and he also holds a position as senior fellow on the Family Research Council (www.frc.org).  Simply put, the family unit is the foundation of a strong and healthy society and must be protected and promoted without reservation.

I highly recommend the book. 

[quotations to follow]

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