Spirit & Truth is excited to have an International Outreach Team that is impacting the world. Since its formation in early 2023, the goal of the International Outreach Team (IOT) has been the global spread of the gospel. We are so blessed by the connections God has facilitated for outreach, particularly with devoted pastors and churches in Africa.
We’ll be providing updates about the work of the IOT in the months to come. We are so excited to share with you a testimonial of God’s power from one of the pastors with whom the IOT works closely to spread the gospel in Uganda.
God’s Provision During An Attempted Land Grab In Uganda
John Kuika is a pastor in Uganda whom we have worked with since March 2023. He pastors a church and leads outreach with New Life in Christ seminar classes across many locations in his region. He also organizes district churches to conduct weekend “crusades” and runs a trade school teaching students to sew clothing, thereby enabling income opportunities.
John’s father passed away years ago when he was very young. His stepfather seized that opportunity to change legal documents excluding the rightful heirs (John and his mother) from land ownership, stealing everything, and leaving them destitute. Despite all the tough times that followed, John’s mom pointed him to God. She was convinced that one day God would answer their prayers and John honored her direction. Read John’s account below:
Sometimes when my mom failed to get food, we entered into prayer and fasting. Then in the evening, we survived on cassava porridge. Life was so hard. Mom used to tell me, “My son, before you do anything, first start with prayer.” That helped me to grow up knowing that only God is the answer in all situations.
My step-relatives are Muslims now. They used the land they took from my mom to build a mosque next to my house. Now they look at me with envious eyes because they want the small plot where my home is to build a house for the mosque leader.
Land grabbing is so common here. Mostly rich people make the poor suffer by bribing police and other enforcement and torturing people. Many Christian churches have been broken down and mosques have been built.
I traveled to the District Land Commission and explained my concern to them. They sent a land surveyor and officer to go with me to call a community team meeting and listen to the matter. The Muslims’ documents were reviewed and declared fake, but the court was still threatened. The survey results will be turned into a land title in my name which is strong in court.
It is great news that the hand of God is changing all that the Devil wanted to grab. The Land Commission assigned a lawyer for court matters. I had never met him before, but he told me that he saw me preaching somewhere and he assured me by saying, “Pastor, I am going to help you!” It was a great joy!
Upon notification, I traveled with my lawyer to Kampala to get my land title. But we were disappointed to find a corrupt official who wanted a bribe even though I had already paid the Uganda Land Commission’s account. It’s hard because he refused to sign yet the title was there. My lawyer pleaded with him and showed him the receipt in vain.
Good news! After our strong prayers together, the man became ashamed when my lawyer told him that it’s not good to get bribes from the servants of God. Then he asked me if I was a pastor. When I said yes, he immediately signed the document!
Praise God! What an awesome experience! It is so very humbling for all of us in IOT to serve these wonderful people.
