WEBVTT 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:14.560 Thank you for the welcome. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.719 It's a beautiful thing to be back here at Emmanuel, as usual. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:22.239 This is a place I really love. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:40.000 And I love this place because the first time we, for me and my wife and my one-year-old son, came to America to go to seminary and to prepare ourselves for the call God had given us. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.719 We our first arrival was at Emmanuel. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.439 And we came to this church. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:48.240 We went to Sunday school classes. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:50.799 We got a beautiful welcome. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:52.479 They didn't know us. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:57.039 It was our first time to encounter your church family. 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:01.759 And at that moment, it became like our family. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.719 And we've been friends since then. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:09.120 Now nearly 23 years ago. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.239 So many things have changed. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:17.120 I'm grateful to God that I can still see familiar faces. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:24.159 And more grateful to God that we can see new faces in this church. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:37.359 I bring greetings to you from my wife, Florence, and the church body in Kigali, New Life Bible Church, and the entire ministry of African New Life Ministries. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.680 Men, we have been together on this journey. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.000 Together on this journey. 00:01:51.200 --> 00:02:18.639 From preaching the gospel to building benches, to medical missions, to building fences for the wall of the school, to teaching pastors, to visiting children in their homes, to a many conference, to Bible school teachers, to feeding the hungry. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:23.199 What a beautiful partnership for nearly 23 years. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:31.599 So I'm back here to celebrate what God has done together with you in Rwanda. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:37.039 You've helped us in amazing ways to rebuild the nation. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:43.199 God called me at the age of around 27. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:55.120 That was the end of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, to go preach the gospel in Rwanda, help the poor. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:01.280 At that time, there were so many orphaned children everywhere. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:07.919 And the children were hopeless, no education, no food, no future. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:14.400 And very early in my life, I felt this call towards the children. 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.520 I wanted the children to be safe. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:26.080 What happened is in a war is that children suffer more than adults do in that environment. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:29.039 But they also lose their future. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:35.680 And in the depth of my heart, I didn't want to see any of these children lose their future. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.840 Can we do something to make a difference in their lives? 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:41.599 Send them to school. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.759 Give them an opportunity to play. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:45.120 Give them food. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:49.599 And years would tell the difference that would make. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.639 Now, I wasn't well equipped. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:54.240 I was 27. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:04:00.319 And God opened up a door for me to come to America to go to seminary. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:05.199 And God trained us in seminary at Mount Norma University. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:08.639 And then later on at Gordon Cornwall. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:19.360 And in 2001, we actually returned to Rwanda and started a small ministry with 29 children. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.800 And then used very little money. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:27.120 My wife had made babysitting children in America. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:30.000 We came back and we told the story. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:34.240 And in a very short time, 29 children were sponsored. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:42.800 Today it's over 11,000 children sponsored by African New Life Ministries in Rwanda. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:48.800 And more than 11,000 children, a big group of alumni. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:55.040 Now you can go in Rwanda in a hospital and you find a graduate of African New Life. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:00.959 You go to the military and find a graduate of African New Life. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:05.839 You go to police, you go to government, you go to a bank, you go to a church. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:23.040 God has actually honored our dream and our vision to break the cycle of poverty, to disciple children so that they can grow up to break the cycle of poverty in their lives and build their nation. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:27.199 So we celebrate our partnership. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:32.959 We celebrate what God has done between both of us. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:46.160 And today I want to bring a message that's not very new, but it's a call to persistently unite the gospel with compassionate care. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:50.720 Unite the gospel with compassionate care. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:54.480 It is something you do well at this church. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:57.920 It's something you do globally at this church. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:02.480 From Latin America to Africa to Italy. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.839 God bless you because you do it well. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:12.560 But we want to persistently be reminded to unite the gospel with compassionate care. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:13.920 Let's pray. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:16.240 God, we come before you. 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:20.800 We come before you because you have a compassionate heart. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:28.800 You love those who are broken and marginalized, but also those who are fallen in their sins without you. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:34.720 And you've called us to be your hands and to be your feet in those spaces. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:42.160 I pray that read the scriptures, that the scriptures will remind us not to neglect the poor. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:44.079 In the name of Jesus. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.040 Amen. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.079 Amen. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:54.000 I want to read from uh from Garoshians chapter 2, verse 80 to 10. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:07.519 The Bible says, for in fact, this is Paul, and Paul writes to the Geratians, and he's talking about his visit to Jerusalem. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:20.160 Um he says, for God who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:23.920 The gospel is going on among the Jews. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:29.600 The gospel is going on among the Gentiles on the mission field. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:44.959 James, Kephos, and John, those who were still those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:52.560 They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:08:05.199 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do all long. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:12.480 Connecting, uniting the gospel with compassionating care. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:18.959 Everywhere we go, everywhere we take the gospel. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:26.160 Missionaries have obeyed this calling very well for ages. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.680 Missionaries built our schools. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.879 Missionaries built hospitals. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.919 Missionaries built churches. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:46.480 Missionaries, some missionaries even built businesses and created employment for the poor in their communities. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:09:01.919 There are so many enterprises right now, as I speak, in developing countries to lift the poor from poverty and give them a beautiful, honorable stand among other people. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.080 That is the heart of our heavenly Father. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:17.840 He has a heart of compassion for those who are marginalized among us so that God can give them an opportunity to stand on their feet. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:21.440 Now, JMC, the brother of Jesus. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:38.639 He gets in this conference and is talking to Paul and is talking to Peter, and Paul is talking about all these great things he has done. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:54.960 JMC is excited about the worker of Paul and how he's reaching out to globally, uh reaching out to the Asia Minor, the known uh part of the world at that time. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:00.720 And he puts in an important emphasis. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:11.759 And he says, Man, Paul, as you continue to do future missions, that's very important, but we want you to always remember the poor. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:18.000 Don't become too scholarly at too forget the poor. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:24.960 Don't ever become too educated to forget the poor. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:32.000 And JemC is the same James actually who wrote the book of James. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:52.159 And Jemsi is very good at taking care of orphanies and widows and giving poor people in the church a good city so that there is no discrimination within the church between the poor and the rich. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:11:00.399 Because what the kingdom of God does, the kingdom of God elevates humanity. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.480 The gospel elevates humanity. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:17.200 The gospel takes away our shame, takes away our embarrassment, takes away things that would dehumanize us. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:26.000 And the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us dignity, gives everyone dignity. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:41.759 This is the best place within these four walls for all of us to find our dignity and throw away our shame right here in the presence of our God. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:53.120 But only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was able and eager to do. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:57.840 And Paul continued to do that for centuries. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.120 A few things I want to note. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:14.320 Number one, our theology should be relevant in our communities, driven by love, driven by compassion. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.320 That is the heart of our heavenly father. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:29.840 Unfortunately, as faithful communities, sometimes we have failed to be the kind of witness God has called us to be. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:43.200 In 1994, the church in Rwanda was a background church, completely broken and enrashed with the state. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:53.759 To the extent that when the genocide happened, even the church, some churches were involved in the genocide. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:13:03.279 And after the genocide of 1994, that nearly claimed a million people, we start to preach the gospel. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:09.120 And people would say, where was God when my brother was killed? 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:13.360 Where was God when my sister was killed? 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:23.360 Let me tell you, there are some answers that will never satisfy people after they have lost their loved ones. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:44.159 And for us as African New Life, for me and Florence, we felt that the best way to answer these, respond to these questions was not to pull out our best muscles of apologetics of what we had learned from universities in the US. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:54.639 But first and foremost, before we pull out our apologetic muscles, to show them the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:14:11.039 By physically taking care of the survivors of the genocide, by physically educating them, taking care of the sick, providing shelter all in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:16.240 And then we tell them we do what we do because we love you. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:23.919 And then we started bringing in all these mission teams to come and show love practically. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:30.399 And at the edge of it, they would also hear the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:42.799 Our harm unique must bring together proper interpretation of scriptures, but also a passion for the gospel that doesn't neglect the poor. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.720 I call it the new reformation. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.120 The new reformation. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:59.919 Because the first reformation was much more about Martin Luther restoring the truth of the book of Romans. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.440 Salvation by faith alone. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.279 And that is important. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.200 The gospel is important. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:13.200 Salvation is important only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:22.799 That is something we may we will never cease to preach and clearly explain that salvation is a gift of God. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:30.320 But I want to remind us that we are saved by grace to do good works. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:34.080 Saved by grace to do good works. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.480 That is what I call the second reformation. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:52.720 Second reformation, which is actually merging all over the whole world within the church, and the church is turning out to become a caring place. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:16:00.559 We are caring people because we've received the care of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:14.960 The gospel that merges the theology of Paul and Jemsi in the same movement, putting faith in practice. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:20.879 I have also called it connecting the two hands of the gospel. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:31.519 The two hands of the gospel, compassion and evangelism, the gospel and good works at the same time. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:37.519 Engaging the two hands of the gospel to bring in the harvest. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.879 Because the harvest is plentiful. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:51.120 And therefore, we want to engage both of our hands to bring in the harvest within the kingdom of God and be a caring people. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:56.399 This models the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:02.399 If you look at the ministry of Jesus, it was a ministry of two hands. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:07.519 Jesus demonstrated the kingdom of God in two ways. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:17.599 And therefore, Jesus provided a pattern for us how to do ministry in the simplest form. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.319 He taught the gospel. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:24.880 Matthew chapter 4, verse 23 to 24. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.400 Jesus went throughout to Galilee. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.839 What was he doing? 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.279 He was teaching. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:34.319 He was teaching in their synagogues. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:39.200 He was proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:43.599 He was doing exactly what I am doing today. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:18:03.039 Jesus would be heard throughout the streets, uh sharing and preaching and inviting people to repentance, to forgiveness of their sins, to understand that there is a kingdom that's greater than the kingdom of the Romans, greater than any other empire. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:05.359 And that kingdom is coming. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:16.720 And for those who qualify to enter into that kingdom, they needed to repent of their sins and find a personal relationship through him. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:25.440 But at the same time, Jesus demonstrated the heart of the Father, the heart of compassion. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:36.720 In Matthew chapter 4, okay, uh again we see continuity, uh healing every disease, sickness, among other people. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:55.519 And good news uh spread all over Syria, and the people were brought to him, all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering from severe pain, demon-possessed, those having seizures, paralyzed, and Jesus Christ healed them, completely set them free. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:04.720 Jesus had an amazing healing ministry, and much of Jesus' ministry actually was about healing. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:08.319 That's why I think doctors, you have a great ministry. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:12.880 A ministry of healing, healing of the sick. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:18.160 Jesus lived the gospel he preached out. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.440 He lived it out. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:24.240 Yes, he planted a church, and that's important. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:26.480 He planted a church. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.160 Jesus said, I will build my church. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.559 Matthew chapter 16, verse 18, I will build my church. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.079 I have good news for you. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:42.640 Jesus is still building his church, and his church is not yet, is not about to fail. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:46.480 It continues to be stronger than ever before. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:54.720 Sometimes the media tends to tell us that the church is falling, but the church is not about to fail. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:58.799 The church is growing faster than ever before. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:11.759 Since we went to Rwanda, we have planted 11 churches, and about 80,000 people come to our churches every week. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:20.880 Just this coming year, we have three church plants in line, okay, that are coming up. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:24.960 Jesus said, I'll build my church. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:32.000 And the church of Jesus Christ, I want to declare, is stronger than ever before. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:38.400 We are not giving in the negative narrative that comes from hell. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:46.720 The church of Jesus Christ is powerful, is strong, it's growing, it's expanding, and it's being built. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:49.920 Jesus commanded us to teach the gospel. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:53.759 That's how we build the church to make disciples. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.799 Matthew 28, 30. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:06.400 Jesus teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always up to the end of this age. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:12.000 And I would say, every Christian must be a disciple maker. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.920 Every Christian must be a disciple maker. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.200 Let me emphasize it. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.880 Every Christian must be a disciple maker. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:24.400 You must have a group of people you are discipling. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.400 You are teaching the gospel. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.920 I have a group of people I am discipling. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.160 This Friday I missed them. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:36.079 Possibly next Friday, I may speak to them on Zoom. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:43.359 Maybe the following Friday, since I am away from home, we all have to be disciple making. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:51.599 But also the same Jesus promised a blessing to those who care for the needy. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:59.519 So you see, there is the preaching, the discipling, but there is also the caring for the needy, united. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.720 Together at the same time. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.079 Matthew 25, 34 to 46. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:17.920 Then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come you who are blessed by my father, take your inheritance for the kingdom of God prepared for you since the creation of the world. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.880 35. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.000 I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.799 You see? 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:27.359 He says, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:30.400 I needed food and you gave me food. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.519 I needed water, you gave me a well. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.000 You gave me more than a cup. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:38.079 You gave me a well. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.880 I was a stranger. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.000 You invited me in your house. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.279 I needed cloth and you clothed me. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.960 I was sick and you took me to the hospital. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.640 I was in prison. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.599 You came and visited me. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:04.799 Then the righteous will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed your thirsty and gave you something to drink? 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:10.799 When did we see you stray a stranger and invite you in, needing clothing and clothing you? 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.559 When did we see you sick in prison or in prison and visit you? 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:25.519 And the king will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the list of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:28.640 We are his hands and his feet. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.960 Jesus himself fed the hungry. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.200 And one time he fed for a thousand. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:37.920 In another situation, he fed five thousand. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:43.680 Jesus had his own union mission somewhere downtown feeding the hungry. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:46.079 Jesus healed the sick. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:49.039 I have talked about that in many ways. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:53.200 But also Jesus welcomed the children. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.599 He welcomed the children. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:24:00.400 He welcomed the most vulnerable in our society. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:13.519 And Jesus said in Matthew 18, 5, whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:18.000 It's a beautiful thing to welcome children. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:22.160 Emanuel welcomed a little girl called Sifa. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:27.920 Sifa had suffered for many, many years in Rwanda. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:48.160 They didn't only welcome Sifa once or thrice, welcomed Sifa three times till Sipha was adopted because her medical condition was so severe that she would not survive without her doctors here. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:52.319 Jesus welcomed children. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:56.640 He said, Let the little ones come unto me. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.519 I want to make this very practical. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:03.519 Actually, everyone should welcome children in his home. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:09.119 Everyone who is healthy should welcome children in his home. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:18.000 Today you can welcome children in your home by sponsoring a child. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:24.799 I have not ceased to welcome children in my own life and family. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:32.480 Of recent, I was in Hui near Nyamagabe when you were where you are doing where you were doing the mission last summer. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:40.480 And wow, the poverty out there of children is terrifying. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:47.519 I was walking into this community, and in the community, little kid comes out, the short. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.720 Amen. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:59.039 The kid, the hands, the feet are not just dirty, but it's wow. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.680 They are stained, terribly stained. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:06.640 This kid hasn't had, but possibly has not had a bath forever. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:09.200 Clothing so broken. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:12.640 It should not happen in the 21st century. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:15.200 It should not happen anywhere. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:20.319 And I asked the kid, why don't you go to school like other kids? 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:28.480 And the kid told me that he doesn't have books, he doesn't have clothes, he doesn't have money, he doesn't have anything. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.920 Then I asked the kid, where is your family? 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.759 The kid has a mother. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:39.519 So the mother walked out of the family out of the garden, out of the valley. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:44.960 And she came to me and I started interviewing this little kid and the mother. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:27:00.960 My heart was so broken, there's nothing I could do but only sponsor this boy and ask our Shash Workers to send him to school, buy him new clothes, buy him books, change his life, take his shame away. 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:05.200 I'm waiting to visit this boy again and see how he's looking. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:07.839 Now I thought that was not that was enough. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.680 I walk to our new church plant and I find another woman. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:14.000 This woman has seven children. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:17.519 Her husband was killed in April. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.440 She has no job. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:22.000 She has no education. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.319 She has no help. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:31.039 And she's looking for help from the church because she had at this church they help children. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.200 Man, I could not survive this. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.680 Again, I said, you know, we're going to sponsor. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:37.279 I'm going to sponsor another kid. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.880 Sponsored another kid. 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.960 Same day, two children. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:48.559 And then when I got home, I remembered maybe I may not have all this money monthly to send to the kid. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:56.319 And I said, you know, even when I don't get the money, I know I have my kids are going to school in the US. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:58.799 Sarah has a job on campus. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:01.519 Jonathan has a scholarship. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.519 Isaac has a job. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:11.839 I'm going to ask the entire family to contribute$79 a month for these two kids. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:16.799 Because five of us, three of us as a family, we can. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:31.200 Today I want to encourage you to go out there and welcome all those children into your homes. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:37.279 Let us give children a place of dignity. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.039 That's really my deal. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:46.480 Give them an opportunity to dream again and become the kind of person God has called them to be. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:18.000 We thank you for you have given us the opportunity to make disciples, to preach the gospel, but also to act compassionately. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:29.200 We pray that you continue to bless this beautiful church and people that have been so much involved in Rwanda to help us out there. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:33.920 Spread the good news, touch the lives of children. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:45.039 May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and every good gift he bestows upon his people, bestow it upon Emmanuel. 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:48.720 In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.599 Amen. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:56.960 And now for a parting word for Pastor Jesse Johnson. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.480 Thanks for joining us. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:00.000 If you're in the Washington, D.C. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:02.720 area, I would love to see you at Emmanuel Bible Church. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:07.920 For more information on our church or our current service times, go to IBC.church. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:11.119 For more information about the Master Seminary and their Washington, D.C. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.920 location, go to TMS.edu. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:22.240 I hope this resource has been a blessing to you and it helps you seek the Lord daily, serve others around you, and share the gospel with boldness.