How often do you find yourself mulling over all the shortcomings of a business or organization, or a friendship, or your church, or maybe even a family member? Does anything positive ever come from such thoughts? To be sure there are times when something toxic needs to be recognized and faced and dealt with. But it’s all too easy to spend time thinking about the imperfections around us and too little time recognizing all of what is good and able to be appreciated…
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Are we living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission daily in our lives?
This question has been penetrating my thoughts for years now. I’m not referring to Unite4Africa because all you have to do is read the monthly newsletter articles to see that Unite4Africa lives out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission everyday in Africa. That is thanks to our partners like you, but especially because our staff and leadership on the ground in Africa is so dedicated to Christ. No, this question hits home for me, meaning; me, my church, the Christians and churches in my city – Tucson AZ and for that matter all cities and states in the United States of America.
You see I have the privilege to serve with incredible Godly men and women in Tucson AZ who serve in multiple locations around the US and the world, who live out what God commands each of us to do in scripture; care for the orphans, widows, hurting, lost, sick, etc. It’s an honor and great privilege to serve and share life with them; their lives are so filled with God’s spirit and His joy, it’s incredible to watch how God blesses the work of their hands.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – May 2015 – Ken Martin
Sometimes our path in life gets difficult, sometimes treacherous. Our path crosses the paths of others, sometimes bringing peace and good, sometimes not. It can be difficult and tiresome trying to discern the way to proceed that will bring peace and prosperity not only for the present time but also for years to come. The decisions and actions we take now, even the words we speak, will affect us and those in our domain now and into the future, they will also affect the ages to come. The potential that we now have in our thoughts and words and actions is tremendous and yet their affect is rarely considered past the present and near term let alone the ages to follow.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – March 2015 – Rob Reilly
It is said that a water well can transform a third world village, improving the health and productivity of an entire community. Each year thousands of these wells are installed by mission or humanitarian groups with the best of intentions. They identify a location, send a team to build the water well, celebrate with the locals upon the well completion and then fly their teams home.
If a water well is such a transformative force for these communities, then why are 60% or more of the wells drilled in Africa not working? Talking with a community leader in rural Mozambique about a large hand pumped well that sat idle, he said “That is an American charity well. It is broken. We told the organization that built it that it broke a few years ago.” They had done nothing to repair it to date. This is a common and growing problem in Africa; wells are machines and machines breakdown and require maintenance.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – March 2015 – John Tabor
Its been a number of months since my teaching mission trip to Ethiopia and Kenya and yet it is still affecting my life nearly as much as when we were there. Africa is an amazing place. The diversity, in nearly every way, is remarkable. The experience is rich. The people are beautiful.
In so many ways one witnesses and experiences God’s creative hand. I don’t know, but I just feel about as close to Him as I ever have when there. My thinking has been challenged in so many ways as I learn the dynamics of culture and the heart of the people. “Fixes, cures or solutions” to problems we encounter from our western perspective most often don’t hold water to the needs, but the local people’s ideas do. What an education! Who’s teaching who?
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Feb 2015 – Jim Weisert & Okongo Samson
Dear U4A Partner,
You have once again helped changed the lives of so many in Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and throughout Unite4Africa’s African Partner Network! Through your sacrifices you have helped many come to know Jesus Christ personally. And believers across the world have been encouraged in their personal and community walk with Christ.
U4A’s Board, Country Directors, and Leaders are grateful for your ongoing partnership. Thank You!!!
Below is a quick glimpse of your faithfulness during 2014:
New Partners: 7 new partners joined with U4A to help engage in the work being done in Africa.
Leadership Training: we trained 3,169 people in Leadership to help transform Africa for Christ.
Self-sustaining Country Leadership businesses:
Ghana: Our new Country Director has started two businesses on his own. They are in their infancy, but both look promising (Pig Farming and Crop Farming)
Kenya: Our Staff was unable to achieve positive cash flow with the Bus Business in 2014. This due to terrorist attacks in the country and the Gov creating new laws for this type of business. There is discussion about selling the Bus and purchasing a Farming Tractor, with plow and trailer, which would be capable of operating 12 months per year with limited Gov intervention.
Ethiopia: Creating a self-sustaining business is difficult due to the ever changing laws of the country. Our Country Director has presented a few, but then the Gov imposes laws that would not allow the business to be self-sustaining. So they continue to seek and pray for God to open a path for them to set up a Self Sustaining Business.
House of Hope – Kenya: Is slowly becoming self-sustaining as a few partners are directly funding the operation for the coming year. 1464 patients were treated at our U4A Clinic and House of Hope Medical Center.
Water for Villages: two water wells are under way in two locations. And three Water Catchment Tanks were built in three other locations.
Orphan programs: 829 Orphans received animals, 34 orphans were adopted, and over 1,900 other orphans were assisted in some form.
Rehabilitation of teenage victims who are spiritually, psychologically, and socially damaged: 1,750 were reached and received care.
Lives touched by Christ:
4,639 people have given their life to the Lord in 2014
4,345 people have been baptized in 2014
190 small groups or house churches planted in 2014
Short term mission trips in 2014: U4A had four very successful trips in 2014. A total of 32 partners participated
With praise we thank God for including all of us in His work in Africa and around the world! What each of us does serving God has ripple effects around the world. And as God uses each of us in 2015, we pray that we all continue to be a blessing to the least, the lost, and the forgotten.
All of us at U4A will continue to work to fulfill our Vision: “To see grass roots movements sweeping across Africa, transforming communities, and bringing abundant life in Christ.” This through the successful application of our Mission: “To unite, equip, and mobilize individuals and organizations to transform their communities spiritually, socially, physically, and economically.” We can’t do this without you, please stand firm with us and invite others to join in this wonderful work.
A look at 2015 goals for U4A:
Raise up new partners to help engage in the work being done in Africa.
Provide Leadership Seminars to encourage our leaders and raise up new leaders to transform Africa for Christ.
Purchase 2 newer SUV’s for our staff offices in Kenya and Ethiopia as their current vehicles are not reliable.
Establish self sustaining businesses in Ethiopia for our Staff on the ground.
Supply the needs of our Medical Clinic and Mobil Medical Clinic to treat the sick and hurting.
Help Africans achieve their transformational goals through the program “Community Health Evangelism (CHE).”
See orphans adopted into local families in their village and supply animals to help care and provide for them.
Increase the rehabilitation work for teenage victims who are spiritually, psychologically, and socially damaged.
See droves of people come to know the Lord God as their personal savior through the above work in Africa and the world.
Of the above goals, one in particular is needed in the very near future. Our Staff in Kenya and Ethiopia need their broken down vehicles replaced to continue going into the country to lead, train, and share the Gospel. We anticipate each vehicle costing around $10K US dollars. If you would, please pray about partnering with us to answer this goal. Thank you.
We would ask you pray about joining us in 2015 on a mission/vision trip; contact us for trip dates. Most importantly, please stay in touch with us; you receive our monthly newsletter, but we don’t always hear from you, so let us know if there is anything we can pray about for you. We care deeply about you and want to stand together to serve our King and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Jan 2015 – Ken Martin
It’s a new year and all of us at U4A are thankful to be serving in this ministry. And we would like to send a special thank you to those who support Unite 4 Africa with their time, effort, prayer and finances. We strive to maximize this support to serve our brothers and sisters physical, emotional, economical and spiritual needs in Africa. We are resolute in our philosophy to transform communities by empowering the individual to take responsibility for each of the above listed four areas within their domain. As we come along side them with self sustainable means and technologies, to make possible their personal and village transformations goals. This work is all done in the hope that as we unite the body of Christ, and communities are transformed in His name, we will see larger impacts come as surrounding communities take notice and then desire to also be transformed by Christ.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Dec 2014 – John Tabor
The water of the Awash River in Ethiopia was cold but the enthusiasm was more than warm – it was very hot with anticipation and expectation. There was a discernable buz among the more than 150 new Christians who had walked many miles to be baptised. Over many weeks these new Christ followers from all backgrounds and experiences were taught the significance of being baptised. So, they were ready! What a privilege to participate with other pastors in blessing these new creations through their baptism.
In the past I know that I have touted Unite 4 Africa as being special – a ministry that accomplishes so much of what it sets out to achieve. But I have to add that U4A is really more than special – almost supernatural. I see their influence in the eyes of everyone the ministry touches. I see hope and heart and energy and love for brothers and sisters in the faith and outside the faith. Because of their work entire communities are transformed as are the short term ministry teams that visit. There is so much that is accomplished for the Lord and through the Lord and His sovereign touch on the leaders and workers of U4A.
There’s something else…joy. I’m convinced that Jesus touches those we minister to through us. He enables us to minister out of joy and its like a virus that spreads inexorably to every girl and boy and man and woman we meet with a joyousness that grows and spreads. The joy they receive marks them as His and cannot be shaken. Their heart’s desire is to know Him more…to know Him better…to know Him as it says in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Unite 4 Africa is helping that become a reality.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Nov 2014 – Jim Weisert
There are some amazing stories of changed lives that are occurring all around the world. And Africa is one of those continents that God is moving his people to boldly share His truth with others. As you all know Unite4 Africa (U4A) has staff in three countries; Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Through our staff and the leadership of our Founder and Executive Director Okongo Samson, we have trained up thousands of men and women for leadership roles in and around their own communities in most of the countries of Africa.
We use foundational tools from some of the leading world organizations like: CHE (Community Health Evangelism) – applying “Wholeistic Community Transformation” applications covering the physical, social, economic, and spiritual needs of communities; and a Biblical Oral Training tool from SIU (Scriptures in Use), to help share and teach the Gospel to Orality based communities; we also teach on the “Sanctity of Human Life” – a teaching tool from Life International, why every child and person matters to God; in addition we teach Leadership skills, Aids prevention, healthy living and cooking, and community care for orphans. Our staff is very busy doing the work God has called us to do.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Oct 2014 – OKongo Samson
A few years ago, during our trip to Ghana with a team from the USA, while training local leaders about empowerment and how they could holistically transform their lives and community from inside out by integrating their spiritual and physical needs, we met a young man who become a blessing to us and his community as well.
As we emphasizing the importance of participating and taking ownership of the change in their heart and the life they live in their community a young man, Zakari Abdi, came to me and Scott, who was part of the team, and shared his heart and passion with us and the initiative he has been considering. He found U4A’s approach and strategies appealing and enabling. He liked how these approached would help him to be responsible and accountable. He felt invested in his community and he shared his need of a small financial gift to start a micro – business. The business was a Saloon shop that would help support his family, of which none were employed, and allow him to give back to the community as his effort multiplied.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Sep 2014 – Jim Weisert
Annual Golf Tournament Rescheduled to Fri Oct 24th
We had to postpone the Annual Golf Tournament. The reason being is that we learned our partners in Tucson Arizona take spending time with their family on Saturdays very seriously, we praise them for that. But the result was we had very little traction for the event originally schedule on Saturday Sep 6th.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – Aug 2014 – Ken Martin
Young birds are often pushed out of the family nest by their parents. While it seems to be a harsh move, it’s absolutely necessary to get the young ones to understand what they’re capable of and move on with their lives. During a serious storm on the sea of Galilee, Peter was encouraged by Jesus to step out of the boat and meet him on the water. Peter actually did! He stepped out of the “safety” of the boat onto the water and made his way to his friend. Only after he started walking on water did his fear of what was going on around him cause him to waiver and start to sink. With the Lord’s help he had actually walked on water!
We have to remember in life to keep our sails up so the Lord’s wind can move us. Sometimes we let our ships sit in waiting for something good to happen or something to happen at all. Without our sails up we will rarely go in a fruitful direction. Sometimes we need to be kicked out of our own nests, at home, in relationships, in our workplace, in our communities and churches; all along our life path! Often we are surprised by the results of that kick. We find ourselves blessed in many ways we never would’ve known otherwise.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – July 2014 – Rob Rielly
More Than A Leg To Stand On
Last month I had the privilege to be part of a short term mission trip to La Cieba, Honduras. It was a an incredible blessing to see and be a small part of the work that God is doing in La Cieba. On this particular trip, much of our days were spent working on construction projects in stifling heat and humidity. We had to drink a minimum of 8 liters of water each during the day to prevent dehydration, so water breaks were mandatory on the construction jobs. It was during one such water break that I found myself wishing for the comforts of home, such as air-conditioning and power tools.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – June 2014 – John Tabor
I have been so privileged in my life to not only serve our great and glorious Lord but to participate with Unite 4 Africa in the many programs they have begun, nurtured and developed throughout Africa.
Africa is an amazing place! The people there are even more amazing! And yet, the ways in which we can serve the Lord there continue to grow. From one on one evangelism and mentoring to teaching about the sanctity of human life and Biblical sexuality in conference settings to teaching and preaching about God and His love for His people in churches and in the field…it is a place where one can really experience the John 17 unity that Jesus Himself prayed for.
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Note From The Unite4Africa Board – May 2014 – Jim Weisert
I try to spend time reading and or attending different lectures, conferences and seminars throughout each year that can help me become a better leader. Last week I attended the 2nd annual International Wholestic Missions Conference in Peoria AZ.
The unique thing about this conference is that the organizational host’s (Global CHE Network) approach to global missions is empowering communities to lift themselves up out of poverty who then train other local communities how to do the same. It is an incredibly successful approach to 21st century missions.
If you haven’t read the book “When Helping Hurts” and you’re involved in any kind of international or local serving organization, buy the book today, read it, and then make plans to attend next year’s International Wholestic Missions Conference being held Apr 29th – May 1st 2015. Your organization will become a great benefit to all you serve from the knowledge and applications you will learn.
Let me have the Leadership of CHE tell you about their approach:
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