We find ourselves looking at Pauls’ writings to Timothy quite often. They speak into our situation of discipleship, young people in ministry, working with local churches where things are not always as they should be. It is always encouraging to see the struggles and challenges Paul and Timothy encountered and the way in which God carried them through.
2 Timothy 2: 1 to 7. At the end of this short passage Paul suggests to Timothy that he needs time to reflect on what he has just written so that he may gain insight. We did just that in our team time last week:
On the face of it these few verses talk about being strong, enduring hardship, serving as a soldier, competing as an athlete, working hard as a farmer. It would be easy to look at this from the legalistic, good works perspective, and conclude that what we achieve is through our own strength, sweat and labour.
Except that we are to do this “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. The hardship we endure is within His will for us, with Him as the commanding officer. The rules are Gods rules and the work is for His glory. Insight changed our perspective on this passage.
We sometimes feel overwhelmed by the scope and need of the work we engage in. We must keep on track by doing all of this in His grace.
The focus for November is on our team. Without them the work would not happen. They hold it together and make many of the decisions about how and where we work.
For those of you who don’t know, we have a very small core team led by Ian and Collin and then a much larger group of casual part time volunteers who get involved as and when the need is there. Our aim is for our team to be made up of young people in the process of discipleship who want practical experience in ministry.
We are far from perfect. We make mistakes, sometimes big ones ! But in a way that is what it is all about. That is how we all learn. Also in a country where mostly young people are looked down on and considered to have little to offer, we are out to see cultural change. We might be a young team, still learning, but we know about youth ministry and we have loads to offer.
Below are a few words from Eugene, our administrative assistant and Prosper, our full time Field and communications coordinator.
“I am Eugene, 22, and 1st born guy in my family! Nice, right? I am a student of NGO management with Social work at Cavendish University in Kampala. I seriously enjoy reading and am captured by the whole idea of psychology and how it can be useful. I am also part of the youth leadership team at Kampala Baptist church.
I have been involved with Youthworx for about 3 years. Its’ not al
Eugene
l been rosy, but it has been worth it. Outside of Youth work I am interested in gender and minority related issues (youth, reproductive health rights, disability etc) and I think my final year research paper will be in finding ways to improve these people’s rights.
My life verse is Joshua 1: 8 to 9 because I know that God is watching my back in all circumstances I find myself in”.
Prosper K
“I am Prosper Karatunga, a 2010 graduand from Makerere University with a degree in Mass Communication.
I got involved in Youthworx East Africa 7 years ago in my high school vacation. What originally started as a good excuse to get out of Kampala and enjoy travelling to different parts of the country has turned into a 7 year service to the Kingdom.
Over time I have seen myself grow into a more responsible and responsive leader through YEA. I have gained the opportunity of learning, applying and mastering leadership skills through observing the YEA leadership team, attending training and also implementing the knowledge acquired by leading mission teams.
YEA has granted me a platform to identify and exploit my gifting and skills so as to keep growing as a young man. I have worked all around Uganda and much of East Africa.
I am currently in the process of strengthening partnerships with our neighbours in Kenya and Burundi. I am visiting them and laying a platform for future work and partnership.”
November Prayer Points:
- Pray for all our team of volunteers.
- Many of the youth we work with are sitting important exams at present
- Some of our up country partners are needing to reduce or suspend work for lack of financial resources as the economy in the region tightens.
- Wisdom as we plan future work.
- For peace during the run up to Presidential elections due early next year.
- Edgar (Kenya) and Florent (Burundi) as they both prepare to get married very soon. And for Winnie and Shera their respective wives to be.
Thanks you once again for reading this newsletter and your commitment to pray for us and the work of YEA. If you have a suggestion for the topic in December please drop me a line by email on youthworx.ea@gmail.com
God bless
Ian.
