Wednesday, July 16, 2003
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Wednesday, July 16, 2003 |
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Next time, you go with me ... okay? By JOHN HATCHER As carriers throw The Citizen in yards, I will be flying home from three weeks of mission and ministry in Uganda located in East Africa. Since I write this column on the other side of the three weeks, I want to anticipate my experiences. First of all, I hear that President Bush has plans to visit Africa, including Uganda, while I am there. Although I am positive my presence will not blip on the President's radar, I am genuinely glad he is going. Africa deserves more attention from the super power. There's more to Africa than diamond and gold mines and bananas. Uganda alone could feed all of Africa with a couple of improvements, which could be facilitated by someone like the United States. They need to mechanize their farming and build an infrastructure for transportation. The poor Ugandans can't get their produce to market. If the United States could spend $80 billion on a war in Iraq, how about spending three or four billion lifting up a country's ability to feed the continent? One of the greatest assets of countries like Uganda is the people. They have many sharp, intelligent, resourceful, and hard working folks. If there is a way to do something, Ugandans will find a way. With meager resources, they have some noteworthy achievements. Just look at the impressive skyline in downtown Kampala, the capital. The world could benefit so greatly with an empowered African citizenry. They need our help in building a first class education system. They need the help of American citizens who would agree to pay for the education of just one child. Ugandans don't know what public education is. If you don't have the money, your children stay ignorant. I will also report that of all the American audiences I have ever spoken before, none are more appreciative as the Ugandan Christians. They have received me in the past as a direct messenger of God. Funny thing: isn't that exactly what we men and women of the cloth are supposed to be and to be received as. They sit on the edge of their seats for the next word. They take notes on scarce small sheets of paper. They apply what they hear. Let me suggest something to the many American churches that are basically dead: sell your assets and send the money to Uganda. They will get more spiritual bang for the bucks than we will ever imagine. I know one pastor in Kampala who makes US $150 monthly. His church of 500 is bursting at the seams. He and his wife have started an affordable day school for community children. Plus, he has sent out more than 10 pastors from his church to start new churches in the countryside. When I visited his church in 2002, he honored me by asking me to baptize 25 recent converts mostly young adults. In addition, he and his wife have adopted six children orphaned by AIDS parents. Finally, I will share with you and my church that I would like to take a plane full of folks next time I go. Why? To change your life. To make you appreciate what you have. To make a contribution to a needy and grateful people. To see how most of the world lives for most of the world lives in third world conditions. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a fertile soil. Never before has the fruit been so ripe for the picking in these countries like Uganda. Would you like to go with me? Start saving your shillings. John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive Fayetteville, Georgia 30215 770-719-0303 |
