This is My Story

My names are John Mingala, and I am 32 years old. I was born and raised in Kibra - some of you may know my slum as Kibera. My wife is named Vivian Nashipai Oohing who is 27 years old. We have two kids named Kyle Winslet at 12 years old, and Victor Arose who is 2 years old. I produce disciples who produce more disciples now, but I wasn’t always this way.

Before I met Jesus through the work of the IMFC I was a robber. I led a gang of three boys, and we used to go to Waiyaki Way and rob people of their belongings. During the day we sold water, but at night we were stole. We used machetes and pen knives. We did this hijacking for more than four years from 2014 -2018, and that was when 2 of my colleagues were shot dead along the Loresho road near the Muthangari police station. Me and my other colleague had to run for the safety of our lives.

Fortunately, early in 2018 I met Xavier and Lawrence from the IMFC, and they told me a story of Jesus from the book of John 3. When they read me that story, it touched my heart, so I believed and I confessed by my mouth the sins that I had committed. God forgave my sins, and I am now born again both from water and the Spirit. My family is so happy that I am saved. And I thank God everyday that the IMFC shared the with me. They became my Paul and trained me using S.O.T. They showed me how to do DMM and how to share the five finger Gospel. And now I also move with the word, and I share with my Timothys. I no longer rob people, I am a solid follower of Christ and a leader in my slum - Kibera.

John Mingala

IMFC 2021 End of Year Letter to Donors and Volunteers

GOD has moved in some truly radical ways within IMFC in 2020 and 2021.  We have seen expansion into additional people groups in Uganda and several neighboring countries including explosive growth in Kenya.  With an annual budget equal to that of my local congregation, GOD has seen fit to bring over two-million people in one year to profess Christ as their Lord and Savior for the first time.  That is more than my entire, very large, denomination (local church growth, domestic missions and international missions combined).

 This year IMFC is praying to expand even faster and to penetrate even more people groups with the Simple but Transformative Gospel.  We also desire to see growth on the US side by sending more teams to central Africa.  These teams participate in the work and even more importantly encourage our brothers and sisters who live the work every day.  It is also our prayer that these state-side teams come back home with a completely renewed vision and passion for sharing the Gospel and Discipling those around them.

This growth continues to surpass our strategies, abilities, resources and even our imaginations.  If you support our Gospel-centric, Disciple-Making work, please pray for us.  You can find information about individual’s stories, some of the areas where we have work underway as well as information about our methods all on our website and Instagram.  Consider using these resources to help inform your prayers. Praying is helping.  If GOD moves you to help support us financially, it is easy to give online or at the address below.  If you want to engage with us first-hand and experience the work yourself (or even better – bring a whole team) you’ll find helpful material and contact information on the website.  We would Love to have you work with us in person.

One last way to help us is to get others connected to IMFC.  If you are an Instagrammer, follow us and repost our content.  Post links to our website on any of your social media platforms.  We enclosed duplicate materials in this mail-out; add short handwritten notes and mail them (or hand them) to friends who might partner with us.

In Christ,

The IMFC Board

Website: www.imfcworld.com

Instagram: @imfcworld

Facebook: @imfcafrica

FOLLOWING A LEGEND

Recently, I was asked what it felt like to be replacing a legend. My initial response was “Let me get back to you on that.”  Yes, you read that right - Jimmy Barry is retiring. It had been thought about, prayed about, and discussed for a long, long time, and finally the time seemed right, and when you read this, the transition will have already taken place.  

Replacing a legend though - it simply cannot be done. For example, consider Hank Aaron.   There have been plenty of power hitters batting fourth for the Atlanta Braves over the years, but no one will ever replace Hammering Hank - ever. I may be standing where Jimmy stood, but I am not Jimmy Barry. I didn’t start with nothing more than a desire to help people in dire poverty in a slum in Kampala, Uganda which ultimately became the movement of God that it is today. Jimmy Barry did that.  A decade and some more years later I came alongside.  In that time, I went from not knowing anything about JB, to learning his preferences for sweet tea. Strawberry is the key, by the way. I’ve bounced around in vehicles with him for thousands upon thousands of miles on some of the worst roads in the world. I’ve walked with him in a desert looking for a shade tree by a dry riverbed while considering what dehydration death feels like, and he made us laugh while sharing stories about his favorite milkshakes. I’ve listened to him teach four stage discipleship over and over again. I’ve watched him share the message that changed his life hundreds upon hundreds of times. Let’s not even talk about the times I’ve seen the five finger Gospel, and his latest training we call “The Tree.”  I’ve written down so many Jimmyisms, that a small book could be compiled. (Note to self: Compile a Jimmyisms Book.).  

Over the last four years I have learned that Jimmy Barry is an honest, Godly, simple, and quite funny man; he’s true to God, and his convictions. He is true to Pam and his daughters, and he is true to those in Uganda/Kenya/DR Congo/South Sudan that he loves so much. He is probably one of the greatest men that I have ever met, and I have never respected anyone more. I truly love that man, and I want to be just like him, because He has lived just like Jesus. He is the embodiment of 2 Timothy 2:2: And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

So replacing a legend, it can’t be done, but I’ll do my best. And in order to that very thing, I’m going to start out by doing exactly what he instructed me not to do. Jimmy and Pam Barry will be preaching at a church that he loves so much on December 5 in the morning service at 10:00am. In fact, this was Jimmy’s first church to pastor so many years ago. It is Mount Zion Baptist Church, located at 101 Mt. Zion Church Rd, Alexandria, Alabama 36250. Their phone number is 256-820-3931. Another important thing is they are hosting a reception to honor Jimmy and Pam from 2pm until 4pm that afternoon. Come by and share some stories and hugs to two very faithful servants of God. 

Treasures - The Old Piece of Wood

There are many more treasures on the walls and around my desk, but I think for now at least I’ll end this series with the story of this old piece of wood gifted to me by a friend. We became friends from the moment we met, but over time and through horific circumstances we became maybe closer than brothers. I preached his funeral just a month or so ago, after he finally lost a very long battle with a rare lung disease that I never even fully understood.

For decades in his life he had been a pillar of the community, a deacon, well respected, and he raised two beautiful, talented, sweet and funny daughters, but in one instant he did something that changed the course of his life. He could have spent years in prison, but a merciful judge didn’t allow that, but Satan kept whispering and sometimes shouting in his ear, that his life was over. Everything that he had ever done was useless. He was useless, and he often thought of suicide. Daily, sometimes more than that he would talk, cry, and sit there in silence, and I would listen. We would read some Scripture. If I remember correctly we read only one Scripture passage for almost an entire year, but we would talk about it daily - Psalm 42. In time, he stopped listening to that dark voice, and it was replaced by the grace of Jesus. He rediscovered his purpose, but this time He completely understood and felt deep in his soul the significance and freeness of the forgiveness that Jesus offered.

In his workshop, all alone, he began creating art. He would take useless rocks, old tin, wood or whatever, and transform them into something useful and beautiful. He would then give that art to people he met along the way and share with them the story of Jesus’ free gift of mercy, grace and forgiveness. He gifted each of my little family pens that he created out of rock. I don’t know how he did it without shattering the fragile things, but they were beautiful. They were useful, and we still use them.

And then one day, he called and asked me to drive to his state to eat lunch with him. I did, and he gave me the old piece of barn wood pictured above that he had turned into an Alabama “A”. He told me it was hard for him to make with him being a diehard South Carolina Gamecock, but he did it because he loved me.

I love this old piece of barn wood, largely because of the man who gave it to me, but I love it even more because it reminds me that God is never through with us. No matter how far we run from Him, no matter how many bad things we do that separates us from Him, He still loves us, and He wants a relationship with us. If we only confess our sins to Him, and turn from our ways, then He is faithful and just to save us. Then through discipleship He will transform us from our old useless selves and turn us into something beautiful.

This is my favorite gift of all.

God bless and go and find peace in HIm.

Steve D.

Treasures - The Gilded Box

Another treasure sitting on my desk reminds me that there will be work to do - lives to help - Gospel to share until the day I die. I’ve called this my gilded box from time to time, but it’s not really gold, rather it’s made entirely of tiny golden and brown and black beads. It might as well be gold though, because it’s truly a priceless treasure to me.

Like my other treasures I didn’t earn this one either. It was gifted to me by a sweet and very tall lady in the streets of Kitale, Kenya. We had just come from a meeting in a room above a local restaurant with 50 or 60 disciple makers, and we were walking back toward the vehicles to travel to yet another city to meet with other disciple makers, when this sweet lady approached me. She was carrying a small child on one hip and this little round box in an empty hand, with a couple of toddlers traipsing behind. It truly was amazing to watch her handle everything so efficiently. Women never cease to amaze me.

She stopped me there on that sidewalk, and said, “I need to give this to you.” I thought she was selling it, so I asked, “Ok, how much do you want for it?” She replied, “No, it’s like the Gospel'; it’s free; it’s my gift to you.”

Me: “To me? Why”

Her: “Because you brought my husband the Gospel that changed his life.”

Me: “But. . .”

Her: “No, let me finish. You brought my husband the Gospel that changed his life. He was so horrible, [and she went onto describe many despicable acts of which he was guilty] that I had arranged several men to kill him in the street. But he heard the Gospel that you brought him, and he changed. He was in that meeting upstairs with you, and now I am happy. My babies are happy. We are at peace.”

Me: “Ma'am, I don’t know your husband. I didn’t share the Gospel with him. I didn’t disciple him.”

Her: “Maybe not, but you brought the Gospel to the man who did.”

Well, after researching a bit, the truth is that I didn’t begin that line of disciple makers that brought the change in that man’s life and made her so happy and blessed, that line actually started about 7 - 8 years ago in Kampala, Uganda when Jimmy Barry shared the Story with a man named, Michael. And then Vincent Nzasenga (I think) made Michael into a disciple maker that enabled the Gospel to change her husband’s heart. But I understood her sentiment. To her it didn’t matter who brought the Gospel to her husband, what really mattered was that someone did, and now her life and that of her family is better. She has a husband of whom she can be proud, and who she doesn’t want to murder anymore.

The Gospel changes things, but it doesn’t do anything if no one shares it. My gilded gift sits on my desk reminding me everyday that I have a purpose, and that purpose will never cease to be. If you know Jesus, then you have this very same purpose. Don’t ever forget that.

Merry Christmas Eve.

Steve D.

Treasures - The Matchstick Boat

Back in the old days, when we served in Costa Rica, we were working a small part of the Pacific seaside city of Punta Arenas with a school administrator who was planting a church. At that time our custom was to first complete a prayer walk in the area we were targeting, and then do some sort of gathering event, where the Gospel would be shared.

To some people a prayer walk is a quiet contemplative thing, but as you might guess I have a hard time being quiet, so I trained our volunteers to begin relationships with people they might come across. I suggested they don’t bother someone who is consumed by their work, but rather look for people who might be hanging out clothes to dry, taking a break from fixing their vehicles, or watching some children playing while sitting under the shade of the cashew fruit trees. I asked them to approach people smiling and to tell them the truth that we were in their area simply praying for their community and for anyone who might have a specific need. Usually people would tell us to pray for their community or family - just generalities, and we would right there in the open for all the world to see pray with them. Then we would say, “Gracias, Dios le bendiga” and move along. Quite often those we had prayed for would hunt us down when we were already down the street or around the corner and ask us to come back with them and pray for their real needs, such as: serious illnesses, drunken or drugged spouses or children, work, relationships - you name it, and we probably prayed for it. These prayer walks created some close bonds with people quickly.

In this particular area of Punta Arenas, we found lots of fishermen, who were repairing nets, working on engines, and cleaning their boats. I mean we found a lot of them. It looked to me like the whole fleet was in the canals or docked. I didn’t suspect anything, because I really don’t know how professional fisherman do things, but we came to find out that this was abnormal. One fisherman asked us to pray, because pirates were boarding their boats at sea and taking anything of brass or had significant value. He relayed a story of one fisherman who resisted and the details weren’t pretty. We prayed, but then within minutes another fisherman had gathered many, many local fishermen, and as many of their families as they could, and we circled up to pray God’s protection from the pirates. We shared some Bible stories (I can’t remember which ones), talked with people some more, and invited them to an event we were having the next day, where there would be free food and more Bible stories.

The next day, they came. They packed the place. We were outside, and we really didn’t have enough room even outside. It was amazing. The church planter was going to be one very busy man. After the volunteer team left, I stayed behind to work with him for a few days on the followup, when a man brought to me this matchstick boat. It’s a replica that he made of the fishing boats in the Punta Arenas fleet. He made this while he was awaiting a miracle for the pirate problem. He told me with tears in his eyes, "The prayers worked, God saved us from the pirates.” Later I learned that God saved them by sending the US Navy to have training exercises with the Costa Rican Coast Guard just off shore, and the fishermen went back to work.

Prayers work. God listens. Sometimes He even uses the US government. God wants you to share with Him your hurts, worries and all your fears. This Covid Christmas is going to be very different, but God will see us through. He will see you through. I hope that in your life you have something like this matchstick boat that will remind you of His greatness, goodness and mercies every day.

Be blessed and Merry Christmas.

Steve D.

Treasures - The Big Bug

During this Christmas season, I’m writing a few short little stories of some of the gifts that I have received that have meant so very much to me. The other day I included two pictures - one of the gift resting in my office, and the other of the gift giver handing it to me. That blog post can be found below. Today, I can’t provide a picture because one doesn’t exist; you see I never thought to take a picture of it, and it sat on my desk for decades before a small child played with it, while I was meeting with his parents, and sadly it didn’t survive the encounter. This was probably my first gift ever received as a missionary, and it came so unexpectedly. Even though I no longer have it, I will never forget it nor its’ giver.

I received it from a man named Pablo, who was a guard at a camp in rural Costa Rica - just west of San Jose, where we were hosting a pastoral retreat. The retreat was awesome! West Hartselle Baptist Church, from North Alabama paid for the event, and they provided much help during it. They cared for the entire pastoral family. They taught classes and played lots of football (soccer). In fact, from this pastoral retreat many great changes among the Costa Rican evangelical leadership began taking place. But let me get to the story of the Big Bug.

Picture of the Bug I call one of my treasures.

Early every morning as the sun was rising it was my habit to walk the gated compound and pray; as I finished I would stop and talk with Pablo, who was the camp’s security among other duties. Every day we chatted about football, and we would end by praying together. The pleasant little encounter took maybe 15 minutes or so. The 4 day weekend retreat quickly passed and on the day when everyone was to exit for home, Pablo gifted me with a Big Bug glued and shellacked to a rock. Every day during his rounds he would collect the bug parts that the birds had deposited when they finished with them, and then he would reassemble the individual parts by gluing them to a small carved little wooden piece in the place of the bugs body that had been digested. He would then place the bug on a rock and shellack the whole thing leaving a little fragile statue of one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful and strange insects. When he gave it to me, I asked him why would he give me something that took him so long to make. He said, “It is because you know my name.”

The Lord through Pablo and his little gift taught me the most important lesson a missionary could ever know, and I learned this lesson the easy way.

My friends, be blessed and be a blessing,

Steve D.

Printing Books in Kenya

Have you ever wondered what a print shop looks like in Kenya or Uganda? Have you ever wondered how we print so many Bible Way books? Watch this little video and be blessed.

Interesting - wasn’t it? If you choose to help print these life changing books, you can donate to the IMFC in this link below. Thank you.

Treasures - The Box

As a missionary, often you receive gifts and honors that were never sought nor earned. These gifts come from people who don’t have much, but they gift it to you freely from some deep place in their heart. Their gift and your appreciation of it means the world to them and to you, and as such it becomes a very special bond between both of you and that time and place. The treasure eventually finds itself sitting alongside other treasures that you keep close to yourself. In the picture there are two boxes. The box with the Bama A was given to me by my daughter when she was just a little girl. I keep foreign coins in it, and it has sat on every desk I have used since Han gave it to me.

The grey box was given to me by a beautiful a lady in a slum in Kampala, Uganda. I met her the day I was going to visit and interview Manna recipients with Vincent Nzasenga. She was such a beautiful and smart lady. Her story is this: As she was learning to save the money she would have used to buy food in order to start a business, she thought that all the rest of the people in her group would need a safe place to store their savings, so she had the idea to find wood and make saving boxes and sell them to those that were in her group. Her idea was a success. By the time Manna had ended for her, she had used the profits she made from the sell of those little boxes to build and sell small chicken coops, and she no longer had to sell herself to earn meals for her children. I was interviewing her about a year after she completed the program, and her business had grown to the point she was making and selling small tables and chairs. She even employed several local men who made the furniture for her now.

At one point in the interview, she began asking me questions. She asked about my family. She noticed my gray beard and thought I was very old and asked my age. I told her, and she began thinking. After a while she sent her employee, who is in the picture, to bring me two boxes. She handed them to me, and told me that I needed to save money to take care of my family after I die. I tried to pay for them, but she wouldn’t let me. She explained, my family would need its contents after I die.

I don’t know how COVID 19 has affected that dear lady’s business and livelihood, but I know it has. The resulting lockdowns from the pandemic have hit Africans very hard. We have been fortunate that God prompted many people to give extra to the IMFC this year which has enabled us to help literally thousands of people in ways that we have never had to do before. If you were one of them - thank you very much. Pandemic Relief is now a part of next year’s budget, but we could use some help completing the budget. If after praying you feel compelled to help provide some relief we would encourage you to click on the button below. Thank you for your response. God speed and God bless.

Steve D

A Challenging Kind of Year

2020 has been a different and most challenging kind of year, but God has blessed. Reports come in on FaceBook from all across Kenya and Uganda. Daily people are hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and surrendering their lives to Him. House churches are meeting and new ones are starting. Last month alone over 40,000 Bible Way books were printed and given to followers of Jesus. This is the most IMFC has ever printed and distributed in one month, and it wasn’t nearly enough to meet the demand! Manna Ministry is working full speed  in Kampala and Arua, and CoVid 19 relief was send to thousand across Uganda and Kenya. Maama Kits are being given to women in need of them as they prepare to deliver their babies in Kampala. The sanitary pad workshops are still happening. And all this is taking place when the countries are still somewhat locked down from CoVid 19. I thank the Lord and you who have stood with us in prayers and support. In many ways the work of IMFC is doing more now than at anytime in its 15 year history. God's Kingdom is not defeated by CoVid! To the Lord Almighty Jesus Christ be the glory.

Here is a story Paulino sent me from Arua and the work we do among the Sudanese refugees. Thanks for making these stories possible.

Joyce Z Oboch is a South Sudanese woman who came from upper Nile Region in South Sudan, Jongle state, Buma county. It is an administration area in South Sudan on border line with Ethiopia. She traveled from there to Uganda in 2014 due to the war in South Sudan. Her husband decided to bring them to Uganda to live as refugees in the refugee camps here in Uganda to save the lives of his children. 

Her husband’s name is Koroka Lagalo and is 50 years of age. He is a military man working in wildlife department in South Sudan. He has four wives. The first wife has four children but unfortunately she passed away leaving the children with Joyce. The second wife has seven children, the third wife, another Joyce, has four children, and the last wife has three children. This is a total of children 18 children in the family. Also he has relative children of 41 living on the compound plus Joyce who is caretaker here in Arua. The total number is 60 persons in the family of Joyce that she cares for.

The husband of Joyce managed to send some money, like two hundred USD, from year of 2014 up to 2017. In May of 2017 he stopped sending money to family because everything became tough in South Sudan. He lost his job because of war in South Sudan. Also, the US dollar exchange rate against South Sudan pound became very bad for the pound. That is why he abandoned the family up to date due to no job in Tourist side and he does not have money to bring them back to Sudan. He has left them to the hand of Joyce and the refugees camp. From that day he stopped sending money and he also stopped communication with wife and children. He has closed all mobile phones up to now. 

When Joyce saw that the children will die in her hand, she tried to work for people to get money for survival plus she got a little food from UNHCR in refugee camp. From 2017 up to 2020 she was managing one meal a day. When COVID 19 broke out she lost everything, her business with her customers, because everyone is now broke without money. This is how she lost hope in life and living in this world. 

When I was moving around the areas within Arua, I heard from LC Area Leader Council in area called Oil Perish The LC told me there is a woman who is suffering with children in the area. I told the LC to lead me there. When we arrived, she told me thank God for your my brother. She told me she knew that someone will come to rescue her and the children. I saw life was very difficult for her and I felt sorry. I said IMFC has come to save their life like the children of Israel whom God saved from Egypt bondage to lead to their promise land. That’s what IMFC does. It leads poor and refugees people to their final distinction. I prayed with her and shared the story from John 3:1 to 8 about Jesus and Nicodemus. She accepted Jesus to be her boss and to be born again. We included her in Manna Ministry and started giving her food. Now she is starting new business by cooking tea, coffee, milk and dry tea to their fellow Sudanese.

Joyce is very happy and excited for what International Missionaries for Christ did for her life and living. She ask God to make IMFC grow bigger to support vulnerable people like her.  She is thankful for the blessed hands who extended their heartfelt love to her and rest of the world. 

Praise the Lord……………………………………                                        

Paulino

Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving. Remember Jesus Christ is Lord of Heaven and Earth regardless of diseases and presidential elections. 

Jimmy

MANNA Continues Even During COVID

CoVid may have disrupted much in our lives and the world, but Manna Ministry continues right through CoVid. Here are the latest updates from Vincent who leads the work of IMFC in Kampala, Uganda. 

Last week and early this week we gave out food in the communities, Banda and Mutundwe Andy. It went well. They were thankful for the support we gave them. 

Many people in communities are still struggling how to get food. They cannot afford to buy it because they are not working and others lost their small businesses due to the Covid lockdown of the whole country. 

The ladies who are in the Manna program were very, very happy for the food. They were telling us how some of the men ran away from home because of the responsibilities at home. They have no jobs and could not support the family, so they left leaving the women with kids. But because of the food the women receive from us they have hope. 

These ladies are trying to do something for survival. Some are washing peoples clothes and others have started small business. There was great joy as they received the food because it means opportunities and life saving.

Thank you so much for the support these ladies can smile because this provision brought hope to them.

Gorret’s Story

I have an interesting story from one of our Manna recipients. During covid many people lost hope and had no idea what to do. Many lost jobs and are at home hopeless. Many cannot manage to feed their families.  We got Gorret when some one pointed us to her because of the condition she was in.

At the first Manna food distribution we taught them to save and start small business. For Gorret it was very different, she didn't know where to start from because she was not working, her husband had left her with her children and she had lost hope. Yes she had received food but had no money to save. 

Gorret got someone to give her some 3000 shillings. She wanted to use that to buy a cow head but the money was not enough so she bought chicken meat, 4 pieces, and came back. Reaching home, her neighbor requested her to re sell it to them because they didn't know where to buy. She did and got profit of 4000.  She realized how people need food and that's how she started this business. She saw an opportunity and she used it. She started with 7000 shillings and now is now using 70000. She is very hopeful as her business grows.

Gorret prayed to receive Christ and is working on the second book in Bible Way. She is involved in a house church that meets outside her home and is waiting to be baptized when the CoVid 19 restrictions are lifted. Life has changed for Gorret. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Now a special prayer concern. One of IMFC’s key leaders is Ocen David in Tororo. David has been in poor health for many years, but has worked hard, shared the gospel with many regardless his sicknesses and has led a large movement in his area. Today, he is very, very sick. Please pray for him, his family and the work he has influenced in and around Tororo, Uganda. David is a friend. Thanks.

Have a great weekend and may the Lord bless you and your family in these uncertain times.

Jimmy
www.imfcworld.com
jimmy@imfc.us

When Life Hurts Most There is HOPE

The story below is one of hope fresh from the field today. Enjoy. . .

Frederick and Byakatonda Yusufu

I want to share with you a story of Muslim man who got saved and was persecuted by his own. Byakatonda Yusufu is working with Frederick [Both are pictured] in Banda, spreading the message that changed his life. Frederick found him while he was very frustrated and was encouraged and now is working with him. He is not the one who led him to Christ but he was the one who trained him how to share the message that changed his life. He was there, but none of the so called pastors were able to help him but Frederick did and he has hope now.

Byakatonda Yusufu is 69 years old comes from Kamuli district, he is the father of six children. Yusufu comes from Muslim background all members of his family are leaders in Muslim region and even him was a leader in Muslim but after hearing a message he prayed to receive Christ. 

When his family heard that prayed to receive Christ they wanted to kill him but he managed to escape and came to Kampala to look for refuge that's when he met Frederick in the Banda community sharing the message.

Yusufu was very frustrated and had no where to stay and didn't know what next,  Frederick shared with him again and he prayed for him so that he can get where to stay, and that's how they started working together. He told me that all the pastors didn't help him, but only Frederick encouraged him and got hope again.

Being a baby Christian he didn't know any thing about discipleship, but now can share because Frederick trained him. He was rejected by his fellow Muslims and even his own children denounced him - that he is not part of them, but he has a new family here those who share the word of God.

Byakatonda is faithful man working with Fredrick, he is leading other men who are sharing the message that changed their lives too. He told me that he no longer fears what Muslims will do to him, because he has Christ, and he will fight for him. 

Yusuf has passion, courage and love for the work he is doing and he is great full for the love and encouragement he received from us through Fredrick.

They are so many people who are like Yusufu was.rejected and persecuted because of their faith in Christ, some lost hope others lost their lives, others has no where to stay, let's pray for these people that they will find peace in their heart. Pray that they will find refuge more in Christ . Yusufu asked me to continue praying for him that he will continue moving around sharing and training others who will run with the message to the rest of world. He is so thankful to God and grateful to Frederick who welcomed him and helped him, trained him how to share with others; he now knows that church is not the building but the body of Christ. When life hurts most, there is still hope, Yusufu found hope in Christ.

Thank you friends and keep praying for the work which is spreading every where that even the Muslims will get saved.

Thank you, in Christ alone,

Vincent.

GROWING THINGS

Everyone who has ever seen MANNA operate in person is excited watching lives change for the better. When people learn to save money and invest it in a little business hope springs forth. Entire families can change for the better. Read this story from the MANNA team below. You’ll be blessed.

View fullsize

Alex and Naome

This is a story of Naome Ashaba from Banda. We got Naome as someone pointed her to us for the situation she was in after her husband left her in the house with her children. It wasn't easy for her for the beggining, but slowly she was able to catch up through the training on how to save and start the small business. But for her she had an idea to start something different, she knows how to preety hairs but had no capital and she decided to start saving 

Slowly slowly and start flower beds in Namboole after someone told that her that she can make some shillings. So that's how she started Naome is very very happy for the business; its working for her well, and she did not start with big capital. Below is her story

Ashaba Naome she is single mother of 3 children and is 25 years old from Banda, through her savings, she was able to start flower beds in Namboole; she said it was because of food she received from MANNA. And she is so greatful. We found her with lots of pain after she had separated with her husband and she had lost hope completely. But now she is so happy. She sells each flower at 1000/= , others at 3000/= then others at 5000/= depends on demands of her customers. 

She has a plan to start a Saloon (Cutting Hair) of her own and as also she continues with her flower business. Alex prayed with her to receive Christ, and she is very very great full for the support of food and prayers.

She requested me to continue praying with as plans and business continue growing. She started with a capital of 20,000 hiring a place and 50,000/= for buying seedling and she is so so great full.

Thank you brothers and sisters for prayers even in this hard time for covid people can plan and do something, Naome is former manna recipient from February to July but she is now smillng, she told me that covid disturbed her so much because people were not moving so it was hard to get customers.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Everyone should love a story with a happy ending. Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving.

Blessings,

Steve DuVall

LIFE IN SLUMS IS VERY VERY HARD

Since both Jimmy and I are trapped on this side of the world right now, we have discussed how we can best encourage those around us. The blog post we shared last week was one way we decided to encourage you, so we shared the manna success story of a beautiful mother of six named Hanifa. I was fully prepared to do the same thing with a post this week, and Vincent sent us a report of another beautiful family, but I warn you it’s not so encouraging. I thought about it; I prayed about it, and finally decided to share it, because in its darkness it might motivate us to think, pray and do something for others - especially those who have no voice in the world. Thank you Vincent.

Natukunda and her son

When you talk about life in slums some people have different answers for that, but the reality life in slums is very very difficult, you will find many many things happening in slums, there is prostitution, drugs, drunkards, torture, domestics violence, children abuse, men abandoning their families, poverty and many others.  During this covid lockdown I came across one family who is one of our Manna recipients whom I found very stressed full because of her son whom was tortured by the relatives. Natukunda Fauziah is married and is 26 years old. She is the mother of 3 kids. Fausia grew up in the slum of Namuwongo in different land because she doesn't know where her family is she has never seen them. Life was very difficult for her. She could sleep here ,there, and ended up having an unwanted kid. Fauzia later on got married in the slum of Banda where she has 2 kids with this man. Because of poverty Fauzia could not manage to help her son and was forced to give him to her in-laws Her sister and her husband took him, in the name of helping her, but instead of helping him, he got problems. This lady tortured the boy to extent of letting him stand in the chemicals that burnt his feet and the boy has lost one his toes. By the time I found him, he was clotting and I advised her to take him to the better hospital which was hard for her because she didn't have money for treatment.  But good enough she had saved something through the manna program, and she had even started a small business. She had used what she saved to meet medical bills. This boy is six years old and was tortured by the people he knew. Many children are going through this kind of life in the hands of relatives. Others are in child labour because parents cannot afford to take care of them and are forced to give them to other people, and they are being tortured. Some have been burnt; others have lost their lives. Please let's pray for the children in slums that they will find hope and peace as they grow. And let's pray for the families in slum areas that they will have peace and joy . That husbands will live in harmony with their wives. Fauzia was tortured mentally and her son got marked on his body where he won't ever forget what happened to him. We gave counsel to Fauzia , and she has settled now. Today she told that she is breathing because of the word of hope we shared with her and received Christ as her lord and savior. 

In April, another husband killed his wife and his two kids in the Banda slums during this lock down. Many families are toned down due too much much poverty that has increased especially in the slums. Please join us in prayers as we work in these communities that God will bring total peace and families to unity again and for more provision.

Thank you so much and may God bless you more and more. Thank Papa for all things you have done to these people, may the Almighty continue using you and bless you more and more.

Vincent.

Thank you Vincent for teaching us that it isn’t all about us. If you so chose to make a difference please call, text or email me or Jimmy, see how you can pray. Decide to be their voice in a world that doesn’t care.

Steve DuVall

Warning: Following this link will take you to pictures you may not want to see.

During the Covid Lockdown

2020 was supposed to be the biggest year of US volunteers to Uganda and Kenya that the IMFC has ever seen, but things have turned out differently. In fact, both Jimmy and I are sidelined here in the US. Receiving news and reports from Uganda has been a bit difficult, but we manage to stay in touch. Communications with Kenya has been much better. Here in the US our lives have been drastically altered, but even more so for our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world.

Many IMFC volunteers know, love and respect Nzasenga Vincent and his passion for reaching Kampala and helping those who hurt the most, and just last Friday he sent his greetings to you along with this short report of one Manna recipient, which I’m sure will bless your heart.

Hanifa of the Slum Kabowa

During covid lockdown I was able to move in all communities where we worked and so I went to Kabowa where I met Hanifa. She is the former manna recipient of last year, Hanifa is married and has 6 children and 1 dependant. Hanifa learnt savings from us during our trainings and went and put it into practice. She was able to buy a second hand sewing machine at 250000 shillings through her saving [about $65 US] and started sewing old clothes for the community who could pay her some 300-1000 shillings then she got idea of roasting maize, so she could do two jobs at once. She didn't stop from saving during manna and she continue slowly slowly. When the lockdown came and she couldn't work she got her friends who are in mattoke business, she joined them to buy matooke from the village and bring them to town. The trucks that were carrying food were the only ones that were moving that’s how she joined. Right now Hanifa is on another level she sells matooke, sells roasted maize and also sews clothes for the people.

This is what she told me, all this it is because of the help of food you gave me and training about saving and start small business, it worked for me. Hanifa is very grateful for the support of food. Her life and family has been changed she very very happy. She said that may God continue using you as you support more who are like her.

She is thankful, thank you for prayers and support. I took her picture while selling matooke.

God bless.you.

Nzasenga Vincent

Please know that we thank you as well. Your prayers and support for the IMFC changes lives - thousands and thousands of lives. Godspeed and stay safe.

Steve DuVall

TIMES HAVE CHANGED. WE ADAPT

Giving money directly to the people in Manna Ministry has never been in our game plan. In fact, it is something we said we would never do; but, we are doing just that. Why? Corona Virus 19. 

The President of Uganda has issued an order that only the government can give food to the people in need. Those who violate his order can be arrested. The result, we cannot give the people we have promised to help what we promised. So, what can we do? Exactly what we said we would never do: Send them the money to buy their own food. Paulino has already delivered this money to the refugee families in Arua and Benon is in the process of sending the Manna recipients in Kampala mobile money. The men of IMFC who work with the families can still go and work with them. They have to observe the social distancing rules outlined by the government and be sure to finish before the curfew begins at 2:00  PM, but it is possible to help, encourage the families to use the money wisely and actually hold them accountable to do so. 

Here is a brief description from Vincent who leads the work in Kampala, Uganda of what life in the slums of Kampala now:

Life in the communities is very difficult. Markets are open but only to those with boda bodas can get there and but they must stop at 2pm. Those who are getting medicines are those near the hospitals. Getting medicine is hard. Last week we lost one Manna recipient who couldn't access medicine. Her name was Veronica. She had the HIV Virus and high blood pressure. When they lockdown everything, it became hard for her and she did not get her medicine. She lost her life. People in the community say they are not worried of Corona virus but of hunger. 

I was in field today, everyone is crying of hunger. Government is giving out food but to few people.  We talked to many different people in community who want to go back to the village but they do not have money for transport and food. Clean water is very hard to get also. Many of the men who are IMFC leaders in the communities cannot find work and their families are suffering from hunger. We found some women crying that their men abandoned them and their families immediately after the President announced the quarantine and lockdown because they could not support themself and their family. Everything is in mess.

Today we also received calls from community telling us that 2 expectants mothers were in labor pain. We had 2 mama kits that we had kept for emergency and Jotham had to run them to the women. He found they had no way to reach the hospital so he took them to the police so that they can get help.

This week I was looking into the information we got from the recipients, specifically on the number of children. This time we have 1,087 children in the families in both areas of Manna. These are the ones suffering most and the people with the HIV virus. Please join me in prayers as we pray for these kids that God will provide for them and there will be peace very soon.

 Paulino, who leads the Sudanese Refugee work in Arua, writes:
The reason behind why we did not distribute food items this time around is because we are respecting and adhering to the law set by H.E the President of republic Of Uganda. The President is seeking the possible solution of the spread of the deadly virus that prompted him to make a lockdown of people within the country. But as soon as this lockdown ends we shall be in position to resume our usual food distribution not money again…We are thankful for what IMFC has done to us at this hard time of tears in our eyes for what this evil corona virus did to you and us.

 Also, we have been able to help some of the people in Kenya who are suffering. It maybe small, but it is what we can do at this time. This is from one of Geofrey Masika’s Facebook post who leads the work in Kenya:

Yesterday, IMFC - Kenya through our volunteers Brother Daniel and sister Sarah managed to share food support to our brethren at Kisamis area, Kajiado County in Kenya to help them during such challenging times when the world is attacked by a deadly virus Covid19 that has left millions of people jobless, hopeless and with some having no basic necessities like food, water and medication. These few individuals who received the food support, belongs to over 36 families and each family hosting between 8 to 13 people per household. So, approximately, 360 people are going to have something to eat this week at Kisamis alone. Countrywide here in Kenya, approximately 9000 people are going to be beneficiary of the limited resources that has been donated from IMFC towards food support during Covid19 April, 2020.

Thanks for your prayers, your concern and support. Many have called or texted me wanting to know how the people were doing in Uganda and Kenya, and how IMFC is doing in this time of CoVid 19. I hope this gives you some insight of how they are doing and how we are working through this. Thanks for loving the people and for loving us.

I am praying for you and your family during this time. I pray you stay safe from this virus and that you are surviving this difficult time economically. 

 Jimmy Barry

Happy Days in Nairobi

Thanks for your prayers. January and February were very fruitful months. Three wonderful groups of volunteers came to work with us in Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda and the Lord blessed. The Gospel was shared, people were provide with food, Mama Kits were given to expectant Moms in the slums and many women were taught how to make reusable sanitary pads. The Spirit of the Lord was very present. More than 2100 prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior through the work of the volunteers, house churches were started, Bible Way books were given to new disciples of Jesus and seeds were planted for the gospel to spread to more slums and counties. 2020 begin in a wonderful way.

Then the Corona virus hit and in just a matter of days all of our lives changed. You have prayed for IMFC and been a part of our lives and work for the Lord in Africa, now I want you to know that I have asked the men and women of the IMFC team in Uganda and Africa to pray for you and your family as we face the battle with the Corona virus here in the US. They are. 

Some have asked me through email and text how this Corona virus outbreak is impacting the people of Uganda and Kenya and how it is affecting IMFC’s work. Here are a few excerpts of email and messages I get from some of the guys there. I think this will give you a picture of life among the people of Africa during the corona virus outbreak.

 Vincent, IMFC Team Leader, Kampala

Hello Mzeei, hope you are good. This side the number of patients with Corona has increased from 1 to 9. We do not know how far it will go but the news we have heard is that those patient are now improving. Their temperature is normalizing, so there is so much hope. Today they got one person in the area where we are working. He was hiding because he had escaped from quarantine in Entebbe but the authorities came and took him and his family for the test. Some people who live in the slums have moved back to the village for fear. Things are not easy but we are praying that the virus will stop from spreading.

For Manna Ministry, we are no longer meeting the way we used to. Everything has changed. We are meeting 2 by 2 and sometimes 1 by 1. We are keeping a distance of 4 meters apart as the authorities have guided us. The time they stopped people from meeting in groups we had already given the Manna food out. We are planning next month to meet 2 or 3 families and after they have gone we let another group of 3 come and take their food. I know the first food drop will give us a picture and then we can work out more details with LC’s and Authorities to make sure everything goes well. 

For the Mama kits we are giving out, we are meeting 2 or 3 people and some time meeting individuals. We are encouraging them and praying with them. 

About sanitary pad workshops, we had one planned for last Saturday but we feared it would involve more than 5 people and canceled. We are still thinking how to do it in the way that it may not hurt authorities. Its a bit challenging, but it's teaching us a better way to handle some issues in times like this one. We survived Ebola; we shall overcome this one too.

 Xavier, IMFC Team Leader, Nairobi

Here in Nairobi we continue to trust the LORD. As of yesterday we were marked as one of the highest risk places in Kenya along with Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. This is a result of the lack of discipline here in Nairobi. People have not followed the government’s directive to stay at home. On the other hand, speaking out of experience for most of our people in the slums, they survive from hand to mouth meaning they can't afford to stock-up any food for their families, hence they have to get out and try to find work to buy food and pay rent. In fact, I have heard some people say they would rather die from CORONA instead of hunger. That’s how bad the situation is. So as I write to you now, we have had many requests from our members who have tried to maintain the quarantine seeking food support and rent desperately, but as you know our hands are tied. So we are requesting our prayer team out there to go on their knees for these beloved ones, as we are also doing the same. Pray that the LORD may intervene according to His will and power to help His people.

 Geofrey, IMFC Team Leader, Kenya

On behalf of our organization, I have received a number of phone calls from our IMFC fraternity countrywide crying for immediate help to enable them purchase food, water and medication since the government gave a directive of staying at home for 15 to 30 days. As you well know Papa Jimmy out of the experience you have witnessed while in Africa, most of our people in Kenya and those helping us (IMFC) with our mission activities are jobless and a few earns their living from casual jobs and others own few small business enterprises like selling tomatoes, local eggs, second hand clothes which most are imported from China, charcoal seller and many other just to mention a few.

Here, are some of the requests among many coming from our two active brothers whom you a familiar with. The first one is brother Stephen Okoth Okelo nicknamed as "Mr. Cartoon". Brother Stephen is leading our missionary work at a place known as Mishegwe at  Kangemi slum areas. He is a father of three children, married to one wife and taking care of his mother and three young siblings. He has been jobless for a while though surviving on casual jobs at constructing sites such as sand manual mixers and brick carriers. Since the directive to stay at home, most construction companies closed their sites and it has been so difficult for him to put food on the table for his family. He is also much worried of house rent for next month because already he has unpaid balance for this month of March. 

The second request comes from Brother Julius Owino, who is leading our work at Line-Saba in Kibera slums. Brother Julius is a private teacher who is paid based on the number of days he is at work.Since the directive was also given by the government, he is much worried of house rent, food for his family and medication bills. As you know, life in slums entails many poor hygienic conditions. Brother Julius has eight people he is taking care of in his households and currently he has shortage of food, water and medical bills. 

These two brothers, reflects the current situation here in Kenya and the number of phone call requests I am receiving on a daily basis countrywide on behalf of IMFC - Kenya.

 I am praying for you and your family. Stay as safe as you can. Keep trusting the Lord and live His life. Life has changed but the Lord's mission has not. There are many opportunities in the middle of confusion, fear and problems. Seize the day.

Jimmy

Why I Can't Retire at 65

Saturday I fly to Kenya. Three teams of volunteers from Illinois, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia will be joining me in the next two months. One in Uganda. Two in Kenya. I will miss the family and being at home but a new year, 2020, is here. 

 Last year was marvelous. 642,612 people in Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, South Sudan and Tanzania heard the Gospel message of Jesus Christ from tens of thousands of ordinary people who had been changed by that very Gospel themselves, and then prayed to ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. 16,602 of them found safe(?) water to be baptized into the name of their Savior Jesus Christ. 256,800 Bible Way books were printed and given to them to study. House churches were formed. The Bible was studied. Help was given to the neediest of families with counsel to save and start businesses. Lives were changed physically and spiritually. Thanks for your prayers. It was a very good year.

 But 2020 has come and with it a fresh vision from the Lord; not for just a new year, but for a decade. In the next 10 years, 2020 - 2029, we are praying and working to see 20,000,000 people come to find Jesus as Lord and grow to become Disciple Makers in Eastern and Central Africa. This maybe a big number but it represents less than 4% of the population. This is a large challenge but it is a small vision compared to the need in Eastern and Central Africa that will number more than 550,000,000 people in population.

 We believe this vision can and will be achieved by passionate men and women who have been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are unafraid to share it with their families and friends. Their changed lives will give credibility to the message they share. There will be no mass evangelistic efforts with high powered speakers and musicians. That’s not own game plan. We are simply committed to one thing: To be passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who make other passionate disciples who are able to grow other passionate disciples. We are praying for a grassroots movement of ordinary men and women from Eastern and Central Africa who love Christ and will boldly share his message as you see in Acts 11:19-24 to win and disciple their own people for Christ. We have seen how the Lord has used this simple method to transform hundreds of thousands of drunks, drug addicts, prostitutes, thieves, murderers, con artist, gang members, prisoners and religiously blinded people to become passionate followers of Jesus in Uganda, Kenya, DR Congo, South Sudan and Tanzania over the past 6 years. We believe that what the Lord has started, He will continue through the presence and power of His Spirit and His people. We must be faithful. We must be serious. We must be passionate. We must own the vision. We must be focused. If we do, we believe the Lord will use us to reach this vision.

I want to thank you for your prayers, support and help in the past. The past 15 years have been blessed beyond our dreams. Never did we imagine a year when almost 650,000 would pray to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through the efforts of ten’s of thousands of unpaid men and women in Africa when we started on this journey in 2005. But we have. Now we move forward with greater vision and faith. Pray for us. If the Lord leads, join us. Pray that we can take full advantage of the opportunity, health, resources and time the Lord has given us this day. Eternity is coming and with it rest. Today we must work.

 Have a great 2020. May the Lord Himself richly bless you and your family. Love you guys.

 Jimmy
jimmy@imfc.us
www.imfcworld.com

ONE WHEELBARROW TIRE

Hello Muzee. Hope every thing is well with you. Today I was able to visit the old mum in Nsambya Kirombe. Her name is Leokadia. She is 60 years old. The former Manna recipient, through her savings, bought a wheel barrow that she hires to different people as the way of earning something. She is very grateful for the provision of food she used to receive while in the Manna program that allowed her to save and buy this wheelbarrow that now helps take care of her needs. 

In June, Leokadia had a problem in that the tyre became ruined and she could not hire the wheelbarrow out. I am so thankful for the volunteers that helped us to purchase a new tyre for her after learning of her need. We gave her the new tyre for her wheelbarrow and she is very, very happy. 

This is what Leokadia told us. She said Manna Ministry changed her life. She said she didn’t know Christ but through Manna she got the opportunity to hear his word and was saved. She said before Manna she had no job and no income. She had no hope. But now she says she is OK and now has hope. Continue to pray for Leokadia.

Thanks to you all who give support to see these people receive food.

Vincent

 I love this story. I met Leokadia in June and she is a joy to know. Join me in praying for her. She is a simple lady whose life will not change the world. When she dies, very few people will know. The world will not stop and pay homage to her, but Christ will know and will welcome her into His heaven with as great an entrance as any well known person. She is truly one of the least of these in Matthew 25: 37-40. I am so very grateful the Lord has allowed me to be a part of this ministry in my old age! 

And to the volunteers who met Leokadia, heard her story, saw her need and had the desire to help, thank you so very much. 

Jimmy

What's Your Story?

What is your story? Is it interesting? Exciting? Or perhaps it is the same old - same old? What  you saw, did, and ate yesterday is almost the same as today. Tomorrow promises to be identical. How would you feel if you could participate in something bigger than you? What if you were to become part of a movement of God of Biblical proportions? Just how would you sleep at night? How would your daily conversations change? I wonder if your coffee would taste even better? I don’t know; it might. If you want to find out how your life’s story could change, you could become an International Missionary for Christ (IMFC).  

Over the course of the last few years, IMFC (International Missionaries for Christ) has discipled over 2,000,000 people. A disciple-making ministry that began working in the slums of Kampala, Uganda in 2004 has grown to reach people across East Central Africa - Uganda, Kenya, the Congo, South Sudan, Tanzania, and more. Recently, IMFC has sent  discipleship materials to New Delhi, India. Currently today we are discipling hundreds of thousands of people and planting tens of thousands of churches where they can worship, study Scripture, minister to each other, and hold each other accountable. 

Kampala, Uganda

An interesting by-product of people coming to know Christ is that they need to take care of others around them. IMFC feeds an estimated 3,000 people monthly while teaching them to save money and begin small businesses that will provide for their basic needs. New Christians begin taking care of others who struggle taking care of themselves. They care for pregnant women, by distributing MAMA kits to ladies who are in their eighth or ninth month. IMFC teaches women and girls how to make reusable feminine products from the materials they can easily acquire where they live. IMFC works to better the existence of those incarcerated in the prison system in Uganda. We even help  train the guards that will be watching over them.  The movement has grown to include those who ran from their homes because of the  violence of war and now reside in the UN refugee camps. God is glorified, and a movement of God keeps rolling along. Come and participate. Watch what God will do in you and through you. 

For more information check us out on the web at www.imfcworld.com. Facebook at @IMFCAFRICA. You’ll catch us on Instagram @IMFCWORLD. You can subscribe to our not-so-monthly newsletter at the bottom of any page on the website.  Give us a shout and we’ll walk with you as you recreate the story of your life.