It might seem a bit bold to claim that an entire region could be changed in two weeks. But I believe that Karamoja will never be the same. 3,000 people responded to the gospel on the first day of the first church and an unstoppable fire ignited. Last week, in the most remote region in all of Uganda, 6,000 people responded to the story of Jesus.
That has to leave a mark:)
This week I can't stop thinking about the follow up. Today we have 42 full time follow up workers walking the roads of Karamoja. They've been working for one full week already. They'll keep working for 25 more. We've bought them each a bicycle, a megaphone, a Bible and the follow up materials they'll use to begin discipling the new believers. In 6 months we should plant 10 - 15 brand new churches in the region.
The whole experience has reminded me about the cornerstone of our church's discipleship strategy. After something gets big it has to get small. After that first day for the first church things got smaller. Think home Bible studies.
Our role in Uganda was to touch large crowds. Hundreds were healed. Thousands were saved. But now things are getting smaller. Small groups meeting in small villages. Instead of gathering thousands our workers are gathering dozens.
Life Groups aren't just one more thing we do in our church. They are the heart of our strategy to make disciples who live like Jesus. Discipleship can't happen in large crowds. It requires small environments where we ask questions, hold each other accountable to the answers, and actually practice the way of love.
My Uganda experience boosted my faith for the big things God wants to do through our church. But it also strengthened my resolve to work for the small things that have to happen first. The smaller we get, the bigger we can become.
I've got my small group shovel in my hands.
And I'm digging for depth:)
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