Merry Christmas!

At Christmas, we celebrate the revelation of God’s heart through the birth of His Son Jesus, who the Bible makes clear also reveals our hearts.

God’s truth, love, mercy and grace shines through Jesus, even as Simeon also told Mary eight days after Jesus’ birth :  "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...” (NIV Luke 2:34)

Encouraging professing believers in Jesus to allow Him to search and reveal their hearts is a big part of our ministry in Uganda. We believe this is the essence of discipleship. The condition of our hearts reveals the depth of our relationship with the one born of a virgin who lived a sinless life and died as payment for our sins.

As we disciple students, we work with groups of 15-20 in various sessions and one on one with individual students.  Learning about the practical application of living out the Gospel is key to having an abundant spiritual life. Do we inquire of the Lord in all our decisions?  How do we lead others with a servant’s heart?  How do we handle money and success and honor God in all aspects? What are the basics of practical problem-solving and planning? In all of these situations the condition of our hearts reflects  our relationship with Jesus and how we live our lives.

In our daily decisions, the challenge is to have Jesus on the throne, rather than ourselves. Or, to put it another way, in our decisions, are we saying “yes” to Jesus or “no” to Jesus?

Putting Jesus first places us in conflict with all other world views. It is tough, but necessary, teaching that being a friend of the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4). Simeon made it clear to Mary and Joseph there is no neutral reaction to Jesus.

The great English pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Never does a man hear the gospel, but he either rises or falls under that hearing.” Even if we have fallen, God’s grace allows us to repent in faith and be risen.  As we rejoice this Christmas, let us reaffirm the birth of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our hearts even as we also celebrate the baby in a manger.

                                               

Merry Christmas,

Mark and Margaret

Fire, Freedom and Multiplication

Just as we began worship in the tiny one-room church in a swampy slum along Lake Victoria, a billowing fire burst out in the shrine (witch doctor hut) across the muddy road.

John translates as Mark teaches

The ladies and children singing with us shrieked and ran out to see what was happening. Nearly as soon as it started, the fire burned itself out as men tossed sand and water upon it.

Then it was back to worship as the mothers nursed and many children ran around naked from the waist  down.  Just another day in Uganda!

The ladies, gathered by John Mugowa, a young man we have discipled for 10 years, enthusiastically received Mark’s message of freedom and identity in Jesus. As professing believers, they claimed their acceptance, security and significance in Jesus. Margaret offered up a heartfelt prayer for the ladies, their families and the community.

Then it was off to celebrate John’s birthday in a nearby classy restaurant which nonetheless seemed light years away from where we just worshiped.

John is a great encouragement and blessing from the Lord to us as he continues to use his gifts to bear fruit for the Kingdom. He used his scholarship from The Rock Outreach to gain a degree from Uganda Christian University and now runs his own IT services business. The majority of his ministry to the single mothers and children is self-funded.

John himself was an orphan after his father, a witch doctor, died when he was a young boy. His story is told in a Rock documentary which may be viewed at www.rockoutreach.org/p/firm-place-video.html.

The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength

Joy is the best way we can describe our last trip to Uganda.  Upon arrival we had to fill out a form describing any health symptoms and nurses with masks checked us for Ebola and shined lights at us to determine if we had a temperature.  Joseph and Joanitah, former Rock scholarship students met us at the Entebbe airport.  They reassured us that we were safe after a terrorist scare pertaining to Al-Shabaab was discovered by the Uganda police the day before.  Even our taxi driver friend Moses said, “You are safe and can go to the store to get groceries before going on to the apartment.”

The apartment is on the Uganda Christian University campus on a hill with small monkeys running around and swinging from the trees.  In the early morning the mist rises from the valley as the rooster crows and wakes us up. Upon arrival the students started to stop by and welcome us and we felt right at home.

We open the doors and they know they are welcome to stop by any time we are there for a snack or a chat.  Cooking is a favorite activity along with doing complex Lego creations.

The Honors College and Law Fellowship

Over the past several years we have connected with the Honors College leadership team and the UCU Law Fellowship team.  As a result we had given them Life Application Bibles, done devotionals in the morning,and discipled several of the chairmen.  The practical side of discipleship is a topic of discussion. The students read a lot and study the principles but implementation is something they crave and we create an environment for this to happen.

Mark led three sessions on “Solving Problems God’s Way” using examples of Samson as a bad example and Joseph along with David as good examples.  The main principle we wanted to students to take away from the training was “to inquire of the Lord” for all decisions which will lead to success.  Even when they think they have a solution that has worked before to still “inquire” because God sees all the variables when we don’t. The group of honors college and law fellowship students were divided into two groups and were given points for being early to the sessions, solving riddles, and bonus points for team building activities and creative solutions to problem-solving situations.

Over the three weeks we saw a paradigm change in the way they approached solutions and began to “think outside the box” with the emerging leaders reminding their groups to first “inquire of the Lord.”  It seems to resonate with them that this is the key to successful implementation.

UCU Staff Mentors

Rev. Abel Wankuma Kibbedi the faculty member in charge of the Honors College contacted Margaret to teach some classes to university staff members who mentor the students from different departments on campus.  Rev. Abel knew that Margaret had mentored many of the students and wanted her to share some practical ways to mentor and also how she was teaching the students how to write the shortened versions of the CV/resumes.  On three Tuesday mornings she met with 9-12 staff members from various departments to discuss the following topics:  Why mentor? Laying a Successful Christian Foundation for Life, Biblical Examples of Mentors, Practical Guidelines, Roles of the Mentor and Mentee (Role-playing by participants), Suggested Fun Activities, Time Frames, Objectives and Evaluation of the Process (Helping Students to be Effective Citizens and Family Members) The first two sessions were in lecture rooms on campus and the final session was in the apartment to demonstrate the easy mentoring at home.

Our Navigator Friends

Our friends at Navigators share our passion for one on one mentoring to the students and we plan joint activities for each trip to Uganda.  During this trip we discussed two movies, Heaven Is For Real and God Isn’t Dead with approximately 15-20 students each evening.  We analyzed the interactions of the people, their thought process and how different things influenced our perspectives spiritually.  This is a new concept for some of the students to watch a movie and discuss the implications pertaining to living out what we believe day by day.  Like our friends at Navigators we want to go deeper in our spiritual relationships so the foundational doctrines of the faith are put into practice on a day to day basis.  Movies have proven to be a great tool in opening up discussions pertaining to saying “yes” to God or “no” to God.

One evening we had four of the Navigator small group leaders over for dinner and had a rich discussion and time of sharing testimonies pertaining to life-style discipleship.  We love to be intentional about building up other ministries and leaders by encouraging them through hospitality.  It always knits our hearts together when we pray and share a meal.

Exploring Careers, CVs and Being All God Wants Us to Be

Three days a week during the month on site, Margaret had appointments from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with students preparing to graduate. All of the students needed assistance with exploring career opportunities, writing quantitative CVs/Resumes, and setting up LinkedIn accounts to network with potential employers.  On average it took her 2 hours to interview a student and help them create a one page CV on their own laptops.  In addition she talked about presenting yourself in a professional, friendly way both in person in the way you dress and also on LinkedIn and Facebook.

 It is a comprehensive approach that incorporates a student’s spiritual identity in Christ and the practical gifts and skills they have that are marketable in the workplace.  She even took pictures of the students so they could easily activate a professional LinkedIn account.  At the end of each session the student had a different picture of who that are as believers, what quantitative skills they possess, and gained confidence and a sense of God’s direction as they seek a job.  Part of the preparation is learning to inquire and trust the Lord to guide them as they apply for a variety of positions. Also they needed to prepare and have a realistic perspective about the employers’ time frame and expectations. Seeing the importance of an attitude of going out to meet people without fear and trusting the Lord to open or close doors as they take a step of faith was a new concept for most of them.

Weddings of Two Spiritual Daughters in 2015

Two of our Rock scholarship graduates are planning weddings in 2015.  Gorret and Leonard are planning to be married in January while Juliana and Lawrence are planning a July wedding.  We were so excited to meet these two godly men and hear the stories about how each came to love our spiritual daughters.  During the time we have known these young women, who are both total orphans, we have stressed the importance of studying a future spouse so you are equally yoked.  Observing their character carefully and developing a friendship before any romantic commitments are made was another consideration.  We had a fun conversation over a private dinner with each couple and the men were surprised when they heard how each lady had studied them carefully to determine if they would be a protector, provider and promoter.

Both couples shared they had been good friends since 2008 and only recently had romantic feelings entered the picture.  It was like God prepared them all, then “flipped a romantic switch” that changed the relationship from purely a friendship, doing ministry together, to “romantic courting for marriage.”

The joy of seeing these lovely young women find godly men to marry was so wonderful.  They share ministry at their churches and have found jobs they enjoy and are stable and strong in their faith in Jesus.

Fence Completed Around Kingdom View and Water Connected

God continues to lead us step by step with Kingdom View as we acquire the land, work with the architect and adjust the plans with guidance from the university administration.  With two hostels being constructed next door to our land by the Church of Uganda we felt it was wise to have a more permanent fence marking our boundary lines.  One of our missionary friends introduced us to Steven who has done all the landscaping around the university and has a passion for plants.  Mark shared our plans and the need of a natural boundary that was at the same time beautiful.  Margaret loves to arrange flowers so upon Steven’s suggestion we decided to plant bougainvillea all around the parameter of the property for security and beauty.  Steven said with proper watering the first three months we would have a substantial hedge with low maintenance in the future.  The next step was getting the city water line connected and God provided a miracle and it was connected in 5 days and ready to go.

A new development with the construction of the girls’ hostel with 300-400 students next door presents a wonderful discipleship opportunity.  In the past we have taught a class “Doing Business God’s Way” and the students have requested that we teach this class on an ongoing basis but also provide practical business experience like an internship.  As we prayed and thought about this we considered with our board members the possibility of developing a retail training area which would serve three purposes.  First it would act as a “business laboratory for training students”, second it could provide goods and services next to the new hostels, and thirdly it would help Kingdom View be sustainable.  As we researched the idea we found if we provided items and services for sale that were competitively priced with those the students were purchasing, it would be a win-win situation for all concerned. 

Next we met with our architect and shared the board members ideas to create a small takeout café, a small general store with basic necessities, a salon with two chairs, a shoe repair/alteration shop, and an Internet café/copy center.  The retail training area (lower left) would be open to the public by a foot path and gate and be outside the main Kingdom View property but also accessible and connected.  Security is an issue that the university administration has discussed with us frequently and this would provide a public place for students and also a more secure place for meetings and activities requiring the use of expensive equipment and monitoring of access so we don’t have problems with theft.

A Vision Requiring a Miracle for the Future

As we return home to Texas, we know the vision ahead is more than we could ever accomplish in our own strength. We trust the Lord because it is His plan.  He has pointed us in this direction, continues to surprise us with solutions, people and resources.  Each day we are filled with joy as we take another step of faith.  We are blessed to have ministry donors, prayer partners and a leadership team that is committed to honor God in all we do with Kingdom View.

I Believe

Blessed to be back in Uganda, God continually draws me to the place commonly known as Prayer Mountain, with the official name Besania Hill. Here I am humbled and compelled to pray. This is the place where the Lord has led us to purchase property for  Kingdom View Fellowship and Guest House.

 
God has provided funds for .65 acre which could meet our basic vision. An adjoining .6 acre also is available which would provide for a greater resource and outreach for the 8,500 students at the adjoining Uganda Christian University who the Lord has called us to serve.

As I pray over the land, God continually presses on my heart that I need to have faith that He will provide the additional land to serve His purposes. He challenges me to have greater faith and more patience even though we have a burning desire to put our resources into beginning building on the land we already own.

Strategically, I'm thinking once we start building it will be easier to rally financial support to complete the ministry facility. But God reminds me it is not by strategy, might nor power that His purposes are accomplished, but through His spirit. Lord, I believe. Help me to believe even more.

The property is on the way up Prayer Mountain. At the top of this mountain is a prayer encampment maintained by Archbishop Livingstone Nykyoyo, the visionary who transformed a small Church of Uganda seminary into Uganda Christian University, "a centre of excellence in the heart of Africa." People can camp and pray, just as Jesus retreated to the mountains to be with His Father. The area is formally known as Besania Hill, or Bethany in the American translation.

Bethany in the Bible was about 1.5 miles east of Jerusalem and on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, from which Jesus ascended into heaven. It also was the home of siblings Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. The story of Mary and Martha is instructive of how to proceed in ministry:

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."(Luke 10:38-42)

It goes against our "grab the bull by the horns" culture, but Jesus tells us that sitting at His feet and trusting Him is better than being "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." He is faithful and will complete in us the good work He has begun. Would you pray about being a part of it? We need $85,000 to purchase the additional .6 acre we believe the Lord has set aside for Himself through us.

Mark

On the Way to Kingdom View

Time to return to Uganda and Mark and I are so excited about what the Lord is doing through the Rock in Uganda.  We plan on spending almost a month in Mukono, Uganda where Uganda Christian University is located to minister to the students, friends on campus, and  develop a plan with the architect for Kingdom View ministry house next to the university.

Imagine having a place for campus ministries to meet within walking distance to campus where they can learn more about Jesus, and fellowship with other professionals, pastors and missionaries. 

Lifestyle discipleship reaches some of the 8,000 students attending Uganda Christian University as they discuss life's challenges, cook in the kitchen and just hang out and talk.

Other friends and pastors stop by to visit and often stay for lunch or dinner.  Mark, Dan and I love to cook, catch up and just share life.  Our door is always open to students needing advice, guidance on writing their resumes, and always prayer.  Hospitality is something that is popular in Uganda and we always love to give back that wonderful hospitality when we are around.

For a few days while we are there we plan to travel to Northern Uganda to the Village of Hope to encourage the staff and pastor there.  Please pray this time will bless the staff and orphans there.

A Changed Paradigm for Children Who Are Hurting

Greetings from Uganda!  God is truly an amazing God.  We arrived after a very long hard trip with a total rerouting of our trip and a few lost bags.  Our long-time friend Earl Fain joined us on the first part of our trip as we ministered to university students at Uganda Christian University.  Many of the students who are graduating don’t have their CVs or resumes done and need practical advice writing them and coaching with job interviewing skills.  Several students stopped by the apartment and Earl and I did some editing and role playing. 

We have really appreciated the relationship The Rock has with the university and after meeting with the former Vice Chancellor, the current Vice Chancellor and the retired Archbishop of the Anglican diocese who started the university we know we have a shared vision of making impactful disciples of Jesus.  God is opening some doors to do several things.  The university students at UCU often graduate and become Christian change-makers in the country.  They minister to other organizations, they live out their faith in the workplace, many find themselves taking care of the orphans in their families and they need encouragement as they graduate and face the challenges of the culture.

As we have prayed since our last trip for God to show us the next step, an opportunity to purchase land within walking distance to the university has surfaced.  The former archbishop showed us some land and arranged for us to meet the owner.  Dan, Mark, Earl and I all feel the Lord is in this to create a gathering place for believers to meet, study, get rest if the need a break as pastors with their wives, and also continue getting training as organizations or individuals in practical ways as disciples.  The core of the ministry will be teaching the paradigm shift of believing truth instead of lies that hold us back in all aspects of life.  We believe God wants us to open a guest house and gathering place with a “kingdom view” on top of the highest mountain in Mukono to renew, restore and refresh believers…It will be a miracle if it happens but with God all things are possible.  In addition to the ministry to students, graduates and staff we were asked to minister to another ministry in Northern Uganda.

On the April 26^th we left Mukono to travel to Northern Uganda where Cindy Cunningham (our friend who recently had brain surgery) and her Ugandan friend Rose Aber started Village of Hope just south of Gulu.  The vision was to provide a safe haven for the children abducted or made orphans by Joseph Kony.  Cindy, Rose, Janelle and Mike have followed the Lord’s calling to help the children feel safe and loved in an environment where they can heal.  Cindy shared with me, prior to me leaving for Uganda that the staff requested some additional training to further the spiritual healing of the children.  Since many of the children still struggle with their identity because of the horrible things they have experienced we shared how the BOLD (Believers Overcoming Lies of the Devil) teaching has impacted the Rock university students.  The core of the teaching focuses on our identity in Christ as believers in practical ways living life day by day.

Since there are 250 children at the village we offered to bring some of our Rock university graduates and students to help minister to the children.  Emmanuel Babi and his wife Sarah (Care Medical Centre nurses) drove up with a few of the current students Michael, Gorret and David.  John Mugowa another Rock graduate joined Mark and me as we drove up to advance the team and organize the schedule. 

Upon arrival we found that the older kids were the ones most impacted by Kony.  Most of the younger kids were impacted by Kony but differently since they were orphaned or abandoned but as babies or small children. Kony is now in Sudan or Congo. Gorret one of the students who traveled with us said Rose the director told her about a teenage boy who couldn't eat meat because Kony had forced him to kill his older brother by biting him to death.

All of us agreed God had us there for a purpose and He was multiprocessing.  Sarah and Gorret spent time one on one sharing with the girls, Michael, John and David shared their testimonies and encouraged the boys to stay pure and honor God in every decision they make.  David trained the head teacher on some practical discipleship skills and spent one afternoon orchestrating AWANA games for about 250 kids.  We trained the staff, the teachers, the house moms and the key youth leaders on how to help the children change their paradigm from being victims to being children of God who are accepted, secure and significant. Much time was spent clarifying doctrinal questions pertaining to our salvation, eternal life with Jesus, our position in heaven, sanctification in our day to day life and who we are now in the present as believers.

Please join us in prayer as we inquire of the Lord in the next steps.  God is opening many new doors both with Uganda Christian University, student leaders on campus in the Honors College and in the field with other ministries and church leaders needing teaching support and encouragement on the ground.Stepping out on the water…once again!

Standing In the Gap With Friends Opens Doors

A few years ago, after we began working in Uganda a friend of mine Cindy Cunningham began a ministry in Northern Uganda called Village of Hope.  Through the years I have prayed with Cindy, shared stories, advice and struggles about our work in Africa as we encouraged each other.  Recently Cindy discovered a brain tumor had returned requiring surgery in April.  During our prayer times and discussions, she mentioned a need for training the staff and leaders in the ministry to take the healing of the children to a new level.  She often shares that the Village of Hope extends Jesus' love "through our time, love, and hope in the grace of God to bring healing to the hundreds of orphans affected by the brutal attacks of Joseph Kony and his army by the name of the Lord's Resistance Army."

 

After discussing with Cindy the paradigm shift to freedom we see developing in our staff and students in the Rock ministry, she believed the message of freedom in Christ  would further help heal the emotional and spiritual wounds of the young people. Mark and I and some other members of the ministry plan to visit Village of Hope in late April to share The Rock's BOLD adaptation for Africa of the Freedom in Christ Ministries. (BOLD is for Believers Overcoming Lies of the Devil - a compelling message in the African culture).

 

We are all excited to encourage the Village of Hope leadership team, present an overview to the young people and hang out in the homes with the kids and house mothers. When people desire healing God can cause there to be fundamental change in individual lives. Our identity in Jesus as taught in BOLD is not a program nor curriculum. It is a paradigm shift that penetrates the essence of who we are spiritually every bit as much as our DNA defines our biological makeup.

 

I love the way God multi-processes.  As more in the ministry are trained it is a great opportunity for African disciples currently in BOLD fellowships to put to use for the Kingdom what they have learned by serving others in Northern Uganda.

 

 

Mission Impossible

"Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to loosen the chains of spiritual and economic bondage in Africa. Jesus says 'with man this is impossible.' As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim." (Adapted from the TV series Mission: Impossible.

Dan Vick, Mark and Margaret Noblin in Kenya.

We at The Rock see that indeed our mission is impossible in our own strength. In a world increasingly focused on quick gratification and feel good results, the job can be disavowed by those faint of heart who prefer not to deal with disappointment along the way. And it is not luck, but God who carries us forward as we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

"With God all things are possible," Jesus said. This was in the context of disciples questioning who can be saved when Jesus told them it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. That statement came when a rich young man went away defeated after Jesus responded to his question about how to gain eternal life by telling him to abandon his possessions and become a disciple.

Giving up all possessions is not a universal command of Jesus, but rather a revealing probe into the real priorities of the rich man's heart. We must shed anything that comes before God in our hearts. It is not having money that corrupts us -- it is the love of money that corrupts, whether we have riches or not.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10) Jesus taught on money more than He did heaven and hell combined - in fact more than anything, except the Kingdom of God. Of 39 parables, 11 address money. And in Luke, one of every seven verses references money.

How we view money is a window into our hearts and reveals whether we are focused on our possessions or on God. So it should not be surprising that money is at the root of every single betrayal and conflict we have experienced both in Africa and the U.S. in more than 10 years of ministry.

Our hearts are broken at a recent stumble by a trusted African brother in the Lord in this area. We believe God has revealed through prayer, experience and His Word that The Rock's focus has been placed too much on projects which inadvertently have tempted those we serve to look upon us as money sources more than faithful teachers of God's Word.

Mercy ministries fulfill a vital role and the Bible commands us to feed and clothe the poor. However, discipleship and leadership development in Africa to break the cycles of dependency and spiritual bondage are the distinct callings God has given us at The Rock.

The devil has been using our own resource of money against us in this effort. So we are led to a new theme as we teach in Africa: "No money, just Jesus." God already has given us the message and vision with our BOLD ministry initiative.

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Matthew 8:36)

Thank you as you stand with us in prayer and financially to assist in teaching, equipping and one-on-one discipleship. We believe God for great spiritual breakthroughs. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting new "Mission Impossible" assignment in Africa!

 

Dan, Mark and Margaret

 

Enjoy the Ride

What joy to take the grandkids whitewater rafting! I just love the expressions on their faces – particularly when I know how timid about water two of them had been.

It reminds me of our ride through life. The rough water can be a source of joy and a boost to our faith. Or it can frighten us away from experiencing all the Lord has to offer.

Only a day before the rafting adventure, Samuel, 8, (front) was nervous getting on a paddle boat in a calm lake with the rest of us. The stage for a “strong and courageous” talk already had been set the night before the paddle boat excursion when the three kids were freaked out by a spider in their tent in the middle of the night.

In our smaller tent next to them, Margaret and I listened to the ruckus of the “gigantic” spider who they claimed could fly and was as fast and elusive as the wind. I hollered from our tent for the boys to be protectors, smash the spider with a shoe, be quiet and go to sleep. After several failed attempts, they showed up at the front of our tent, excited nearly to tears, pleading for me to kill the spider.

So I entered the tent of horrors and promptly pounded the garden-variety spider with my Adidas flip flop. The kids saw it was only about the size of a nickel, yet in their minds they still think it was huge. Their fears had fed off one another until the spider became legendary.

Breakfast talk the next morning centered on fear and recalled the story of Daniel and the lions’ den. They listened when I said if you fear God, you needn’t fear anything else. We also talked about how God told Joshua to “be strong and very courageous” as he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Fear is not from the Lord, though prudence is.

That pep talk emboldened Samuel to get on the paddle boat. After rafting, he said the paddle boat ride had been scarier. I suppose that first act of courage and leap of faith is the toughest.

The previous year Hannah, 9, was clingy and nervous on a canoe trip down a lazy river flowing into Lake Michigan. Stephen, 12, on the other hand, was on his third rafting trip, having never hesitated and even surviving the Snake River in Wyoming with me.

The rough waters in rafting were a blast, but not all rough waters in life are. Sometimes we shoot the rapids by choice, others times it seems we are just thrown in. Entering missions is a choice Margaret and I made, although admittedly not without some fear and trepidation.

But we did not choose to be knocked out of the boat into the rushing waters. That happens to all of us at one time or another and the older I get the more I realize it just goes with the territory, particularly when serving the Lord.

Still, we can say we have been blessed immeasurably by the ride and take comfort in those times when we have been tossed by remembering Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Life Changer

Get a hold of who the Bible says you are in Jesus and it will change your life forever.


Our mission at The Rock is to create impactful disciples, and we have found that happens only when people know and embrace their identity in Christ.

Enjoy and claim!

I am accepted.

     John 1:12 I am God’s child.
     John 15:15 I am Jesus’ friend.
     Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
     1 Cor 6:17 I am united with the Lord and I am one spirit with Him.
     1 Cor 6:20 I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
     1 Cor 12:27 I am a member of Jesus’ body.
     Eph 1:1 I am a saint.
     Eph 2:18 I have direct access to God.
     Col 1:14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
     Col 2:10 I am complete in Jesus.

I am secure.

     Rom 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
     Rom 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for the good.
     Rom 8:31-34 I am free from any condemning charges against me.
     Rom 8:35-39 I cannot be separated from the love of God.
     2 Cor 1:21-22 I am established, anointed and sealed by God.
     Phil 1:6 I know the work God has begun in me will be perfected.
     Phil 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
     Col 3:3 I am hidden with Jesus in God.
     2 Tim 1:7 I have not fear but a spirit of power, love and soundness.
     Heb 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
     1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant.

     Matt 5:13-14 I am the salt and light of the earth.
     John 15:1-5 I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
     Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Jesus.
     1 Cor 3:16 I am God’s temple.
     2 Cor 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
     2 Cor 6:1 I am God’s coworker. (See 1 Cor 3:9)
     Eph 2:6 I am seated with Jesus in the heavenly realm.
     Eph 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.
     Eph 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
     Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me.


(From Victory Over the Darkness by Neil T. Andersen)



Please consider joining in the amazing work God is doing through The Rock in Africa. We need $30,000 by year-end to maintain discipleship programs at their current level next year.


Mark and Margaret Noblin

Only Human?

How often have we said in response to shortcomings: “I’m only human” or “He’s only human” or “She’s only human?”

A Kenyan bishop who partners with The Rock has rebuked this line of thinking to his flock.

Bishop Paul says if you are a believer in Jesus, nothing could be more false than saying you are only human. The fallacy is in the word “only.”

Our humanness is not an excuse for sin. I remember a business person in Uganda who cheated me had a favorite phrase: “It’s Uganda!” As if that made cheating and various shenanigans normal and expected. Ungodly practices and customs of a country are no more justifiable than personal ungodly behavior.

As born again new creations in Jesus, sin is not our normal or expected state as it was before. While we are tempted and sometimes stumble, our mere humanness has been transformed by the fact that Jesus lives in us and us in Him. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)

Imagine that! As a believer in Jesus, you already are “in Him” for eternity! Not only that, but Jesus has taken up residence in your humanness. Jesus says in John 15:4, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.”

We were provided as well with the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation to reveal our sins to us and lead us to repentance.

So you see as a believer in Jesus, you are much more than human; whereas before in your mere humanness you were trapped. “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Rom. 6:6)

Understanding our identity in Jesus is the major focus now of our teaching to Rock leadership in Africa. We are praying once the leadership is equipped that they will be able to share this teaching to our scholarship students, businessmen and throughout their churches. The freedom they will proclaim is not only from sin, but also from the lies that obscure who we really are in Jesus and rob our joy and effectiveness for the Lord.

Savor these words which are just a sampling of who the Bible tells us we are as Believers in Jesus:

·        I am a child of God. (John 1:12)

·        I am Jesus’ friend. (John 15:15)

·        I am a joint heir with Christ. (Rom. 8:17)

·        I am a temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19)

·        I am a saint. (Eph. 1:1, 1 Cor. 1:2, Phi. 1:1, Col. 1:2)

·        I am the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13)

·        I am the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14)

·        I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. (Col. 3:12, 1 Thess. 1:4)

Living With The Gals In Uganda

On my recent trip to Uganda in May and June 2011 I had a different experience. Usually I stay in a guest house or rent a cottage but with all the changes I decided to stay in the apartment we had rented for the scholarship gals. Wow! It was wonderful and so great to really see how they live, the stresses they face and really have a better understanding of things.

There was a full schedule for me with the dairy project and all the changes with the scholarship program. We had to be very careful to stabilize the ten pregnant heifers we bought that were transported from Western Uganda. And in addition we totally reorganized the living arrangements for our scholarship students and their internships and schedule working at the dairy.

The cows were healthy but we had to acclimate them to the new warmer climate and make sure they didn’t bring any disease into the existing herd or that the herd did infect them. All went well and within a few days they were adjusting to their new surroundings. Ken Mollo, the Rock Uganda Project Coordinator along with all of us on the dairy team learned a lot about the scientific side of running a dairy.

Meanwhile John Mugowa, Rock Scholarship Coordinator negotiated a lease for us on two apartments in the same building; one for the ladies downstairs and one for the guys upstairs. When I arrived John and the other students had done a great job coordinating the purchase and delivery of the furniture, beds, mattresses and appliances so at the beginning of the term the students’ accommodations were organized. In the picture the students are having a "family meeting" to discuss the food budget and how to handle lunch expenses for the students unable to come home for lunch. We wanted them to have a budget and learn how to discuss, come to consensus and consider all options. John did a great job moderating the discussion and bringing things to a conclusion that worked for all the students. As I sat quietly in the background, one of the guys said "I trust John to help us sort this out". It made me smile because this is what good leadership is all about...having trust that the leader will consider your perspective along with the rest and make a good decision. I have to say they were happy with the final decision and said it worked.

It was a first for me to stay with the students other than when we had "sleepovers" with the gals at a cottage I used to rent sometimes. The gals were so cordial and helpful. By the end of the trip we were sharing lotions, soap, shampoo and it was just like any other roommates. Part of what I did was discuss the importance of learning how to budget, keep receipts, plan weekly menus and working as a team to cook for the scholars each evening and clean up afterwards. Living there for almost a month I was able to show them how to do things and discuss the whys behind what we were doing. This way we were able to collaborate and come up with some joint solutions especially with the power outages. I was so thankful we had an all gas (propane) cooker! Praise the Lord or we wouldn't have been able to eat! I remember cooking with a flashlight several nights.

Several of the guys had great ideas for organizing the kitchen using a storage rack that stacked so washing the dishes in a small area would be more functional. They were so creative with their problem-solving skills.

Before I went to Uganda one of the ladies told us that several students had been sick and no one knew it or even called and she thought that wasn't right. "We need to know these things and be sensitive to our spiritual brothers and sisters."

As a result of her comment our goal was to foster more of a spiritual family, cut expenses and train all the students in household management, meal planning, relating to different work styles and teamwork. As usual God was multi-processing big time!

Each week one lady and one guy would plan the menus, shop for the food, cook and clean up after dinner each night. Then the following week they would rotate and another guy and gal would plan and implement. This gave all the students an opportunity to communicate with the opposite sex on routine household decisions, good communication, budgeting and learning about navigating planning and considering others likes and dislikes. One week a student announced, “We won’t be having fish this week if she is doing the planning because she hates fish!” (Claire doesn't like fish) Quickly they learned to work around class schedules, staying within the weekly food budget and considering each others’ food preferences.

Planning like this was a new experience. Also learning how to cook on a regular gas range or "cooker" as they call them in Uganda was new. Many people still cook outside on charcoal stoves. Having a refrigerator and cooking to save time with their busy class schedules was another adjustment. Imagine if you never had used a refrigerator or cooked only on charcoal. Gorret one day said, "Mum did you used to cook on charcoal outside when you were a little girl." I responded, "No I never have except when we barbecue and even my mother and grandmother had inside gas cookers." She was really surprised and you could tell by the look on her face.

After a week they were settling into a routine and the evening fellowship was full of teasing and laughter as everyone sat down each night for dinner. One of Gorret's friends had been over for a visit and we were teasing one of the guys that she was so cute.

One day I told them I would make zucchini muffins and they looked at me like I was crazy. I told them they tasted great but they were skeptical. Needless to say after one batch they were hooked and wanted them every week after that...especially Clarie and Gorret. We also made homemade sweet bread and it was so good except that the oven was a bit of a challenge and didn't cook evenly but we adjusted.

By the time I left in June to return to the U.S., the students were managing the two apartments very efficiently, working as a team and having fun experimenting and cooking in the kitchen. With bacterial infections so prevalent in Africa I also trained them how to wash the fruits and vegetables so they can avoid infections. It was a great time with many spontaneous conversations, early morning “boda boda” (little motorcycles) rides to milk the cows and dinner conversations about relationships, family, what honors God and other cultural and social issues. After almost a month of hanging out with the students it was tough to say goodbye as everyone hugged and said the time was over too soon.

Joplin Tornado

Rock Chairman Dan Vick emailed me: “I am thinking about leaving later this week and driving to Joplin, MO for a couple of days. I would probably take a load of water and chain saws … and I wanted to check with you to see if you could make it.“

YOU MAY CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE


God has blessed Dan and me with a great friendship and ministry partnership. Although I had felt no leading to go to Joplin, I had no hesitation because I knew God had put it on his heart.

Off we went, along with his son-in-law Westin. We were overwhelmed with what we saw and glad to be foot soldiers for Jesus. We were privates in an army to respond to overwhelming need. Dan and Westin used their chainsaws to clear debris from salvageable homes; I answered phone calls on the volunteer hotline.


We were amazed at the outpouring of help and humbled by those serving in Jesus' name. We met one guy from Denver whose ministry is sharpening chain saws in disasters. He was returning from the devastation in Alabama when he heard the news about Joplin. As he sharpened Dan’s chainsaws, he said, “Take something from the bucket of life.” A plastic bucket held tracts and new testaments.

When I started a conversation, he shared, “I got one salvation yesterday.”

God used the experience to reinforce a few truths to me. First, Jesus is our only Rock. Everything else can disappear in the bat of an eye.


Second, even though the devastation was beyond anything I had seen firsthand, it was limited to what really amounted to a tiny geographic area in the scope of the world. I could not help but think of what the end times will be like when the whole world is convulsed. I’m glad to know I (and all fellow believers in Jesus) won’t be around for that.


Finally, we serve an awesome God. There is no way we can pretend to understand what happened in Joplin from a worldly perspective. God is sovereign. We trust Him. Our only hope is in Him. Without Him and the knowledge that through faith in His Son Jesus we are promised eternal bliss, we are just victims in a tragic crap shoot.



-- Mark

New Thing

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)

God continues to amaze. He is doing a new thing at The Rock.

Recently, we shared that our university scholarship program to make leaders and disciples in Uganda was in financial jeopardy. We foresaw a potential dilemma when tuition came due May 1 between paying fees now or having students sit out a term or two while we launch a dairy project that could sustain students for generations to come.

We resolved to trust the Lord and seek His perfect will. We invited supporters like you to be a part of the process. God moved and many of you responded through prayer and generosity.

The result is The Rock now has 10 dairy cows and all of our college students are continuing class uninterrupted! And we can see how God used the financial challenges to strengthen our faith and improve our ministry.

Margaret is in Uganda now helping to launch the dairy operations conducted in partnership between The Rock and Uganda Christian University. All of our students now are contributing to their educations and gaining valuable experience by working on the farm. Margaret also is helping the students set up housekeeping. The financial squeeze prompted us to consolidate our students’ housing from various hostel accommodations to putting the men together in one housing unit and the women in another – both in the same compound.

Not only does this save money, but it promotes more teamwork, fellowship and basic life and relationship skills among our scholarship students.
It is a good example of one of our favorite Bible verses.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Also, it is proof of another favorite:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

To Him be the glory!

Change Grows Faith

When unwelcome change is knocking down the door, how do you respond? Do you resolve to do whatever it takes to have your way? Do you give up? Do you deny and pretend nothing is happening? Do you pray and wait for God to accomplish what you want? Or, do you trust God’s sovereignty and find contentment in your circumstance, seeking His perfect will in everything?

The Apostle Paul put it this way: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Jesus gives us the peace and strength to accomplish His purpose, even when that purpose may be obscure or confusing to us at the time. We want what we want when we want it but often God knows better and intervenes.

At The Rock, God is taking us to school in trusting Him at a whole new level. Our university scholarship program in Uganda to develop leaders, disciples and role models is in financial jeopardy. It appears we may have to make a tough choice by May 1 between exhausting our scholarship fund to pay for one more semester or have the students take a break from school and help us launch a dairy program at the university. This cooperative dairy arrangement with Uganda Christian University which has been in the works for a year has the potential of producing income to fund the balance of the students’ educations as well as future scholarships.

If we spend available funds just on tuition for next semester, current giving trends suggest we might have no further funds for them after that anyway and The Rock would have to suspend the scholarship program indefinitely. If we purchase the dairy cows, we could leave a legacy for generations of students to come.

On one level, the thought of asking the students to sit out for a term or two and help get the dairy program going breaks our hearts because we so much desire to be a source of stability for these amazing young people, many of whom come from very difficult backgrounds.

On another level, we can see perhaps God’s hand is at work. A major focus of The Rock is teaching Africans to be spiritually and economically free. Perhaps this experience will point out the importance of them trusting God first rather than The Rock. Also, there is no better opportunity for The Rock to model the self-sustainability we teach to Africans than for us to involve the students in helping launch the dairy venture which can fund their educations. That’s in addition to them learning the value of hard work and sacrifice. (We would pay their living expenses during the dairy start up, but not their tuition and fees.

Please pray for us. Perhaps God will provide additional funding for the students to continue school uninterrupted. (Two students are only one semester away from graduation.) Or perhaps God will provide donors who want to get behind the dairy program so we can serve more students for generations to come.

If you would like to participate, please go to www.rockoutreach.org.

Matters of the Heart-Next Trip to Africa

As parents it is hard when you don't see your kids and I have the same feeling about the students that are part of the Rock Family in Africa. Several of them are in transition now and need my presence, guidance and help. Please consider if God would have you be a part of their lives as well by helping top up on funds that I need to go see them.

Joanitah graduates from university this month and is a little nervous about what is ahead. Not having immediate family to be a safety net is scary. It makes me think of how blessed I was when I stepped "out of the nest". My parents were there to encourage me each step of the way. Juliana and John are finishing university in October and we have resumes to write, practice interviews and contacts to make with companies that might want to consider hiring them.

This is just a small picture of the heart connection we have with our scholarship students. It really is a family and the new students who have just joined us are getting to know me and what our expectations are of them. Time spent with them in the cottage will help me understand the hurts they have experienced, their dreams for the future and the plan God has for them.

On past trips I have arranged to rent a cottage where all the students can come and go, cook, and just hang out. On one of the earlier trips all the girls had a sleep over and did “girly things” like our nails and stuff and it was so fun. Making time to listen and encourage in a relaxed environment is what develops the heart connections and allows me to really get to know the students.

While in Uganda we have so much developing at Uganda Christian University with the agriculture project. Our first crop of maize was harvested and sold and we are expanding into dairy cattle.

In Kenya the preschool we helped start in January 2010 is fully self sustainable and Pastor Peter tells me they are adding more teachers this year. He is leading the Rock agriculture project in his village Bouye, and we hope it will support a home for 16 orphans this year.

Below are the specific things I plan to accomplish on this trip:

Kenya
• Work with Pastor Peter and Joseph, The Rock EA Project manager, on reviewing progress of the new agriculture program in the village of Bouye. Planning the cash flows, marketing, expansion of land and progress towards self sustainability so we can build the home for orphans.
• Meeting with the village committee to discuss the commercial tailoring project, preschool progress, possible expansion of livestock and research that has been completed toward self sustainability and job creation in the village.
• Visit Rock Kingdom Builder families of the business people who have Rock loans.
• Encourage the kids in AWANA at our partner Deliverance churches.
• Teach and encourage the ladies in women's ministry.
Uganda
• Work with the Uganda Christian University Holding Company team and Ken, the Rock Uganda Project Coordinator, on the cash flows, next crop cycle, and expansion of the dairy cow project. Research the repair and retrofitting of a tractor.
• Meet with Kampala businesses to set up internships for graduating university scholars.
• Encourage recent graduates and discuss future who ministry opportunities. Meet with Emmanuel regarding his plan to help ladies who decide not to abort their babies. He and his wife Sarah both nurses are showing great initiative in developing a self sustainable plan for these young moms based on the Biblical principles we teach at the Rock. Research church community garden to help the moms.

It is easy to donate online at www.rockoutreach.org since time is close for me to travel. I have frequent flyer miles for my airline ticket but need $1,800 for all the other costs associated with the trip and care for our Rock family in Africa. Your prayers and financial help are greatly appreciated.