Getting to the Heart of the Matter...

While I think it's important to read the prior blog entry to understand who SOS Ministries is and what they do, I'm afraid what you might miss by only reading the facts is the 'heart' behind the ministry--that is, the people themselves and the stories of the lives that have been changed.  And let's face it--our hearts aren't really connected to facts, they're connected to people.

Matthew 28:19 tells us to 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'  Shannon Hurley, the founder of SOS, and his wife Danielle, have taken this mandate and made it their life's calling. 

They have placed their ministry, family and home right in the midst of the people that they are desiring to reach.  They have befriended and immersed their lives among the Ugandans in the village of Kubamitwe, where their ministry is located.  They have went out into this village and the surrounding villages and started small group Bible studies.  They have been faithful to not only share God's Word with these Ugandan people, but to share their entire lives with them.  As a result, they have seen person after person come to know Christ.  

You see, their ministry doesn't stop after sharing the Good News with them.  It's merely just begun.  They spend time teaching and explaining the Scriptures and teaching and explaining how to walk with Christ on a daily basis.  Basically, they are putting Matthew 28:19 in action:  making disciples.  

Not only are they reaching the adults, but they are also reaching the children.  SOS Ministries has a Christian school, Legacy Christian Academy, located on their campus for children in the surrounding villages.  Parents have to pay a small price to have their children attend the school (so that they will have ownership in the school and it will be of value to them).  They currently have six classes and plan on adding more with each year.  These children are getting a quality education while learning about Jesus and memorizing Scripture.

Approximately 150 students attend Legacy Christian Academy.

SOS Ministries definitely looks for opportunities to help the people here in practical ways.  For one, they provide transportation to the hospital in Kampala--2 to 3 hours away--whenever needed (We were witness to this one night when there was a late-night knock at the missionary's door whom we stayed with--a villager was having what they thought was appendicitis and had to be taken to the hospital.)  They also provide dentistry help, AIDS awareness, agriculture education, etc.   While they lovingly aid the villagers in practical ways, it is definitely not the main objective.  Their main objective is to not provide temporary food and water, but to provide food and water that will last for all of eternity. 

Throughout the week that we were at SOS, we met or learned about dozens of people who came to know the Lord through one of the Hurley family members...even their 14 year old daughter (who just so happens to be fluent in Lugandan!) has led several to Christ.  We met or learned about dozens of people who have come and lived with the Hurley's for an extended period of time.  Many were young men who were discipled and taught by Shannon--it was so apparent that they consider him their earthly father, just as Timothy did Paul.  They have sent young Ugandan men to receive seminary degrees in the United States so that they can come back and teach and educate Ugandan pastors.  I met a woman in the village who lived with the Hurley's after having a baby.  There were men from other parts of Uganda staying in their home for a pastor's training while we were there.  And on and on the stories go about how this family has brought people into their homes and loved on them.  Their home is an open and revolving door to all who know them. 

Loving people in the spirit of Jesus comes in all shapes and sizes and doesn't always look a particular way.  For example...

Meet Ezra.

Our performance-driven world would cast aside and overlook the value in Ezra.  But not the Hurley's.  They built a house for him across the street from SOS and hired a woman to live with and look after him and another special young man named Mark.  There was not a day that went by that Ezra didn't run up and greet us with one of his sweet hugs.  I think everyone of us on our team got attached to him.

  

This is Mark.  He is Ezra's roommate.  

The Hurley's met Mark when they first moved to Uganda and lived right outside of Kampala in Mukono.  When they moved to Kubamitwe, they missed one another so much that they went back for him and moved him to the village.  Mark attends Legacy Christian Academy and is in grade one.



Since attending school, he can write his name, read and write short words and add and subtract basic math problems.  

Oh, how these two men touched our hearts!  Their unconditional and accepting souls sure did teach us a thing or two about what it means to truly love another.

On SOS's website you'll read, 'A major focus of SOS is the strengthening of the Church through the clear and exegetically sound preaching and teaching of Scripture, and in the training of pastors, lay leaders and all Ugandans to understand and rest upon the Sufficiency of Scripture. SOS biblical training occurs at both the national level, and the local level, and is lived out through the personal discipleship of SOS staff and villagers.'  

While this statement and all that you read from the blog post yesterday is true, the words just don't come to life until you see it face to face in action.  

Until you see real faces of real people whose lives have been changed for eternity.  

Until you see people loving other people in Jesus' name.  

Until you see people sacrificing material things and living for the Real Thing.  

Until you see the joyful smiles and hope-filled faces. 

All because an ordinary man had an extraordinary vision and was courageous enough to go after it.  

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”  

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8

What I think I was most challenged by during my time in Uganda was this model of 'loving others well/ sharing the Gospel/one-on-one discipleship' living that the Hurley's so beautifully displayed.   I was challenged to bring it home and do right here in good 'ole Paducah, Kentucky.  The Matthew 28:19 Mandate.  The Hurley's have made it their calling, but shouldn't it be ours too?

The Matthew 28:19 Mandate.  Live.  In action.  One person at a time.  I've seen it played out and displayed up close and personal.  I'm now without excuse.

Praying that the Lord will bring us the courage and the focus to cast off distractions and bring this to fruition in our family's life too.

Praying that I truly will 'be on guard and diligently watch myself, so that I don't forget the things my eyes have seen, so they don't slip from my mind as long as I live.'  Deut. 4:9

Make it so, Lord.  Make it so.