Enabling the Church of Jesus Christ to enter the homes and lives of families affected by disability.
@ Centerpoint ChurchText Box: Uganda, October 2008 Our final distribution was in Nyarushanje Village—at a mud and stick house with a dirt floor. Mrs. Ndimbirwe brought her husband, Semu, for a wheelchair. In the interview prior to fitting, she told how two years before he had fallen from a tree breaking his right leg and hip. In addition, he sustained a severe brain injury. The chin on chest, silent man gave dramatic affirmation of her story; Semu seemed to be in an eyes-open coma. While explaining to her through the interpreter the importance of continuous communication with the brain-injured to stimulate brain activity, it occurred to me via the Holy Spirit to demonstrate. Kneeling before Semu and lifting his head, I began to ask him to do things like squeezing my hands and resisting my push. Then the Spirit of Christ inspired me to speak directly to Semu, telling him he was a man like me, my equal and brother. God loves him and Jesus died for him. GOD was not angry over his injury, but actually values him. After less than two minutes of this, Semu became animated, smiled, laughed, and suddenly spoke in a firm voice back to me. Soon we were weeping and hugging as he firmly squeezed both my hands. Just before we prayed and began the wheelchair fitting, Semu hugged me and in perfect English said into my ear, “You are my brother, my friend, and GOD loves me.” Most who speak English in this remote western side of Uganda know only enough to say “Hello, how are you?” Did I hear in English because God wanted me to? At any rate, Semu came forth that day, just as assuredly as Lazarus, so many years before, called out of death to life by the Son of God Himself. My style of ministry has become one of hearing His voice and being prepared to respond as His Spirit leads, to the point of going or not going only as led by Jesus Christ. Wherever the Lord sends me, whether as part of Enable Ministries or as Dana, I go as led. This is where ministry begins and ends in my opinion. As you read this, I should have just returned from Korea and will be preparing for trips to Northern Peru and the Philippines. I will be going to train the Church, where requests have arrived from Christians desiring to better serve the ill, injured, and disabled. There are many needing to hear the voice of our Shepherd, but we first must hear and respond to His voice. Otherwise, they will not have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Freely we received and just as freely it is our desire to give, every place He tells us to go near or far. We are ready at a moment’s notice to join the Lord who is the only Hope of the world. He fills the Book of Life with names and souls for eternity.