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Introduction -see below Dear Praying Friends, I forward this message from Clemency as prayer is needed today for the meeting with Bishop Jeremy Gichuru and for all their journeys home which begin this afternoon. Our God is so good! Here's the message that came from Uganda yesterday evening: So we are all finished with the promise of approx 70 Rooted In Jesus groups. Pray for good health throughout and for good communications, key leaders and much more. We rejoice in all he has done. Thanks to him. K I replied briefly: Amen to all that! God is so good. We are rejoicing too. Please pray today for their debriefing session this morning with Bishop Jeremy Gichuru and for their journeys home. Most of the team are leaving Uganda this afternoon, and Nicky tomorrow, according to the briefing we had at the beginning. Psalm 91 seems to cover all that. As you are able, please continue to cover the team for a couple of weeks more, as they re-enter their lives back home. To God be the glory, great things He has done! Blessings to you all Carolyn Dear Praying Friends, Two messages came yesterday, both very encouraging and exciting. The first one came yesterday morning referring to Monday: Sorry I wrote a message but didn't send. By the end of the day we had 72+ we really felt God was with us and conducting it all. We have a few more new delegates today as yesterday was a key day to take children to university. So we are again adjusting the program so they get the key points of RinJ. Please encourage intercessors - their prayers are making a difference. The second one yesterday evening, responding to the picture about the wall that I sent on to them: We were very much blessed by this picture and shared it with the whole conference. Please pray for Nicky as her back is bad again but we celebrate with her the results of her daughters GCSE. Another came this morning: Morning Please pray for the last day that people will grasp the concepts and make good plans for the development of RinJ and the required follow up. Nicky is better today but we are all a little tired Please uphold them in their tiredness to the love of our gracious Father. And ask Him that He may be glorified in all that happens today. That He will open delegates minds and hearts to His love in Jesus as they take away the concepts of RinJ. Pray that nothing be lost of all they have been given. Dear Praying Friends, News and prayer request from Africa, Thanks for the prayers – as per Africa time more are coming slow by slow – so we need to pray now for the work God is to do in their hearts and that they get the principles of Rooted In Jesus. Please pray as they suggest, remembering that today is Holy Spirit day so we need to ask the Lord to protect them all - team, Bishop and delegates - from any interference. Yesterday an intercessor was given Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. She believes this is a word for us: faith encouraging faith. Today another intercessor wrote: Praying this morning I had a brief picture of a walled enclosure with people pushing hard against the wall from the inside to make an opening for people to come in and Psalm 24 vs 7 - 10 came to mind. Not quite sure what the significance is although it is something to do with battle and struggle but that this will result in the Lord’s glory being experienced. Our gracious Lord has the victory. To Him be all the glory! Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer. Clemency PS. I heard this morning that one of our team of intercessors is in hospital for heart valve replacement surgery. Please pray for God's peace for David and for the surgeons' skills to be under the Lord's hand. Dear Praying Friends, Please pray for more delegates at this weeks conference in Uganda – the numbers at the moment are low. Pray that they are able to deliver the best course and teaching at the right time. Clemency has replied that God will bring all the people He wants to be there. I have also sent them Psalm 37:4,5 for their encouragement. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this. Every Blessing Carolyn Dear Praying Friends, Please pray the following quote over the team this week Alex, Nicky, Matt, Karen and Julius as they lead at the Rooted In Jesus Conference in Namungoona, Kampala on today (Monday). I looked at Isaiah 60:1-3 and was particularly struck by v2b. ... the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. We know that our God is sovereign and His purposes will prevail - we give no place or acknowledgement to the old enemy. Dear Praying Friends, Further news below from Clemency and Uganda. Please keep them in your prayers over the weekend. Dear Intercessors, An encouraging and exciting message from the team yesterday, which I am copying to you just as it came, with all texting idiosyncrasies intact - I think this helps us to focus on what is really happening there! Hi, today has gone well+god really has ministered 2 t delegates. We celebrate because t pastor who had his case in court has+all charges dropped. And is now a free man. Pls pray for t leaders of t courses as they plan how they will organise themselves and how t course will be distributed. We really ur prayers. It is clear that our prayers have been heard by our gracious and loving Lord God, and He has answered in all His sovereign power. Praise Him! May He continue to bless them and us. Please pray, as they suggest, for the group leaders, for wisdom, grace and protection as they carry forward into setting up their groups all they are receiving from the conferences. Pray that nothing be lost of what they have gained. In Christ, Clemency Dear Praying Friends, The latest message from Uganda reads as follows: Morning, Prayers for today. Nicky is recovering but please continue to ask for full restoration. Gichuru [their host Bishop] is feeling very unwell today. Please pray for his continuing health. Please pray in verse from Isaiah 60 vs 1-3 as we overcome the enemy which Matt was given this morning. (see below) The matter with the RinJ coordinator pastor in court has deteriorated. Pls pray for truth to avail and that delegates will still attend the next conference. Thanks for your support- we are aware of your prayers. From the Team I looked at Isaiah 60:1-3 and was particularly struck by v. 2b. ... the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. We know that our God is sovereign and His purposes will prevail - we give no place or acknowledgement to the old enemy. To God be all the glory! Give thanks for day two of the conference and pray that the attendees were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Day Two: Spirit 1. Opening devotions (I am doing a new thing, Isaiah 43.18-21) 2. Teaching session 2: The Work of the Holy Spirit (may include prayer) 3. Practising Rooted in Jesus - small groups led by nominated local leaders (Module 1 lesson) 4. Praise and worship followed by Workshops in rotating groups Leading a small group (based on the Leader's Guide) Pastoral care Prayer, Worship and Leadership 5. Ministry: Repentance and renewal for ministry (Ephesians 4, put off put on) Pray for day three of the conference that delegates will leave feeling inspired to spread the word of Jesus in their place. Day Three: Ministry 1. Opening devotions (eg Psalm 1 / Colossians 2.6-7) 2. Teaching session 3: The rewards and difficulties of ministry (Parable of the sower) 3. Workshops in rotating groups 4. Leading a small group (based on the Leader's Guide) 5. Pastoral care 6. Prayer, Worship and Leadership 7. The Way Ahead - meeting led by appointed coordinators in small groups, to plan what happens next and make arrangements for support and oversight of group leaders 5. Commissioning (eg 1 Peter 2.4-5), followed by presentation of certificates of attendance. Dear Praying Friends, I include extracts from two emails sent by Clemency which gives us some news about the team and prayer points. Specific prayer requests are in bold and large type to aid reading and prayer. The team have arrived safely in Uganda, and begin the first RinJ Junior conference today (Wed). As we have come to expect, the old enemy is active again, trying to sap their morale. Please cover them all - Alex, Nicky, Matt, Karen and Julius - with the Lord's mighty protection against tiredness, back pain, etc. Also pray for continuing good relations with Bishop Gichuru, and with the Ugandan people coming to the conference. Yesterday's message from them reads: Hi Clemency, Karen here. We have all arrived safely. Praise God for safe journeys and a good discussion with our host Bishop Gichuru. We are all excited for tomorrow. K This morning's message tells a slightly different story: Morning. We are all mostly ok. Please pray for more sleep for Alex but moreover please pray for Nicky who has hurt her back. Please pray for real healing and release from pain. And another one half an hour ago: Please still pray for Nicky's back. We claim the Lord's protection for them all, and claim His complete healing for Nicky, so that her ministry will not be hindered in any way. From Clemency this evening (Wed 18th Aug) In this evening's message from the team in Uganda there are some very specific difficulties and requests for prayer: The conferences are going well and the delegates appreciate what we bring. Please can we ask for prayer for Nicky's back which has improved thru day but is still fragile, and pray that Nicky would have freedom from pain. Please also pray for wisdom and means to produce English copies as many don't speak the language the book is in. Finally please pray for local Ugandan rinj rep who has been falsely accused and is needing to deal with his case in court. We are concerned how this will impact on arrangements for the next conference and the number of delegates that will attend. Thanks Karen and team. In reply to my email to intercessors this morning an intercessor has written: Thought someone had back problems, so continue to pray for complete healing in His Name, giving praise and glory. Also praying for a hedge of protection around the team and for anything that seeks to bring them down will be destroyed. Very strange picture of a tall, dense grass hedge encircling them with locusts prowling round the perimeter … He will overcome! (do locusts ‘prowl’?!) It seems the enemy is very busy being destructive, distracting and annoying - to name but a few! We are in a battle - there is no doubt - and not only the team but also we, the intercessors, are under attack. Today I had an email from another intercessor who says: I was saddened to hear that another Intercessor has been involved in a car accident. Mine happened in April 2010 and fortunately no bones were broken, although I'm still recovering from whiplash injuries and receiving physio-treatment. Perhaps we should certainly pray for safety on the road for all RinJ Intercessors. It does seem to be that we could well be under some sort of attack. I hope I'm not sounding too over the top on this! So let us continue to pray for each other, and to ask our personal intercessors to cover us in all parts of our lives as we cover the team in Uganda. In the name of Christ let us remind Satan to be gone and to leave our work alone. Our God has the victory, to Him be all the glory! In the Name of Christ, Clemency Dear Praying Friends Lift to the Lord Alex, Matt, Karen, Nicky and Julius as they start the first Rooted In Jesus Conference today – Wednesday. We ask that through them Church leaders will be nurtured and encouraged.Pray for those attending the conference that they might find news ways of spreading the word of our Lord. Amen The agenda for day one Day One: Word 1. Worship 2. Introductions and conference opening 3. Teaching session 1: Introduction to Rooted in Jesus Tea Break 4. 15 min talk re-emphasising benefit of small groups and principles of How to lead a small group: including Sketch 'I am a small group leader ' Divide up into groups followed by demonstration lessons (Module 1 lesson 1. God knows you) Lunch 5. Praise and worship, followed by workshops in 3 rotating groups • Leading a small group (based on the Leader's Guide) • Pastoral care • Prayer, Worship and Leadership Tea Break 6. Ministry: Knowing God's love (eg a talk on Ephesians 3.14-21, followed by an opportunity to receive prayer) Mon Aug 16 Lord, we ask for the power of your Holy Spirit to protect Alex, Matt, Karen, Nicky and Julius as they arrive together in Uganda today. Mon Aug 16, 07:45 Nicky Plumbley arrives at Entebbe Airport. Nicky will finalise arrangements with Bishop Gichuru. Alex Scott, Matt Barnes, Julius Meoli and Karen Wilkinson leave their homes to travel to Entebbe Airport – arriving Tuesday. Lord, we ask for the power of your Holy Spirit to protect Alex, Matt, Karen, Nicky and Julius as they journey to Uganda tomorrow. Strengthen and guide them at the start of their mission and we ask that they bond well as a team in the short time available. Fill them with the power of your Holy Spirit as they seek to train leaders how to speak your word to others. Please ask the Lord for His gracious mercy, wisdom and protection for them all. He is faithful and will not fail. At St Thomas' this evening Matt gave a brief outline of what he was going to be doing and we prayed for him. Listen here Dear Praying Friends, I include two messages from Clemency which came through yesterday and which will help as we continue to pray for this mission. From Clemency at 0730 Dear intercessors, A picture from an intercessor came yesterday: 'A brick wall/building/enclosure was being built by many people (a bit like Nehemiah where each person had their bit of the wall to do) and the structure, though quite low was being built and rising brick by brick. This work, this construction was taking place underneath a large straw canopy or roof.’ Meditating on this it seemed to say that each bit of work, small as it might seem in itself, was significant in building God’s church/kingdom and that it was all under God’s protection (the roof/canopy). This speaks to me affirmation of the significance of our work as intercessors. Our Lord is a God who hears our prayer. From Clemency 1930 Dear intercessors Here's the latest message from Jonathan. Awesome! Clemency: Thank you and all the intercessors for praying. God has truly blessed, led, inspired, built, taught, enthused and protected us all these 4 days. The picture this morning was very affirming and encouraging partic as we consider plans for the future tomorrow. As I prayed over it this morning I sensed God giving the next part; in the picture children were walking out from that building under that canopy, Bible in hand; each child attached to a tree (one like the symbol of RinJ); the children were rooted in Jesus and bearing fruit for Him: each tree was bearing fruit. I also read Isaiah 44:3 & 4 this morning: so At the commissioning we prayed to our covenant keeping God for the children of Mkuti and Mkomaindo parishes using these verses, standing on these promises. Glory be to our God. Junior business & planning meeting tomorrow with priests and cordinators. Intercessors work has been so vital this week: God bless and minister Grace to you all. Jonathan x Love in Christ, Clemency Dear Praying Friends, I have received some news and prayer requests from Clemency Fox who is co-ordinating the Rooted In Jesus intercessory prayer. Please add these to your prayers this week (Matt is in Alex’s Team). There is a special request to cover those attending with Psalm 91 which I have added to the bottom of this update. The specific prayer requests are in bold for quick access. From Clemency, Sunday 8 August I have also had an email from Alex Scott which says: There has been a change to the team as Emanuel Piniel can no longer attend the conference. Instead he has been replaced by Julius Meoli. Please pray for Julius as he prepares to meet and join the team next week. The enemy is definitely on the prowl, as Jonathan says, so please cover him and Alex Scott and his team and your fellow intercessors with Psalm 91. Personally, I have had a great deal of trouble over the weekend and today with my technology - both iPhone and computer - this seems to be one area where the evil one tries to be disruptive. But our God is sovereign and so we claim His presence with us. Psalm 91: 14-16. From Clemency, Monday 9 August Yesterday an intercessor wrote: I have felt led to pray the full armour of God - Eph.6 10-18 - for the teams and the intercessors as this work is so precious with reaching out to the children. This morning as I prayed I was given a picture of a sea of smiling children's faces, they will be so happy to receive this knowledge of Jesus and they are so precious to Him. I was in Uganda briefly last year and whilst being driven to Kampala by one of the MAF pilots he said that the Christianity there is a fluffy sort of faith, I asked him what he meant and he said that the preachers tend to give the people what they want to hear not necessarily challenging them with the truth, so it seems to me that it's really important that the children learn about a solid foundation to the faith and it wouldn't be at all surprising for a spirit of disruption and confusion to be around. The enemy has definitely got a wobble on! I believe she is right. Please pray for the Lord to send His angels as a hedge of protection around the training conference that Jonathan is leading today in Tanzania, and around all the preparations that Alex's team and the people in Uganda are making for the conferences there in a couple of weeks. This morning I had this scripture, for our encouragement: The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) From Clemency, Tuesday 9 August The text message from Jonathan this evening speaks for itself: Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts. How true this has been today! The RinJ Junior trainees have grasped and revel in the vision for Junior. Great enthusiasm & desire to learn more, to develop skills and to implement Junior in their two churches. Training today was very successful with eager learners! Now planning for change in the Sunday Schools too! We do so appreciate and value intercessors and scriptures: I reported back today. God is doing something special and unique here; a foretaste of what RinJ Junior will enable elsewhere? It is supplying what is needed; what they now realise they longed for. Solid foundations will be laid; the tools are available now. Glory be to God. Praying for Alex and Penny & Uganda. Love Grace and Peace from Masasi. Jonathan Our God is so good - Praise Him! Psalm 91 (New International Version) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Yours In Christ Carolyn Dear Praying Friends, Rooted in Jesus is a group course in Christian discipleship written for use in Africa. It is the only material of its kind written especially for the use of ordinary African Christians, rather than translated from material developed for the West - where people face different problems and challenges in their Christian lives. Read more about the course here For the next few weeks we have been asked to become intercessors for Rooted In Jesus. The junior course Rooted in Jesus Junior is being promoted at the Vibrant Conference 2010 happening during August. Matt, our Rector, is teaching at this conference (in Entebbe, Uganda,) with Alex Scott.  See the flyer enlarged here Clemency Fox will be sending specific prayer requests as the month progresses the first of which is below. Rooted in Jesus Junior is having its first outings! Jonathan Rendall is in Tanzania at the moment, and on Friday 6 August he will begin introducing Rooted in Jesus Junior to two dioceses there. Alex Scott will lead a team to Entebbe, Uganda in mid August to pilot two Rooted in Jesus Junior conferences there. Please pray for Jonathan who is doing some other work in Tanzania this week before starting on RinJ, and for Alex and his team as they prepare to leave for Africa in mid-August. Our God is gracious and merciful, and will provide them with everything they need to please Him and bring Him glory. Pray for good preparation, freedom from anxiety, protection in all their travelling and good health. We are conscious that we all need to be prepared for spiritual attack especially now that we are extending RinJ to working with children and juniors. The other day Alison Morgan wrote: "I am sure you are right and there will be - has been already - loads of spiritual opposition to RinJ Junior. It's like Angola, which was strategic for different reasons - and we triumphed there, so let's buckle down and triumph here too! Alex is very clear that the prayer support has already made a huge difference in his communications with Bp Gichuru. Our God reigns!" Love in Christ and be blessed as you pray, Clemency
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