Altar Call

Homecoming Day 11

This weekend I went to church in the states for the first time. I do not know if I was expecting too much or what, but I was disappointed with the service. It was a Christmas eve service so the altar call was inevitable. BUT I was left high and dry. Where was the intense scripture reading that I spent four months waiting for in Uganda? Where was the deep delve into Greek meaning and Bibical cultural insight? Was this what I have been waiting for? Surely, this service was not what I had come to miss. Ashamed, I find myself questioning those who came to the altar. In suburban Illinois, what do we know of need? How can we truly understand what it is to NEED a savior and cling to his word and his principles? So often 'we' talk of coming to Christ after finding the way of the world lacking, but we never fully grasp what lack is. In other places in the world, people cling to Christ in dire need and desire to survive. But I have the audacity to come to Christ when my life is lackluster. Where does that demand faith and reliance? I know there are people in true need in this country. I have seen them. But on whom do they rely for necessity? The government. Aid. Welfare. Where is his church? Where are his hands and feet?

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ -Matthew 25:34-45

Who are the least of these? The children 'starving in Africa'? What about the orphans living in our own cities and states? The Church of Christ has been commissioned to care for widows and orphans, but in this country of governmental reliance we have given up our commission, to a corrupt and secular power. Why? This is the area which the church can have influence and power to show the love of Christ. He came to heal the sick and be with those who needed him, not the self righteous and well educated. They saw no need for him and that disease plagues many of our countrymen to this day. In God's provision I rest, but I ask him for things like tuition so that I can attend my private Christian college. What if I chose to take a year off and donate that money to a better cause? That money is a small fortune in Uganda. I grew up being told I was smart and since God had blessed me in that way that I should continue my education and do something noble with it. Why do I need an education that costs me so much to help me get to a place where I can serve God the best? God gave me gifts. Certainly, he can use me no matter what.

-Am I being a steward of what I have been given?

-Am I a good servant of Christ?

-Am I reaching out to others in his name?

-How can I best be an American CHRISTIAN?

May you be a blessing where you are.

Straps and Souls

Uganda Day 86

Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a company called Sseko.

Sseko shoes is an organization that helps Ugandan girls fresh out of secondary school earn enough money to pay for the first year of university by making sandals. Sseko works with a specific secondary school outside of Kampala and employs about nine girls for each 9 month period. The way that the Ugandan school system works is that primary through secondary school calendars run February to November and then the University calendar runs, like ours, September to April with 9 months built in so that students can earn some cash for school fees. (School loans are practically non-existent here) Anyhow, Sseko steps in an gives these girls, who have aspirations to further their education, the opportunity to work and earn the money for the first year with opportunities for further employment and scholarship. One of the cool aspects about this company lie in their goal to eventually, on the Ugandan side, be totally Ugandan run (but since their main market is western there will always be some design logistics done by a westerner). They have only been in business for about 2.5 years and have a full time staff of about 30 in Uganda and the two owners, in the states, act as salesmen and all the other fun stuff.
So the question, why women? The thought behind that lies within the saying,

"If you educate a boy, you educate and individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a nation (or the future)."

And the train of thought that follows: a woman will pass her education on to her children or will at least push for her children to be educated. Another reason, education seems to be one of the best forms of birth control. An educated woman is more interested in achieving something herself than she is in just having babies. Especially in a society that is so male dominated like Uganda a program like this is unique, epic, and cutting edge. If a family has money to send one child to university, it is going to be a son. For a son has the responsiblity to provide for his parents whereas a girl, once she is married, is more responsible to her husband's family (traditionally, mind you. Things are changing here like everywhere else but...tradition and culture still hold strong). A boy would also be in the work world longer for he will not stay home with children after they are born. In theory, he has a better return on investment. But does he?
Sseko makes sandals. The soles of their shoes have five loops through which one passes a straps of fun colors. They are pretty cute. I did, indeed, buy myself a pair.

{Soles..}

Sseko is not a Christian ministry. They do not claim to bring glory to Christ through their organization. It was just a revelation for me. We have spent so much time talking about ministries and sustainability and the success or lack there of in ministry.
{And Straps.}

But this is a dichotomy that I'm not sure where it falls. Its like this semester, I came to Africa and I am not doing missions. Does that happen? Apparently it does. So then I have to ponder...can God get the glory from a company, an organization that does not set out to glorify him? I feel that he can. If even one girl gives him glory for the opportunity that is more than enough. And even if no one does, can God get glory out of the coincidental good that happens in his world? I say he must.


To God be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.