You may be wondering, ‘Why is FRM talking about building a castle in Sudan?’  Every nation has cultural roots and looks back on their founding fathers with a sense of pride.  In the USA, we remember the Puritans who risked all to worship freely, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Liberty Bell.  Now that South Sudan has emerged as the newest nation in the world, we desire to make sure they build on the Rick of jesus Christ.

Our vision for this castle is to be situated on the top of Mount Gordon in Nimule.  General Gordon was a strong Christian man who bravely fought to protect Sudan from Islamic jihadists back in 1800s.  He took a stand for Christ that resonates through the chaplaincy program and the evangelical churches all over South Sudan today!  The castle will signify to the young nation that Christianity is alive and well.  It will be secure from any guerilla warfare in its design and will promote excellence in education, discipline, and godliness.

We believe this school will be the tool God uses to train up future leaders for South Sudan.  We also plan to invite leaders from all the countries of Africa.  The castle will be a light set on a hill, drawing men and women to our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are in the beginning stages of raising the funds for the initial phase of construction.  Would you please prayerfully consider joining us in this effort as we need to raise $750,000 for the first phase?  If you want to donate to the International Bible School, please go to http://www.frmusa.org and follow the instructions on the “Support” link.

It is with great sorrow that we must inform you that two more of our chaplain have fallen into the arms of the Savior.  Daniel Aguek Chuang and Angelo Patrick Dokuru lost their lives in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Communication from the front lines is extremely limited and both chaplains were posted in dangerous and demanding fronts.  Whenever our chaplains are selected for special operations we classify them as “Deep Deployment” and we don’t  have regular interaction due to high risks.  Because of all the secrecy, the exact details are unclear and the true causes of death will probably never be known.  But, what we do know was that they were faithfully carrying out the duties of a chaplain and were a great encouragement to the men they served.

At the chaplain’s base we do not train men to be ‘successful’ in ministry- we train them to die. The final sermon before graduation is, ‘Preparation for Martyrdom’.  I exhort the men to count their lives worth nothing, to have a singular, all-consuming passion for the Kingdom, and to remember that Christ can save to the uttermost.  I tell the men, ‘We are not all meant to live to be 70 or 80.  Your breath is in the hand of Christ.  He will make sure you finish your race.  Set your face like a flint and NEVER be moved!’  The cost is made clear so each chaplain know what is expected of him.

Daniel described his calling into ministry like this:

‘Sudan needs the Word of God to change.  One day the missionaries of Far Reaching Ministries will go back to their land, but i will continue preaching.  When a person receives the Word of God, they can leave their life behind and be born again.  If God can change me, He can change anybody.

Daniel left behind his wife, Asunta, and their three children: Elizabeth, Samuel and Jacob.  I grieve for the children, knowing how hard it is to be fatherless.  At the same time, I am thankful Daniel left them a testimony of being completely sold out for Christ.  Daniel’s favorite Scripture was, ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Patrick shared this about his calling:

‘I am a soldier of Christ.  My dream is to let God fulfill His work in me by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I want to teach and preach His Word.  I will go to the frontline to teach men because of my training at Far Reaching Ministries.  I am His to use.’

Patrick left behind his wife, Terezina, and their two sons, Moses and Samuel.  Abraham Lincoln said, ‘The path that you want your children to travel, you must first travel that path yourself.’  Patrick’s life taught his boys, bravery, loyalty, holiness, and selflessness.  His favorite Scripture was, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Daniel and Patrick understood the cost of following Jesus Christ.  They served for nearly 10 years as a demonstration of the power and sufficiency of God’s Holy Spirit.  With relinquished hearts, and resolute minds, these men set their eyes on the high calling of Christ and never looked back.  I remember their faces and smiles.  I am honored to serve among such men of faith.  I know that one day- when I make my journey to heaven- I will recognize them in the Kingdom of God.  I look forward to greeting my brothers, throwing my arms around them and resting in the knowledge that we will never be separated again.  My prayer is that all of the chaplains will sit at the same table and reminisce over all of the amazing miracles we saw as we poured our lives out for the King of Kings.

We naturally grieve as we feel the loss of these men, but we should have no regrets- they lived and died as soldiers of the Cross.  I picture them now, surrounding the throne with their fellow soldiers and hearing Jesus say, ‘Well done, my son.  Enter into the joy prepares for you.’

When we hold the service to remember their lives, we will take two candles and we will light one only on one end and the other on both ends.  We have a saying here in South Sudan that a candle that burns twice as bright only burns half as long.  Life is but a vapor, so we must intentionally see each moment through the lens of eternity.  They gave away the treasures of heaven to the lost that Christ so generously gave them.  In truth, these men lost nothing, but gained everything.

“… This School and Discipleship Program has changed my life, and the ministry I served in.  It has transformed our churches and the communities around them.  Today, I know Who I am talking about.  Now I serve God’s people with a pure heart, and not to feed my flesh.  Now I speak of the Jesus Whom I have met myself.  Now I teach as I am commanded, not as I please… If you don’t know the Word of God, I am telling you, you don’t ‘know’ God as He is.  It is only as you imagine Him.

…Don’t make the mistake of being corrupt “sons of Eli” (1 Samuel 2:11)… concerned with gleaning the roasted meat from the people who came to the house of God.  The sons of Eli were not concerned if the people knew Jehovah or not.  Their concerned  was for roasted meat not for people to know God… If you don’t know God, your concern, your concern will be your Provision and your Promotion.  Your god will be your belly.  Your motives will be impure, your testimony untrue and your fruit will be rotten and spoiled.  And yet, you may have lots of churches, filled with lots of people.  But in one day it will all come to nothing.  A waste of time, effort, money and ministry.  A wasted life!

… I encourage you to stay in this program.  I encourage you to learn His Word as I finally did.  But first I had to stop.  Full stop! I had to confess and repent of my ignorance.  And cried out, “Lord, I will stop going out for You, until I have come…to know YOU!”

… Let us finish with a time of reflection, and if need be, Repentance.  We will begin by singing a song you all know.  But perhaps today it will have new and deeper meaning: ‘You are the Most High God! You are the One I know!’”

Prayer Requests:

- Repentance and Revival in the slums

- Employment for the Pastors

- The many Petitions of our Supporters

- Encouragement and Assistance

Praise Reports… we thank God for:

- The tremendous enrollment this semester!

- His word which does not return void!

- The commitment of the Pastors of the Least!

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Paul, the ministry and our family.  He is recovering well, and hopes to visit the Bible School next week.  Please join us in thanking the Lord for delivering us through this trial, and for raising up the indigenous pastors to fully carry on with the Ministry.  In fact, enrollment has increased!  Please continue praying as physicians are still trying to uncover Paul’s underlying medical causes, and prevent a reoccurrence.

NEWS!

We hope to be in the States in JUNE for CHURCH VISITS.  If you would like to have us visit or speak with your congregation about the Ministry.

Your prayers, encouragement and participation are vital for this Ministry to the “Pastors of the Least” to continue… step by step.  Please accept our heartfelt appreciation for standing with us and the Ministry.

God bless you!

Marcia