Dear Friends,
Twenty years ago this Christmas we left Dallas for Uganda. And now, while Jesus’ birth on earth is the supreme focus of Christmas, we as missionaries also relate to another key character in the story – John. Later known as John the Baptist, the name John in Hebrew means, “God is gracious.”
How gracious God has been to us in allowing us to serve through the past 22 years in Guatemala, Uganda, Kenya and the U.S. We are blessed to share in God’s calling upon John “to give to his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77) and “to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:79)
We love the story of John leaping in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered her house. It is that excitement of the savior that spurs commitment. And it is submission and humility to the risen Jesus that produces results. Mark’s life verse comes from John’s words when he first actually saw Jesus, “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
John’s miraculous birth also is a lesson in faith and an example that God’s ways are not our ways.
The priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were childless and well advanced in years. An angel appeared and told him Elizabeth would bear a son to be called John, a forerunner of Jesus. Zacharias questioned the prophecy and was struck dumb. Only after the child was born and Zacharias wrote on a tablet that his name is John as decreed by the angel did he regain his voice.
It is a reminder that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) Whether it be community transformation in a Guatemalan town, personal transformation through discipleship, clinics, discovering God given skills, scholarships, mercy homes in Uganda or micro finance in Kenya … we have found in ministry nothing of worth happens without faith and prayer which guides our steps.
Some specific things we are involved in since our return to the US in 2022 are:
• Margaret works with 2-3 people a week both in the US and Uganda helping them understand their God given and career skills.
• Our involvement with Freedom in Christ Ministries as encouragers provides us with ministry opportunities to take individual men or women through a 4-6 hour freedom appointment. These take place in our home and the organization refers people to us.
• Margaret has stepped in to assist Uganda Partners while the communications director is on a three month sabbatical. She is responsible for weekly editing 2-3 stories of Uganda Christian University journalism interns for the Uganda Partners blog. Margaret loves opportunities to work with university students.
• Mark leads two different discipleship small groups.
• We host monthly in our home First Friday Fellowship, a time of food, fellowship, encouragement in freedom and identity in Christ, and prayer for about 30 people.
• Ongoing mentoring through WhatsApp of Ugandans, including marital counseling.
• A ministry providing Bibles to Ugandan students and leaders.
Thank you. We appreciate you standing with us and supporting the Rock Outreach. It's making a difference in the lives of people both here and in Uganda one person at a time.
With grateful hearts, Mark and Margaret
