Other Testimonies from the CBU Team

Hannah – Favor of God Ministries is one of the most amazing organizations I have ever worked with. One of my favorite aspects of this organization is their acknowledgement of the importance of prayer. This could be seen clearly when my team, along with Favor of God, went to Pader for a crusade. When it rained and we were not able to have the crusade the first day, the Favor staff was quick to hold a prayer meeting in which everyone prayed for all aspects of the crusade. This was such a powerful time in the spirit, and I will never forget the fervor and diligence with which they prayed. I will never forget my experience with Favor of God and I know that God has changed me. Thank You!

Bekah – We walked out of the airport and met a tall Ugandan man. He was shy and didn’t say much but we soon found out he was our driver. On the way up he still didn’t say much. We were soon surprised at Nebbi that this tall, quiet Ugandan wasn’t so shy after all. David was actually not only a driver for Favor of God, but a pastor, singer, dancer and like 5 other things. David is one of the most self-sacrificing people I have ever met. We were headed to the crusade in Pader for the weekend and he wasn’t supposed to come with us because he had a retreat at his church. But our other transportation fell through and he not only drove our team the 5 hour van ride to Pader but also came back to Gulu to pick up another team and drove the 10 plus hour round trip again without any sleep. Seeing this kind of sacrifice and joy during those times was amazing to me. He gave me an example of what Christ-like servanthood is supposed to look like in everyday life. Not only is David an example, but the rest of the staff of Favor is as well. There are extreme financial constraints on the ministry, but they are still faithfully serving. That humbles me in so many ways. I hope to be like the staff of Favor of God. Even if it is only half of who they are, it’ll be more like Christ then I am today.

Brandon - I will never forget morning devotions at the Favor of God Mission House. Seeing the passion every staff member possessed when worshipping our God was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Just standing in that room the first morning, full of shock, opened my eyes to who God really is.

God is not an American God. God is not a white God. God is not only where I can see or where I have been. God is a universal God, who knows the Favor of God staff as well, and in depth, as He knows my own family. God changed my outlook of earth as well as heaven. To praise and worship God is more than just words that rhyme and music that flows. Worshipping God is raising your voice, lessening yourself and proclaiming His glory and authority over the existence of life. The Favor of God staff showed me that.

Showing the Jesus Film in Nebbi

Picture of Gulu Town Marketplace

Children in Kolongo in the District of Pader

Favor of God’s Bible Distribution in Kolongo

The California Baptist Team with Carole and Benjamin and Stacey

Seated – By Sarah Bourns

Seated in the heavenlies with Christ

Waiting on Him, resting in Him

Sitting at Jesus’ feet

Trusting, listening, learning

Sitting. Not Striving. Not working,

Just sitting

Seated in Uganda

Watching, worshipping, praying

Sitting at the feet of Favor of God

Ministered to, instead of ministering

Served and cared for, before we served and cared

Sitting in cars

Sitting in meetings

Sitting in huts

Sitting with our team

Sitting with children on my lap

Sitting on the floor while orphans pray for me

Sitting in morning devotions before any work is begun

Sitting. Not working, not helping, not teaching

Just sitting.

Luke 10:40-42 Mary sat at the Lords feet

(Sarah Bourns was the team leader for the recent California Baptist University Team that visited Favor of God)

Global Day of Prayer – Sunday May 23rd, 2010

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2nd Chronicles 7:14

Favor of God Ministries in partnership with World Vision had the pleasure of mobilizing over 70 Northern Ugandan Pastors to gather in His name, humble themselves and plead for the healing of the land, Biblical marriages and families, and the Nations to come unto Him. A crowd of over 2000 people gathered for 7 hours to worship and intercede together.

Martin Onen, co-founder of Favor of God and one of the many Pastors to pray and speak at the event explained the event and the need for unity in the Church to build and restore Northern Uganda. Martin says, “when you pray for something together it gets bound in your hearts”. We are joining together with millions across the world to complete the great commission and transform nations.

The global day of prayer will be followed in Gulu by “90 days of Blessing”, a challenge to the church to transform and restore our community from within.

As God’s blessings pour upon the church, it should reflect in the community. Our prayer is that Uganda will be a royal throne in God’s Kingdom. As I watched Martin on his knees for almost an hour in the pouring rain interceding for Nations, crying out for healing and restoration I saw a man of action. A man who knows where His power and might comes from, a man who loves his country and His people, but above all a man who loves our God and knows that no one can change His plan for Northern Uganda. Martin is a true servant and soldier of Christ.

Check out the strategy behind the Global Day of Prayer.

Believing in the power of prayer!

I hear so often that we probably won’t fully realize how powerful prayer is until we get to heaven and get to look back on its real effect. Let’s live like we know how powerful it is. Let’s persist in the work and blessing of prayer and ask God to show us some of the answers to our prayers. I do think he’s willing to do that if we ask and are willing to keep our eyes and minds open to what he might show us.

The enemy’s plan for Uganda and the surrounding countries is one with deep roots and many participants. This Monday we will continue on in the battle to break those strongholds. Our prayers have tangible results, and they lift up the tired arms of the believers in Uganda.
Please join us for prayer on Monday night, March 12 at 7pm. Email rob@favorofgod.org for directions.

“The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much!” (James 5).

Note from Carole: Child Prisoners

Our prison ministry teams have begun going into the local jail in Gulu again on Thursdays. They’ve also been visiting the “Children’s prison”. The children’s prison keeps children from ages 6 to 18. I was shocked when I learned that such young children are being kept as prisoners! We must pray!

All of our children have been wounded and ripped apart by the war – in every home, on every street, sleeping under the trees or trash bins. They all need the love of a Father so desperately, the arms of God around them, a mother’s gentleness to lead them, food for their bodies and hearts, and purpose in life. They need to see their value and their worth as children of the King!

We must reach them! They may have not all been soldiers but all have been casualties of war.

Please comment below if you will pray with us.

Trauma Counseling and Next Steps

Our Trauma Counseling department held a three day training at the Favor of God Mission House on March 10-12. We refreshed our FOGM leaders and also taught others in the community who are interested in working with emotional healing on all levels. We are encouraging churches and believers to go into more schools, prisons, and villages with Trauma Counseling to introduce the powerful emotional healing that is available through Jesus.

After finishing this training course they went into the field to offer a two week class where over 500 are being reached with Trauma Counseling and the gospel. They will finish the class this Friday with an evangelistic outreach. Let’s pray that all of the people attending the class will give their lives to Jesus as their Savior and now their Healer.

After completing this Trauma Counseling session, Zallon, our TC director, will be moving to a new position of leadership with another ministry in town. Zallon has served with Favor of God for four years. Of course we are sad to see him go, but at the same time we are thankful as we watch him take a new and exciting step. He will have the opportunity to train, mentor and bless new people and new leaders in Gulu. Zallon, we love you and appreciate you. You are a mighty warrior for God, and we are excited to partner alongside you and your new ministry!

As Zallon moves on, we will lay down the Trauma Counseling ministry for a few months. We must wait on the Lord for direction and funding in that area. Please keep this part of Favor of God’s ministry in your prayers, as it is such a powerful tool in bringing healing and hope.

An Encouraging House of Hope Update

Samuel Aboga is one of our precious House of Hope children. Eleven years ago, Samuel was born in LRA captivity. World Vision cared for him at their rehabilitation center, and then almost four years ago they brought him to Favor of God’s House of Hope.

When he first came to the House of Hope, he was very sad and lonely since he had lost his father during the war and then his mother a year later. All of the children have regular home visits where they see any relatives they may have left. However, Samuel had no home or relative to be taken to which only added to his sadness.

But praise God! This last January we discovered an elderly distant relative, and Samuel thoroughly enjoyed his home visitation with her. That connection has given him an added feeling of belonging, and he has had much more hope and joy since then!

California team visits Gulu

Rob and I are very excited that a team from our home church in Riverside is visiting Favor of God in Gulu right now! Hear about the trip from their words:

“The last few days here in Gulu have been filled with tremendous growth both for the local community and our team. We have been given a crash course in door-to-door witnessing using translators, and have gone out sharing Christ in the local community and at the military hospital. In a few cases we have had to use two translators, one to translate from English to Acholi, and another to translate from Acholi to Swahili. It has truly been an amazing experience!

Sharing the Word at the military compound was very special occasion for us, as we were the first Christians allowed into the barracks to share the Gospel since Uganda gained its independence in 1962. After about 50 years of silence, outsiders sharing the Word of God have finally been allowed back into the military compound. Our team had the honor of delivering it! It’s a huge step forward for the local Christian church and a huge blessing for our team.”

Read more here!

Typical Days for our Hope of Hope Children

Our House of Hope children, though busy in school during the week, are filled with activities and fun in the afternoons and weekends. They come home from school each day to help with some chores, play with their new puppy, or participate in an active game of soccer. Their evening devotion time with praise, prayer and the Word is a highlight of day. Once a month, they have a corporate all night prayer meeting in their home, which they requested when they realized that the adults get to do it.

On Saturday mornings several of the children receive the opportunity to speak on the radio on a kid’s talk show about pertinent issues relating to children. One Saturday a month the children visit the 10-acre farm to play, plant, feed the pigs, milk the cow, or harvest crops as they dream about the new home they will soon have on that very piece of land.

Another Saturday of each month the children are active in planning and participating in a community Children’s Club. This ministry is hosted by our own children and the House of Hope. They desire to pull together children’s workers from the surrounding churches to bless street and community children with games, sports, counseling, scripture memory, and teaching on Christian living.

We are still in need of some more sponsors for these children. If you would like to sponsor one of Favor of God’s children email sarab@favorofgod.org.

Photo of the Day: Freedom through Trauma Counseling

These women have been through Favor of God’s Trauma Counseling program written by Dr. Robi. Dr. Robi developed a trauma counseling program that “seeks to empower disenfranchised community members affected by trauma (associated with war, child-exploitation and natural disaster).” You can find out more about Dr. Robi’s EMPOWER program and the work that Favor of God is doing in Gulu and throughout northern Uganda by watching THIS VIDEO.

If you feel compelled and can help Favor of God continue to share this EMPOWER program in northern Uganda, we need to raise a total of $14,000.

For every dollar given, we have ministry partners who will match each gift up to $14,000. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Click HERE if you can help us reach people with this trauma counseling program and other ministries.

You can find out more about this $14,000 challenge here.