The Widening Circle of Influence!

Happy New Year to you and your family. We pray that the New Year will bring new hope and blessings.

Back in 2016, I had the chance to visit Uganda with John and Madelle Payne. I love visiting the field because it gives me an opportunity to personally meet some of God’s amazing heroes.

We had spent the whole day visiting villages, meeting people, talking to them and hearing about the amazing things that God was doing in their lives. When we were ready to call it a day, we were told that we were invited to dinner at the Bishop’s home and that we were to stay at his place for the night. A long post-dinner conversation revealed a very interesting story about how Bishop Gidudu himself became involved with CHE. I even recorded a short video the next morning of him recalling how CHE had enabled countless people in his diocese to become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ over the years. Hear his testimony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNOHt3JjjKM

Decades ago, Samuel Gidudu was just an ordinary villager who loved his village and was concerned about the people in his community.

When Community Health Evangelism (CHE) came to the village, he was one of the first to become a volunteer. He quickly adopted it and experienced transformation. Soon he was a champion for the cause and had mobilized enough people to start fostering a CHE movement in his village and the neighboring villages too.

The Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) area coordinator for Uganda soon identified him for further training as a CHE facilitator to train trainers. There was no looking back. He already had a good education including theological training and it wasn’t long before Rev. Samuel was the diocesan CHE facilitator.

His influence and his understanding of holistic development placed him ahead of his peers. When the diocese was looking for a potential candidate for taking over as bishop, it was no surprise to anyone he was selected. “I know the impact of CHE so intimately, and the fact that no approach brings the physical and spiritual aspects of the gospel together so well. When I became a bishop, I made CHE the strategy for outreach in my entire diocese.” Bishop Gidudu has since seen hundreds upon hundreds of villagers come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the well networked and implemented CHE program in his diocese.

In Matthew 25:11 (NIV) Jesus talks about the master commending the faithful steward, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’” May we all be faithful stewards like Bishop Gidudu and continue to expand the impact of our influence!