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Terrorism and Hope

How sad it is that a human being would be so set on destroying others through acts of terrorism as seen at the Boston Marathon! In the midst of grief for the lives lost and those injured, we raise our eyes to Jesus Christ to pray for the United States and for our world. He is the hope of the nations! May we also reflect on the privilege, longevity/bravity, and meaning of life so as to apply our ... hearts to wisdom (Psalms 90:12). As we can all atest, the statistics on death are impressive. One out of one dies.    The irony is that the statistic, none the less, speaks of hope for the Christian. It is hopeful because it informs us that there is more to life than what we presently see. It assures us that our longing for more than this world can offer is not merely a dream. In Christ we are invited to a new life of forgiveness, newness, and new quality of relational life that will never fade nor be tarnished.  In the terror of the cross of Christ was born the see...

HE IS NOT HERE!

“Sir, He is not here!   Could you please make your way out, sir!” requested the Catholic monk as I tried to linger on at the tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in East Jerusalem, Israel.   That was in January of 2011 during a visit to the Holy Land.   At the entrance of the tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, East Jerusalem, Israel. Like many pilgrims, I was fascinated by the significance of what happened here two thousand years ago.   Corresponding to the early visitors on that Easter morning, I inadvertently drew the same reminder, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He is risen!   Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:5-7). The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is indisputably the single most powerful event in all of human history with na...

Through Thick and Thin: The Asian Elephant on the Match

  Sammy speaking at a Church Service in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia January 27th 2013 Yes, we hear a lot about the Asian century in terms of economics.  The high rise cities of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, India, and myriad others in China and Thailand.  What we don't hear enough about is the spiritual match clearly evident in many of these places.  My time here in Kuala Lumpur visiting with the city's largest and most influential churches and Christian ministries has convinced me that God is doing something unique that is set to benefit the global church. This conviction is not guided by the sizes of the ministries I visited as much as they are significant.  Rather, it is guided by the quality of the leaders of these ministries and the values upon which they place premium in their service to God and fellow believers.  Without exception while not mentioning names due to the sensitive environment within which a number of them serve, th...

Adiedo Embraces Hope

World Evangelist Sammy Wanyonyi preaching in Adiedo, Kenya Orphaned by HIV/AIDS, she rarely speaks, not even to her visiting school sponsor Pam Craig who traveled as part of our team to Adiedo from Spokane Washington.  But last Saturday afternoon in the closing moments of the evangelistic festival, Everline walked over to Pam and asked if she could be introduced to the preacher (me).   For once, she had a smile on her face.  The eleven year-old had just asked Jesus Christ into her heart as Lord and Savior.   Several hundreds of people respond to the invitation to follow Christ on day two of Adiedo Festival All across the soccer-field were stories like Everline's.  I cannot forget a ten year-old young man named Ochieng.  On Friday night, he waited backstage patiently for me to leave the stage and then boldly walked up to me extending his hand to greet me.  Although his clothes were torn here and there, I could tell ...

Adiedo Opens its Doors to the Gospel

Preaching to residents of Adiedo village From the village headmen, the area chief, the inspector of police, the district commandant of police,  to the District Commissioner, the highest official representing the provincial administration, the message is the same:  "Thank you for bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our community!" The young rejoice The last four days we have held leadership conferences that targetted church and community leaders as well as toured various development projects that our ministry partners sponsor.  The work that SWIM's partner, Spring of Hope International, has done in the community has openned the hearts and minds of the residents of this quiet village.  Hundreds respond to follow Christ Today we kick off the two-day evangelistic festival.  I am eager to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For it is the power of God to salvation.  The festival will feature local choirs, testimonies, a guest arti...

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Don't give me a church at the gates of vale, give me a mission at the gates of hell. Let me be a fork in the road that humanity must turn one way or the other on encounter with me. Some languish in the luxury of sin. Others starve under it. They both share the tragic end. Who will help the cause of Christ to stop the multitudes from discending in the pit? My Lord and my God, here I am in your presence. Guide me in the way evarlasting. Cause your star to be ever in sight and to lead the way. Your sword I bear in my hand. Though alone sometimes it might seem.  As a soldier for the Cross I face the dragon.  I am not ashamed of your Gospel, the power of God unto salvation.  Satan must surrender the nations. The cause of Christ has triumped forever.  Today as I head to Homa Bay, Kenya, it is in your power and for your glory, Lord!

October Living Water for the People of Adiedo,

Excited Residents of Adiedo stand with a banner announcing next week's Evangelistic Crusade The small village near the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya has seen its share of  dark days.  But not anymore as the Light of Jesus Christ comes beaming through starting this weekend and all through next week.  David Opap who grew up here and now serves as executive director of Spring of Hope International, a partner organization with SWIM in bringing the gospel to the residents of Adiedo next week reminisces: "We faced water borne diseases and death daily from contaminated water and a good dose of ignorance due to iliteracy.  We had no source of clean water.   The only water to drink was the infested pond water that the animals would drink from and urinate in.  Many died from drinking the water, including my siblings and eventually my mother. My young brother and I both got sick at the same time.  He died.  When I ...