WHY YOU SHOULD STREET PREACH

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows on the bustling streets of Yumbe town. People rushed past one another, absorbed in their own worlds, groups of women clustered around makeshift stalls picking selecting second hand clothes, in one street corner girls were tirelessly preparing and serving delectable the local food, the air was thick with the tantalizing aroma of oven fried goats meat. Amongst this whirlwind of activity, a small group of individuals gathered on a street corner, shouting on top of their voices , "God Loves You!" and "He does not condemn you but wants you to have eternal life"

From a distance, the Muslim call to prayer goes off, some middle-aged men are seen hurrying to the mosque, in Yumbe town a predominantly muslim enclave, majority of the town dwellers practice Islam. When they see such groups of Christians shouting at the corner of the streets, they don't take it lightly, some peep at them with suspicion while others are quickly enraged.

On this particular day, John, a middle-aged man with a hoary head and a warm smile, was the leader of this 5 man street evangelism team. He had a passion for sharing his faith and spreading the message of hope and redemption. With unwavering conviction, he stood at the center, his Bible in hand.

As the group began to spew out scriptures,  their voices cut through the noise of the market street. Passersby couldn't help but glance their way, some with curiosity and others with skepticism. A few stopped to listen, their expressions a mixture of wonder and uncertainty. 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, and the town continued its relentless pace, the small group of evangelists remained steadfast, knowing that their simple act of spreading the message of love and faith could touch the lives of those who needed it most and save them from eternal damnation and give them eternal life. 

While street preaching is not so common with many churches, it is a time-tested and historic method of evangelism that is effective in reaching those who might never enter a church. It may offend those who resist the truth, and it may have to overcome some negative associations, but street preaching continues to be used by God around the world to lead people to faith in Christ. Rather than wait for the lost to come to us, we should go to them.

Street preaching is a form of public evangelism or religious outreach in which individuals, often referred to as street preachers or evangelists, deliver religious messages in public places. Street preachers typically share their beliefs, religious teachings, or messages about faith, salvation, and morality with passersby in various public settings, such as street corners, parks and public places.

Prominent English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon once said

“Where would the reformation have been if its great preachers had confined themselves to churches and cathedrals? How would the common people have become indoctrinated with the Gospel had it not for those far-wandering evangelists and those daring innovators who found a pulpit on every heap of stones, and an audience chamber in every open space near the abodes of men?”

The Bible is filled with countless scriptures and examples of street preaching

Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. - Isaiah 58:1

Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; hear the words of this covenant and do them. - Jeremiah 11:6-7

Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 3:1-2 

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. - Luke 9:1,6

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city. - Acts 8:5-8

Street preaching is by far one of the most effective ways to reach out to the lost sinners, The ultimate goal is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ for all the world to hear.  And for street preachers, The Holy Spirit is the greatest helper. Child of God don’t hesitate to preach Jesus Christ. 

THE DONKEY IN A PIT - THE ACT OF GIVING

Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again. Deuteronomy 22:4 KJV

Giving is the transfer of something or ownership of a good without the expectation of receiving something in return, sometimes it takes the form of generosity or charity. Giving is symbiotic, both the giver and the receiver benefit from the act of giving.

While it is a good thing to pray before you commit to give somebody something, I have seen people who out of blind generosity have funded rebellion or been a limitation to the progress of others by their giving, one wise man once said, it is better to teach people to fish than giving them fish always, it is equally important to pray over donations and gifts so that the receiver appropriates them to purpose.

In this scripture, the bible emphasizes the place of helping and not entirely carrying the burden single handedly. Once I had decided to sponsor my nephew in secondary school because the father was incapacitated, when I asked the young man to send me the school fees payment slip, he not only sent

it, but he also added a list of requirements, I rebuked him and told him to either look out for some sort of work to raise the UGX. 80,000 he wanted for books, pens, sugar, and soap or get to his parents, in no time, the parents figured out a way, the point was driven home, both the giver and the receiver were in some sort of partnership, working towards a common goal.

If you want love, learn to give the same to others, if you want to live a happy life, make the life of others full of happiness, if you want to be rich, enable others to become rich. That is how giving works.

However, as you practice generosity, take care not to disable your benefactors, instead offer them a helping hand as the Lord impresses it on your heart, otherwise they will keep seeking for help from you to no end. Some recipients of aid are entitled. I have worked in humanitarian spaces for a long time,

It is better to teach people to fish than giving them fish always.

As you practice generosity, take care not to disable your benefactors and I have witnessed beforehand people refusing to take care of a latrine or a water tap because they know some humanitarian organization will come and fix it, UN would come and help us, they would say. What kind of entitlement is that? Desist from it, child of God.

GOD’S GENERALS: WOULD YOU HAVE MADE THE LIST?

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Luke 1:1-4 KJV

When Roberts Liardon authored, the “God’s Generals” around 1996, he attempted to recapture God’s glory with compelling spiritual biographies of some of the most powerful ministries to ever ignite the fires of revival. Simply he was bringing to our attention a term often used in Christian circles to refer to influential and charismatic Christian leaders and preachers who have had a significant impact on the Christian faith and its history.

Some of the names of the God’s Generals will sound through eternity.

• William J. Seymour (1870 –1922) was the son of ex-slave, who turned a tiny horse table on Azusa Street, Los Angeles, into an internationally famous center of revival.
• Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947) was known for his powerful healing ministry and dynamic preaching, and is considered one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.
• Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) was a famous evangelist and founder of the Foursquare Church. She was known for her innovative use of media and her large tent revivals.
•  Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976) who was a healing evangelist known for her miracle services and for drawing large crowds. She had a significant influence on the Charismatic movement.
• Oral Roberts (1918-2009) a prominent televangelist, faith healer, and founder of Oral Roberts University. He played a pivotal role in the growth of the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements
• Benny Hinn (born 1952) a controversial televangelist known for his faith healing crusades and Prosperity Gospel teachings.
• Billy Graham (1918-2018) widely considered one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century, with a worldwide ministry that spanned several decades.

God has weaved out remarkable stories of how the Gospel has taken route, these stories often have been drenched in the blood of these saints, some have carried the pangs of pain, some have been carried on the unenviable labors of saints, like Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 6:5 KJV, "In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;:" our ministration is not devoid of troubles.

This was the tale of the early preachers, apostles and ministers, or so you think? That which was will be, there is nothing new under the sun, the same things will happen in this and the next generation if Jesus would not have returned.

When you study, and looking at the testimony of the people around the Generals, some never held them in high esteem, some never considered them of repute, it is many years earlier that we consider them to be remarkable men and women of God after they had gone to be with the Lord.

Wherever you are serving, when the time comes? will you be considered a God's General or you are simply passing through the world quietly. Would you have made the list? If yes, congratulations, you probably have a glorious seat around the pearly gates, but if your answer is no? seek the Holy Spirit to assign you beyond the giftings.

 

TITHE 2: BLESSINGS OF NATIONS - THE STORY OF COLGATE

And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:12 KJV

William Colgate, the founder of the Colgate-Palmolive Company, was a devout Christian who believed in the principles of tithing and giving. Born into a humble family in England in 1783, Colgate grew up in a household where faith and frugality were valued. At the age of 16, he immigrated to the United States and began working as an apprentice to a soap maker in New York City. Through hard work and determination, he eventually established his own soap manufacturing business, which would later evolve into the multinational corporation known as Colgate-Palmolive.

It is impossible for you to be a tither and you don’t see a manifestation of God’s divine provision. As Colgate's business grew and prospered, so did his commitment to tithing.

Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, he remained faithful in his practice of giving back to God. He gave not merely one-tenth of the earnings of Colgate's soap products; but he gave two-tenths, then three-tenths, and finally five-tenths of all his income to the work of God, he once revealed that the origin of his devotion to the idea of tithing was when as a sixteen-year-old, he left home to find employment in New York City having previously worked in a soap manufacturing shop. When he told the captain of the canal boat upon which he was traveling that he planned to make soap in New York City the man gave him this advice: 

‘Someone will soon be the leading soap maker in New York. You can be that person. But you must never lose sight of the fact that the soap you make has been given to you by God. Honor Him by sharing what you earn. Begin by tithing all you receive.’ 

William Colgate felt the urge to tithe because he recognized that God was the giver of all that he possessed, not only of opportunity but even of the elements that were used in the manufacture of his products.

Today Colgate-Palmolive the company he founded is one of the leading manufacturers of household and personal care products in the world, with products in nearly two out of every three households in the world, No wonder, when we were younger, every toothpaste was a Colgate. 

Truth be told, 166 years after William Colgate’s death, his name is still sounding throughout the whole world, You can contest it but that is what it means when God says your name shall sound throughout the whole earth because you are blessed.

TITHE 1: THE DOOR TO FINANCIAL BREAKTHROUGH

In the ancient biblical narrative, there is a captivating account of Abraham's encounter with Melchizedek, the enigmatic king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. This story is a vivid picture of Abraham's act of giving a tithe to Melchizedek and the significance it holds. It is here that the word tithe is first mentioned in the bible.

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14:20 KJV.

But what is this tithe?

Almost all Christians on the face of the earth have at some point heard about tithe, some have been practicing it, and some have even ridiculed those doing it.

Once a non-believer blasted me for enriching a pastor every time I brought my tithe, it is one of the most uncomfortable things to speak about in poor communities yet one of the most significant principles God has put down for us to launch into financial prosperity, but what does tithing actually mean?

Tithe refers to the practice of giving a portion of one's income or possessions, typically a tenth (10%), to a religious institution or as an act of worship. The concept of tithing has a long history and is found in various religious traditions. The word derives from the Old English word “teogothian” which means "to give a tenth part".

In Christianity, tithing is often seen as a way to honor God, acknowledge His provision, and support the work of the church. It is considered a form of worship and an expression of faith, obedience, and gratitude.

The tithe is typically given to the church and is used to fund ministry activities, support the clergy, assist those in need, and maintain the church's operations. Ever since I learned this secret and the promises of God, my earnings have always been dynamic and progressive, literally I have been going up and never down, in fact, I am persuaded that as long as I stay true to these principles, I can never regress, after all, it is God’s word, “...let God be true, but every man a liar...” Romans 3:4.

God formally instituted tithing to draw the hearts of men to him and not their possessions as well as a means of support to the priests and Levites. 

I was introduced to the concept of tithing when I was young, my mother would painstakingly put away decima, a tenth part of what would be my income that she would allot to the clergy for their support, the only issue is that she would give less than what I had earned, the parishioners in her local catholic church had zeroed down on 3,000 Uganda shillings (eighty-one pennies) as annual decima collected usually at the end of the year.  Since then, I have been an ardent tither, in the days earlier, I used to tithe on my net earnings until I realized that God has blessed me on the gross and not on the net, progressively I have matured into tithing and as much as three years I have been tithing on the gross.

Tithing has been my quickest principle to obtain financial breakthrough, some of the most amazing promises of God touching prosperity are linked to tithing.

Will you today, take hold of God on the account of the integrity of his word?

BREAKING THE ICE: MENTAL HEALTH THE SILENT KILLER

May 13 2022 was no ordinary day, one of Uganda’s leading newspapers flashed on its front pages a headline “14 million Ugandans have mental disorders”, the headline cast a shadow across the day, its words heavy with sorrow and disbelief. The news item stood as a stark reminder that even in a world bustling with life, there were moments that could plunge everything into a cold, unforgiving darkness.

Ink-black and red letters etched against a stark white background, the words seemed to weigh down the air itself, the headline echoed with the somber toll of a funeral bell. The story beneath told of lives that would be cut short, dreams that would be shuttered and community left reeling in shock.

The details in the news item emerged like a mosaic of pain, the air filled with a palpable sense of grief that seemed to transcend the confines of the words. According to the article written by Cecilia Okoth for the New Vision Newspaper, 35 out of every Uganda may be battling with a mental health problem. One senior ministry of health official retorted “If each of the 14 million people interacts with atleast two other individuals, then almost the entire population (42 million) Ugandans are affected by mental health directly or indirectly.” 

In the end, the news item left a lingering ache in the heart. It was a reminder of the fragility of life, the unpredictability of fate, and the way tragedy could shatter the ordinary in an instant. It was a story that would fade from headlines, but its impact would remain, a scar etched into the collective memory, a reminder to hold tight to sanity and cherish the joy of a sound mind. 

Sometime in August 2012, in a dimly lit room, Joan (not real name) was trapped in some sort of chaos, a sense of heaviness hung in the air like a fog that refused to lift. Her once vibrant eyes now dulled, sat huddled on the edge of her bed. Shadows danced across the walls, mirroring the turmoil within her mind. The silence was broken only by the faint ticking of a clock, a constant reminder of the passage of time she wished would stand still.

Her parents house in Namasuba, Entebbe had many rooms and her room stood at the very end of the walkaway, what was once a sanctuary of comfort, now felt like a prison. The sunlight struggled to penetrate through the curtains, casting an eerie half-light that failed to warm her spirit. Her tangled hair framed her face like a veil, concealing the battles that raged within me. The lines on her face told stories of sleepless nights and tear-stained cheeks. Her trembling fingers traced invisible patterns on the bed she was seated on, two things made sense that day, the light in the room and her old childhood picture that hang around in the room, the rest was a storm that brewed within – a chaotic and fragmented, a maze of thoughts that led nowhere.

Joan had attempted to stare at her reflection in the old mirror that stood at the corner of the room, the reflections she saw were as though she was staring at a stranger. All she could see where hollow eyes staring back at her, a reflection of the emptiness that had taken root in her soul. She longed for escape, for release from the grip of her own mind, but the chains of her thoughts bound her tight.

Outside, the world continued its rhythm, unaware of the tempest that raged within her. Birds chirped, cars passed by, and laughter echoed from afar. But these sounds were distant and muffled, like a symphony she couldn't quite grasp. Her isolation was not only physical but emotional, a chasm between her and the life she once knew.

It was clear that she needed a memory of connection amidst this turbulence in thoughts, perhaps the embrace of her brother Peter or the soft-spoken words of her grandmother Goretti or better still the genuine smile that had once graced her elder Peace’s lips. Her heartbeat in her chest was scary, she was staring at a killer, the silent killer that mental health is.

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder - a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that each last from days to weeks. She was troubled. This series of the ice breaker unearths some of the challenges that individuals with mental disorders experience.

GOD WANTS YOU TO WORK

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15 (KJV)

The Greek word used for “dress” in this theme scripture is the word pronounced ‘aw-bad' which means to work, serve or to labour. Long before man would figure out why he was on earth, God has designed a system of work. In the bible are numerous examples of men and women who understood and exemplified hard work. These biblical characters serve as inspiring examples of hard work, faithfulness, and dedication in their respective callings and circumstances. Take a look!

Elisha’s Farm Enterprise

Elijah found Elisha plowing in the field when the two prophets of old met, Elisha was very busy working when God placed the call of service upon him[1]. Elisha seemed to be running a busy farming enterprise. He was busy overseeing twelve men who were plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and he himself was plowing with the twelfth pair! God calls busy, engaged and hardworking folks, not lazy people.

Noah’s ark

Noah arguably had one of the hardest jobs, he had to build an unprecedented boat, his family was only a handful, the world was in opposition to him, he definitely had no volunteers on this job, but he built one of the greatest architectural marvels of his time, so big that an elephant couple, two whales, and hippopotamus duo would fit in comfortably, the ark was estimated to be 137 meters, its breadth or width, 23 meters and height 14 meters[2], this massive wooden vessel took him years to construct, some scientists argue that building such a structure would pose several engineering challenges and highly implausible considering the technology and resources available during Noah's time, but with God all things are possible.

David a master of all trades

King David was a jack of all trades and a master of all, he was a multi-talented. He was firstly a skilled shepherd who tended to his father's flock, a talented musician and poet, known for playing the harp and composing Psalms, warrior who demonstrated exceptional courage and military prowess in his encounters with enemies such as Goliath, King of Israel with strong leadership abilities and spiritual leader whose strong faith and devotion to God played a significant role in his life. He is often referred to as a man after God's own heart. He was a hard worker, so should you be. His legacy has left a profound impact on religious and historical narratives, making him one of the most renowned figures in biblical history.

Further to these, Old Testament leader, Nehemiah played a crucial role in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed. He faced opposition and challenges but persevered with hard work and determination, rallying the people to complete the task, The apostle Paul's tireless efforts in spreading the Gospel across different regions demonstrate his hard work and dedication to his calling, Bezalel and Oholiab, the skilled craftsmen chosen by God to lead the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Their hard work and craftsmanship played a crucial role in creating a place of worship for the Israelites.

Do you have a burning desire to be used by God in any capacity? Then ask yourself if you are willing to work hard to accomplish God's Kingdom agenda. God uses hard working people, not slothful people.