Selmore Baptist Church in Ozark invites authentic believers in Jesus Christ for a 16-week Biblically based study called Freedom in Christ, founded by Neil Anderson Tuesday nights beginning 1/18/11 until 5/3/11 from 6:30-8:30pm. Childcare provided. Call 417-582-6483 for more information.
This is a life-changing discipleship course taught by Freedom in Christ Field Staff: Peg McCabe
Topics include: Understanding one's own identity in Christ and how that is foundational for living a victorious Christian life, how stronghold's are erected in our lives, understanding spiritual warfare and the battle for the mind, understanding how to forgive from the heart, relationship perspectives, healing damaged emotions, knowing our position, authority, protection, and vulnerability as a believer, and understanding the major avenues that Satan operates through (temptation, accusation, deception).
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Update
Greetings!
I wanted to take a moment to thank the individuals who have and continue to support me from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and/or financial support thusfar on this journey. I believe wholeheartedly the Lord is using so many individuals to assist me in answering the Lord's calling on my life, which I believe is to serve in the African nation of Uganda. I cannot express how excited and humbly grateful I am and what an amazing experience it has already been to sit back and watch God's love shine through the many individuals who have supported me through prayer and through their finances. I know He is blessing them for their generosity and fervent prayers!
It has already been an amazing, yet difficult journey with each step of the way. However, I've observed already in so many ways how He is preparing me spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically to serve in Uganda. I wanted to give you a brief update on where I'm at financially. Currently, I sit at a little under $9,000 towards my upfront costs. That number includes financial gifts as well as my own personal savings. I am continuing to work with my home church to work out an exact amount that they will be able to contribute monthly and should know for sure once the budget is complete for 2011. I do have to raise $2,000 per month, which will serve as my salary while residing in Uganda. Honestly, my biggest need at this point is montly commitments from individuals and/or churches. If this is an area you may be able to assist in, I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider if you are a candidate. My family and I also hosted a garage sale on 9/24-9/25 and 10/9 and were able to raise a little under $800 for my trip. Selmore Baptist, along with friends and family donated items to sell and offered their help also! The support was truly overwhelming! Glory to God!
My family and I also had the amazing priviledge of hosting two children from Africa and an Auntie in our home for two nights in October for a tour they are currently on called The Restour Tour. October 15th, Watoto came to the Shrine Mosque in Springfield for a stirring musical production. During this performance children and adults from Uganda shared their stories of unimaginable atrocities where the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) forced children to become child soliders and trained them to kill others, including their own families. Even though the war is currently over in Uganda, the effects of war are still left behind. The Restour Tour brings you the story of Northern Uganda and her community of children, women, and men thrust into the middle of conflict and used to do horrific acts toward their fellow countrymen. Children forced to be weapons of war, women torn from their families, mutilated, stripped of dignity and used as sex slaves, and men left desperate and despondent. However, the story does not end there...
The main focus of the Watoto Restour Tour is in its name. The Restour Tour unfolds a story of restoration and hope, endurance of the worst atrocities known to man, triumph over adversity, and a story of healing, the power of forgiveness and ultimately the restoration that only a Loving Savior can bring. During the performance multiple individuals stood up and shared their stories of how they were forced to kill, how they were abandoned, and left alone with no one to care for them. Later in the performance those same individuals stood up and stated how they forgave all the soldiers that forced them to kill, all the soldiers that killed their family members and friends. Then, they all joined hands across the stage and worshipped Almighty God in total freedom!!! They sang the following lyrics and the song took on an entirely different meaning to me:
"Our God is Greater, our God is Stronger, God You are Higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power, our God, our God. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us, then what could stand against."
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble." -James 1:27
I wanted to take a moment to thank the individuals who have and continue to support me from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and/or financial support thusfar on this journey. I believe wholeheartedly the Lord is using so many individuals to assist me in answering the Lord's calling on my life, which I believe is to serve in the African nation of Uganda. I cannot express how excited and humbly grateful I am and what an amazing experience it has already been to sit back and watch God's love shine through the many individuals who have supported me through prayer and through their finances. I know He is blessing them for their generosity and fervent prayers!
It has already been an amazing, yet difficult journey with each step of the way. However, I've observed already in so many ways how He is preparing me spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically to serve in Uganda. I wanted to give you a brief update on where I'm at financially. Currently, I sit at a little under $9,000 towards my upfront costs. That number includes financial gifts as well as my own personal savings. I am continuing to work with my home church to work out an exact amount that they will be able to contribute monthly and should know for sure once the budget is complete for 2011. I do have to raise $2,000 per month, which will serve as my salary while residing in Uganda. Honestly, my biggest need at this point is montly commitments from individuals and/or churches. If this is an area you may be able to assist in, I would like to encourage you to prayerfully consider if you are a candidate. My family and I also hosted a garage sale on 9/24-9/25 and 10/9 and were able to raise a little under $800 for my trip. Selmore Baptist, along with friends and family donated items to sell and offered their help also! The support was truly overwhelming! Glory to God!
My family and I also had the amazing priviledge of hosting two children from Africa and an Auntie in our home for two nights in October for a tour they are currently on called The Restour Tour. October 15th, Watoto came to the Shrine Mosque in Springfield for a stirring musical production. During this performance children and adults from Uganda shared their stories of unimaginable atrocities where the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) forced children to become child soliders and trained them to kill others, including their own families. Even though the war is currently over in Uganda, the effects of war are still left behind. The Restour Tour brings you the story of Northern Uganda and her community of children, women, and men thrust into the middle of conflict and used to do horrific acts toward their fellow countrymen. Children forced to be weapons of war, women torn from their families, mutilated, stripped of dignity and used as sex slaves, and men left desperate and despondent. However, the story does not end there...
The main focus of the Watoto Restour Tour is in its name. The Restour Tour unfolds a story of restoration and hope, endurance of the worst atrocities known to man, triumph over adversity, and a story of healing, the power of forgiveness and ultimately the restoration that only a Loving Savior can bring. During the performance multiple individuals stood up and shared their stories of how they were forced to kill, how they were abandoned, and left alone with no one to care for them. Later in the performance those same individuals stood up and stated how they forgave all the soldiers that forced them to kill, all the soldiers that killed their family members and friends. Then, they all joined hands across the stage and worshipped Almighty God in total freedom!!! They sang the following lyrics and the song took on an entirely different meaning to me:
"Our God is Greater, our God is Stronger, God You are Higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power, our God, our God. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us, then what could stand against."
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble." -James 1:27
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Watoto Restour Tour
On Friday evening, October 15th, the Watoto Restour Tour will be at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, MO at 7:00pm. This group from Uganda will include children who were kidnapped from their homes when they were as young as five years old and forced to serve in the Lords Liberation Army (LRA). The children were forced to kill even some of their own family members and girls were forced to become "wives" of soldiers. These children have escaped the LRA and Watoto has found them in displacement camps with tremendous needs. They desperately need help because they are now outcasts in their homeland because of the things they were forced to carry out. Watoto has provided counselors to assist them work through the tremendous psychological damage they have suffered and is teaching them about God's love and forgiveness. Also, Watoto is doing occupational training with them so they will have a skill to be able to financially provide for themselves and their children. I want to officially invite you to this event. I wholeheartedly believe your spirit will be touched as you hear their stories. The event is free of charge. There will be a love offering taken if you desire to make a financial contribution to this ministry. It is recommended that children under the age of 12 do not attend due to the sensitive nature of what the children have experienced. If you desire more information and desire to come, please contact me for more information. God Bless!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Update on the garage sale
Greetings! I simply wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who brought items for the garage sale and also to those who came to help. The support was overwhelming! Overall, we raised over $600 in two days! My family and I are going to attempt to hold another garage sale on Saturday, Oct. 9th. If anyone has any additional items, please feel free to bring them to the church or get with me and we can make arrangements for you to bring them to our home in Ozark. Thanks again so much! May God Bless you!!!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Fundraiser
My family and I are hosting a garage sale 9/24-9/26. If anyone has any items they desire to donate, all proceeds will go toward my mission opportunity to Uganda, Africa. If you attend Selmore Baptist, please bring your items to the church in the next two weeks. If anyone else desires to help, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at charitygray3@yahoo.com. I appreciate all your help and support! Thank you and may God Bless you!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thank you!
I wanted to thank everyone in attendance for my presentation Wednesday night! I deeply appreciate your support! God Bless!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Africa Presentation
Please come this Wednesday night, August 18th at 7pm at Selmore Baptist Church in Ozark. I, along with Brent Smith, an individual from Watoto Ministries, will be giving a presentation regarding my upcoming mission opportunity to Uganda, Africa.
Watoto Church Statement of Beliefs
Please visit: http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=34318673#!/note.php?note_id=10150254257615304 to view Watoto Church's statement of beliefs. Also please visit www.watotochurch.com for additional information regarding Watoto Church. This is the church I attended while in Uganda, Africa last summer and also the church I will be attending while residing in Africa.
Clarification regarding the transfer of funds
Recently I was posed an excellent question regarding whether financial gifts may be sent through Watoto Ministries for accountability? I checked into this and found out that Watoto uses a specific bank, the same bank I also have my personal account set up with. The best way to ensure accountability is to mail your financial gift to:
Selmore Baptist Church
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
If you mail a check, you can put in the Memo line: Charity Gray (Africa Trip). You can either make the check out to me or you can make the check out to Selmore Baptist Church. If you make the check out to me, I directly deposit that into my personal savings account that is left untouched until I leave for Africa. If you make a check out to Selmore Baptist Church, the church will deposit the money into my personal savings account. For accountability and tax purposes, financial gifts will go through Selmore Baptist Church. Selmore will then send you a tax letter.
Selmore Baptist Church
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
If you mail a check, you can put in the Memo line: Charity Gray (Africa Trip). You can either make the check out to me or you can make the check out to Selmore Baptist Church. If you make the check out to me, I directly deposit that into my personal savings account that is left untouched until I leave for Africa. If you make a check out to Selmore Baptist Church, the church will deposit the money into my personal savings account. For accountability and tax purposes, financial gifts will go through Selmore Baptist Church. Selmore will then send you a tax letter.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Questions about Watoto
I wanted to take time to address one item regarding the financial aspect of Watoto and how the money is dispersed to me so you can rest assured that I am receiving 100% of the financial contributions. The individual donors will send their money directly to:
Selmore Baptist Church
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721, which to those of you who do not know is my home church. From the Church the money will be sent as one lump sum directly into my personal account that only I can access via debit/credit card while residing in Uganda.
Please feel free to post any other questions at any time or e-mail me at charitygray3@yahoo.com or call me at 417-207-4026. I'm also on Facebook.
Selmore Baptist Church
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721, which to those of you who do not know is my home church. From the Church the money will be sent as one lump sum directly into my personal account that only I can access via debit/credit card while residing in Uganda.
Please feel free to post any other questions at any time or e-mail me at charitygray3@yahoo.com or call me at 417-207-4026. I'm also on Facebook.
Watoto Support Letter
Hello!
I pray this letter finds you doing well! As you may already know, the Lord provided me the wonderful opportunity to travel to Uganda, Africa last summer. There our team completed a four-room schoolhouse for orphan children in 3 1/2 days. Our team had the opportunity to interact and love on the children in the villages there. It was truly an amazing sight to watch all the children flock to our van and wave as we drove through the villages. The African people were so welcoming and loving. We also got the opportunity to visit the Watoto Church and these services were by far one of my favorite parts of the trip. There was such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit there and such a freedom in worship. I absolutely love their untamed, unhindered, unashamed, energetic worship of God Almighty! The individuals there taught me so much. They gave me so much more than I could have ever given them. They are so poor in the eyes of the world, but when you see them through the eyes of Christ, they are so rich in faith. (James 2:5) They must depend on the Lord because literally in most cases He is all they have. What a way to live life, it's so inspiring and amazing to watch unfold right before your eyes.
I am writing this letter today to inform you that I firmly believe the Lord is calling me into missions, with the African nation as the heart beat of this adventure and I desire for you to be part of this incredible journey of faith the Lord and I are traveling together. I knew before I left Uganda and still know today that I would return, I was just not sure in what capacity. So, the Lord has provided what I believe is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been offered a position through Watoto Ministries, which is the ministry I traveled to Africa with last summer. Watoto is a ministry in Uganda, Africa. The ministry is designed to help meet the needs of orphans whose parents and/or caregivers have passed away from AIDS. The mission of Watoto is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by placing parentless children into loving families. In this safe and secure environment, these precious children have their physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs met so that they develop the essential moral values and life skills that will enable them to make a significant and lasting impact on the future of their country. Watoto believes it's not the government's responsibility to care for these children. While governments may be able to feed empty stomachs, or clothe naked bodies, there's not a government in the world that can put Christ and His love in the heart of a child. Only we, the church, can do that. James 1:27 presents us with a challenge. It says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Watoto is doing just that.
Currently, Watoto has been working through some restructuring within their ministry. While they have been working through this, some positions have become available. One of those positions is mine. My understanding of my job description is still developing and will continue to, however, right now the position I am planning to fill is a personal assistant position under an individual from the UK who is the director of the Facilities Management Department within the Ministry. I will have to raise my own support, much like a missionary, for a minimum of three years in order to reside in Uganda while I work for Watoto. It is however a possibility that Watoto will be able to begin paying my salary a year and a half into my three year commitment while I'm in Uganda. Generally when individuals first begin working for Watoto they enter as a volunteer while having to raise their own financial support. That is not uncommon.
If you would like to assist in this ministry through supporting me there are several ways you can become involved. First and foremost, you can pray for the following:
1. Pray for the precious children in Uganda, pray for Watoto Ministry as they seek out these orphans and provide them a home, an education, and opportunities to plant the seed of Christ's unfailing love in their little hearts, and pray that God would continue to use this ministry to raise up Christian leaders.
2. Pray that the Lord would prepare me spiritually, emotionally, and physically before and during to reside in Uganda for approximately three years. Also pray for friends and family that I must leave behind.
3. Pray that the Lord would continue to give me wisdom and discernment as He lights my path before me, then the courage to follow Him wherever He leads, whatever the cost.
4. Pray that the Lord will provide the financial support I need to accomplish this mission I believe He is calling me to.
I would challenge you to prayerfully consider how the Lord may be leading you to assist in this life-changing endeavor. I wholeheartedly believe the Lord has individuals ready to come forward already, so pray and ask Him if you are one of those individuals.
Secondly, you can be involved financially by partnering with this Ministry and I. I have to raise $10,000 upfront in order to leave for Uganda, Africa. This will include the cost of airfare, approximately $5,000 will go towards transportation via a personal care to travel around the city in, housing, and other miscellaneous costs. Then, once I reside in Uganda, I will need to have a steady commitment from a combination of either individuals or churches that agree to support me by sending a total amount of $2,000 a month. This financial support is equivalent to my salary and consists of the finances I will have to live on. Each month, approximately $1,000 of that $2,000 a month will go toward housing. The rest will be for food and other miscellaneous costs.
As far as a timeline is concerned, as soon as the Lord provides the prayer and financial support for me to go, I will go. You can make checks payable to Charity Gray. You can mail your financial gift to:
Charity Gray
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
I would also like to encourage you if you feel so led, Watoto also has set in place a sponsorship program if you are interested in supporting an orphan in Uganda financially. You can visit: www.watoto.com if you are interested and want more information.
Thanks you so much for your time in reading this letter. I sincerely appreciate your prayerful consideration! There is much work to do in the kingdom! God Bless You!
In Christ's perfect love,
Charity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please circle below how you would like to contribute, copy and print this portion off this letter, enclose, and mail with your financial contribution. Even if you are not planning on sending a financial gift, I would still like to know whether or not you intend to support this ministry and I by prayer. If the Lord so leads you to give financially, here are your choices:
I would like to strictly be a prayer support (Because without you, ministry doesn't happen!)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000
I am making a commitment to give $____ a month for 3 years
(In making a monthly commitment, you are agreeing that you understand that you are assisting in paying my salary for 3 years, which is the money I will have to live on while I reside in Uganda. In the event that you are no longer able to make a monthly contribution, please notify me immediately so this portion of funds can be found elsewhere.)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000 and I would like to make a monthly commitment of $____.
Other________________________________________________________________
I pray this letter finds you doing well! As you may already know, the Lord provided me the wonderful opportunity to travel to Uganda, Africa last summer. There our team completed a four-room schoolhouse for orphan children in 3 1/2 days. Our team had the opportunity to interact and love on the children in the villages there. It was truly an amazing sight to watch all the children flock to our van and wave as we drove through the villages. The African people were so welcoming and loving. We also got the opportunity to visit the Watoto Church and these services were by far one of my favorite parts of the trip. There was such a strong presence of the Holy Spirit there and such a freedom in worship. I absolutely love their untamed, unhindered, unashamed, energetic worship of God Almighty! The individuals there taught me so much. They gave me so much more than I could have ever given them. They are so poor in the eyes of the world, but when you see them through the eyes of Christ, they are so rich in faith. (James 2:5) They must depend on the Lord because literally in most cases He is all they have. What a way to live life, it's so inspiring and amazing to watch unfold right before your eyes.
I am writing this letter today to inform you that I firmly believe the Lord is calling me into missions, with the African nation as the heart beat of this adventure and I desire for you to be part of this incredible journey of faith the Lord and I are traveling together. I knew before I left Uganda and still know today that I would return, I was just not sure in what capacity. So, the Lord has provided what I believe is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been offered a position through Watoto Ministries, which is the ministry I traveled to Africa with last summer. Watoto is a ministry in Uganda, Africa. The ministry is designed to help meet the needs of orphans whose parents and/or caregivers have passed away from AIDS. The mission of Watoto is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by placing parentless children into loving families. In this safe and secure environment, these precious children have their physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs met so that they develop the essential moral values and life skills that will enable them to make a significant and lasting impact on the future of their country. Watoto believes it's not the government's responsibility to care for these children. While governments may be able to feed empty stomachs, or clothe naked bodies, there's not a government in the world that can put Christ and His love in the heart of a child. Only we, the church, can do that. James 1:27 presents us with a challenge. It says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Watoto is doing just that.
Currently, Watoto has been working through some restructuring within their ministry. While they have been working through this, some positions have become available. One of those positions is mine. My understanding of my job description is still developing and will continue to, however, right now the position I am planning to fill is a personal assistant position under an individual from the UK who is the director of the Facilities Management Department within the Ministry. I will have to raise my own support, much like a missionary, for a minimum of three years in order to reside in Uganda while I work for Watoto. It is however a possibility that Watoto will be able to begin paying my salary a year and a half into my three year commitment while I'm in Uganda. Generally when individuals first begin working for Watoto they enter as a volunteer while having to raise their own financial support. That is not uncommon.
If you would like to assist in this ministry through supporting me there are several ways you can become involved. First and foremost, you can pray for the following:
1. Pray for the precious children in Uganda, pray for Watoto Ministry as they seek out these orphans and provide them a home, an education, and opportunities to plant the seed of Christ's unfailing love in their little hearts, and pray that God would continue to use this ministry to raise up Christian leaders.
2. Pray that the Lord would prepare me spiritually, emotionally, and physically before and during to reside in Uganda for approximately three years. Also pray for friends and family that I must leave behind.
3. Pray that the Lord would continue to give me wisdom and discernment as He lights my path before me, then the courage to follow Him wherever He leads, whatever the cost.
4. Pray that the Lord will provide the financial support I need to accomplish this mission I believe He is calling me to.
I would challenge you to prayerfully consider how the Lord may be leading you to assist in this life-changing endeavor. I wholeheartedly believe the Lord has individuals ready to come forward already, so pray and ask Him if you are one of those individuals.
Secondly, you can be involved financially by partnering with this Ministry and I. I have to raise $10,000 upfront in order to leave for Uganda, Africa. This will include the cost of airfare, approximately $5,000 will go towards transportation via a personal care to travel around the city in, housing, and other miscellaneous costs. Then, once I reside in Uganda, I will need to have a steady commitment from a combination of either individuals or churches that agree to support me by sending a total amount of $2,000 a month. This financial support is equivalent to my salary and consists of the finances I will have to live on. Each month, approximately $1,000 of that $2,000 a month will go toward housing. The rest will be for food and other miscellaneous costs.
As far as a timeline is concerned, as soon as the Lord provides the prayer and financial support for me to go, I will go. You can make checks payable to Charity Gray. You can mail your financial gift to:
Charity Gray
4768 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
I would also like to encourage you if you feel so led, Watoto also has set in place a sponsorship program if you are interested in supporting an orphan in Uganda financially. You can visit: www.watoto.com if you are interested and want more information.
Thanks you so much for your time in reading this letter. I sincerely appreciate your prayerful consideration! There is much work to do in the kingdom! God Bless You!
In Christ's perfect love,
Charity
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please circle below how you would like to contribute, copy and print this portion off this letter, enclose, and mail with your financial contribution. Even if you are not planning on sending a financial gift, I would still like to know whether or not you intend to support this ministry and I by prayer. If the Lord so leads you to give financially, here are your choices:
I would like to strictly be a prayer support (Because without you, ministry doesn't happen!)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000
I am making a commitment to give $____ a month for 3 years
(In making a monthly commitment, you are agreeing that you understand that you are assisting in paying my salary for 3 years, which is the money I will have to live on while I reside in Uganda. In the event that you are no longer able to make a monthly contribution, please notify me immediately so this portion of funds can be found elsewhere.)
I would like to make a one-time contribution that will go toward the upfront cost of $10,000 and I would like to make a monthly commitment of $____.
Other________________________________________________________________
Watoto Missions Opportunity in Kampala, Uganda, Africa
Greetings! Back in April I was called in for an informal meeting with Watoto Ministries. To those of you who are not familiar with Watoto Ministries it is basically a rescue mission geared towards widows and children in Uganda, Africa. Due to the AIDS epidemic in Africa the parents and/or caregivers of millions of children in Africa have passed away leaving their children abandoned on the streets of Uganda. Watoto resuces these children and raises them to be Godly leaders for their nation. Watoto provides these children a home, a family to call their own, security, food, clothing, an education, and shares the love of Christ with them. Last summer I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Uganda, Africa on a short-term mission trip and absolutely fell in love with the individuals there and their culture. Ever since I returned I know I left a part of me behind and have a burning desire to return and serve. I have prayed earnestly and have waited on the Lord to provide an opportunity to be employed by Watoto Ministries and He has heard my prayer. During my meeting with Watoto Ministries back in April I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. There is a position available in Uganda where I would be able to disciple the widows and women in the villages who are the caregivers of these children who have been rescued through Watoto. I do have to raise my own financial support like many missionaries do and it would be a 3 year commitment where I would actually reside in Uganda. Below I have attached a support letter and would encourage you to really seek the Lord for His guidance and leadership as you read it and respond how He leads.
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