September 2012 Update
- Evangelism in Flight

On 9th September 2012 something remarkable happened: As I was handing in my boarding pass during check-in to board flight QR 64 to Zurich from Doha in Islamic Republic of Qatar, the hostess withdrew my card and gave me another one of the Business class. I thought she had made a mistake, because I booked and paid for Economy class. I said to, "Please madam you have made a mistake, my ticket is for Economy class."

"I know, but you have been preferred to Business class, please take it sir," she replied politely.

For the first time in life, and 18 years of history with flights, I was in Business class. My closest neighbor on the left walked in and settled as I was asking God why that had happened to me particularly. I knew at least two other people with whom we came from Entebbe and were proceeding on the same flight but remained in the Economy class.

An opportunity to share the gospel with an Arab Muslim

The Holy Spirit told me that He was answering my prayer to open doors for witnessing to Arabs, Muslims and generally the developed world.

Aside: Every morning, before work, we take time to intercede for Arab (Islamic) nations, Europe and North America that they may receive the grace of God that leads to salvation through Jesus Christ. We are passionate about evangelism even at home. We visit schools (higher institutions of learning, prisons and hospitals weekly. Today, for instance, we visited a small prison of about 100 people. The living conditions were simply pathetic. We shared the love of God in scripture and practically. We donated a good meal of beef and rice plus laundry soap to every prisoner. A majority repented and received Jesus Christ as Lord, the same way it happened in Paramedical Institute in Jinja last evening.

Back to my story in-flight; my neighbor was a typical Muslim Arab and a professor in the university and serving the faculty in Development Economics. The Holy Spirit told me that was my long awaited opportunity to share the word of salvation to a descendant of Ismail. I had nothing to worry about; I wasn't on any Arabic soils, but on a neutral ground in skies.

I began from his development experiences. We gradually progressed into the gospel of salvation through Christ Jesus. I pulled out my Bible, which is always in my hand baggage. Those were the most productive hours I have ever had in all my flights. Though he did not commit himself to be a Christian, we ended as friends. We exchanged business cards, and he asked for a copy of my book, "the Discipleship Teaching Manual," We are in touch via email.

The Holy Spirit has put it strong in our hearts in RTM to evangelize (be witnesses) every where, any time there is an opportunity to do it. There are always God-given opportunities that we misused because of fear and shame. Many times we may not even recognize them because of religious (task oriented) service for the Lord, rather than spontaneous Love of God for the sinner and the lost. If things must change in our communities, it begins with the genuine love that oozes from blood-sprinkled heart which is characterized by courage, not timidity and calculated responses. I feel strongly that now is the time to see God blessing people every where.

Prayer Points:

(i) We feel that we can show God's love best by integrating the Word and meeting the practical of the vulnerable. Therefore we need resources to provide blankets, laundry soap, and sanitary towels to prisoners in Jinja area, as we witness to them. Sylvia and Rose have established regular contacts with prison institutions in Jinja. RTM is soon getting certificate of Approval as genuine partner with Prison Institutions. We are working with local churches to train and send their youth to hospitals and prisons in Jinja.

(ii) I am involved in school and universities ministry. We need support in terms of fuel and print literature.

(iii) We are at the crossroads of either pulling out the 12 girls who are attending university expecting support from us immediately, or a miracle. Two orphans have moved to be part of my family. We do not know what to do! We need close to $6000 USD to clear this semester. We had a good discussion with a fairly new partner. But we failed to involve the desperately needy girls in our discussion. They prayed, and assumed they will get the support, so they actually joined university by faith.

We tried to communicate this news to one, but the response was disastrous. We do not know how to begin to pull these girls from the universities. I regret the oversight.

(iv) Our son, Cyrus, badly needs funds for fees too. He needs $700 USD for this semester.

(v) My wife, Chistine, is suffering from strong skin rash as a result of an allergy. She got bitten by small spiders that dwell in unplasted walls. Spiders in Uganda are not very poisonous. I have no problem them, but my wife and our two sons do have big problems with spiders. It will take $3,500 USD to plaster and paint our house including internal doors.

I had a wonderful time in Switzerland. People are Lovely. We had a boat ride in the Lake Thun.

Please pray for me as I am on my way to Bugondo, (after Soroti),f for a seminar. I am invited by Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), Soroti.

Rev. Isaac Peter Oyako

PS: If you, or any one you know, can donate $650 USD immediately, we could save one girl to complete this semester. Please pray too about the full sum of $6000 to keep ALL the girls in school!